California Wedding Jaunt

California Wedding Jaunt

July 7-11, 2016

Thursday, 7/7

 To Reno!

          

            Jed traveled over to Baker City on Wednesday to join Rick and I on our quick jaunt down to Sacramento to celebrate Jen and Kenny’s wedding.  After his early morning dental appointment (which happened an hour earlier than scheduled) we were on the road by 9:45am!  Our route was to take us down to Winnemucca, NV, and then on to Reno where we had a reservation at the Western Village Casino for the night. 

            I drove the first stretch of the way down south of Homedale, ID, and then Rick drove us down to Winnemucca.  Smooth sailing all the way through the high desert land of Southeast Oregon!  From McDermott on the OR-NV border south there are more mountains along the way.  Plenty of green fields, however, and the Steens Mountains with their snow peaks were striking in the distance. 

            Jed drove us into Sparks and the casino arriving around 5:45pm.  While checking into the casino hotel isn’t pleasant due to the smoke filled atmosphere, the room itself was fabulous for our $53 a night.  We walked a short distance to the Black Bear diner for dinner.  Always a fun place to eat with a group that enjoys all things bear in décor! 

            Just for the record, Jed and I played two games of labyrinth and one game of cribbage.  I won all!  (First cribbage win in years I think!)

Friday, 7/8

Lake Tahoe Cruise and Into Sac

            

We have a leisurely morning eating the breakfast we brought with us (ok, so the classy room did not include a continental breakfast!) and then hit the road around 9 hoping we were past the Reno morning traffic.  Rick had scouted out a route that we hadn’t taken before that we drop us down to the northeast shore of Lake Tahoe, Route 431.  What a wonderful road over the top of the ridge (summit elevation of 8911’) and to a fantastic viewpoint overlooking Lake Tahoe.  We then dropped DOWN to the 6200’ lake level and drove around the north end of the lake and down the west side.  We were amazed at the summer traffic!  In fact we had hoped to stop at Emerald Bay and p0erhaps take the short hike to Eagle Falls or Vikingsholm, but there was absolutely NO place to park in that vicinity!  We did finally at least find a place to pull over for a few views out to the bay. 

            Having missed our ‘lunch stop’, but pulled over at an ice cream place Rick remembered from his South Lake Tahoe days in Camp Richardson.  We all had ice cream for lunch!  Jed’s treat!  We kidded him that he didn’t offer to treat until he saw the signs inside that cones were only a nickel.  Unfortunately the signs were about 30-40 years old and inflation took the price to $4 for a single or $5 for a double!  He still treated! 

            While we found the traffic at Tahoe a nightmare, the vistas were everything we remembered and it was a fun sidetrip to Sacramento.  We followed Hwy 50 down through Placerville and to Rancho Cordova and our ‘home’ for the next three days. 

            Gretchen had made all the hotel arrangements with the Fairfield Marriott – partly because she had some ‘perks’ built up from the 5 months she and Shawn lived in a hotel when their house was being filled from water leaks.  And conveniently, Gretchen pulled up just at the same time we did, having arrived from the airport with Tyler!  So, she checked us all in!  Three rooms on the third floor. 

            I call Liz around 4 to find out where they are at and she says it has been a slow travel due to some accirdents and road construction.  They will meet us at Margaret’s rather than come to the hotel first.  So after a little chill time, we take off for the 20 minute drive to Marg’s.  (She actually lives just 3-4 miles as the crow flies, but there isn’t a bridge over the American River where we need it!)

            Friday night at Marg’s is just dinner for our immediate family.  Ken and Jen are hosting a Coast Guard party at their house, and all of Elizabeth’s family (Ron’s sister) isn’t arriving until the middle of the night tonight.)  Mom, Liz, and Dave arrived just after 7.  Marg has prepared BBQ pulled chicken in the crockpot with rice and salad.  Watermelon for desert.  We eat outside and enjoy timed together, but as the pool is totally in the shade now, we decide not to take a dip.  Marg’s pool is totally solar heated, so without a little sunshine it can be cool@!

            Back to hotel early for a good night’s sleep for everyone!  And….just for the record, I notched another ‘come from behind’ victory in Labyrinth before barely  losing a game of Cribbage.  Jed and I went downstairs to play so Grandma Mac could go to sleep.  She was tired from the long drive. 

Saturday, July 9

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, RICK!

            So….Rick and I have laughed that we are spending our 33^rd anniversary together, sharing beds respectively with Jed and my mom!  Ah well, we have booked a special time in Glacier in August at Rising Sun hotel for some anniversary hiking! 

            We are basically free today until mid afternoon, so I contact long-time friend from my childhood, Alan Schleiger, and we arrange for him to come to the hotel for a visit.  That way it was easier for Mom to enjoy the visit as well, as Ed and Lonnie, Alan’s parents, were some of their closest friends when we lived in Sacramento.  Both of them are now gone.  Alan and I grew up in the church together, his birthday being just 3 months before mine. 

            Well, the five of us (Jed and Rick also) sat down in the lobby and talked for over two and a half hours!    So good to reconnect with such a friend.  Disappointed that the visit worked out better for Saturday, as Alan’s wife, Moira, couldn’t be there as well on that day. 

            Mom laid down for a short nap while I made a quick trip over to JoAnn’s fabrics to pick up supplies for my banner making workshop on Wednesday.  We all headed over to Marg’s around 3pm.  Time for a swim and then help Marg set up and be ready for all the out-of-town family to gather together, as well as Jen and Ken and Tom and Heather and Matty. Ron’s Mom, Marie (age 95!), as well as Tinny’s two kids and partners, were there.   Ken’s mom and son, Lucas, as well.  I think Margaret counted 27 in total!   Fun evening together.  Good time in the pool with Jed and Kaila, Tyler and Everett, Kirsty, Liz, and Gretchen.   After time Jed and I played CornToss with Tinny’s daughter Nia and her boyfriend, Damien. 

            Big day tomorrow, especially for those 90 plus grandmas, so we head back to room around 8, and put Grandma to bed!  Hmmm…maybe this was the day that Jed and I played games downstairs.  I can’t remember! 

Sunday, 7/10

Wedding Day!

            Mom and I are up and down for breakfast by 7:30 (once again to find all the Simmons gang already eating!).  Dave, Liz, Mom, and I are heading into church at Northminster.  Rick and Jed have a leisurely morning and Rick takes an extended walk.  Kirsty and family and Gretchen stayed at hotel hoping to get the kids down for a nap prior to the wedding time.  Not sure how successful that was, but Grandma Mac did take a hour sleep!

            We enjoyed our worship time at NPC – a guest preacher today – and Mom left BEFORE she shut down the place because Liz promised a stop on Monday at the Quilter’s Gathering before they head up north. 

            We leave for the wedding up in Roseville around 4pm.  The venue is Provence Restaurant and Patio.  Chairs are set up for about 100 below the patio under a giant oak tree.  We manage to get Mom and Marie down the slightly steep path to a chair for the wedding ceremony. 

            The ceremony is uniquely ‘taylored’ to Jen and Ken and their desire for a ‘Pirate inspired’ wedding!  They adapted a Hispanic tradition to a pirate treasure chest; Matty brought up a tiny treasure chest at the beginning of the ceremony.  He had the biggest grin on his face looking up at Kenny, and then didn’t realize there was a change in the terrain and wiped out on his bottom!  It was priceless, but he went running to Mom afterward!   With Kenny’s Coast Guard background, all the participants were listed as Our Trusty Crew!  A reading of their ‘Love Story’ used nautical and pirate terminology, as did their vows!  It was just fun! 

            Appetizers and drinks during pictures, then a good meal.  We were assigned a table with Mom and Liz and Dave.  Kirsty and Gretchen wanted to know why Jed got to sit at the ‘big kids’ table!  (They were at an ‘outer’ table with the kids! Judging from the look of that table cloth at the end of the evening, it was a wild meal!) 

            We try to get a few family pictures, but it is hard with all that’s happening!  I got a ‘girls’ picture but failed to get Jen in it!  Rick took a selfie of the three of us back at the hotel (since we were all dressed up in matching clothing!)  Also got a shot of Mom Mac! 

            Into bed and Mom quickly was asleep!  We watched the end of the Olympic gymnastic trials and then lights out as well! 

Monday, 7/11

Home to Baker City! 

            A long day but we cruised the 600 plus miles to Baker City in just under 10 hours.  Stopped only for bathroom breaks or gas (Winnemucca – gotta love a Prius!)  Rick drove up to Donner Summit, Jed to Winnemucca, Rick to Jordan Valley, and I took us home from there.  Luke had the gates open and driveway almost clear (only Jed had keys to his car!).  Rick and I will miss our welcoming committee when we come home this fall! 

            A GOOD trip, other than the two messages to let us know that first Louise Trapp had passed away and then today the call from Luke that Pat Fessel had passed.  That one was tough to take.  Loved those two ladies!