Austin Antics -: Summer 2013 - FAMILY REUNIONS BOTH HAPPY & SAD!

Saturday, July 27th. Dawned to a refreshed day after the rain the night before at Trinity Lake. I was trying NOT to focus on the fact that it was my birthday, that I am now a whopping 69 years old, and that yet again we would be "on the road" on my birthday! Seems I haven't been home in my own house to "celebrate" for so many years that I can't even count the times.

Once again today is travel day - this time as far as Reno, tomorrow to continue on to Salt Lake area so that we can be there for the Memorial Services for my nephew David Morgan.

But I guess my attitude was good and we were rewarded with a fun experience: Serendipity. Wikipedia says: "Serendipity means a "happy accident" or "pleasant surprise"; a fortunate mistake. Specifically, the accident of finding something good or useful while not specifically searching for it."

The road we chose to take to Reno passed by Lassen Volcanic National Park. We chose to go through it. (One of the perks of being a Senior is the National Park Senior Pass. A one-time fee of $10 lets you into ANY National Park free of charge! We had used the pass at Glacier National Park a week earlier)

Apparently most of the world goes there to hike or bike it. But driving it was wondrous! We felt like we had moved into a totally new eco-system. On the "destruction" side (The volcano erupted in 1915 devastation miles of land around it) there is one sort of feeling. Part of it now is the presence of the bark beetle which has once again devastated the forest that has grown up since the eruption. We have seen too much of this on Cedar Mountain so I felt very sad to see the same thing here. Forest fires haven't helped either.

But as you start to drive higher and higher nearing the peak of Mt. Lassen you see beautiful things! Part of the time I felt like I was back in Bariloche, Argentina. Either snow melt is recent up high (there was still plenty on the ground) or there has been a lot of rain because green, green, green was everywhere - in all kinds of shades. It was glorious! (I am pretty into green right now). Of course photos never do justice to what the eye sees, but here is a taste!

The photo doesn't show it well, but this abundant ground cover glinted like shiny silver as you drove by...peppered with lavender blossoms.

Nature takes its course. Even the decomposition seemed fascinating to me

This is the view that reminded me of Bariloche, Argentina. You could see for miles and there were multiple volcanic peaks and blue lakes

Mt. Lassen. Notice all the shades of green in this landscape! So pretty

Even the small lakes were green!

This was called diamond rock

More shades of green

The park also boasts several boiling, smelly fumerols

Nathan and Colleen left Trinity Lake after we did, but our trip through the park put us behind them later in the day. They arrived at Reno before us. Becky & Charles had come the night before. They left right after dinner so they could travel while the kids slept.....but for a couple of hours we were all there with Annalee and Andre who graciously gave us a dinner of superb grilled burgers & hot dogs. Charles disappeared in the middle of dinner....and went somewhere to find this nice birthday cake!! (It was way YUMMY chocolate!)

So I actually DID get to have my birthday with my family after all!

Just have to upload one last photo or two. Aria was getting a bit cranky and more than a bit into everything she could touch. Somehow Aunt Colleen found the solution! Tickle her tummy like a baby kitten.