More Pictures from Mom's visit

Stillwater Mountains and Wildlife Refuge (for birds). Taken 30 minutes from our house. The water may surprise you, but it really is a desert!

Seabee Dave: Taken outside Dave's building on base. "Can Do" is the Seabee's motto.

Yosemite Trip with Mom Sanders

Mom Sanders came for a visit this month and she joined us on our trip to Yosemite. It was a trip for Dave to take pictures for his classes and also for fun. We left Reno on Friday, Oct. 10 with snow falling from the sky like rain. The snow caused the passes throught the Sierra Mountains to be closed so we could not reach Yosemite that evening. We had to find a hotel on the Nevada side and make our way into Yosemite the long way around. We finally arrived Saturday at noon to the Wawona Hotel. Traces of snow could be seen in Yosemite but nothing like in Reno. I was shocked to see snow so early in October.

Mom took a picture of Dave in action. The picture above was the view.

Mom and I visited the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia's. This is the California Tunnel Tree. (and yes, it was cold!)

We stayed in the Wawona Hotel which was inside the park. It was built in the 1800's so our room was just a bedroom, no bathroom! We had to walk outside onto the wrap around porch to the community bathroom. The hotel was very old but maintained very well. I felt like I was in a different time period. Everything was antique and fit the era.

What a catch!

Dave caught some fish this weekend while on our church's men's retreat. He was proud of his walleye fish, picture here. He fried it up for us to eat for lunch....yummy!

Reno Hot Air Ballon Race Pictures

Dawn Patrol: 5 balloons lined up side by side filling their balloons with air and then they (minus 1) launched into the air for a spectacular show . . . set to music! (Check out the video below.)

Dave - doing what he does best!

We might have tired looking eyes because we arrived at 4:15am for the early show!

We were surrounded by 100 balloons on the ground, filling their balloons with air.....

then, they launched into the Reno air for an amazing show! (Check out the video below.)

Reno Hot Air Ballon Race Video #2

100 balloons launched into the Reno sky.

Reno Hot Air Balloon Race Video #1

This was called the Dawn Patrol.....it occurred when the sun was just rising on the horizon. Five balloons set up in a line and lifted into the air one after another (except the 5th had problems and did not lift). It was spectacular!

Yosemite

Dave and I spent Labor Day weekend in Yosemite enjoying the great outdoors and amazing views. This photo includes famous Half Dome to our right. We liked our little tent cabin....4 walls, a roof and a bed (but I forgot to take a picture of it)!