Camp Blue and Blue Lake

It's late July and it is time for Camp Blue again! This year my sister is in Puerto Rico, so just Mom and I made it up to the Lair along with my friend Julia's family. After the Lair I stayed up in the Sierra's for a little backpacking trip to Blue Lake with my boyfriend Arne.

Saturday - Arrive at the Lair

Around noon on Saturday, mom met up with me and we headed up to the Lair. We had a good drive up, with less traffic then previous years. It was nice to be welcomed home to lair again by Mike White, the Blue manager for the summer.



This year, our tent was #4, with Julia Ken and Caleb right next door in Tent #5! After a relaxing late afternoon at the pool we had some drinks with the Browns' before heading to the dining hall and Thanksgiving Turkey dinner...a Saturday night staple.



Sunday - Walk around the Lake and Settle In

After breakfast I headed out for a walk to Pinecrest Lake and around it. I think this is one of the first times I have hiked around the lake! It was a fun 7 mile outing with the Browns, that ended in an It's It!

The afternoon was interrupted by scattered showers, which were good at dampening down the dust and clearing the air. It was an afternoon for reading in the lodge and an evening for playing card games like Lost Cities and Ticket to Ride.



Monday - Boulder Lake Hike



I went on the Lair hike up to Boulder Lake, which is off of the Clark Fork in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness. It was a beautiful hike up along a riverside through trees and meadows. Once we got to the top, I swam in the lake and then dried on the granite rocks.





Monday night, of course, was Disco Bingo.

Tuesday - Tie Dye



On Tuesday, I introduced Julia to Tie-Dye! She had never done this before. We made a series of shirts for me, her, our friends kids. I even made a matching set for me and Arne.



In the afternoon it was the staff softball game. I was first baseman again, and while it took and extra inning we did will. Then it was back to the art grove for some lanyards and pottery!



Wednesday - Walk to the Lake



After breakfast, I walked by myself over to Pinecrest to read and enjoy some quiet time, while mom played tennis.



It was nice to take a break and just enjoy the lake. I also went down to creakside to see the little memorial marker that has my dad's name. He loved the lair and it is always great to hear stories of him when I return.



In the afternoon, I played 2 on 2 volleyball with Ken. Sadly, we lost our match, but it was fun to participate in the tournament.



Wednesday night was the talent show...so many fun skits, the best being the Class on 2026 (a bunch of 2 year olds painted with cal colors jumping to Who Let the Dogs Out)

Thursday - Mom and the Lake



On Thursday, I played volleyball versus Gold in the morning and then hung by the pool. In the afternoon, we headed back to Pinecrest with our neighbor in Tent #1 for an afternoon by the lake.



We had pre-dinner drinks and music with fellow campers and Mike White.



Thursday night was the best...the Hootanany.

Friday - The Big Game

Friday morning it was time for the softball game. I played 1st and we crushed Gold, 24-0! It was amazing. Part of the reason for this was great hitting (I got a home run), but part of it was excellent fielding from some of our recent high school graduates. It was also nice to hear the guys say how my dad must be watching over me and so proud of my home run.



In the afternoon, I got a henna tattoo on my leg and then headed off to the dining hall for the last dinner of the week. The show was not good this year.

After the show, Arne showed up at the Lair, and got to have his first Lair Burger.



Saturday - Hike up to Blue Lake

Saturday morning, after packing up Mom, Arne and I headed up the Sonora pass to the "trailhead"/pullout for the Blue Lake Trail.



It was a long hike uphill. I don't really like hiking up. This particular hike had the most spectacular array of wildflowers I think I have ever seen...every color, all sorts of types...it was wonderful.



It was great to finally make it to Blue Lake, where we set up camp, had a snowball fight (it seems all of Arne and my hikes include snow), and then after a nap, go for a swim in the freezing cold water!



Sadly, over night the area filled with smoke from the Yosemite fire.

Sunday - The Road Home



In the morning, it was clear again and we headed down to the car on a mildly different path - so more lovely flowers and waterfalls. Then it was a long drive home, with a stop in Pinecrest for a It's It and then singing in the car till the Bay Area.



Once home, I picked up Summer from my coworker Mike's house and prepared to do a lot of laundry! It was a great summer holiday. More pictures can be found here: BLUE.

Tulum with Heather

For the Fourth of July Holiday, I headed down to Tulum, Mexico (2 hours south of Cancun) to visit my friend Heather Marlow, who was living and working at Zamas, a small resort on the beach.

Thursday: Arrive in Mexico



I left California Wednesday night, leaving my new dog Summer with my Mom, and flying first to Chicago and then to Cancun Mexico. When I arrived in Mexico, there was a man with my name on a sign, and I got a ride down the Riviera Maya to Tulum. When I arrived at Zamas, Heather was there to great me and show me around her place.



We swam in the ocean and then headed down the beach to La Zebra for some Salsa lessons. After 30 minutes of lessons, I needed a break, so I rested in a hammock on the beach. We headed back to Zamas, because that night was Salsa dancing night at Zamas, with a live band. It was fun to salsa and dance and play on the stage, reminiscent of many other trips with heather (San Diego, Hawaii, Caribean, now Mexico). I was worn out after dancing and ready for bed.

Friday: Everything Under the Sun



Friday turned into a day in which it felt like we did everything. We started the day by going into to town to look at a map of land for sale...the Mayans were recentally granted land and were now selling it. It turns out the piece being offered was several kilometers into the jungle, so not the best option, but it was interesting to see the parcels and the places.



Next we headed out to the Tulum Mayan ruins. I had been here before, 6 years ago with my mom and sister, and it was fun to come back and check out the cool ruins and also go swimming in the ocean. Tulum was a trading center and has some amazing old buildings.



After a lunch in Tulum town, we went out to Grand Cenote, one of the fresh water pools/caves, for a swim in cool water and afternoon siesta. Once back at Zamas, Heather showed off her organic garden.



We headed into town for a lovely meal before going dancing at Mezzinene - the friday night party place, with a number of Heather's local friends. I was exhaused by the end of the day.

Saturday: Day of Rest



Saturday was a wonderful day of rest. We slept in then headed down to Ocho Tulum to hang on the beach and enjoy the waves. The water is just wonderful, warm and salty and filled with fish.



That afternoon, we went to Maya Tulum for a Yoga class. It was a very relaxing and peaceful yoga class. My life got even better when following the yoga class I got a 90 minute massage out on the back porch of Heather's home.



That night we walked along the beach and then had an amazing meal at the best restaurant in Tulum, Santa Maragrita.



There is very little "Mexican" food in Tulum, it is mostly Italian and Argentinian, reflecting the tourists who came and then stayed. We had pasta and a "salt water" Fish. I got the recipe for the fish and will need to try it at home.



Sunday: Cheeseburgers in Paradise

On Sunday, after breakfast in town, we headed down to Punta Allen. Zamas is on the road to Punta Allen, and after the cabana resorts, there is a biological reserve. The reserve is beautiful, filled with jungle, a lagoon, and beaches.



We stopped at the bridge between the sea and the lagoon, and then headed to Sol Carib, 7 KM north of Punta Allen. Heather called this place Cheeseburgers in Paradise, because it is a paradise.



Beautiful beach, 4 bungalows, and the best cheeseburger I have had in years. SO GOOD.



We had a peaceful afternoon, reading, resting, and swimming. Then it was a quite final night at Zamas.



Monday: Going Home



Monday morning, I went for a swim, then had my favorite breakfast - Huevos Rancheros Zamas style.



Then it was time to say goodbye and head back to the airport in Cancun for the long trip home.



I had such a wonderful time in Tulum, meeting the local dancers and workers, lounging on the beach and just relaxing. I feel so lucky to know Heather and get to spend some time in her little slice of Paradise. Plus, they had 3 dogs to feed and play with, and puppies always make me happy. More Pictures.

Painting Done!

The painting in the house is all done! My projects, except for little updates here and there are complete.

I love having a bright and beautiful bathroom. It went from:



to this:








My bedroom was OK before, but I really hated the closet, and now it is a lovely blue and a tranquil place:







And my guest room is really working out. It was empty:



and now is filled with color and even has a guest futon:







The Great Room is also all decorated and bright:







It is so nice to have a cozy home, with tomatoes on my tomatoe plants and now a DOG to complete the household. Meet Summer, the 4-5 year old Aussie rescue (she was abandoned to the streets of Hollister) I brought home on Monday.