Gold Mines!

After a beautiful, refreshing walk in the crisp but sunny mountain air of South Lake Tahoe and another gorgeous drive through pine forests over the mountains, I stopped in Placerville for a short break and saw a brochure for a mine tour. It was too late in the day to go down in the mine, unfortunately, but they gave me a map for a trail up into the hills.

I was glad to get out and stretch and with no one else around I could imagine myself carrying a pick and shovel and hiking into the back country like the early miners. Unfortunately, the little map they gave me was not to scale and I got lost. I hiked higher and higher into the hills behind Placerville and began to be a little worried as they had given me strict instructions to be out of the parking lot by 5:00pm or my car would be stuck behind a gate until morning

Of course, I was totally unprepared, wearing just sandals and with no water. With the temp in the 80s even at that hour, hiking up steep hills and trying to watch the ground ahead for the rattle snakes they warned me about, my heart was definitely pumping hard. I was finally able to backtrack enough to find the trail and follow it back to the point where I should have turned and didn't. I made it out of the gate just in time at about 4:55...so that was my thrill for this day! ;)

It was a fun stop though, definitely made me feel alive...and I was able to snag a small vial of gold flakes to take back for Jayson (Shhh, don't tell him; it'll be a great surprise.)

I drove straight through Sacramento and stayed tonight in a small town north on the I-5 where I found a great restaurant that served me the most delicious french bread with huge chunks of fresh garlic cloves and blue cheese toasted on the top. Good thing nobody has to smell my breath tonight, but it sure was delicious! (Where is my sister when I need her for a good old fashioned food binge? haha--she loves roasted garlic as much as I do.)

Tomorrow I hope to explore Clear Lake a little on the way over to the 101, then it's home by tomorrow night to see Firecat. Yeah! Next it's his turn as he goes to his niece's wedding in Missouri in about a month. Maybe he will post a bit to the blog too while he is away (but don't count on it--lol).

Spontaneity

Wow, I had so much fun today. I left Reno about 1:00 after a Trader Joe’s run on my way to spend the afternoon at the hot springs in Genoa…but I never made it. On my way out of town I noticed a sign to Virginia City, took a quick look at the map and decided I could divert through there without going too much out of my way. Whew, I had no idea what I was in for.

I’ve never been afraid of heights but I don’t think I can say that anymore. I don’t know if it’s age or just that road, but the 30 MPH speed limit seemed way too fast for me. Thankfully, there were many turnouts on the curvy road up the mountains because the views overlooking Reno were stupendous. I was afraid to take my eyes off the road, but I had to pull over and look a few times. I have really been wishing I had a camera on this trip.

Virginia City was really cool and I ended up staying over 3 hours—browsed some museums, did a little shopping, enjoyed some ice cream as it was quite warm today and spent quite a while in a wonderful old Mark Twain book store. I even stopped in at the Red Dog Saloon—haha, how could I pass that up?! No drinks for this girl on a driving day, though. It looks like it would be fun for an overnighter some time, with a tour of the gold mine the following day. The closest I got on a Sunday was to look at some old Morgan silver dollars and a few huge (5# plus) gold nuggets.

The trip down the other side was not quite as thrilling (almost!), but just as beautiful. It’s interesting to see some of the old remnants of gold mining and railroad equipment along the way. It’s high country but desolate. I would love to come back with Jayson but definitely not during the winter. Those roads are bad enough to drive when it’s dry; I’d never want to try it with chains.

I really enjoyed Reno, too. There’s a lot to do there. I walked 'til I blistered all day Saturday, a lovely walk up the Truckee River. Next time I want to try those one-person kayaks I saw floating down the river all day—looked very fun. As usual, I made friends with the dealers at the craps table and they told me about a bunch of great hiking trails just outside the city. I will look forward to that ‘next time.’

It’s also been nice not to touch the computer for a few days. I decided to pretend that my investments are throwing off enough passive income that I never need to work again and that definitely made me feel differently as I walked about town, lol. I think I’ll always enjoy working at something, but I discovered it sure feels good to remove the pressure. I will have to work on that some more! Haha

I haven’t been to Lake Tahoe for many years, decades perhaps, but my mom says it is the first place I hiked with my dad…when I was three years old. He definitely got me started off right and I have enjoyed walking and hiking my whole life. I didn’t have a picture of how big the lake is; it amazed me as I crested the mountain coming over Hwy 50 just before sunset. Another lost photo moment! At least I will always have the pictures in my memory (at least I hope so, if this Alzheimers doesn’t get any worse! haha)

Well, it’s time for this tired girl to turn in. I hope to take a little walk around the lake tomorrow and then head home with a one-night stopover somewhere along the way. Then I will try to integrate a little of the ‘road warrior mindset’ into my normal life…and see if I can make it a little less normal. Thanks for coming along in spirit.

Until next time…Teaser

Destination Unknown

Travel Trader is on the move again. Wheeee!

Tuesday afternoon I decided that I need to put some life back in my life so I hit the road Wednesday after market for a short little adventure. My wonderful Firecat wished me good luck and is holding down the home front. Wow, that's gotta be one of the advantages of living with a Liberal, lol. I need to remember more often how much change has happened in Firecat, too, since I met him.

I decided not to drive south because it's way too familiar, although sometime I'd like to visit Fort Bragg. Straight north is pretty familiar too so I opted to head for Redding and had the most beautiful drive Wednesday afternoon. It was very nostalgic--both fulfilling and grounding into my own roots--to be driving by all the rivers and lakes where my dad took me camping and fishing and swimming as a kid. He gave us some wonderful experiences.

I also connected with why he and Mary went to Reno at least once a year--I know now that for him it was just as much about the beauty of the drive and the adventure of the trip as it was about the gambling. I remembered him telling me about all the interesting and beautiful places there are in Reno outside the casinos that most people never see.

So with those memories flooding through me on the drive over 299, I decided to go to Reno and here I am. I stayed south of Redding Wednesday night and had another gorgeous drive through the mountains yesterday. I'm trying to stay off the computer as much as possible so I'm about to head down to the gym this morning, which I hope to follow with a massage if they can fit me in.

Part of the reason for this trip is to try to shove myself out of the be responsible, plan everything, get your work done first mode that I'm usually in. It's interesting to feel myself shift through different thinking and feeling states as I drive. Wednesday morning I spent more time trading than I wanted to and then later in the day I noticed how different it feels to not be at the computer all day. Good awareness! lol

I can feel a sense of lightness of spirit creeping back into my heart more and more as each day goes by and I can begin to see that the sense of freedom I have been yearning for may in fact be possible. I may need help from all of you in trying to maintain some of it when I return home--I sooo need to integrate it into my 'regular' life. You are all such blessings to me and I am experiencing very fully that life is truly a gift.

I won't promise to post every day, but I'll try to update you at least once, even if it's after I get home...but I have a hunch this won't be the last time I'll do this. ;)

"RV Freedom"

I have been spending some time updating and marketing my eBook series (http://Practice-Marketing-Simplified.com/pr-for-the-professions.html) and while exploring online I ran across a book that I thought might interest some of you who have enjoyed our blog.

It's called RV Freedom and it guides people through a 10-step process of creating a lifestyle of travel freedom on the road.

The book assumes you'll be doing this in an RV, but we have shown you don't even need that to live our lifestyle; we're doing just great in our little Eurovan "TradeMobile" and you could probably do just about all that we do with whatever vehicle you own now. What most people need is a mindset that it IS possible.

• Figure out what your dreams are.
• Keep thinking about them and reading about them.
• Don't let short-term barriers stop you.
• Take small steps if necessary but keep moving toward your goal.
• You'll be surprised at what can happen, and how soon!

I'll keep an eye out for other similar resources and post them to this blog as I find them. You might just enjoy the read and leave it at that, but so many of you have said you loved "living vicariously" with our adventures that I hope some of you will "make it real" in whatever realm makes your own heart jump. ;)

Hugs and "fannie swats" to all!
Teaser

"Home Sweet Home"...or how about "Busy as Bees Again"

Well, we're back home and in the thick of things. There have definitely been no summer doldrums in the market this August!

FireCat is in the midst of writing new software to automate and improve some of our trading processes and strategies. We are both switching brokers--since Schwab swallowed CyberTrader we have not been happy with their platform so we are trying out a smaller, more responsive firm in El Segundo called MB Trader...looks promising so far.

I have been buried in investigating and applying for a mortgage refi since my ARM begins to float in September...yes I know, me and everybody else! Anyway, I found a great rate and have been approved for a new product from ING Direct, only being offered to current customers so far. They've been fast and efficient and I'm only having to pay 5.25%. The product isn't for everyone but it's a great fit for me, so now it's only a matter of finishing the paperwork. That's a relief!

For those of you still relishing summer (it doesn't mean quite the same to us here in California where it's nice year round and just as likely to be foggy in August as sunny), enjoy the rest of the season...and I hope some of you will post some comments to our blog and let us know some of the interesting places and experiences you had on your vacation this year. Who knows, we might just built it in to our next adventure!

8/9/08 – Dad’s house

We have been visiting my dad in Eureka since Wednesday. We had a beautiful drive down through the Redwoods and stopped for a walk up my favorite trail to Fern Canyon at my favorite campground, Prairie Creek State Park. I tell everyone that if you’ve never been in a redwood forest you need to promise yourself to do it at least once in your life. It can’t be described; one has to experience it—that’s all I can say.

Since our visit here last year my dad is now equipped with high speed cable Internet so it is a great place to trade and enables us to stay a little longer than we could before. We have had a good visit with him and it is nice for me to see him and FireCat seem to enjoy each other’s company so much.

Dad is turning 80 this year too—in about a month and a half—so we are celebrating a little early during this visit. Due to some physical difficulties he is unable to travel long distances or I would have him on a cruise too! We are going to enjoy a sushi dinner tonight and do some more visiting. I have enjoyed a lot of sharing this trip of some of the old stories and memories, some from my childhood camping trips and some from his youth before I arrived on the scene. It was great to have FireCat play some old 1940s music on his guitar the other night while my dad sang along. He has always had a great voice and can still belt out “It Had to be You,” making me wish once again that I had received THAT gene! ;)

Of course one of the highlights of my visits here this time of year is that I get to go berry-picking. I was afraid when we arrived that the blackberries weren’t ripe yet because all I could see were little green berries, but I did find some patches up the road yesterday where it must be a little warmer because the blackberries were plump and perfectly ripe. FireCat and I went out today and picked a huge bucket and froze a lot of small containers so Dad can have them on his cereal and ice cream for a few months. I sure wish they could travel better so I could take a bunch home, but mostly I just enjoy the picking. It reminds me of my childhood I guess…except then my mother would make jams and pies and that is a little beyond my skills and inclinations.

We head for home tomorrow, with the required stop at the wonderful Loleta cheese factory and FireCat’s birthday dinner at Gordon Biersch in San Jose. It’s a full week once we get home Monday night, but I am looking forward to seeing my daughter and grandson and getting started on some potential business endeavors. As always, I’ll keep you posted. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

8/3/08 – Post-Vancouver

Photos above - from top to bottom, then right column:
· Teaser – morning stretch or market cheer?
· Vaughn and parents at the new house
· Vaughn

· Alana – our “Vancouver landlady"

· Dr. Carl

· Ferry ride from Whidbey Island
· Seattle waterfront

· FireCat in the flowers
· Dancing Dave



Below:
· Chinese fireworks
· Camping on Whidbey Island

Well, the Chinese fireworks were by far the best—wish we could have seen the finals on Saturday. But instead, we were enjoying a glass of wine around an outdoor campfire under the trees on Whidbey Island with our friends Dr. Carl and Chris.

We met Chris and Carl on our trip to Panama a few years ago and somehow Dr. Carl knew even then that we would become friends. The spot they have on Whidbey Island is absolutely beautiful and reminded me so much of camping as a child in Oregon and Northern California.

We have had a very rich few days visiting friends old and new on our way home from Vancouver. We met a young man named Vaughn two years ago, the first time we attended the Agora Financial Conference in Vancouver. While studying to become a doctor he is also doing some short-term trading. He and FireCat have stayed in touch and shared trading info and experiences and we look forward to seeing him each year in Vancouver.

This year on our way south we stopped at his family home in southern Canada—outside a town called Langley—to see the house his parents are building. What a gorgeous place that is, even though still in progress. Having built his own home, FireCat could really appreciate the amount of work and quality of craftsmanship. They are breeding horses and currently have seven of them—including a one-month old male foal. They are beautiful award-winning animals.

From there we proceeded to Whidbey Island to visit Chris and Carl, and then on to see my dancing buddy Dave, who lives near our home on the Central Coast but had just arrived at a house he owns near Olympia where he will be doing some improvements in between renters. We had a chance to catch up over a nice Thai dinner about his trip to Guatemala and our cross-country trip this year. It is quizzical to meet a friend 1000 miles from home because we haven’t had the chance to catch up where we live a few miles apart. Such is the world we live in I suppose.

Today we drove to Portland and had a very pleasant afternoon walking in the sun down quirky 23rd Avenue, doing some shopping and having a wonderful beer and cheddar soup at the Widmer Brewery. We are staying for a couple nights with Christian, FireCat’s technology friend from Corsica who works at Intel. They are deep into a technology discussion so I figured it was a good time to catch up on the blog.

I find traveling like this, where we have a chance to connect with friends along the way, much more rewarding than just sightseeing and traveling. Touching base to share a glimpse of people’s lives, sharing a bit of ourselves, discussing our life plans and the state of the country—I see the threads of similarity and the differences that make them all unique, I learn something from each of them, and I have a chance to reflect on myself, my views, my experiences. I think this is what life is about—so much of my meaning comes from myself and how I process my experiences, but also much of it comes from the sharing I do with others.

The daily driving is also a good time for sharing between FireCat and me. We are talking about changes we want to make in our trading, and possibly even other business ventures. This may be our last long trip for awhile so we are appreciating all of it, and yet looking forward to some “at home” adventures as we create our future in our local area. Perhaps our friends will come to visit us over the next year if we stay in one place ourselves.