Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Nice Day For A Picnic


I wanted to do something fun on Steve's day off, and I had heard from a friend about Mt. Charleston. It's about an hour away and was apparently 20-30 degrees cooler than Vegas. So we decided to pack up some food and drag our friends, the Grahams up there with us. I was so excited about the cooler weather (last week was miserably hot) and the chance to get out and see some new territory.

Half way up there I realized this may not have been the best idea. We're driving up this road along with 5,000 other cars full of families trying to escape the heat, and heading straight into these huge, dark clouds, pounding rain, and lightning. Now, some of you may know this about me, but I am not a fan of thunder and lightning. Ever since I was young I've had this fear of getting struck by lightning. I was ready to turn around and go home, but at the same time, the falling temperature reader on our dashboard was calling to me (75, 70, 65, 60)...So up up and up we go, passing 8,000 feet. The way I think of it is, that we're 6,000 feet closer to this lightning that keeps flashing. I was freaking out.

After taking a wrong turn and getting past idiot drivers who had apparently never seen rain before, we made it to the picnic area. It was full and blocked off. So all the way up and down the road were cars parked on the side, families sitting on patches of dirt or grass having their picnics right along the busy highway. The rain had stopped and it was a cool 60 degrees outside, so we too found a place to park and pulled up a patch of parking lot, sat down and had our picnic.

We were just hoping it wouldn't rain on us, and it didn't. We ate and let the kids play, and enjoyed the temperature that was 40 degrees cooler than what we left behind in the valley. I was actually a little cold. So, what started to look like the labor day from hell, actually turned out to be pretty fun. Here are some pics.

9 comments:

Alifinale said...

Oh fun times! 60 degrees is chilly! Glad you had fun despite the crowds and the storm, I am back from Hot AZ (yes it truly is hotter there, noticeably hotter) and ready to party. BTW, love the pics. Looks like such a fun parking lot picnic.

Christi said...

I am just glad that we didn't get hit by lighting! I could have kill the drivers. Cute Pics!

destiny said...

Oh that sounds delightful to be in 60 degrees! Good call in braving it up there.

Ilene said...

Oh you poor Oregonian. You are going to have fun every time it rains in Las Vegas. Just like every person acquainted with snow has fun driving around all the idiot drivers in Oregon when it snows.

I hope you aren't having too much fun without me!

Jill said...

That's funny that everyone else in Vegas had the same idea! Way to get out there and enjoy your Labor Day. How nice to get out of the heat. Do you just never want to leave your house?

Anonymous said...

ahahahahahahhhaaaaaaaaa!!! i wish i could have been there SO bad. It sounds like camping adventures from when we were younger like when you and mom and I went to lamolo lake and had a picnic and I was in the water when the lightning came... mwahaha!!!

i'm glad you had your picnic in cool weather, because I now appreciate oregon's mild temperatures MORE THAN EVER!!!

rose said...

that is the cutest picture ever of E.
are you having a bday party for him? if so, maybe we can come over there for it. you know now that we are here. so let me know, we will have to hook up somehow.

Our Pratt Pack said...

I can't believe you don't like storms, it's a good thing you guys aren't out here we have them almost on a daily basis in the summer and fall.

AMY AND MIKEY said...

I love Easton! He is so cute! I don't know if this is bad to say- but he's even really cute when he cries! The haircut- I love how he had a little cape on, and the shoes- hahha- he is so so cute. The picnic- yowsa! Why didn't you just go to the movie theatre or mall for cool air?! I'm glad you are safe and at home. You must have been so scared, I'm glad that's over and it turned out to be good in the end. Are your parents going to the wedding? are you?