Medicine Lake after Memorial Day weekend

After a great weekend with Glorianne & Stan and so many other volunteers at the Shelly Creek Rendezvous  we headed up to Medicine Lake for a few days..The day we arrived on Monday was gorgeous! About 75 degrees.. We fished and then we took the kayaks for a little cruise about the lake.. Ripley & Kaylee were our mascots.. They love the kayaks.. Beautiful day..
We were also fortunate enough to not have to pay any fees at the campground, became the campground was not officially open.. G & S thought they may come up for the day on Wednesday, but to our surprise they came up Tuesday afternoon with the trailer and stayed over. We went out fishing late that afternoon and limited..  
We shared dinner together that evening.. It was an early evening..
Wednesday morning we got up and it was DAM cold! like 30ish! We got our there fishing and it was 37 degrees and with a wind chill factor of probably 27 degrees! FREEZING! But we persevered and caught our limits..Some of the fish had some size..  most were plants.We all shared lunch and then took a ride up Mt Hoffman to view Mt Shasta and the valley below! OMG it was breath taking! It didn’t even seem real.. We were up about 7500 feet!! The ride up was a bit nerve racking..eck..

Mt Hoffman View of Mt Shasta VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Soon after we got back to camp G & S packed up and headed home.. Bless their hearts! Great people! And I know they were exhausted after that weekend.. And they came up anyway.. Gotta Love em!! We do!! They had plenty of fish to take home!!
Ev and I fished both Medicine Lake as well as Bulls eye Lake.. We did well at both.. .
Thursday morning was the coldest yet.. There was a heavy frost on the truck when we woke Thursday morning.. We were lucky to even get in this time of the year at Medicine lake.. Usually the campground and roads are not open till the first of July.. But with the drought, we were lucky that there wasn’t much snow.. We had a GREAT vacation.. We got home about 6pm that Thursday..
I had to get home because I had to leave early Friday  morning for Sonora for a Moose Training class in Quick Books..

Medicine Lake VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Ft. Crook/Shelly Creek Rendezvous’ May 2014

This was the second year we volunteered to help with the fundraiser for the
Ft. Crook Museum. Our friends Glorianne and Stan were the organizers for this event.
Shelly Creek Rendezvous took place May 23rd-26th.  Set up was Friday morning and served dinner Friday night,
breakfast and dinner Saturday and Sunday and breakfast on Monday.
We were there for the Friday night dinner all the way through Sunday.
We are so grateful to be able to work with all these great people! I don’t’ think there is one person that doesn't put in their all!
I probably can’t remember everyone’s name, but I will try my best!
Chuck, Sharon, Bill & Betty, Harry, Larry, Robert & Patty, Harold, Gail, Larry & Camille, Rose, Jeanette, and a few other’s I can’t remember their names..Of course Glorianne & Stan the organizers of the whole thing! Both Ev and I have some great new friends in Fall River Mills area. Had a great time working with you all!
Really GREAT COOKS! Food was so delicious!!

Shelly Creek Rendezvous' May 2014 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Hat Creek @ Herford Ranch Campground

We arrived about 2pm on May 20th which was Tuesday. Glorianne and Stan had reserved the camp for them for Monday and Tuesday.. We were reserved for Tuesday/Wednesday and Thursday.
We got our camp all set up while they were away shopping for the upcoming Shelly Creek event coming up that weekend. What a gorgeous day it was..
We just bought some new chairs and thought it would be nice to just kick back and enjoy our surroundings…

That night we enjoyed dinner with Glorianne and Stan.. It was wonderful to see them.. We hadn’t seen them since the first of Oct of 2013 when we camped up at Medicine lake..
We would only spend the one night together and then they would leave to go so they could set up for the weekend at Shelly Creek.
We didn’t get up too early on Wednesday, but tried our luck (fishing at the “bridge”).. but had no luck.. Fishing wasn’t very good. WE took a ride up to the Hat Creek campground and tried fishing there as well. We ran into John Becker and girl that I went to school with husband.. Kathy Satori Becker.. Small world.. Even smaller when we talked to the people he was with\.. Kirk who went to school in Petaluma and graduated in 1978? think he knew my sister? and Scott was coached by my x-husband Mike Moyles in little league.. Small world I tell ya!

From left to right.. Kirk, John Becker, me and Scott..

We returned to camp and took it easy for most of the day.. when we got back G & S were already gone.. except not really cause they were dumping and came by to say good bye.. We would see them on Friday afternoon as we would be camping in their horse pasture, so to speak..
We walked the dogs around the little lake that they have at the Hereford Ranch Campground.. took some photos and just enjoyed the day.. just so peaceful..

On Thursday Ev and I decided to take a ride up to medicine lake to try some fishing up there.. As well to see if the road was open to the campground. Its about 75 miles from the Hereford Ranch Campground.. Well worth the ride!
We got there and there were a few fisher people there.. We limited in about an hour.. Mostly all plants, but heck that was great!

I am happy we drove up for the day.. There were quite few road hazards as we traveled up the hwy 49. A big tree was down and someone had taken and cut the middle out, we measured it to see if we could fit with the trailer.. and YIPEEEEEEE we would fit.. We decided after the Shelly Creek weekend we would go up to Medicine Lake for a few days/nights…

Hereford Ranch Campground VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 
We missed Stan’s 81st Birthday in early May.. So I promised him I would make him a Lemon Meringue Pie.. We all enjoyed the pie..

Lemon Meringue Pie at Camp VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Recipe for the Lemon Meringue Pie>>
http://www.clearlakevacationsonline.com/recipes/lemonmeringue.pdf

Pictures of Medicine Lake on Thursday May 22nd..

Medicine Lake area Thursday VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Dive Club’s Meet at Manchester Beach KOA

We just spent the most wonderful 4 days 3 nights at Manchester Beach KOA!


Most every year we are invited by our friends Mike & Mary Ann to join them at the coast along with several other friends/family. I do believe the group this year was about 35ish or so? We have been going for about 8 years maybe or so, sometimes we can’t always make it.. Anyway there are 2 dive clubs that meet, one from the bay area and one from southern CA.. They try and meet 2 times a year, once in May and then again in Sept. It is nice because these dive people go and dive for Abalone and they are so kind and generous to donate one or two for a big abalone feed on the last night we are all in camp. It is truly amazing!
The two prior nights we also share in our dinners as well. If you can just imagine all the food!!
Our friend Mike loves to cook!! He does amazing stir fry!! I don’t think I have ever been disappointed with his and Mary Ann’s cooking!!
We met so many new and wonderful and possibly life long friends at these great get togethers!
Our first day we got there about 2pm.. Got our camp all set up. Noticed that some of the dive club people were already there and set up, probably came in the day before. May more started arriving later that day as well as the next couple of days.
In the meantime Mike & Mary Ann with friends following them from Reno, Sergei and Galina. We didn’t do much that day except get set up and enjoy a cocktail or two along with dinner..
The next day we enjoyed a big group breakfast. After that HUGE breakfast, 6 of us took a walk down to the beach.. It wasn’t a short walk.. We were gone for over 2 hours! Dogs aren’t allowed on the beach there, so they never got to go on the beach this time. DARN IT!
On Friday evening again the whole group ate together again.. Same on Saturday as well as the big abalone feast on Saturday evening..
Mendocino below:

Saturday late morning we took a ride over to the town of Mendocino and walked through some of the shops. The weather was gorgeous! We did some shopping a lot of walking. We also walked down on the bluffs that over look the pacific! Just breath taking as you can imagine.. check out the photos!

Mendocino VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

That evening was the “feast’! OMG it was incredible! Earlier after we got back from Mendocino, there were a hand full of us that cut and pounded the abalone to get it ready for the “feast” of the weekend!

Feast Night VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

It wasn’t long and Janice was rounding everyone around to let them know it wouldn’t be long before her and Pete would be frying it and to be sure to come and get it fresh off the skillet! There was such an abundance of food! Everyone enjoyed it! Adults as well as kids! We couldn’t have these wonderful feeds if it wasn’t for the “few” that risk their lives to dive for this abalone! We had some abalones in camp that were as big as 10” and weighed 8#’s!! HUGE! I just want to Thank all of you for making this such a fun and memorable time!!
Our immediate group consisted of Mike/Mary Ann, Al/Gloria/Marcus, Joey/Tracy/Lyndon, Sergei/Galina, Raleigh/Helen, and their “nephew” Bob and great nephew Drake and of course us.

KAMP VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

We did meet another wonderful couple that lives over by Collin’s Lake, in the town of Dobbin’s, Mike & Michelle.. Hope we can get together with them again soon! Fun time!

Mother’s Day weekend 2014

 

Lindsy & Chris invited us down for the weekend for Mother’s Day. Friday evening we went to Colin’s baseball game.. What a great little ball player he is! Ev (Poppy) took some shots of him on the field. (In this age group there is no score and no pitcher, there is a pitching machine. Everyone on the team goes through and hits the ball either with the pitching machine or with a “T”. Then the other team comes up, they do this 4 times at bat). After the game Jeff & Cesar come over to Lindsy’s and Jeff & Chris cooked up some great hamburgers. Fun day! Thanks everyone!!

Colin's game VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Colin of course is the best player by far!! He will move up next year in the league to where there is actually a pitcher. He is so good! Of course he comes by it naturally. Both Lindsy and Chris are were very good in baseball/softball.
Saturday Colin went over to his papa’s. Lindsy, Chris, Ev and I went to lunch at the Mexican restaurant Velasco’s in Petaluma. uumm yummy food..
Lindsy and Chris went back to the house while Ev and I walked around downtown for a bit. We had a girls night out for Saturday evening planned.. Dinner & Movie.
We met Toni and her daughter Barb for dinner at Russo’s down in the theater district in Petaluma (Toni and Barb invited us to join them). The guys, Ev, Chris and Colin and then they went home while we girls went to see “The Other Woman” and terrific comedy!! Loved it! We had a very nice time..

Sunday morning.. Chris & Ev were busy in the kitchen cooking us “Mom’s” a really awesome breakfast! We all enjoyed the feast! Colin especially loved the pancakes, in spite of no syrup!! I am not sure where he puts all those pancakes, but he is sure growing!! Thank you guys it was a wonderful breakfast!!
After breakfast we had everything packed up and decided to meet  Lindsy at Macy’s in Coddingtown to do a little shopping.. It was fun to spend time with my daughter Lindsy on Mother’s Day.. Love you so much and want to Thank you for making this mother’s day extra special!!

From Santa Rosa to Calistoga we go. We made plans via text messaging to meet Jim & Shirley at Pacificos for a cocktail. It was wonderful to see them as it always is. They are so much fun. We enjoyed some conversation and drinks and chips/salsa followed by all of us moving across the street to the Calistoga Inn to have an appetizer and listen to David Neft play.. Nice music.. He is quite well known around Lake County and some other surrounding areas. David joined us for some enlightening conversation.. He is full of “riddles’ don’t ask me to repeat them as I have a horrible memory.. And I my brain doesn’t work that way..LOL

We enjoyed a lovely afternoon on the patio at the Calistoga Inn, weather was perfect, company was perfect, food was wonderful.. Soon we were on our way for yet a perfect ending to this perfect weekend!

Calistoga Inn VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

When we arrived home “my boy” Charles was her slaving away at cooking me/us dinner for Mother’s Day.. A true friend! And he is my adopted son, even though he is the same as as my brother Rick.. hehehee.. Charles is so good.. Love you Charles and thank you for making my the end of the Mother’s Day weekend extra special! Love ya.. Perfect weekend.. We got to spend time with people we love!

Colin’s Lake May 4-7 2014

We planned our trip to Colin’s lake a few months ago for this week. The weather could have cooperated a little better. However, we all made the best of it. It was cool/cold/windy/raining/ and sunny.. We got it all..
We, Phil & Toni, Wendell & Terri (from our philosophical group) all dry camped on the shores of Colin’s lake. The lake is really down from last year, 15 feet!! And last year was down about 12 feet! So that is a lot of “feet” to be down.. and figure that will drop another 3 feet with evaporation over the summer.. WOW! scary..
In spite of the weather, we made the best of it.

Here is our camp above..
When we finally arrived on Sunday, both Phil & Toni and Wendell & Terri were already set up..  Late as usual..oh well..
Sunday we mainly just sat around after getting set up and relaxed..
Monday, cinco de mayo,  Ev and I and the dogs took a 5 mile hike.. Ripley is getting old so had to carry him quite a bit. Kaylee just runs full bore! However both slept wonderfully!
We all shared different foods for dinner that night.. We had beans, carne asada, shredded beef, hamburger, etc.. had so much food. Weather was not cooperating.. We just finished up with the barb-q and soon the rains came.. they hit pretty hard for sometime into the night..
Earlier that day Wendell got his boat launched. He and Phil went out fishing and caught a boat load of nice trout! I do believe this was the first time that Wendell had ever done this well on the lake!! You GO Wendell!! Phil helped show Wendell the “lay” of the lake.. Proved to be a good thing!!

When we woke Tuesday morning, it was brisk and sunny and clear! However there was quite a bit of rain.. Phil went straight to fishing.. Caught himself a really nice one.. Trophy Size? 

Fishing over all was “ok”.. however I didn’t catch a dam thing! Guess I could have tried a bit harder? It was so cold.. and I kept loosing my gear, due to all the rocks.. guess I was a bit lazy? Ev fished too, but no luck either. Toni picked up old fishing line/hooks/trash on the shoreline, Terri read and just enjoyed the scenery.. We all managed to stay busy..
Ev and I had some problems with the trailer (what else is knew?). This time we were having to run the generator day and night, batteries wouldn’t charge!! DANG! So we decided on Tuesday to take the batteries to be checked.. there is a huge RV fix it place close by called Brown Valley Repair RV or something like that.. Blaine the owner checked our batteries and they were shot (of course and they were less than 2 years old dang it!) So we bought new batteries.. Much better now we didn’t have to run the generator so much!  Browns Valley RV>>http://bvrv.com/
After we came back that afternoon, we took that same 5 mile walk again with everyone this time!!

I do believe it wore everyone out.. especially the dogs..
Later the wind was blowing pretty good.. So Wendell decided to fly his kite!!

 

Colin's Lake VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Sometime people just amaze me..
Wendell & Terri and us had to leave on Wednesday.. that was the prettiest day of all and we had to leave.. Phil & Toni stayed on one more day.. They enjoyed the day..

Calendar Summer 2014

View full calendar>>
www.clearlakevacationsonline.com/linda-moyles-swesey/LindaCalendar2014.pdf

Crazy day with Friends!

We thought it would be a fun idea to get together before we get to far into May.. we contacted the Walsh’s earlier in the week so we could meet up for a lunch!! We won’t get to see much of each other over the few months.. We have quite the travel schedule as do Jim & Shirley.. 
We arrived at the Walsh’s just about 1pm on Thursday.. we had some munchies a cocktail and we were off to the Greenview Room at Hidden Valley Golf course.. Food was good, company was even better!

After lunch we went over to the Twin Pines Casino for “Happy Hour”… We played a little didn’t loose.. that’s a plus and had a cocktail..

When we were walking out of the casino we thought it would be fun to get creative and take this picture below, simply called “Feet”..

We also decided to go by the Boars Breath in Middletown to have what we thought we be our final stop..
Rob was behind the bar.. such a cutie.. and so personable.. Love this guy..
He makes an awesome Martini.. and a pretty great “Rob Roy” as well! We were just having way too much fun!!

As you can see Ev is really enjoying himself..

While sitting there at the bar, we decided to call Faith & Rudy to see if they were home and?? We invited ourselves over, sort of like “crashing” their patio!! What wonderful and gracious hosts Faith and Rudy are!! I can’t even tell you how many times we have just ‘dropped’ in on them..
We got to meet Bill their neighbor, nice guy.. His daughter is a country singer with a well known band, but am drawing a blank right now.. but will come back later when I remember and put it in..
And we got to see Rudy’s son, Keith whom was here visiting from Montana..
We had such a fun fun time today!! Thanks everyone for always being extra special! Love you all so much!

Great Day with wonderful Friends! VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL