Denise and Dave Visit

     Denise and I represent a three-generation friendship. Our grandfathers met when they were both working for the men's wear store.  Denise's grandfather was my grandfather's boss.  The families became friends, and they took joint vacations.  On one of those vacations, they went to Rosarita Beach in Baja California.  Our mothers became friends at the age of eight.  After our mothers married and started families of their own, they would visit each other weekly.  I have fond memories of swimming in Denise's family's pool in Reseda.  Her family joined ours over the years for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Now, Denise and I stay in contact despite the fact that she now lives in Colorado and I still live in California.

 

     This July, after I returned from Chicago, Denise and her husband Dave visited for a few days. We had a wonderful visit.  It was fun to show Dave around a part of California he had never seen.

We drove up Highway 4 to Mosquito Lake and down into Hermit Valley.  Ebbett's Pass is one of my favorite haunts!

 

 

                                        
                                         We drove back to Alpine Lake, where my children and I camped
                                          each summer with friends, and hiked into Duck Lake.
                                          I had never completed this hike, so I was excited to
                                         try a new trail.

                                          When we returned from Duck Lake, we walked along the
                                          shoreline of Lake Alpine.  It is a beautiful lake surrounded
                                          by pines and granite!  It is one of my favorite local spots.

                                        For the remainder of their stay, we visited Sonora and

                                        went wine tasting in Murphys. Below, Dave is cooling

                                        his feet in Murphys Creek in the park.

 

                                           

 

                                       Then, they left to join

                                        Denise's brother, Greg, and his family in Yosemite.  I

                                        drove over to spend the day with them.  I hadn't seen

                                        Greg since he was in high school.  I met his wife, his daughter

                                        Jennifer and her boyfriend.

                                         This is the view we are blocking!

                                                 
                                          Once we were on the valley floor, we met some very tame
                                          deer.

                                         Denise and Jennifer were very happy to reconnect!

 

 

We decided to get some exercise and hiked part way up

the Yosemite Falls' Trail.

 

                                          

                                               By the time we hiked down, it was time to return
                                               to Greg's campsite for dinner.  I had to say farewell
                                              to my good friends and drive back to Murphys.  We
                                              will look forward to our next adventure!