Happy Valentines/Nursiversary To My Lovely Wife Penelope

A year ago today my lovely wife Penelope and I were also staying in San Francisco. She had just taken the nursing exam known as the NCLEX. We were both eagerly awaiting news of the results of her test, which are posted on the California Nursing Board's website. Early Valentines morning she woke me up excitedly and told me the wonderful news. She passed, my wonderful wife was a nurse!

My reaction: "BEST VALENTINES DAY EVER.... @peneloper IS A NURSE! SHE PASSED HER NCLEX!!!! WOHOOOOOO!!!!!!".

I just want you (and the whole world) to know how much I love you, sweetie. Thank you so much for your hard work, companionship and most importantly your sweet, caring love.

Penelope and I in our matching Search and Rescue team jackets.

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe was beautiful and I couldn't help but to pull over and take some photos during our drive around the lake. These were taken on the Nevada side.

Snow covered boulders make for a beach on Lake Tahoe.

Waterhouse Peak in Lake Tahoe

After three nights of camping in Death Valley it was time for the second portion of our vacation: Lake Tahoe. Penelope found an amazing bed and breakfast called the Fireside Lodge. We will definitely be returning to stay here in the future.

On our first night we had dinner at a restaurant called Evan's, which is right across the street from the Fireside. Our waiter was really cool and he suggested a good place to go skiing or snow-shoeing that the locals love called Waterhouse peak in Luther Pass.

The next morning we drove up to Luther Pass, parked, put on our snowshoes and started up to the peak. The hike was several miles, but the fun part was the 1700 feet of elevation we gained. It was great, strenuous snowshoeing. It took two hours to reach the peak and an hour to make it down. Fun stuff!

The view from Waterhouse peak is stunning.

Tucki Mine in Death Valley

After driving through Emigrant Pass, we decided to take a side trip to Tucki Mine. The four-wheel drive road to the mine is about 9 miles long and fairly rough in some places. It was a nice drive on a beautiful canyon road, some of which was covered with snow. Once we reached the mine we ate lunch and checked out the cabin that the National Park Service keeps maintained for emergency use.

The Park Service maintains this cabin at the Tucki Mine in Death Valley

Death Valley Snow: Emigrant Pass

After camping at the Wildrose campsite on Saturday night, Penelope and I hit the road around 8 A.M. We took Emigrant Pass into Death Valley. On our way in we passed a ranger on the snow-covered road. I waved, he nodded and that was that.

Later on we discovered that the road we were on was actually closed, he was headed in to lock the gate on the other side! I'm guessing he saw our vehicle and wasn't worried. The road was beautiful. There was about six inches of snow covering the pavement and the ground was white as far as the eye could see. It was really amazing.

We took a side trip to Skidoo mine. We made it about 5 of the 10 miles when we decided to turn around. We were driving through three foot deep snow drifts on a steep, narrow mountain road with sheer cliffs off to the side. We had chains, but didn't need them as we weren't slipping at all, but I decided it just wasn't worth the risk so we turned around at a great lookout point.

Emigrant Pass is covered with snow after a big snowstorm the night before.

Trona Pinnacles

On our way to Death Valley, my lovely wife Penelope and I took a detour to check out the Trona Pinnacles. It was raining pretty heavily and the road was a flooded muddy mess. Our trusty FJ Cruiser handled the gooey clay beautifully.

The Trona Pinnacles jut out of the ground behind a river of muddy water in the foreground.