Kicking Off Summer With A Splash

I don't know about you but for me this summer has just flown by!  I can't believe it's mid-August already!

But I guess that's what happens when you live in Reno! 

We've been hiking, biking, fishing, water skiing, floating the Truckee River, enjoying the beach at Lake Tahoe, taking short nearby day trips....and a big trip to Europe!  You can read about our trip to Europe Here

And of course having fun with all the local events!

So let's start with May and the "Reno River Festival"

For 10 years now the Reno River Festival has drawn competitors from around the World to the heart of downtown Reno at the Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield for an action-packed weekend of whitewater, music, and food.

It sounded like a lot of fun so on Sunday May 12th we headed downtown to check this out for the first time.

It seems that top athletes from the pro kayaking tour were the focus of the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I could watch these guys all day!  But there was also a Slalom competition going on upstream.

 

 

So we found a spot on the rocks to watch these guys make their way down the Truckee.

 

 

The goal is to complete the course the quickest without touching the poles!

 

 

Located between the two competitions at Wingfield Park were various bands entertaining the spectators.

 

 

This event certainly got us excited for the summer ahead here in Reno!

 

 

When Did I Start Liking Snow?

I never thought that after living in Central Nevada for 30 years that I would ever like the snow again!  Winters were long and cold in Tonopah and the snow just annoyed me to no end.

After living in Las Vegas for 9 years I became spoiled with the absence of the white stuff.  And I knew that moving to Reno I would once again have to endure snow!

I like snow.  I think it's pretty.  I just don't want to be buried in it 5 months out of the year!

Lucky for us 2011/2012 our first year here, Reno had a very mild winter.  As my son said to me "Mom, you're having a sissy winter".   December past and then January and I thought, wow I'm digging winter here!  A couple of cold days, then a couple of warm days.  This isn't bad at all!

Now in case you didn't know Reno lies at the base of the Northern Sierras and they get plenty of snow!  Just the way I like it.....on the mountains!

But then I found an event, "North Lake Tahoe Snowfest" in March. And it's only 1 hour away!  This is a week long event with all sorts of  "snow" events taking place.  And one of those events peaked my interest.  The "Wine 'n Ice Carving Competition".

DRATS!  As I am writing this post and waiting for my dear friend to arrive, I have discovered that this very event is happening TODAY!!

Okay, back to last year.  When I read that the event was being held at the Truckee River Winery in Truckee I knew it was going to be great!  Sipping on wine while watching chainsaws cut through blocks of ice!

 



 

As I sipped on my wine I walked from block of ice to block of ice trying to figure out what these guys were trying to create

 

 

 

And it seemed that chainsaws weren't the only tools used

 

 

It was an absolutely beautiful day for watching my first ever ice carving competition

 

 

And then I could start to see images of swans, penguins, dragons and wine presses

 

 

I decided to have a little look around this cute little winery while the guys continued to create their masterpieces

 

 

Back outside the guys are putting their finishing touches on their creations

 

 

And finally about 4 hours later, they were done!

 

 

Oh there were others, like this self portrait of the guy on the right who was injured in a skiing accident

 

 

So which one was your favorite?

 

I left this wonderful event with a whole new outlook on winter and snow!  Snow doesn't always have to be miserable and annoying.  You just have to learn how to get out in it and enjoy the white stuff!

 

And that is when I started liking snow!

 

CHEERS!