The wilds of Placerville

Jeff lives in a magic place: in a trip up from the freeway to his house on the hill, I saw a mom and pop Canadian goose family with 12 babies trying to cross the road. I stopped traffic to head them back to a nearby pond. Then in a field were two deer, eyeing me and the dogs with calm, and then a female peacock wandering in a neighbor's yard. These two geese sit at the side of the bridge, right alongside the road, and look quite gold in the sun and are vociferous about their territorial rights. They appeared about two months ago and seem to like the area. They are not Canadians or Brants - and we wonder if some one is missing their "pets".

The creek is running full with the melting snow and the hills are green with spring birthing fast. We went back up to Placerville last week to do some more work on Jeff's remodel and to eat, talk and sleep well in the hills. The peace and tranquility are a huge contrast to life here on the boat-we have sirens, the freeway a mile away, and neon all over. You can sit on his lanai and look across a valley and just breathe while peace arrives.

Placerville and plantville

The boys, if they could handle a shovel, would be out in the yard helping. As is, Jeff & Robert are putting in a hedge to hide the neighbors from future buyers at Jeff's remodel that will be for sale soon.

The hedge is photinia fraseri, and he was surprised we knew that -but having kids with the last name of Fraser, some things stick in the consciousness. It was hot, major hay fever, and still wonderful for spring: crabapple tree in the background, lilacs ready to bloom, and some old roses that I pruned last year doing very well. We go to work there as Jeff came down several times and helped us get the boat ready for the non-trip in October. Though, we did have fun, through the stress of trying to find engine parts. The best part for me was being able to design a landscape, again, and the less than best part was to put it in while snarfing, sneezing and crying from allergic eyes. The dogs had to just watch and stay inside, looking for pirates in Placerville.

Finally, a place for dogs....

Fallen Leaf Lake at S. Tahoe has some wonderful meadows that still had snow in April. We found a bargain at the motel and stayed a couple days to unwind from the great circle tour and to get some exercise. Exercise at 8000' is more than exercise of the body, it is an exercise of will, especially as it was so cold and snowed while we were there. The dogs, of course, went nuts and we had to put them in the car after a run while we skiied some more, as their tongues were hanging out.
Our friend Heinrich taught us how to cross country ski, may years ago and this area was one of our finds for dogs and skiing. We would park a car at the bottom of the road and one at the top and ski down, drive back. The road now has many padlocks and gates, but we were able to find a place and remember the fun times when a bunch of us would come out, brave whatever the weather was doing and have a cold picnic. It may have been an excuse for eating rather than doing, but good memories are here.

Mount Tallac above the Lake. High winds were swooping across the lake, but we were protected by the trees.
This trip, we may have skiied down, but no way was I going to ski back up....we walked along the road. The meadow was wonderful with aspens and creeks and good, fresh snow. Whodathunk, April!



The wind had blown the snow here, but that night about a foot fell, and another couple feet the next night. There was so much snow that when we tried to find a place to park at Echo Lake, and Sierra Summit - no way. We ended up having lunch with Jeff in Placerville, talking of sailing, and back at the boat in 70 plus degrees. There were no signs about dogs anywhere. We remember putting Bailey on a sled when the snow was so deep, years ago, and had Jake tow him in the meadow. These fellows just leap into the deep and think they are in dog heaven.