Saturday, July 6, 2013

Lure of the west......................


.............California truly is a beautiful state, 
as anyone who lives there or has visited there 
knows only too well.


4th of July, 2013

We spent much of Independence Day in the air - 
leaving the rains of the southeast behind - Raleigh to 
Atlanta to Sacramento.......
to visit dearest friend Paula at her Summer lake house.  


This visit we flew into Sacramento rather than our usual destination of Reno. The scenery was stunning, the fertile fields of the San Joaquin Valley were laid out below like a jigsaw puzzle as we made our approach.


Picked up our rental car and were soon on our way northeast. 


Three plus hours driving through orchards as far as the eye could see - trees laden with peaches, apricots, walnuts and almonds - so beautiful, and a long drive through hairpin switchbacks through an amazing canyon and an ancient forest of tall pines................


.................on toward stunning Lassen National Park presided over by towering Mount Lassen volcano. As we drew closer to our final destination, beautiful Lake Almanor, friends were waiting including dear ones visiting from Australia.......so exciting!


Mt. Lassen - Lake Almanor, California
July 5, 2013

We're having a fabulous time on the water including celebrating Bob's birthday yesterday. Tomorrow we head to Oregon, a long day's drive to meet a lovely blog friend at long last.  
More soon dear friends.


Linking today to A Favorite Thing Saturday at Claudia's Mockingbird Hill Cottage.

15 comments:

  1. Enjoy! I can imagine the scent of the cool lake breeze - it must have been beautiful.

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  2. I bet you are having a wonderful time! And it doesn't look like it is raining, raining, raining there!

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  3. Have a wonderful time. It looks like an amazing time.

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  4. My goodness...you do get around. I'm having a hard time keeping up LOL...Glad you had a nice visit.
    Balisha

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  5. Hi Mary!

    Sacramento?? Oh my gosh, so close. One day we connect, I'm sure of it!

    Enjoy beautiful Oregon. All my best, Chris

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  6. Enjoy your trip to the west! The lake looks lovely and cool.

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  7. Hang on a minute Mary, it seems like you only just sat down after your last trip. You amaze and astound me. We're do you get the energy? You are my travel guru :-)
    Di
    xxxxx

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  8. You guys are always traveling! That lake looks lovely and I send a belated Happy Birthday wish to Bob! Have fun in Oregon, too!

    Thanks so much for joining in this week!

    xo
    Claudia

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  9. Your photographs are breathtaking. We lived in northern California many years ago. It is gorgeous! I hope you are having a wonderful day in Oregon. Be safe! Bonnie

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  10. Oh that lake looks so inviting. I love cold water.

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  11. Mary, as always your photos are just beautiful. I cannot wait to hear more about your trip! Hope you and Bob are having a wonderful time.

    M.A. @ Marie Angelique

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  12. Anticipating your arrival. The kettle is on and the pie is baked.
    I love flying in to Sacramento, how beautiful!
    All the orchards are so wonderful on your drive also. The pie tonight
    comes from apricots from one of those orchards. Oh how I love California
    apricots.

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  13. Beautiful! I've never been to California. We will be taking a road trip in August from New Orleans to Colorado to settle our son in at college. Yikes ! I can't believe the time has come. Enjoy your trip. Tammy

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  14. You just couldn't fail to have a wonderful adventure in such wonderful surrounding and seeing such dear friends.
    Rose H
    xx

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