In July Bob's nephew Alex and his wife Carrie visited overnight from their home in Sacramento California. Alex was excited to have Bob take him out for an early morning mountain bike ride on the Clear Creek Trail. Hannah joined the guys for an awesome, ten mile ride through the foothills of the Sierra's that finish up about a mile from our house for an easy road ride back to the garage.
Father and daughter making memories.
Only a few miles from our home we get these great views of the Carson Valley from the Clear Creek trail.
One of our camping trips this summer was to another of our favorite National Parks, Lassen Volcanic National Park. This is the view we had of Lassen Peak when on our drive to the park about 40 miles south near Lake Almanor.
One of our favorite campgrounds in Lassen is Summit Lake North. Here Bob is having fun watching the kids having fun in their new "play" kayak we bought just that morning before driving up to go camping.
The kids couldn't wait to get the new kayak in the water while we set up camp. Here's Caleb on the inaugural run.
Hannah trying out the new kayak on Summit Lake.
Lisa going for a paddle.
Roasting marshmallows around the campfire is just the best.
Yum Yum!
"How about some marshmallows for me? Please?" asks our hungry camp-dog.
It was a pleasure to have our longtime friend Chris England join us for our trip. He and Caleb really hit it off and were constantly discussing the finer points of film making. Chris has done some great video work. If you get the chance, check out his YouTube channel: Base Camp Chris.
The next day we all hiked to the summit of Lassen Peak (10,457 feet) the southernmost active volcano in the Cascade Range.
We've been wanting to hike this peak for a number of years, but it had been closed for almost five years while the park service was rebuilding the trail.
Lined up at the trailhead are Caleb, Lisa, Chris, and Hannah (Bob was taking the picture).
On our way to the summit of Lassen. You can see some of the vents ahead of us that were formed on May 30, 1915 when Lassen erupted after 27,000 years of dormancy.
Hannah heading up the trail. The section above this is as far as we made it the last time we were here in 2013 before trail repairs were complete.
Hannah and Lisa coming up the trail. The weather was very windy, especially near the top.
Our beautiful Hannah completely in her element.
She is wearing a special hat her Dad bought her back in 2000 when he was trekking and climbing in Nepal.
Caleb and Lisa making their way across one of the many snow banks with swirling clouds all around them. The wind and clouds gave an ethereal feel that made it feel like real adventure.
Wind whipping her hair as Hannah makes a bend in the trail.
On the false summit of Lassen with the true summit just beyond.
The true summit of Lassen Peak (10,457 feet).
Lisa lovin' to be out on the trail. Here she is sitting at the top in the shelter of some rocks for lunch. As it turned out, our summit coincided with the arrival of a park ranger who was there for a talk about the peak, the park, and all the history and geology of this amazing place.
Mom and son enjoying an adventurous day together.
This is a panorama from the peak. Click this image for a much larger version to catch a glimpse of the amazing view we had.
Our wonderful son Caleb did really great on this five mile, 2,000 foot gain hike to the summit of Lassen Peak.
Lisa enjoying the views on the way down.
And that's where we were.
Happy times in camp.
Early Sunday morning fog on Summit Lake.
Lassen Peak and its reflection in Summit Lake.
Lisa enjoying her role as camp cook.
As Bob packed up camp, Chris England, Lisa, and the kids did a hike down to the beautiful waterfalls on Kings Creek.
This is one of the many smaller unnamed waterfalls on the way to Kings Creek Falls, so Chris dubbed this one "England Falls."
Our destination, beautiful Kings Creek Falls.
Lisa coming back up the trail after visiting Kings Creek Falls.
Although we had a great time at Lassen, coming back to our new home wasn't all that bad as we have some amazing recreation just minutes from the house.
Just a couple days after getting back Lisa and the kids joined our great neighbors, the Summers, for a bit of kayaking on beautiful Lake Tahoe. Here Sara Summers and Hannah enjoy a beautiful warm day paddling around on the Lake's amazing blue water.
Caleb and Jonathan Summers enjoying beach time at Lake Tahoe.
Not long after the snows left the High Sierra, we went on a geocaching out to the summit of Genoa Peak. Although you can drive the five miles from the highway to the summit, the road gets pretty sketchy and even with a high clearance four wheel drive, it is probably faster to either hike or bike in on the famous Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) that comes within a half-mile of Genoa Peak. We did drive the whole thing, but Lisa and the kids did hike a few miles of the TRT to pick up a couple of geocache's along the way.
This is a view about a half-mile up the road that leads to Genoa Peak. Below us you can see Spooner Lake and Lake Tahoe beyond.
Hannah loves being in (or on) the pine trees.
Caleb and Lisa hiking along the Tahoe Rim Trail.
Hannah and Caleb looking for a geocache.
And they found it and with all the treasures it held.
Caleb hiking along the Tahoe Rim Trail.
Amazing views of Lake Tahoe from the Tahoe Rim Trail.
A panorama of Lake Tahoe from the Tahoe Rim Trail. Click this image for a larger, detailed version.
A panorama of Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley from the summit of Genoa Peak (9,150 feet), .
From Genoa Peak looking south to Jobs Peak, Jobs Sister, and Freel Peak in the distance. Freel is the highest peak in the Carson Range at 10,881 feet. The Carson Range is a spur of the Sierra Nevada that runs on the eastern side of Lake Tahoe.
A zoom photo into the Carson Valley and where our home is located.
A great photo of a great gal on the summit of Genoa Peak.
Hannah totally in her element.
Looking down on the town of Genoa, the oldest settlement in Nevada.
Bob on the summit of Genoa Peak with the south side of Lake Tahoe in the distance.
On June 23rd, our 26th wedding anniversary, Bob took Lisa with him to Las Vegas where he made a presentation at the Midyear Economic Outlook for his old workplace, the Center for Business and Economic Research at UNLV. The presentation was held at the Venetian Resort where this picture was taken.
Still happily married after 26 great years together.
Bob at the podium. A bit different adventure than most on our Web site.
Often Bob says he has to pinch himself when he thinks about all the different things he's been able to do, including speaking engagements at very professional venues like this one.
One of the many things Bob enjoys with his work in the Governor's Office of Economic Development is the opportunity to attend professional meetings around the country.
Bob is currently on the Board of Directors for C2ER (The Council for Community and Economic Research) and had the opportunity to spend the first week of June in Minneapolis to attend board meetings and their annual conference. This picture of the Stone Arch Bridge was taken during one of his evening walks along the Mississippi while in Minneapolis.
Two weeks prior to his Minneapolis trip, Bob also made a trip with other representatives from Nevada to Chicago for meetings with the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). CCSSO is an organization of state education leaders who work together in developing strategic education and workforce development programs to produce students that are career ready. In Nevada, Bob's research has become increasingly important in providing guidance to state education leadership on what those programs should include and focus on.
This picture of north Chicago and Lake Michigan was taken from the 60th floor of the Chase tower in downtown Chicago while Bob was attending the CCSSO reception.
Caleb and Hannah playing "Star Wars" with their neighborhood friends Jonathan and Sara Summers .
This summer Hannah also joined the young people from our church for summer camp at the Cowboy's Rest Christian Camp and Retreat in Jiggs, Nevada. Hannah had a good time, but came back ready to rest from her retreat...
One of Hannah's pictures of her friends making heart shaped hand gestures against the sunrise while at summer camp.
Caleb in the audio/visual booth at our church, Hilltop Community.
After three weeks of training Caleb is now a full member of the AV staff and he loves it.
Bob at Father's Day breakfast 2016.
Our theme for this year was taken from the movie Vertical Limit. Props included a faux campfire in the center of the table and mountaineering themed decorations.
Gifts for Dad included a backyard fire pit, bucket of Home Depot items, and an amazing video honoring Dad made by the kids.
Hannah painting watercolor on the beach of Spooner Lake.
The kids enjoying an "artsy" outing with Mom.
Lisa loving a dip in Spooner Lake.
The kids enjoying a geocache find under a chain-link fence post cap while Dad was filling the truck with gas at Costco.
The next few pictures were taken by Hannah of some of the flowers and plants in our backyard after finishing landscaping it in May.
Petunia's
A Pansy's smiling face.
New leaves. new life.
Dew on the grass
A "Mr. Lincoln" Red Rose
Hannah's beautiful job decorating the dining room for Mother's Day.
Loving gifts and cards for a lovely Mother.
One of Lisa's favorite cards that reads, "Motherhood isn't for Sissy's" and pictures a white haired grandmother running a jackhammer.