For the past 17 years, our July 4th celebration here at the lodge has been a family affair.. We love having everyone here to attend the July 3rd Fireworks in Colfax, the July 4th balloon fight parade in Dutch Flat followed by a big bbq at the lodge and Donner Lake fireworks viewing from the summit. I have to admit that it was hard for me to celebrate this year.
With our country currently in such political turmoil, I have to constantly remind myself that our country is a work in progress. An experiment, that has seen great leaps forward, as well as huge setbacks. We have seen people at their finest hour, and people in their worst moments. Over its 250 years. I have been fortunate enough to live through and celebrate both the 200th and the 250th anniversary of this country. I am hoping that my children will be able to celebrate the 300th in a country that can finally see liberty and justice for all.
This year, since many of our family had other plans, we invited our extended family of Cal Berkeley and Oakland friends to spend the weekend. Our Oakland friends and one of our Cal friends had to cancel due to family issues, but we added a few surprise folks to the mix. Jim has known his Cal friends for more 50 years. Having the lodge means we can spend time with them at the lake, the falls and other areas we love in and around the gap. As of bonus, my niece and her daughter came in from Missouri for a last minute visit and we added one of our Cal friends daughter and her two friends to the festivities.
Since this weekend was America’s 250 celebration, the mountains had a lot more visitors than a normal 4th weekend, The Colfax fireworks had 3 times as many people as normal and many of Tahoes parks were filled to beyond capacity, The Colfax fireworks were longer and bigger than in previous years and we even managed to hike down into town to watch the show, rather than standing on the bluff.
On the 4th, the Dutch flat parade was a bit more than our dog could manage, so we headed back to the lodge, while everyone else had a blast lopping water balloons as they watched parade marchers. Next Jim and friends headed to Lake Valley for the afternoon, while I prepped the ribs and made pie.
Our BBQ was wonderful and we added neighbors Katie and Graham to the table, while losing my niece, her daughter and our 3 new guests as they headed down the mountain early.
Everyone was a bit too tired to trek up to the summit to watch Truckee fireworks. I suspect those fireworks were glorious.
Today, everyone packed their things and left for home. Jim and I will stay here to work on a few small projects.
Our dear friend, Dave, wrote a nice tribute to a lifelong friendship this group has shared. He granted me permission to do it here.
