Reno/Incline Village, NV (overlooking Lake Tahoe)

Here's where the tour took us on Days 6 & 7:

Weds, 10/26 (Day 6): We left our Ft. Smith, AR hotel at 4:30 am (everyone was on time!), and flew the less-than-an-hour puddle jumper to Dallas. We ate a quick breakfast in the airport then flew the three hours to Reno, NV airport (thankfully, we all caught a bit of sleep on the plane). We arrived in Reno to a much colder, 31 degree day, and got our two rental vehicles: OH. MY. LORD. I was to drive a brand new, loaded, huge GMC Yukon: It is so huge that when I step out of the driver's seat, my feet don't touch the ground; I have to do a little hop. I was terrified at first, but it is so much fun, and I am handling this big beast pretty well.  Bill, the director, and I are the two drivers, and we need vehicles this big to handle 11 people and lots of luggage; at first I was a little worried about having this job, but I am really loving driving it.

And driving it HERE - in this heartstopping, breathtaking landscape - was an amazing experience! Those of us in my car on the drive had a collective experience of awe, all of us unable to stop sharing our wonder and gratitude for being able to experience this. We were literally high on the experience, and a few of us moved to tears. It was truly a bonding experience. While the pictures can absolutely NOT do it justice, it is still impossible to keep from snapping them at every turn!

Our view at about 8000 feet!

We started going down a bit after the climb; our condos are at about 6700 feet

So, the 11 of us (below is the picture of the entire cast and Bill, the director, before we left Chicago) are staying in 2 condos in Incline Village, NV, where from our balconies we can see a gorgeous view of Lake Tahoe and the sunset over it!

L to R - Ryan, Damian, Nick, Chris, Bill (Director), Kevin, Jeanne, Lucy, Sean, Ellie, Cameron

Looking West at Lake Tahoe, from our balcony

Bill, preparing one of the two fabulous meals he made for us;
Damian chopping onions.

 There are four bedrooms in each of the two condos, and most of us have our own room (two rooms are being shared) - which is a nice treat since we always double-up in the hotels. Also, 3 1/2 baths and kitchen/living area and W/D in each unit!

Chris in the living room

Sunset over Lake Tahoe

Dinner was a delicious chicken dish and bread pudding for dessert.

salad, polenta, and a dish of chicken stewed in ale and tomatoes
with carrots, prunes and thyme

Day 6 ended quite late, with much partying in the other condo (not the one I was sleeping in, which was probably good because I was the first to leave for bed, AND I heard this morning that there were a number of neighborly complaints about the noise); I went to bed at about 11:30 Western time (yes, that's 1:30 am Central!), while I know others probably stayed up another couple hours. I had a wee little  emotional breakdown when I went to bed, as I missed Brett so, so much. It was so late, I knew he was asleep so I didn't call him, but had a good cry, and then he surprised me by waking me at 5:30 am (7:30 am for him!), and we got to start our day together (we generally try to start it and end it together, and the addition of "facetime" with our new iPhones, has been a real blessing). In addition, there was a small earthquake! I felt a tremor shortly after I got into bed, though I didn't know what it was. I'm the only one in the group who felt it because everyone else was in the other condo, partying too hard to notice it; we heard about it on the news.

Good Morning!

Thurs, 10/27 (Day 7): Yesterday people got up throughout the morning and in my condo, a couple of the guys (Ryan and Damian) helped Bill make breakfast (scrambled eggs, bacon, toast) and I cleaned up. Three of the guys rented mountain bikes and reportedly had "one of the best day of their lives" doing some hard-core mountain-biking together. They even caught the major crash of the day on video (Cameron's helmet is trashed, his leg scraped up, but he is okay).  Most of the rest of us went on a hike for about an hour and a half.  Again, our breath was taken away by the scenery.

Sean, Lucy, Nick at the scenic overlook

Sean, starring as Spider Man, on the scenic overlook

Nick at the scenic overlook

Doesn't it look like a face?

I thought so, so I had to kiss it.

One of our walking paths

Ellie, Lucy, Sean, & Nick taking a water & snack break

Lucy and Sean and a little mountain snow

The Views!

The trees were glorious!

Kevin, taking in the scenery from a higher vantage point

Another sunset over Lake Tahoe

For dinner Bill made the most amazing lasagna known to man
and a delicious salad. Lucy and Ryan show how it's done.

Sean, Ellie, & Cameron getting at that lasagna!

Dessert - peach/raspberry crisp with ice cream.
Man! that Bill can cooookkk!

Today, Friday 10/28, we drive 5 hours to Klamath Falls, OR, and have a show tomorrow. Although I'm nursing a crazy headache from the altitude, I'm looking forward to more spectacular views during the drive!