A Tahoe Christmas

We had a very non-traditional Christmas this year.  We didn't cook the big Christmas Eve dinner, but went with the Gabbarts for a fancy dinner at Lake Tahoe.  While we were waiting for our table, we walked out to the beach and noticed that the lake was as smooth as glass.  

We thought that it would be a great time to go kayaking if it wasn't so cold. And then we decided that because of the temperature inversion it wasn't really that cold, so we hatched a plan for a Christmas Day kayak.  The high temperature was predicted to be around 50 degrees, so we left our swimsuits at home and bundled up in fleece and gortex and paddled right in. It turns out that Lake Tahoe in December is not a lot colder than Lake Tahoe in August, at least along the edges.  

I was nervous and bundled up in my spray skirt and life vest, but everyone else was a little more casual.

We had a lovely Christmas Day picnic on the beach.  Sadly, because we didn't cook Christmas Eve dinner we didn't have any leftovers for lunch, so it turned out to be pretty much like breakfast..Christmas bread.

And we made it back safe and sound, with only wet feet.  The lake was just beautiful.  It makes you think that spring is just around the corner. Except for the snow piled up along the dock.

I think this might be a good new tradition.

Thanksgiving in Sayulita

Once again Calvin enticed me away to Sayulita for Thanksgiving.  It is a sacrifice to give up cooking and eating turkey, but I'll do it for Calvin.  Peter and Roque didn't have Thanksgiving plans so we got them to come with us to keep us company. The weather was just perfect this year, not a drop of rain with warm days and cool nights. We challenged the surf with a variety of boards.

  

 In an amazing feat of photography, Peter caught a picture of the two and a half seconds that I was upright on the stand up paddleboard. I'm the black speck somewhere in the middle.

 Calvin, Peter and Roque went spear fishing.  Calvin was the only one not sea sick and shows off his catch.

 The next day, with a little help from an anti nausea patch we all enjoyed an all day tour on the Alley Cat, where we saw lots of whales.

And a free swimming eel.

 And Peter showed off his diving skills.

This was my favorite view, floating on the air mattress in the pool at the house.

 Or just hanging out.

We have a lot of pictures of Peter and Roque, but this is a favorite.  Newlyweds are fun.

On our last night we took a walk down the beach for a sunset shot and on our way back got to seek a hatch of turtles making their way to the sea.

And then had a lovely dinner on the beach.

And as a final nod to Thanksgiving, here are the ants enjoying a beetle feast.  It took them nearly a full day to finish off the beetle.  Very efficient workers.