Mt. Konocti`

Last week was Thanksgiving break from school.  I had the good fortune to have two sets of visitors!  And the weather was just perfect for it.  The lake was putting on quite a show, from the fingers of fog in the morning to the brilliant stars reflected at night. The birds are migrating, and one morning I looked out on the dark water--it was before the sun came up--and saw the white tail-ends of about 30 geese, quietly bobbing.  They had arrived at some time in the night, and they left by mid morning.

Dad on the Lake.

 
On Thursday morning, my friends Davena, Will, Ewan, and Monty (adorable dog). stopped over on their way to dinner.  I toddler-proofed my living room so Ewan would have a place to play.  Being an accomplished runner now, he loved being able to run and fall without worry.  The whole room is carpeted, and then all my rugs scattered everywhere made double cushioning. One funny moment was when he caught site of my drawing of bananas. Apparently they are quite life-like because he was reaching for them and calling out "Nanas!  Nanas!"   :)   Not sure how I managed to not get any pictures of their visit!  So sad. Luckily the memories are indelible in my mind. 
  

Great Blue Heron caught in mid-flight, headed to chase off the egret.

We went to a park so Monty and Ewan could play. There was a pond there, with a large log in the pond. When I first walked down the trail to the pond, when I came around a bend and into view of the pond, I startled about 12 turtles sunning on the log. They all plopped into the water and Davena thought I'd perhaps fallen into the pond!   We had a fabulous dinner at one of my coworker's.  Turns out her sister-in-law works with Davena and Will.  Small world, indeed.   That night, Monty was my guest while Will, Ewan, and Davena were doing a trial run of sleeping in their new van, out in the cold. But Monty and I were cozy under our respective blankets!! I had forgotten how much more of a home a home is when a pet is there.

My Dad, amidst rosy light on the lake.

After the Bagnall family left Friday morning, Dad and Connie arrived in mid afternoon. I enjoyed sharing my new home and view with them.  On Saturday, my dad and I went on a docent led hike up Mt. Konocti.  My pedometer said we walked about 7 miles. Half of that was uphill, and half of that was downhill. I thought I'd be very sore the next day, but other than a slight knot in one calf, I was fine.   It was probably the electrolytes I chugged.  Emergen-C makes an electrolyte mix that has no added sugars, just all the minerals your body craves.   And I have these capsules that are filled with electrolytes, too.  Those, combined with lots of water seems to have done the trick. 

The Cal Fire Tower on Wright's Peak.

At the top of the mountain there was a fire tower, now abandoned, that we climbed to get clear 360 view of the surrounding area. We could even see Mt. Lassen!  Just a perfect day for viewing everything.  We also went through the first homestead on the mountain, and found "Lake County Diamonds."   I have a teeny tiny one that I brought home.

Tiny Lake County Diamonds, in the round rock I was sitting on in the next picture.

On a very round rock, in a spot of sun, on the way back down from the mountain.

Dad and Connie left Sunday morning.   It was such a treat to have them around, cooking and eating good food and talking.  I was working on the book manuscript, fixing references/citations and correcting a few writing habits that Bob and I had which the editor (who's name happens to be Ed!  How cool is that?) wanted changed.   While I got caught up in my work, Connie explored my educational library (she's a teacher, too), and got immersed in reading, while my dad was doing his own reading and bird watching. Sunday morning, my dad is patiently waiting while Connie finished reading and taking notes from the one book that I couldn't loan to her.  :)

Lovely to have people around. My life now is either extremely full of people (work) or completely devoid of people (non-work).  It is odd.  I know someday I will have the presence of people in my home life again.  Right now I'm enjoying the alone time, or rather my down time from the intensity of this job that I love and am so grateful for.   But the Bagnalls and my family reminded me how much I treasure the company of people (and pets!).

I hope you are all well and enjoying the presence of people and animals and nature in your life.  :)

A great and gnarly old maul oak. Named because they made splitting mauls from them, that's how hard they are!

Emily at the top.

 

Dad at the Sign Post on top. 

Mary Downen's cabin, built in 1903.

Mary Downen's orchard. Beautiful light.

Looking north, across the narrows of Clearlake.

Looking east towards Lower Lake and my school.

 

Sutter Buttes, to the north-east. An uplift if ever there was one!

Looking south toward Cobb Mt. and Mt. St. Helena.

Looking west/southwest. The red circle is where Ber and Gio are living. The white structure is the indoor arena.

Arrow shows where we were on Mt. Konocti, looking from where Ber and Gio live.

 

Looking north-west toward Lakeport, with  a view of the pear and grape orchards showing color.

Looking west downhill through the walnut orchard to the pear orchards on the valley floor.

Looking north to Buckingham Peak.   If you could look through the mountain you would see my house, sitting right on the lake.  When I look up to Mt. Konocti from my house, I see the cell tower on top of Buckingham.

Looking north to Mt. Lassen.

Close-up of Mt. Lassen.

Wow, Mt. Lassen is over twice the height of Mt Konocti.  :)

Purple circles denote where my house is (the X in Soda Bay) and where the fire tower is.

Topographical map of Mt. Konocti.