Senior Camp 2019
What a wonderful time was had by ME! Gah, I didn't know how desperate I was to get away until I was ... away. The highlight was these three women. They adopted me for the week. Louise (who is a young 87-year-old) and Chris are both New Yorkers. What a hoot they are together. The three of them met at a Zumba class eight years ago still hang out together regularly. They included me in all their shenanigans this past week and I laughed so much my smile hurt.
Our first hike began at Grover Hot Springs, just over three miles long and on the eastern side of the Sierras. The only problem was ... the leader of this hike, who had done it many times before, lost the trail and we ended up needing to climb these huge boulders because the only way out was up. Very scary stuff. The lady in red is wearing flip-flops! I was terrified someone would slip and fall. When we finally made it to the top, two of us leaders scouted the area and found the way back to the trail, came back to the group and guided them out. Whew.
This is Raeven, the daughter of the group's director, who joined us. Someone mentioned to her that she'd probably rather be with "younger hikers." She said she'd rather be with us than kids her own age. "You're like ... all grandmas to me!" LOL.
Raeven snapped my photo and sent it to me.
Fellow hikers waiting to find out how the hell we all were going to get out of this place.
I did go on the Tahoe bike adventure, I had to. Due to a family emergency at home, the leader of that adventure needed to leave the camp so there were only two of us left. It wasn't too bad, although the crappy bikes made it really difficult to shift gears. I had to bring my left hand over to the right side every time I needed to downshift. My right thumb just could not do it. Ouch.
Lots of activities back at camp, including Belly Dancing. Again, Miss Louise in all her gloriously alive being. I wanna be like her when I'm 87.
I met this lady, she's from Vallejo. Duccio, you know her? She wore magnificent colors every day and I asked her if I could take a photo. She then told me she was color blind and didn't know it. She was in a five-year program to become an orchid judge and at some point, they required an eye exam and she discovered she was color blind. Yes, she was asked to leave the program. She's a bit trippy and I like that in a person.
Lots of lounging around, drinking wine, chatting and reading. We're at nearly 8,000 feet above sea level so some really needed to take it easy. The altitude never bothered me.
Tie-Dye, an activity the camp sponsors for free and nearly everyone took advantage.
Louise got a bit tipsy one afternoon, brought this bottle of wine named Foreplay and proceeded to tell us amazing vivid stories. Her granddaughter was a speaker at some ritzy hotel one night and invited Louise to join her. While her granddaughter was engaged one evening, Louise got all dolled-up and went to the bar by herself. She was continually hit upon by these young guys, loving every minute of it, and only much later discovered it was a Meet-up group looking for adventure with the opposite sex!! More ruckus laughter.
The last night was amateur night and of course, I thought of you flying_blind when Chris did the Allen Sherman song.
I don't remember what they were singing but take my word for it, they were having the time of their life. So much laughter.
As long as the city continues to pay my week's stay, and I think they will because they need adventure helpers, I'll go again and again. I've been exhausted since I got home Friday night and in need some good healthy food, camp food sucks. I hope to get together with Louise and Chris sometime soon since they don't live very far from me. Mary lives in Florida now but says she'll come back to camp next year, "especially if you'll be here, Deb."
i smile
Our first hike began at Grover Hot Springs, just over three miles long and on the eastern side of the Sierras. The only problem was ... the leader of this hike, who had done it many times before, lost the trail and we ended up needing to climb these huge boulders because the only way out was up. Very scary stuff. The lady in red is wearing flip-flops! I was terrified someone would slip and fall. When we finally made it to the top, two of us leaders scouted the area and found the way back to the trail, came back to the group and guided them out. Whew.
This is Raeven, the daughter of the group's director, who joined us. Someone mentioned to her that she'd probably rather be with "younger hikers." She said she'd rather be with us than kids her own age. "You're like ... all grandmas to me!" LOL.
Raeven snapped my photo and sent it to me.
Fellow hikers waiting to find out how the hell we all were going to get out of this place.
I did go on the Tahoe bike adventure, I had to. Due to a family emergency at home, the leader of that adventure needed to leave the camp so there were only two of us left. It wasn't too bad, although the crappy bikes made it really difficult to shift gears. I had to bring my left hand over to the right side every time I needed to downshift. My right thumb just could not do it. Ouch.
Lots of activities back at camp, including Belly Dancing. Again, Miss Louise in all her gloriously alive being. I wanna be like her when I'm 87.
I met this lady, she's from Vallejo. Duccio, you know her? She wore magnificent colors every day and I asked her if I could take a photo. She then told me she was color blind and didn't know it. She was in a five-year program to become an orchid judge and at some point, they required an eye exam and she discovered she was color blind. Yes, she was asked to leave the program. She's a bit trippy and I like that in a person.
Lots of lounging around, drinking wine, chatting and reading. We're at nearly 8,000 feet above sea level so some really needed to take it easy. The altitude never bothered me.
Tie-Dye, an activity the camp sponsors for free and nearly everyone took advantage.
Louise got a bit tipsy one afternoon, brought this bottle of wine named Foreplay and proceeded to tell us amazing vivid stories. Her granddaughter was a speaker at some ritzy hotel one night and invited Louise to join her. While her granddaughter was engaged one evening, Louise got all dolled-up and went to the bar by herself. She was continually hit upon by these young guys, loving every minute of it, and only much later discovered it was a Meet-up group looking for adventure with the opposite sex!! More ruckus laughter.
The last night was amateur night and of course, I thought of you flying_blind when Chris did the Allen Sherman song.
I don't remember what they were singing but take my word for it, they were having the time of their life. So much laughter.
As long as the city continues to pay my week's stay, and I think they will because they need adventure helpers, I'll go again and again. I've been exhausted since I got home Friday night and in need some good healthy food, camp food sucks. I hope to get together with Louise and Chris sometime soon since they don't live very far from me. Mary lives in Florida now but says she'll come back to camp next year, "especially if you'll be here, Deb."
i smile