A drive up Monitor Pass to see the Aspens..Plans coming together for a meet up with some Special Friends!

Thursday morning we awoke to a beautiful sunrise here at Washoe Lake State Park.  Making it even prettier was the clouds in the sky!  We were treated to this rainbow that was so big even when I backed up across the street my camera wouldn't get it all in! Love it!

After breakfast and showers we got ourselves going heading out of the campground and over to highway 88 over by Minden, NV.  Then we turned on the road to Markleeville.  After passing through the little town, we made a left on Monitor Pass.  According to leaf peepers the pass was in 75 to 100 percent of colors on the aspens (my favorite tree!).  It was a beautiful drive as always, but at the summit the colors were already gone. Either we missed them by a day or two or the wind from the night before took care of that!  Oh well, there's always next year.  We were still able to capture a little color in the lower elevation.  

Just so pretty yesterday morning!

I admit I'm a little Aspen Crazy!

Heading down Monitor Pass

We stopped at Topaz Lake (1/2 in Nevada 1/2 in CA)  to check out their camping facilities, thinking we could put the kayaks in next spring or summer.  Might be a day use day rather than camping, but the lake is beautiful! 

Topaz Lake

From there it was shopping at Walmart for some much needed groceries and a few bday cards. CVI for Linner and then to Raley's to pick up Ken's prescriptions. Once we finished that it was back to the campground.  

It was very windy, so not working for sitting outside and a fire :( Well, we've got one more night, so we'll hope for Friday night! 

After a not so great night sleeping we got out of bed about 0545 to have our coffees and do some visiting with our blogging friends! Frozen water pipes greeted us this am, but using the pump still worked. I asked Ken what he wants for breakfast, guess?!  Betsy's Big Kitchen...haha.  Then we're looking for a new bar b q to keep in the trailer, a manual hydraulic wood splitter for home and a few other things. 1545 Ken's gastro checkup.  It'll be a busy day, ending with some delicious bar b q burgers! Can it get any better?! Oh and I see we're getting another letter from our Marine in the making when we get home!! 

Had a great conversation with Deb (Celebrating the Dance)! We're planning on meeting up in Winnemucca at the end of the month and then they'll follow us home for a few days!! Do you know how excited we are! YAYYYYYYY! 

All good from the surgeon..a beautiful night!

Waking up here in beautiful Washoe Lake State Park! We slept really good as it was 0645 before I got out of bed to start the coffee!  Never sleep that late at home! Guess my body knows it's on vacation (kind of).  

Yesterday (Tues) we got here just about 1030. Perfect time as the park had lots of spots for us to choose from.  Not so much this am! We got ourselves set up and then enjoyed being here for a bit. It was a lovely day with the temp topping out at 77 degrees. 

Eventually we left and headed for Carson City, just a few miles away! Ken had his appointment with the surgeon and his parting words were "Go live your life!" Ok..sounds good to us! 

After that appointment we headed for Betsy's Big Kitchen and figured we'd have dinner to celebrate! We did, and then headed back to camp where we were able to have a nice fire!  Eventually we called it a night. 

The view from our campsite! 

The other view

Today we headed out and visited Big Betsy's Kitchen for Brunch at about 1030. I know we're being bad but what the heck..

Ken had the ham steak and eggs! It  was huge!
We brought half home for breakfast in the am!

We headed for Lowe's for a heater for the trailer.  We have hook ups so why use our propane right?!  Walmart for a head of lettuce and water and we're out of there! I had a 1500 appointment for a mammogram..I know Patsy..not what we want to do..My insurance doesn't cover. so I wait until October it's $100.00. Because we live in Yerington about 90 miles away the radiologist looks at it when I'm there and then Nicole comes out and says All is good We'll see you next year! Ok happy camper! From the mail the other day I got a notice that insurance for me only is rising from $433 a month to $505 REALLY!!! It doesn't cover anything but major medical..guess the only plus is being 65 a year from December!! Uhhhh...

Our beautiful sunset! :) 

We headed for the trailer and were hoping for a fire outside, but too much wind :(
 We did enjoy ourselves inside and then we had a chicken taco dinner. 

Time for bed now..Hope you all enjoyed your night!! 

Mason goes to Homecoming! A Backroads drive to Aurora, NV!!

Saturday night grandson Mason attended his first Homecoming Dance.  I can't believe how fast our grandsons are growing up!  

Mason and Lily! Aren't they adorable?!!

Mason and his friend Jackson!

Mason and his Momma 💗

Mason and friends, ready for Homecoming! 💙

Sunday morning during breakfast I asked Ken what his plans for the day were.  Well, he was thinking about going for a drive..ok I'm in. :) I had been thinking the same thing but since it seems lately we're always heading for Carson or Reno for doctor appointments.  This was a fun drive, not for business! 

I made tuna sandwiches for a picnic lunch, not knowing for sure where we'd be.  We hit the road and headed for Aurora, Nevada.  We've heard people talk about it, as there's a mining operation and a  well kept old cemetery there.  

This house was 20 miles in on a dirt road...but I could live there
it was so cute!!

The Walker River! Love it!

We headed out of town and then turned off on a nice gravel road.  Some of it we've been on before, but then it turned into new uncharted territory.  A beautiful drive.  A well maintained gravel road for a few hours.  A person here and there, friendly, everybody waves :)  Eventually we got to the intersection which would take us to Bridgeport or Hawthorne. If we continued straight we'd be at Aurora! 

Love the changing scenery! 

We're going to find it!!

About 5 miles down the road we saw the sign to the Aurora Cemetery.  Surprisingly there were a few other people visiting the cemetary.  It really is a nicely kept place, for being so remote.  It's obvious some group must come up on Memorial Day or something and place silk flowers on every grave :) 

This grave was surrounded by a castle..  :)

I loved the way the gates were put together!

1999 was the burial date 

Thought this was cute! And so true!

Really old fencing..

Our "white trash lunch" back of a tailgate :) 

Once we were done looking around, it was time for lunch. We used the tailgate as our table and just enjoyed the simple sandwiches, chips and of course an adult beverage. It was special you know?! haha

Once we were finished, we headed out towards Hawthorne, NV which is about an hour from home. 22 more miles of gravel, dirt road and incredible scenery :) 

This rock reminds me of Cathedral Gorge State Park..NV

Right across was lava rocks!

That's the road we came up on!

Beautiful views!!

Mining operation

Hawthorne, NV

Walker Lake, NV..

We arrived home just about 1600.  A great day all the way around. Ken decided we might as well end the day with a fire outside.  A great way to end the day :)

Sun going down!!

Today we spent the day getting ready to head out to Washoe Lake State Park, keeping our fingers crossed we get a spot!  It used to be a well kept secret, but no more!  

Cheryl (dau in law) sister Kim has been staying w
them for a bit. Today Bryan turned sofa upside
down to fix the feet as they are sliding on the floor ..and only took
Kim a minute to turn the couch into a bar! HAHA..
Nice job KIM!!!

Here in a bit we're heading over to Karen's for a short Happy Hour as we've still got things we want to get done. 

Have a great evening!