Sept 20th heading South to Tuolumne Meadows & Virginia Lakes in Ca

Meeting up with relatives, John & Margie, Dave & Allison along with Jon and our grandson, at the John and Margie's Black Mountain Lodge, elevation 9806 ft. The miner's cabin in the picture is definitely not their cabin. Very breathtaking, a little hard to breathe the first day but we soon adjusted to beautiful high Sierra back country. Here are some pictures in Tuolumne Meadows and Saddlebag Lake, Virginia Lakes, hiking and biking .

Sept 18th Eastern Oregon, Nevada, Mono Lake area

After leaving the beautiful Wallowa Mountains we headed back through Easter Oregon. Barbs is standing near the desolate Mauheur National Refuge in Eastern Oregon, the picture of me is at Topaz Lake in Nevada. Then on to the Beautiful Mono Lake area at the base of the Eastern Sierra's to meet up with our daughter-in-laws parents John and Margie at the their cabin at Virginia Lakes near Bridgeport Ca. I think it is said to be the highest if not one of the highest livable cabins in the Sierra's at 9808 ft. When we first visited them there we were stunned by the magnificent scenery situated beneath the glacial-carved granite of a 13,000 ft Mount Dundenberg.

Chief Joseph Mt, The Wallowa Mt's & Lake

After attending Harold's 100th we headed to North Eastern Oregon to a town and Wallowa mountain region that we heard was stunningly beautiful. True to it's reputation, it was amazing. Many in Oregon have never even seen this area due to it being remote and off the beaten path. From satellite this area at night offers some of the fewest night lights in the entire country. The town of Joseph is a quaint artsy town named of course after a Christian Indian Chief by the name of Joseph. His story is a very sad one, and yet beautiful one due to this Chief's Christian background. Here is a picture of Barbara and I up near the top of the Wallowa Mountains overlooking Lake Wallowa and the town of Joseph. Most are loggers or cattle ranchers in this part of Eastern Oregon. The biggest topic in town is the destruction caused by the wolves. Don't get them going on wolves! If you enjoy beautiful out of the way parts, then the Wallowa Mountains in Eastern Oregon is one of those very unusual places one can visit.

Harold's 100th Birthday

On Sept 11th headed to Barbara's uncle, Harold Carmichael's 100th Birthday and his wife Betty's 90th. Wow, what a life, I think they have passed their 74th wedding anniversary as well ! What a wonderful life and great examples of love and faith. Here are a couple of pictures of the celebration in Bend Oregon.

July 2011, Jackson Meadows, Lake Britton,

Standing with Margie and their dog Kaleb near the lake outlet.

After the Eastern Sierra's sojourn we proceeded up to Burney Falls and Lake Britton. Enjoyed our time with the Blocks on this beautiful Northern Ca lake. After Lake Britton, we went over to Bullards Bar Lake with Marleen and Joe. Also, 'rented' a boat there, for a relaxing time together.

July 2011, Yosemite, Jackson Meadows, Burney Falls, Mono Lake

Feel free to click and enlarge! Passing through one of the world's greatest wonders again, Yosemite National Park. We never get tired of beholding this amazing patch of GOD's natural grandeur, which so to speak, is right in our own backyard, in July 7, 2011. Traveled with my sister and brother-in-law, Marleen and Joe to Yosemite. A huge amount of water this year, and excellent weather. Then up to Tuolumne Meadows, and down Tioga to the Easter Sierra's and Mono Lake and met up with our daughter-in-law Allison's parents, John and Margie Block. From here we proceeded with them to the beautiful Jackson Meadows area. I am standing with John and Margie's dog at the outlet of the lake. Then off to Northern Ca to a very Hawaii like, Burney Falls Ca, and took some breathtaking pictures of the falls.