Now that I am gone,
remember me with smiles and laughter.
And if you need to cry,
cry with our loved ones
who walk in grief beside you.
And when you need me,
put your arms around anyone
and give to them what you need to give to me.
There are so many who need so much.
I want to leave you something --
something much better than words or sounds.
Look for me in the people I've known
or helped in some special way.
Let me live in your heart
as well as in your mind.
You can love me most
by letting your love reach out to our loved ones,
by embracing them and living in their love.
Love does not die, people do.
So, when all that's left of me is love,
give me away as best you can.

The weather was very nice in Bishop when we left at 8 am. Here in Lotus, CA near Placerville, CA, it is pretty warm. 10 pm and it is still 80 degrees. Not complaining a bit though. Found a nice spot with trees around us. It didn't take long for Chris to take the dogs for a swim in the American River and they found a playmate at the river, a chocolate male Labrador who was very generous and shared his ball with our dogs.



MONO LAKE, CA
Mono Lake is located north of Bishop and 13 miles east of Yosemite National Park, near the town of Lee Vining, California. Mono Lake is unique. Mono Lake was 60 times larger than the 66 square miles it covers today. It is naturally salty and loaded with alkalinity because it has no outlet.

The City of Los Angeles has been diverting water from the Mono Basin since 1941. That diversion has cut the lake volume in half and has doubled its alkalinity and salinity. An extended court fight has finally stopped the water diversion and Mono Lake is once again growing.

We were on the road at 6:00 am this morning headed for Bishop.

Stopped at the site of the former Manzanar Japanese Internment Camp south of Big Pine. We last visited the camp in 1997 and to our surprise there has been a great deal of work done on the site such as signage showing where buildings were and partial restoration of corner sections. Also major cleanup of weeds and debril. In 1942 the US Government ordered more than 110,000 Japanese-American people interred during WWII. Manzanar is just 1 of 10 camps established. If you'd like more information on Manzanar, check out the Internet (there are also pictures)

No visit to Bishop is complete without stopping at Erik Schat's Bakkery (yes 2 k's) for original Sheepherder Bread. Sheepherder bread was introduced to the Owens Valley during the California Gold Rush by immigrant Basque sheepherders who missed the bread of their homeland. Loaves are shaped by hand and baked in stone hearth ovens. Bread isn't the only food available at the Bakkery. There's pastries, fancy desserts, cookies, etc. People come from all over to buy bread here and it is a big tourist draw.

As you can see, there are no pictures shown. Yep, my computer played tricks on me tonight and after I downloaded the pictures, it wanted to go play "hide'n seek". Well, the pictures are hidden so well that I can't find them and they are gone from my camera stick also.

So much for our first day on the road.

Tomorrow is the day we hit the road for our long awaited "get out of Needles before it gets hot trip". My back is hurting somewhat but I'm not going to let that stop us from leaving. Can hardly wait to get to Orangevale, CA and see that grandson of ours who is now 9 months old.

Keep checking my blog as I'll do my best to provide scenic pictures and info along the way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is no secret that the More family on Chris' side and then me for 36 years enjoy hunting for rocks. It appears that Brandon has inherited this interest; however, he prefers to taste the rock first before deciding if it is a "keeper"! Obviously this one didn't pass the taste test.

For all of the locals in Needles, Mohave Valley and Bullhead City, this landmark has been a part of all our lives for many years. I've lived here 36 years and every trip to Bullhead City, I look to see if she has new clothes on. Some mystery person(s)changes her clothes to fit in with major holidays and the Harley Run. One time the "cross" post was removed and people went ballistic until it was returned.

This is one of those simple things in life that makes you feel good!