Reno

So we took this weekend to travel to Reno since we heard from the local Quinconians that it was well worth the trip. It was just a short drive down and over to Western Nevada. Thankfully it was all interstate driving which we aren't exposed to much. Upon arrival, we took our time shopping through some of our favorite stores which have gone unvisited since moving to the mountains. It had a similar Las Vegas feel, but the surrounding mountains had much more character. The city is filled with unique restaurants and boutique shopping.

We headed further south to Lake Washoe State Park to camp for the evening. Sure enough, we still haven't learned our lesson about camping in cold weather and spent the night shivering. There wasn't much to the park except an amazing view of the Sierra Nevadas. What a refreshing awakening after a sleepless night. We took advantage of being near the casinos to satisfy Sebastian's craving for a breakfast buffet. We hit Atlantis and promptly attacked the never ending supply of omlettes, mini waffles, bacon and every other breakfast food lacking nutrition.

We rolled out of our table and took a brief tour of downtown Reno. The city has spent a lot of money in refurbishing its river district. They did a great job on all the parks and other public spaces put it. Our only regret is not being able to spend an evening to experience the nightlife...we just couldn't deal with another icy overnight stay.

Tahoeshoeing

This week's adventure may have been the most amazing yet. The day started with a gorgeous sunrise in the mountains, we've learned to expect nothing less. After we picked up some goodies from a local bakery, we headed to Lake Tahoe. We got some insider tips from a park ranger who sent us on some trails in the state park. 3.2 miles is otherwise a walk in the park, but strap on a pair of snowshoes, 3 feet of snow and some good ol' wind from the lake and you've got yourself a great workout! Lunch has never tasted better! We rested on some rocks at the lake shore and tried to soak in our surroundings...the super white snow on the mountains....the Caribbean colored water...the crashing of the waves on the rocks. We both described it as surreal, it felt like we were living in a movie or fantasy land.

Exploring our backyard

In typical Bunster fashion, we decided to embark on a leisurely hike that runs parallel to a local river. At the end of the "one mile" hike we thought we were getting into, we navigated away from the main trail (aparently) and found ourselves atop a mountain. It was a beautiful weekend for hikes, and we completed a shorter one on Saturday. This area is filled with small rivers and we were amazed at how loud they are as they crash on the boulders on the river. We were surprised to find some hiking that doesn't have the 2 feet of snow that we still have at the cabin. The days are getting longer, and the blue skies are a great backdrop for the snow covered peaks. There is a chill in the air lately, that feels more appropriate with so much snow on the ground! This week we find ourselves planning a trip to Lake Tahoe which should include show chains, show shoeing, and good coffee!