Ahhh, the best laid plans. The coolers are packed, the camera battery charged, the vehicles fueled. We were heading north to a branding. A weekend in the valley, good friends, beer, calf nuts and camaraderie. And we had all that - just not the branding part.
Vehicles have a way of determining the outcome of a day and driving up the 99 and over on the 80 has been hard on our vehicles. This time it was a camp trailer tire - the Holiday Rambler ended up disabled just long enough for us to miss the branding. But... nobody was hurt, we were all together and we made the best of it.
How could you not with weather like this? Driving over Conway Summit I stopped several times to take photos, knowing that in just a few days it would be all different. One hard freeze, one windstorm (not that we ever get those), and all those glorious colors will be gone, leaving bare branches waiting for snow.
I'm sure that up any canyon on the east side is much better than from the road, but it was a balance this day and as it was I got a late start (surprise!) and had several errands to run in Reno before getting to the valley. This is what I got and it was a heck of a lot better than no fall color at all. I know I keep saying this but the wheels are in motion for change and next year I should be able to squeeze in a hike or two.
There have been years when I've not made it up the grade to the higher country and missed October all together... I'm counting my blessings.
Once we settled in at our dear friends' house we made the most of it. The HR is such a cool camp trailer. Our wonderful hostess immediately produced a table and this stellar tablecloth, we pulled out the vintage pink chairs, and cocktail hour was upon us. We made it to the branding potluck and JC got his calf nuts, we socialized with friends old and new, and completed the weekend with no more mishaps.
This might be one of my favorite bumper stickers ever. The Plumas-Sierra Cattlewomen put this out and it adorns more than a few trucks in this ranching valley.
I love this valley and JC is falling for it too. I wouldn't be surprised if we ended up back here some day. It is a place where social networks are established around a someone's kitchen table or a cup of coffee in a cafe.
It has a lot of history. Families have lived and ranched here for generations. We saw too many "For Sale" signs on ranches, signs that things have not been easy lately. There's a lot of pressure on this valley and it isn't easy to make a living.
You can't come here looking for a job - you've almost got to bring it with you. Retirees and second homeowners are buying up the old houses because they are the only ones who can. And it isn't a bad thing - lots of the historic houses are being lovingly restored by these new owners - but they sit empty a lot and some of the vibrancy of the community is lost.
I do love this valley and am so thankful for the years I spent here, the friends I made, and the memories I have and continue to make.
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