Mineral Springs

Let me begin by telling you that I forgot to take my camera along on this little outing, so there are no pics to accompany this post...

... for some of you I know that means you will stop reading right. about. NOW.

For the rest of you, continue reading and use your imagination to picture the pure awesomeness!

So, instead of giving you all the details of the day, I'll skip to the hot springs.  Basically, Mike has some friends visiting from North Carolina and they have all been skiing non-stop.  Yesterday they decided to rest their legs and what better way to do that than massages and long soaks in hot springs?  I can't think of any better way to rest.

We went to this place called David Walley's which is a resort/spa down in Carson Valley.  It's a rustic, log cabin type of place with lodging, an elegant spa, and big soaking pools that they fill with water from the hot spring (which is not so much a natural pool, but more of a steamy/warm creek).  I won't lie to you... I was a little disappointed at first because there aren't any "natural pools" but I soon realized that was probably more ideal because you get an actual seat, as opposed to standing or squatting or sitting on the edge of the rocks in a natural pool.

The place was beautiful.  It's nestled at the edge of the Carson mountain range - to one side you see steep, desert mountains that slowly change into snow covered peaks, and to the other side you see wide open plains in the valley with another snow capped mountain range in the distance.  We got there around 5:00 pm and we were just settling down into the mineral pools as the sun was setting.  It cast a gorgeous pink color across the sky.  Sitting in the 104 degree pool, you felt totally weightless... like there was zero stress in your body.  It was amazing.  When the sun got low enough, the biggest, and most golden full moon started to rise.  It truly looked as if you could reach out of the spa and touch it.  I was totally in awe of the moon.  We sat in the hot springs long enough to watch as the stars came out.  Unbelievable.  Breathtaking.  And all I kept thinking/saying was, "DANG, I wish I had my camera."

David Walley's which has been around since 1862, also has a restaurant that we had heard really good things about.  So, after we were all sufficiently wrinkly, we showered and headed over to the restaurant.  You enter through 2 huge wooden doors to a dark and rustic atmosphere.  They had a wood burning fireplace with a roaring fire, big leather oversized club chairs scattered about for cocktails and socializing with friends, and big deer, elk, and ram heads on the walls.  Very masculine, but cozy place.  We decided to eat at the bar and the food was amazing.  Mike and I both had the Atlantic seared salmon with herb polenta in a marsala mushroom sauce.  De-lish.  Everyone at the table cleaned their plates.

It was a wonderful, relaxing day and as we drove up the mountain toward home, I couldn't take my eyes off the huge, bright white moon that was truly lighting up the snow around us.  It was such a peaceful day and I'm so glad I got to witness such natural beauty.

Now, who is ready to come visit us in Tahoe???

Scenic Sunday

Since my last post a week ago, I have been busy at work at the hospital.  'Tis the season for ski injuries... bad for the skiers/snowboarders... good for the per diem PT who needs hours at the hospital.

Because of work, I haven't had many opportunities to get outdoors this past week.  Mike has been skiing a few days, and I was able to ski one day at Heavenly.  So, when I got home today I decided to take Zater on a car ride around town... just checking out the beautiful scenes at the sun was setting... and letting him stretch his legs in the fresh mountain air...

Here are some pics...

Plenty of space for the dog to play... and not a bad view for me. 

Always good advice: Please don't kill plants for snowman arms!  

Happy pup sportin' his "ruff wear" 

Not the best panoramic... but you get the idea of what it looks like at El Dorado Beach

Crystal clear water

Seagulls and mountains 

Lake Tahoe:  Where you can sled right down to the water! 

Walkway to the marina in the Tahoe Keys neighborhood

I am pretty positive... viewing this sunset will never get old.

A full moon rising over Carson Valley

While I was down at El Dorado Beach, I decided to capture a quick movie of the waves crashing... you'll hear bongo drums in the background... 2 guys hanging out on the picnic table in the distance were playing the drums.

Paddleboarding and Skiing...

... in the same weekend.  One of the many reasons we love it here so far.  This weekend's activities were AWESOME... and exhausting... so this blog is mostly pictures.  Enjoy! 

So on Thursday afternoon, after we both worked a few hours in the morning, we decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and skinned around Genoa Peak which is VERY convenient to our house.  We weren't at the top, but the views were still amazing.

Such a happy dog

If I didn't take these crazy pictures of me... people might not believe that I was there! 

The meadow... nice and flat 

A dog really is a man's (or woman's) best friend. 

Friday I worked a half day, followed by grocery shopping and assembling our recently delivered new chairs (so our guests now have a place to sit).  We also had dinner with another couple at a local sushi restaurant.  

Saturday, the weather was BEAUTIFUL.  We drove about an hour and a half to Folsom, CA.  That's right... home of Folsom Prison where the one and only Johnny Cash performed 2 concerts.  The temperature was in the high 60's and sunny.  We went paddleboarding on Folsom Lake for a few hours.  

Felt like we were paddleboarding in the desert. 

That's a lot of gear on that truck... for a lot of fun activities! 

So after paddleboarding... we HAD to swing by Folsom Prison to see the prison museum (which of course was equally filled with Johnny Cash memorabilia).  

The East Gate at Folsom Prison... 

Home Sweet Home in the distance

Bridal Veil Falls 

Sunset on the drive home

And finally Sunday... we skinned Mt. Ralston.  After our long paddle the day before, we made it CLOSE to the top, but not quite to the top of the ridge.  

Pyramid Peak 

We climbed approximately 2500 vertical feet... 

... and my heart rate monitor said I burned 2800 calories!  :) 

We have blisters on our hands from paddling... blisters on our feet from skinning... our muscles are sore... and we are happy!  The only thing that could make it better is if our friends/family from NC were here too!  

We've got snow banks...

the size of Subaru Outbacks... 

... and we haven't had a heavy snowfall in WEEKS! 

Here's a few more pics from our Sunday afternoon drive... 

The view of the sunset from our couch.