11 Years and Counting!

I've heard if you make it through years 3, 5, and 7 of marriage you're sure to make it. I'm thinking it should be if you make it a year in an RV with two kids, a dog, and all of its challenges you're sure to make it. 

We rolled out of Yosemite all smiles bound for Tahoe. Then, we hit a 16% grade, hair-pinned road and came to a halt in Coloma, CA brakes smoking. As Shawn doused them with water and went for walk, I knew we weren't going any farther. I scrambled for an RV park and hallelujah there was one around the corner...over this bridge. Stop it. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I still don't know how we made it across. 
We blew some money staying two nights in a nice RV park and chalked it up to the equivalent of going out to dinner back home. Cheers. We let it go and let ourselves enjoy wifi, a pool, a hot shower, the park's cute, western decor, and the delightful little town of Coloma, CA. It turns out Coloma, CA is where gold was first discovered, and we lucked upon the town's annual Gold Rush festival!
Our RV park!
Right on the river!
The Gold Rush Museum
Panning for gold! 
Making our own candles.
Working with tin.
Learning how to use a washboard.
Making rope.
Watching the blacksmith work!

Celebrating 11 years of marriage!
We have wifi!

Then... we made it to Tahoe! Lake Tahoe was to be a three day stay and then we'd head to Lassen National Park. We stayed six. Lake Tahoe was nice, but I imagine it is really something during both its summer and winter tourist seasons. As it was, we arrived at the start of fall. It was chilly, quiet, and there was little to do. PERFECT.

We simply did life here for six days. We went to the library, got a lot of school accomplished, did crafts, played in the lake, had dance parties, and even did some baking. It was a nice break from being constant tourists. Two things I will always remember here are the girls making craft stations and each leading the family through a fall craft - we have now already decorated for Halloween - and daddy riding away on his bike with a huge bag of laundry towering on the handlebars. I have never loved him more. The laundromat was three blocks away!

We did take one day to do some of the amazing hikes they have here in Tahoe, one being down to the Vikingsholm castle. Beautiful! 
 

Not much to report on this leg of the trip, but that was what we needed! Now we're off to Ashland, Oregon to see Grandma and Grandpa! We have been counting the days! 



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