Blue Onion Cafe breakfast - Trail Riding - Mountaintop dinner

Today we had a full day of activities. We began the morning with the Mountain Magic Breakfast Run. Originally started so the 'trailer queens' could drive the required mileage before being judged, it's become a wonderful way to interact with cars and their drivers who are stalwart enough to be ready to depart at 0630. This morning it was only 37 degrees F and people were dressed as appropriately as their packed wardrobe allowed. We traveled North to Truckee, CA, the infamous Donner Party ordeal being its historical claim. Then proceeded Southeast through the mountains to come to the west coast of Lake Tahoe and our venue, the Blue Onion cafe for breakfast.

Cars line up for the morning breakfast run and riders look over the lot to see which PMC in which they wish to ride

Dressed for the weather or not, we departed. Greg  and his BRG '34 3 1/2 Litre Bentley in front of the Blue Onion

After lunch, we were scheduled for a Trail Ride at the Donner Equestrian Center. Susan (on horse in first photo) and Melissa (in the background) caught a ride with us in Cy as their husbands weren't riding. We were outfitted with helmets, given the name of our horse, and sent out to the corral to saddle up. I was on Bailey, an American Paint born in 1992 so he was used to inexperienced riders like me. He loved to stop and graze (even though he was fully fed) and the fellow riding behind me got a huge kick out of seeing me trying to prod him to move along. Sneed was on Sissy, a Fjord/Belgian Cross born in 2003. Our ride was highlighted by the mule deer we spotted off to our right about half way through the hour ride. That was about 55 minutes longer than my bottom could take.

Dinner this evening was at High Camp about a 2 mile ride from our hotel. We all packed like sardines, although standing up not laying down, into gondolas that ferried us up to the mountain top. Drinks were al fresco on a huge wooden deck. The view was unbelievable at 8200'. The wind was kicking up a bit so we didn't linger outside save to take a photo or two. We then went inside for dinner and to marvel at the snow still on some of the mountainsides.

Ground level from whence we came ~ A view of our hotel in the background ~ A returning gondola