After leaving Lassen Volcanic National Park on Saturday July 8th, we head Southeast towards the Nevada/California border. We stopped for a break in Quincy for supplies, lunch and a chance for the boys to stretch their legs in the playground. The park was cool and green in contrast to the browning hills and valleys, despite the rushing streams and rivers that we seemed to be perpetually following. The route along the 89 is winding and fluctuates in altitudes of 1000 ft in a matter of miles, although the grades never seemed very steep. By 5.30 we had reached the shores of Lake Tahoe and the cool relief of the pine forests that hug the Lake's edge all the way around it's perimeter.

We followed our instructions to reach Incline Village and to meet the Riebeling family, who were our gracious hosts for the weekend. Hayden and Nathan were just about besides themselves in anticipation of meeting Skyler, who is a few months older and wiser than our two.(The prospect of another boy to play with, had been our source of good behaviour blackmail for a few days....).
Sheri and Eric live in Reno, but kindly rearranged their busy lives for us, so we could get the local's perspective of Lake Tahoe. After a delicious barbequed T-bone (thanks Eric!!) we attempted to put the boys to bed..ha.ha...and proceeded to bombard our weary hosts with anecdotes of our trip thus far..(you know how that goes...you just can't help yourself!!)...

After a blissful night's sleep we were heading off early to the Lake for a guided tour in Eric and Sheri's speed boat. We actually had to wake the boys, which is one for the record. The sky was cloudless, and deep blue, as was the lake. The clarity was unbelievable, visibility for 30+ feet. We cruised around the Sand harbour area for a few hours, with the snow-capped mountains framing the lake. Multi-millionaire homes dominate the shoreline, one spectacular mansion we cruised past had a cave entrance for boats to dock right into the building, and underground passages between the various wings of the "house" so visitors didn't have to tramp through the snow in the winter after a hard days' skiing. Tahoe has many villages along its shores, supporting a large population, but the building codes don't allow any structure above the tree-line and hence preserves its tranquil, seemingly untouched, atmosphere. From our vantage point out on the Lake, it was wonderful to see only trees, mountains and sky, with no ugly buildings to mar the view.  The wind was at a minimum, and it wasn't long before people were out in their boats, para-sailing, sight-seeing, water-skiing and wake-boarding. Unfortunately Eric had to leave early for work and so we set up deck-chairs on the beach and watched the brave boys swimming in the chilly water and messing about in Skyler's boat. The ever-vigilant life-guards had few swimmers to watch over; needless to say the rips, stingers and sharks are non-existent in a lake.......

We passed a wonderfully lazy afternoon; with the three boys shooting their water pistols at each other, the squirrels, and some reluctant passersby(sorry folks). Later we decided on local Mexican fare for dinner....the kids were tired and irritable and bed was in order soon after arriving home. Richard and I drove down to the lake to watch the moonrise at sunset. Meanwhile Sheri had the kids bathed and ready for bed (Angel!!)
Next morning the boys were sad to leave Skyler and fondly recall the great time they had!!
Sheri and Skyler headed of to Reno and we took the 395 south back over the border into California heading towards Yosemite.
 

To Sheri and Eric and Skyler....

                Thank you for making our holiday truly memorable
                See you in the land of Oz one day soon !!

                                We wish all the very best in life for you,
                                        Richard, Kylie, Hayden and Nathan.
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