7/14: Weekend adventures

Last weekend, Greg, Mattie and I happily headed south on the 395 for a special wedding celebration for Nathan and Elin (Greg and I did NOT get married. I repeat. DID NOT GET MARRIED. The family rumor mill is in full effect).

The wedding was in the evening up on June Mountain, just after a gorgeous series of summer storms rolled through in the afternoon and kindly cleared in time for our ride up to the venue on the chair lift. From the midway lodge we looked down on Gull and June Lakes, with Mono lurking in the background still under gray and yellow thunderheads. Perfect views all around, good company and old soccer-playing friends, beers, cupcakes, a great bluegrass band, and most importantly the celebration of a really wonderful couple alongside their friends and amazing family. Congratulations, Elin and Nathan!

What else have we been up to for the past few days?

Stylish fishing in Lee Vining.

Mattie decided to take a swim without telling us,

and after a frantic search Greg found her clinging to the banks with

just her two front paws hanging on. 

Someone put that dog on a leash.

Fashion is important in Lee Vining.

We stayed at the Lee Vining Creek home for a few nights.

Beers, fish tacos at the Mobil, a man playing country covers of Michael Jackson.

 

It's cozy and perfect.

 We are total party animals, and our nights in the tent usually

consist of gin rummy, one beer each, Game of Thrones, some crossword puzzles,

and sometimes if it's really crazy we do things like this: 

Dogs love Coors Light.

Mattie even joins in sometimes.

This little party animal, after Greg rescued her from the raging creek.

 Of course, MONO BARS wooooooooooo.

I call this one "Selfie, with Mono Bar: The Only One You Need."

And, finally, a very special new Laughing Place.

If you wander around in the middle of nowhere for long enough,

you are always rewarded eventually.

This time we hit the jackpot. 

Somewhere in the sagebrush, a stunning canyon on a creek

with dozens of bedrock mortars,

gorgeous grinding slicks, 

and pieces of manos.

aka Heaven.

Taking some time at the new Laughing Place. Mortars and slicks for days.

Those are some serious slicks right there, and not a bad view for working.

In places like this, sometimes you think "Of course they worked here."

As always, Tioga delivered a beautiful few sunsets

and we got some great rain and weather throughout our short adventure weekend.

 

 

 

Until next time, summer home.

 Now we're back at the ranch, doing some running, pie baking, BBQing,

snake finding, horse feeding, coyote listening, painting,

and all of the other important things that need to get done during the summer.

With much love as this week heats up,

Allison and Mattie the River Running Dog

PS - JOHN and MARY and ELIN and NATHAN, we want to take you guys to the new Laughing Place next time we're down there! It was great seeing you :) We'll give you a call soon.