Los Angeles

Following our wild experience at Silver Lake we were excited to get back to civilization. So excited that we ended up staying in the LA area for over a week. Our first stop was at our friend Reuben’s house; he lives near Santa Monica so we were able to check out the pier and delight in the perfect 80 degree weather. Following our time at the beach, we headed to Pasadena to spend time with some of Kaila’s family. We had a fantastic time at their very welcoming home but next time we’ll remember to use stronger sunscreen while laying poolside :) Next we headed a bit south to stay with Dolores’ BFF and her family in Lake Forest. We were very grateful to have such accommodating hosts for the several days that we journeyed through the magical world of Disneyland.

Us at the Beach

On this trip we decided to allot three days to venture through Disneyland and California Adventure. Three days may sound like a lot (and at times was for our feet), but it was nice to be able to enjoy the parks at our own pace. Unlike the swarms of teenagers and armies of strollers, we weren’t rushed and slowly but surely made our way to our old time favorites (Pirates, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain) and stumbled upon some great new-to-us attractions (Midway Mania, Fantasmic). As usual, our time at Disney was wonderful and proved to be a great way to spend our anniversary. 

Us Celebrating Our Anniversary at Disneyland

In addition to housing us for our time at the Magical Kingdom, the Cohen’s also showed us around town, taking us everywhere from the beach to workout class. Before our final stop Brian had the chance to meet up with a couple of friends from college. It was great to catch up and also try Peruvian food for the first time (which was delicious by the way). Finally, we traveled to Oxnard to spend a couple of days with Brian’s dad. While there we were treated to some great barbeque cooking and quality time. And in what turned out to be a happy accident, our last day in LA was Father’s Day and we were able to enjoy breakfast with Brian’s dad. 

Us with Brian's Dad on Father's Day

Again, we want to thank everyone who let us stay with them (often on short notice). We are extremely blessed to have such welcoming friends and family! 

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Silver Lake

After a few more wonderful hours in Tahoe (and more than our fare share of ice cream), we headed south to Silver Lake. The drive there proved both beautiful and frightening. Along with endless switchbacks and cliff sides came breathtaking views. 

View on the Road to Silver Lake

Following several hours of driving and stops at the Manzanar historic site, in Bishop for a kitschy bread shop and at Mono Lake we reached Silver Lake. Nestled among the Sierras, the lake area is quaint and quiet and is known for its fishing. Brian was especially excited to arrive because he has countless childhood memories (RV) camping with his grandparents at the lake. 

Silver Lake

Upon arrival, we were eager to set-up camp and enjoy the next three days quietly on the shores of the lake – but nature had other plans. During our first night we experienced 40 mph wind gusts which left us with little sleep and the fear of our tent flying away. Relieved to wake-up to sunny weather, we were hopeful that the worst was over. Although some wind gusts persisted, Brian was determined to catch a fish and headed out to the lake. While away, Kaila manned camp and began to witness tent flattening wind. As the wind was paying its toll on the tent Brian noticed black storm clouds roll over the mountains and took off running back to camp. Given the imminent storm we quickly started to tear down camp, creating a ridiculous site to see. We moved as fast as possible, dodging pieces of our tent, throwing our belongings haphazardly into the car and laughing all the while. We then sat and waited for the storm to pass; slowly but surely the rain came, the hail came and the 50mph wind came. Given the extreme weather we spent the next 16 hours in the car, passing time by reading, sleeping and trying to learn the game of cribbage. 

Our Tent During a Wind Gust

We were exceedingly happy to wake-up the next day to calm weather and sunny skies. That morning we headed to the lake, Brian hoping to land himself some fish. A few hours later we strolled away with five fish and feeling much accomplished.  The remainder of our time at Silver Lake was spent hiking, eating fish, enjoying the campfire and realizing why Brian’s grandparents owned an RV.

Brian with His Catch

Though our time at Silver Lake was not quite what we expected, we were definitely left with lots of unforgettable experiences. We hope to venture back to the lake, next time with reservations for a cabin. 

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Lake Tahoe

After over 10 hours of driving we were definitely relieved to arrive at Lake Tahoe. Driving in you instantly see what lures countless tourists each year – the sheer beauty of the lake. As we headed to our campground we got glimpses of the lake through the various surroundings which included everything from cabins to casinos. After setting up camp we were exhausted and managed to fall asleep by 8:00 pm!

The next day we were up bright and early to experience all that Tahoe has to offer. We first headed up to Fallen Leaf Lake to check out the area.  We were pleased to see that they had some real estate for sale but we ran into one slight issue – we were short about 1.3 million. After dealing with that disappointment we continued on to see a quaint little chapel which looked like something out of Hansel and Gretel. Located close by the chapel was a picturesque waterfall of which we made sure to get photos.

Waterfall at Fallen Leaf Lake

 Next on the list was Emerald Bay which according to locals is the second most photographed location in the country. It was a truly a beautiful view, overlooking the pristine lake and the Emerald Bay shores. On our way back to the campground we stopped by the Forest Service Center and happened upon a Bird Festival. While there we realized we never want to run into a California Condor and Brian managed to startle a falcon. 

Emerald Bay

 Later in the day we were lured to Harrah’s Casino by $.99 tacos and margaritas (yes we know, camping can be rough). While there we tried our luck at video poker and Brian cashed out up $25. Ironically we didn’t stay for tacos or margaritas because we had to leave to meet up with Brian’s cousin Mary Ann and her boyfriend Mark at Camp Richardson. While there we enjoyed some great music and they introduced us to a local favorite, the Rumrunner. Following our time with them we headed back to camp and enjoyed the rest of the evening by the campfire. 

Us with Mary Ann and Mark at Camp Richardson

We have greatly enjoyed our time in Tahoe. It is a fantastic location that has many experiences to offer. And while we did not get a chance to  do everything we look forward to returning in the years to come. 

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Departure

Today we left for the ride of a lifetime. Setting out from Portland at 5:00 am, our car full to the brim, we waved goodbye to all normalcy and headed toward the unknown. Although we are sad to leave life as we know it (especially our cat) we are so excited to start a new adventure! We hope that as you visit our blog you will experience the adventure right along with us. We truly appreciate all the love and support of our friends and family – without you all we probably would not have made the crazy decision to leave in the first place. Enjoy!