Weekend in the Eastern Sierras =
Stress No Mo'

A 5 hour drive well worth it.

There is nothing more beautiful than descending Tioga Pass (in either car or bicycle which I did both) and getting that first view of Mono Lake. Wow, what a breathtaking natural beauty it is. From the junction of 120, it's Hwy 395: what a jewel of a road....rolling climbs, long straight-a-ways, wide shoulders which are both car and bicycle friendly. I fianlly got a chance to put my little A-3 in 6th gear......WOW, Let's just say triple digits felt as smooth as the doubles. Worried more about the Hwy patrol than my safety, I curbed my speed demon foot to a more resonable pace. I could immediately feel the Urban stress seeping from my muscles.

Well, I made the pilgramage to the Estern Sierra on Friday for my dear friends' wedding at June Lake. I (of course) brought the bike as there would be plenty of time between events to spin the legs and clear the city gunk from the lungs in the high mountain (or lack of) air. Great riding to say the least.

The Wedding started Saturday 2:00 at the Eagle Creek Resort and Spa (June Lake's finest) in an outdoor tented garden area. The weather could not have been more cooperative. A beatiful clear blue sky shined brightly above the cragy mountain cliffs and made a beautiful backdrop for the bride and groom's celebration. Besides it's alluring natural beauty, why did they chose such an out of the way place as June Lake????
Well, the groom lived there for a few years fresh out of college working for the Forest Service and if it wasn't for his lovely bride, he'd still be living the simple life in the Eastern Sierra (poor but low stressed).
The bride: well she's got a quick mind and a keen eye on the future and knows that San Francisco is the place she and he can earn the $$$, start making some sound investments and eventually someday return to June Lake. Fortunately his love for her is so strong that he made the sacrifice to leave his mountain life to make a go of the SF scene with his sweetheart.

So it was only befitting that they take their vows and celebrate with their close friends and family on the Eastern Side.

After the very simple but heart felt vows were made, cake was served, libations and hors d'ovueres were consumed, and party # 1 adjourned only to remeet an hour and a half later at the reception at the next venue....And what a venue that was!!!!

The invite said 5:30 at the Whoa Nellie Deli/ Mobile Gas Station at the intersection of 120 and 395....could it be???? The one at the bottom of Tioga? Why yes: Gas, Rest Stop, Vista Point and Mini Mart and who'd a thunk? First class dining to boot! Apparently the "master chef" works at one of the Four Seasons Resorts in the winter and runs the show in summer and fall at the Tioga Gas Mart. Grilled Ahi, Roasted Elk, Fillet Mignon were among the entres served while we all piled on the winter fleece as when the sun goes down up there....beware, burrrr!
Besides our soiree, there were a couple of other parties going on as well as the normal Saturday night follies of Mini Mart trafficers. tourists needing fuel and the locals yearning for good grub.. A blue Grass band seranaded in the crisp mountain air and to my surprise lot's of 20+ youngsters dancing away. This is truely the Eastern Sierra hotspot... All these years while traversing the Eastern slope, I thought it was just another gas station/Mini mart.....

So to my friends, Sheri and Terry who spent their wedding day serving and attending to their guests and family (both humble as always) may your lives together be long lasting and your love get stronger each day.

To all of us who attended their wedding and shed a tear of joy, the Tioga Mini Mart will now have a new fond place in both our hearts and stomachs :)