Of Family, a Lake, and Falling out of a Raft

This is a little past due, but we went to Tahoe last month.  As you know, Tahoe is one of my favorite places on earth.  A place I know well and have watched change over the past 20+ years.  I often find myself longing for the Tahoe of yesteryear.  But that Tahoe didn't have my wife, brother-in-law, and nephews.  I suppose if forced to choose, my current family wins over the less crowded lake of my childhood.

This year was great.  Garrett was old enough to really enjoy all that Tahoe has to offer.  Matthew got to experience it for the first time.  We swam a lot.  We ate a lot.  We laughed a lot.

Of family:
Garrett celebrated his fourth birthday at Tahoe.  I can't think of a better place.  We had dirt cake with gummy worms.  And gummy rats.  Which, ironically, are not gummy at all.  They might as well be dubbed "Concrete Rats."  Matthew loved the lake...eventually.  He was having some trouble being in a new place, but it all worked out in the end.  We crammed six adults, two children, and two golden retrievers inside our tiny, little cabin.  There is only one bathroom.  And by bathroom, I mean glorified closet with a toilet.  It was awesome.  My dad and I spent the better part of a day on the Tahoe Rim Trail.  Lots of trees, water, and some lingering snow.  We all shared meals together and got to forget about work and bills and focus on family.

Of a Lake:
Tahoe is beauty, in its simplest definition.  God's creation as only He can do.  We spent many days at the lake.  There was Emerald Bay and a rafting to Fanette Island.  There was Sand Harbor and jumping off rocks.  There was catching crawdads outside of Homewood.  The water is cold, but something about Tahoe makes you tolerate it more.  The cobalt-blue water is downright amazing.  As far as lakes go, Tahoe is rivaled by none.

Of Falling out of a Raft:
We rafted the mighty Truckee River.  And by raft, I mean float.  And by mighty, I mean wimpy.  But it is fun, and a trip to Tahoe is not complete without a five mile float.  Near the end, there are what can be considered rapids.  Probably Class Negative Two.  Heather and were in a small inflatable raft.  So were Lori, Troy, and Matthew.  My parents and Garrett were in a rented commercial raft.  I was perched on the back of our raft to steer.  Heather was sitting on the front with her legs hanging over the front.  That way, if we hit a rock, she would fall back into the raft.  Partway down the rapids, we hit a rock.  That spun us around backwards.  Then we hit another rock.  When the raft reached the exit point, my family all asked, "Where is Heather?"  I replied, "She fell out."  Yep.  When we were backwards, the rock caused her to fall out of the raft and into the raging somewhat moving water.  There was nothing I could do for her at the time, so I grabbed the oar that she ditched and navigated myself to the end (about 30 yards away).  She was smack in the middle of the river, clinging for dear life to a rock.  I have never, ever in my life seen such a look of terror on someone's face.  I felt really, really bad about it.  She made it to safety when she jumped onto a passing raft.  That raft carried an old woman and her toy poodle.  Yep, raging whitewater, indeed.  But I did feel terrible about it.  Don't worry, Heather laughed about it a few hours later.  And he knee has finally stopped hurting.

Overall, a great trip.  I wish I could bottle how I feel in Tahoe and drink it up all year.  But then, I suppose, Tahoe would not be what it is.

Photo Album:

Even on vacation, I can't escape it.

Matthew loves himself some dirt.

Family Time

An Aunt and her Nephews

Candid in the Cave

Dad and I on the TRT/PCT

About to depart for Fanette Island

G-Man and his Crawdad

The beautiful East Shore

Eagle Falls above Emerald Bay

Above Emerald Bay

Jumping off a pier

The Parentals and Garrett

Heather on the Mighty Truckee (before she fell out)

Me Jumping