Exploring....

 

We were ready to head north on I-80 for the Alta Hikers

Annual Christmas Party which was scheduled for last

Tuesday, but it snowed and the roads were closed.

Our exploration would take us past familiar haunts along the way.

As we headed out, a neighbor pulled up with a load of snow and

their visiting grand kids proceeded to have a massive

snow ball fight.   No it doesn't snow in Citrus Heights, the

elevation is only 167'.  So if you want snow, you go get it

by the pickup load full.

 

Today was the shortest day of the year... sunrise 7:20 a.m. and

sunset 4:44 p.m.  

Along the way we decided to stop in Colfax, elevation 2432'

and visit the place where we lived for 28 years before

moving to AZ in April of 2019 after we sold our

 home and the 80 acre parcel it sat on!!! 

The "locked gate" we installed at the edge of our property

was still there and locked... 

just as it always was when we lived there. 

And this picture shows you an aerial photo that our son-in-law took

from his drone.   On the left is that driveway coming up the hill...  if you got

thru that locked gate.  We had about 3 acres cleared

between the house and the brush line.  There was place to park our 5th wheel,

 a couple of  storage sheds, a place to park our pick-up and my car.

But since we couldn't get past that locked gate,

we  turned around and headed east on I-80 one more time...

I couldn't resist a photo of the train trestle, complete with

a train crossing it.

Remains of the snow storm last week were still visible

as was a beautiful blue sky as we took the

turn-off to Dutch Flat  Elevation 3144"

The Christmas Party Luncheon was held at the Ewings.

Check out that beautiful sky and those pine trees!!!   It was cold

and foggy when we left Citrus Heights about an hour before.

Inside it was cozy and warm & beautifully decorated!!

About 22 of us pigged out on all the wonderful homemade

soups, breads and deserts 

& sipped on all types of beverages; coffee,

decaf, water, rose wine and even Champagne!!!

And no one was shy about returning to that buffet table,,,

No Cooking Tonight!!!

Yippee...

This was the weather forecast for the next week in

Citrus Heights...

and this sums up the Dutch Flat forecast... You can

tell the difference, 7 days of rain in Colfax and 7 days

of snow in Dutch Flat.