8/12: Mountains to Southern California and Back

Hi everybody! We've had a great few weeks since I last posted, with a lot of traveling, family, adventures, music, and some fishing. It's been a great start to August. Here's a quick recap:

We spent a day at Tahoe.

It was hot.

The water is the warmest.

Reading, swimming and sandwiches at Lake Tahoe.

We've been camping whenever we can, including up near 

Sierraville on the Little Truckee River.

Which is basically the same size as the regular Truckee River right now. 

It was beautiful, and our coldest night of the summer.

Greg in the evening on the Little Truckee River. The fish are also very little.

My best buddy, north on Highway 89.

 We went to see the Trespassers again at the Mobil, 

saw old friends and made new ones.

There were a lot of mango margaritas involved,

then more beers at the Lee Vining Creek home.

Oh, home. In the rain. It's basically my favorite thing.

 We woke early the next day, got breakfast burritos and monobars at the Mono Market, 

and headed south to see some family that I've been missing (and Greg needed to meet still).

First, we stayed for a night in Santa Monica with Grandma and Grandpa.

It was great. We had shrimp for dinner, visited in the backyard, and took a great walk around

the neighborhood and down to the pier. 

Greg bought me ice cream at the carousel. What a dreamboat.

The next morning we met up with Grandpa Dave and Roz at the 

California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey. It was great seeing them, the food was delicious,

and we got out of there around noon hoping for a traffic-free trip down to Oceanside.

That part of the trip didn't go to plan, and I almost had a meltdown.

Greg saved me with a bag of M&Ms.

Then we got down there and celebrated my cousin Maggie's birthday with a bunch of the family at Jim and Robin's ultimate fantasy backyard pool and cabana. It was a great time. The highlight may have been Grandpa going down the pool slide head first a few times. He's 86.

We drove down to Kevin and Dawn's after the party and got to meet the new kitties.

They were a little scared at first, but Scout (Toothless) let us visit her on her perch and 

Felix seemed OK with visitors.

We didn't get a picture of Scout, but this is pretty much what she looks like.

FELIIIIX!

 We somehow failed totally to take other pictures with our great hosts Kevin and Dawn, or the Elusive Bigsley Cat, but we had the BEST time hanging out! 

Sunday morning Kevin took us down to La Jolla Cove and we got to go

snorkeling with the SEA LIONS!!! Neither Greg or I had ever done that before,

so seeing them swim around with us and blow bubbles in our faces was SO COOL.

There were also a million bright garibaldi(s?), big kelp bass, and a ton 

of little bright fish that swam in pools around us. 

After a great morning in the water, we walked to lunch (past an art gallery that should be a museum) and they treated us to great food and great beers at a cute little restaurant in La Jolla. 

I made Greg go on a run, he got us a little lost, it was hot, I wasn't happy.

Then we spent some time drinking wine in the backyard and visiting, before a great fish taco dinner with Dawn's perfect margaritas. Then some awesome cupcakes. And then we were wiped out.

Hanging out with Mr. Felix. I don't know how we didn't get a picture with YOU GUYS, KEVIN & DAWN!!!

HUGE THANK YOU to Kevin and Dawn (and the kitties) for having us down, all the great food,

treating us to lunch, taking us snorkeling, the delicious drinks and great company! 

We love you guys!

On Monday morning we moved a little north to Oceanside for an entire beach day with Jim, Robin & Company. We got to hang out in their pool for a bit with Alexis before heading to Oceanside Beach

where Jim had gotten up early for a fire pit. 

We went body surfing, drank some beers, had an awesome sand soccer game with the kids, watched Grandpa body surfing because he's a total beast, ate hot dogs, salads, and s'mores when it got dark,

and were treated to a special fireworks show that Jim definitely DID NOT set off right after the beach police drove by. It was a beautiful day with the family and their nice friends.

We got back to Jim & Robin's around 10:30 that night, spent some time visiting in the pool (it's a great post-beach shower, too), and passed out after a long day in the sun.

Then we headed back north. Dawn gave us a great suggestion to take the 15 out of Oceanside instead of battling our way through LA, so we took that tip and it was a good one. We didn't really hit any traffic, and although there are some precarious stretches where it's a two-lane road with rolling hills and a lot of people wanting to pass in a hurry, it got us much more quickly back to the 395.

After that, you know the story...

Through Lone Pine, Big Pine, Bishop, up over Sherwin Summit, Mammoth, June, Lee Vining (my heart, my heart...that's a rough one to just pass through), over Conway Summit.

Then it had just been too long, so we stopped to fish the Walker River.

The fish were spooky and we didn't get any, but it was gorgeous and a great adventure regardless.

And, the sound of the river made me feel like I was back at home.

Fishing (not catching) in the Walker Gorge. Just spectacular, this place.

That's a happy man, getting to fish for a couple hours on the Walker at sunset.

I found what we *think* is a duck egg in the river, so that was awesome. We're always finding the coolest crap.

Then, it was back to business.

I've been getting the Mattie Mae Card Company going, and it's been pretty time-consuming.

Now I have it basically all figured out, so the hard part's over, but for a stretch it was a LOT.

Greg and Mattie were super supportive throughout the process,

and I probably would have lost my mind or quit without them. Thanks, you two. I love you, and I love that you encourage all of my ridiculous ideas. 

CARDS! All ready to go! It was exciting when this all came together.

Mattie and I mailing the FIRST order for the Mattie Mae Card Company. Of course, to my biggest fans - Yeti and Dad!

 After making the business public, we took off for a few days at Dianne and Dan's cabin near Markleeville/Hope Valley. It is just some of the most spectacular country up there.

It's meadows and trees and big rivers, which is different from the high-alpine granite and sagebrush further down the 395, but is absolutely beautiful. Greg's sister Kathy and her husband met us there, and we had fun taking little walks, visiting, eating, drinking hot chocolate at the cabin in the rain, playing horseshoes, and other cabin things. We even got to visit with Dianne and Dan when they came over Saturday for dinner and brought all KINDS of awesome treats!

Thank you SO MUCH for letting us stay at your great cabin! Love you guys!

Mattie and Milo, headed back from the Kaffer Cabin.

 After leaving the cabin, we needed some quiet time.

We drove a little ways up the Carson River to fish.

Fishing is great because catching fish is actually the least important part of fishing.

It's mostly about wandering, getting your feet wet, seeing beautiful water and canyons,

watching the other animals (snakes, osprey, etc.), and finding amazing treasures that you can't possibly keep. 

Like these absolutely perfect bear tracks in the mud. 

I love tracks.

 We're finally back at the ranch in Reno. 

Yesterday we helped wrangle the horses after they escaped across the river because it's so low.

I've been having a GREAT time packaging up and sending cards (THANK YOU).

We went climbing for the first time in a while.

Things are really starting to mellow out, and it's great up here. 

Here's a last picture for this post, that I just love.

Greg and I took a break to go fish the Carson River last Saturday,

and were gifted with a warm-weather torrential downpour.

We got soaked, Greg caught 6 fish, there was a lot of water,

and we got to go back to a warm cabin for hot chocolate.

It was a pretty great thing.

We love you guys! We're having a GREAT SUMMER!

It's been so awesome getting to see so much of our family and friends :) 

With Love,

Allison and Mattie (the Co-Founder) Dog

PS - Yesterday, I was watching Sid and Anni and we had to go to the supermarket to pick up some ginger ale and vitamin water for Scott because he had been feeling nauseous all day. Then we got to the checkout line and out of nowhere Anni projectile vomited all over the entire lane. It was so epic. They're both feeling much better today. Oh, summer.

PSS - I OWN A CABIN!!! It's OFFICIAL! THIS PLACE IS OFFICIALLY OURS!!!

Greg and I have big plans for a deck next summer. This is a real Laughing Place.