Beach In The Mountains & Bonding

June 11th

I woke up this morning to the sweet soliloquy of my alarm. I was worried it would wake up Natalia so I snoozed it quickly. I was excited for the morning because we had a small group going to Incline Village to a retired  trading post. Morgan’s story is on Native American culture in small businesses so she chose the revamped gift shop for her story. I had been wanting a new pin for my back pack so I agreed to go even though it was early and a long drive. We stopped at a coffee shop in the morning called "Freel Perk" and had amazing coffee and excellent service. I have always loved coffee shops in the mountains because theres always a cozy and inviting aspect to them.

After lunch we went to our second conference of the day and then Nevada Beach. Imagine being asked if you would rather live in the mountains or beach and being able to answer both. That’s the beautiful scene set for us at the beach today. It was quiet and utterly clean, essentially a perfect break for us after a long day of driving, walking, and interviews with conservationists. Some of the girls braved the freezing temperatures but I couldn’t bear to do more than a pinky toe. After we took our surplus of photos we were able to settle down under the umbrella and finish the day with smiles and laughter. The group seems closer today which makes me confident that we are building lasting relationships. I think if we take anything from this trip it will be our new found friendships.