Bittersweet Goodbyes

The final day of our trip was really special. We took a trip to a local beach and spent the majority of the day just spending time together as a group. I had committed to getting in the water at least once on the trip and decided to join the group today in doing so. I ran into the freezing water and completely submerged. The water was crystal clear and refreshing. I rinsed the water through my hair and laid in the sun to soak up the uv. We had lunch at a local restaurant and talked about highlights of the trip and laughed. I had the realization that I had made so many new friends in such a short time. The chemistry of the group was something you don't find often. Not a single person was the odd one out the entire trip. We were all able to connect one on one with each other at some point in the trip and that was really unique. 

Before the trip started, Jess had sent a message about a potential opportunity to go horseback riding. I have been scared of horses for a long time but I wanted to experience new things. So today we rode to the stables and mounted our horses. My horses name was Fallon. She was named after the ranch that they received her from in nevada. She was a gentle horse and was very independent. At some point in the trip, we stopped the give the horses a chance to potty. Somehow, Annikas horse, Pencilton, got his tail stuck in the headpiece of Fallon. In an attempt to get free, Fallon swung her head and spooked Pencilton. In a panic, both horses detached and veered from the path. Me and Annika were very timid from then on. I am grateful for the experience and I am happy to say I did it once, however I probably wouldn't do it again. I nonetheless gave Fallon some thank you pats and said goodbye. We are ending the night together playing games and taking in our last time together.

Kayaking and Vintage Thrifting

 

This morning I woke up the girls to "Goodmorning:, by Mandisa. I would like to think that everyone has embraced the song but I did get a lot of rolled eyes and pillows over heads (Morgan). We arrived at our Kayaking destination and were all really stoked to get on the water. Me and Natalia claimed our boat and tracked out. I think our competitive spirit took over as we began to reach a lead in front of the group and find our pace. The best part of the entire outing was when Austin and Jake capsized their kayak. Jake shook his head in frustration and shock from the freezing temperatures on the lake. Nonetheless, we all ended up laughing about it on the drive back home. 

My feature story is related to thrifting trends in Lake Tahoe so we obviously had to make it out to some of the local second hand shops. One of the stores named Connies Clothesline Thrift Boutique, was full of eclectic and fashion "hots" for different decades. I came across two beautiful items that were 100% sillk. One of them was a vintage silk scarf from the 70s and it immediately called me. Another find was vintage J. Crew from the 80s. It was a special piece and it fit my style to a T. I knew I didn't have anymore room in my suitcase but had to take advantage of the lovely spirit and atmosphere of connie.

Horses and Beaches

I had the pleasure of visiting Sand Harbor beach today, located on the northeast shore of Lake Tahoe. The beach is claimed to be one of the most scenic and popular recreational areas in the basin, containing 55 acres of sandy beach and rocky coves. 

The view? Not disappointing in the slightest (a common theme in Tahoe). It was lovely seeing families of all ages flock to the beach, eager to play volleyball, frisbee, and other water sports. I particularly enjoyed watching the older couples plop down two chairs and stare out over the view. Perhaps that will be me one day.

We carried ourselves over to Zephyr Cove Stables, where horses of all different colors and patterns awaited. I was overjoyed to be riding a horse again, and despite my seasonal allergies, had so much fun with Tamale. Tamale was eager and steadfast, and I could tell he loved a good run. We traveled throughout the high Sierra wilderness for about an hour, and saying goodbye to Tamale crushed my heart. 

 Kayaking and Burgers 

When I kayaked in the past, I was a bit younger and more reserved. Canyon Lake provided a cute scenery and enclosed area to practice my skills, but was nothing in comparison to the vastness of Lake Tahoe. I wish I was more prepared for the arm workout I experienced.

I truly will never forget putting my paddle into the water and staring down into the clearest water I have ever seen. It felt like if I just reached down and skimmed my fingers across the water, I could touch every single rock beneath its depths. 

As we neared the shore, I looked towards our next endeavor - food. We visited California Burger Co., a bar/restaurant in Heavenly Village that was extremely pricey, yet delicious. I am an easy person to please when it comes to food, and that pesto club is a sandwich I will remember for a while. It reminded me of my dad making me a sandwich when I was little. 

Horseback Riding at Zephyr

 

Another highlight of my trip! After spending most of the day at Sand Harbor beach, we took a trip to Zephyr Cove Stables to do horseback riding. This was my first time actually riding a horse by myself with no one holding the reins. I was a little bit nervous at first, but I had an absolute blast from start to finish. The horse that I was assigned to was named Cowgirl. She was a total sweetheart and made the ride so easy for me. She wasn't very jumpy either, which was great because it wasn't too hard to record content while we moved.

Our guide was probably one of the coolest people I’ve met on this trip. I was in the front of the line, so I had the privilege of talking to her the entire time. We had the best conversations during the 2-mile ride, discussing everything from nature, traveling, celebrities, and the college experience.

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Day 6: Last day in Tahoe

Today was our last full day in Tahoe and it was definitely one to remember. We left the Lodge around 8:00 a.m. and headed to Sand Harbor Beach. After dropping everyone else off Dale and I made our way to an e-bike rental shop. While we were there I was able to interview a few of the employees who were very knowledgeable about e-bikes and the local trails. It was great getting their perspective for my story.

Once we finished Dale and I hopped on our e-bikes and rode all the way back to Sand Harbor. The ride was a couple of miles long but the e-bikes made it feel effortless. After spending some time at the beach soaking up the sun and grabbing some food we made the scenic ride back to the rental shop before meeting up with the rest of the group.

The highlight of the day though was definitely horseback riding. When we arrived we were greeted by a few friendly instructors who helped us get checked in, sign waivers, and get ready for the ride. We split into groups and met our horses. I was paired with a horse named Brown Jug. He seemed a little nervous at first which honestly made me a little nervous too. Thankfully getting on the horse was easier than I expected. The instructors showed us how to control our horses, and before long we were heading down the trail. At first it took some getting used to, but once we got moving, I started to relax. As strange as it sounds, I felt connected to the horse because I was responsible for guiding him along the trail.

About 20 minutes into the ride, we climbed a hill and were rewarded with one of the most incredible views of Lake Tahoe that I've seen all week. Sitting on horseback and listening to musicr felt almost unreal. The rest of the ride was filled with beautiful scenery, laughs, and great conversations. Our instructor Talula was awesome and made the experience even more enjoyable.

It's hard to believe this trip is already coming to an end. I've loved the people, the adventures, the late nights, and even the assignments that came along with it. This has been one of the best experiences I've had in a long time and I'm grateful for every moment. A huge thank you to Jess and Dale for being so patient, supportive, and willing to put up with us all week. I'm going to miss this trip but I'm excited to stay in touch with everyone and hopefully go on another adventure like this in the future. Thanks Y'all!

LAST DAY IN TAHOE

Today was our final day in Tahoe. I wrapped up my last two interviews, soaked up some time at the beach, and then we headed out for horseback riding. I really enjoyed the peace of moving through the woods on my horse, Montana. The experience was surreal. Being surrounded by the beauty of the Tahoe forests, feeling truly at peace, and sharing it all with great friends who made this trip so worth it. The ultimate highlight came toward the end of the day when the group and I scored free Taco Bell, courtesy of Jessica. A perfect send-off. I learned so much on this adventure. I met nine incredibly awesome people who pushed me to be a better content creator and writer. I hiked trails, learned history, and truly deepened my understanding of the delicate ecosystem that the Tahoe Basin holds. I cannot wait to pick up right where I left off. Tahoe has a way of getting into you, and I have a feeling I left a little of myself here too.

Kayaking in the BIG BLUE.

The absolute highlight of my day, and of my week, was yesterday. We got up at 8:30 and traveled to the north shore. Once we reached the shoreline, we were given our safety briefing. I was assured that it was "almost impossible" to capsize the kayak, which I would later learn was untrue. Jake and I partnered up and quickly became professional rowers. We were in sync, gliding through the waves of North America's oldest lake. Mid-raft, a large shark-like creature attacked our kayak. Being the hero I am, I fought it off, though in the mayhem our kayak capsized. Jake and I quickly climbed back on, triumphant after defeating Lake Tahoe's largest predator. We made it back to shore as heroes, and celebrated the way heroes do: with a hearty American burger, a well-earned tribute to our great victory over nature.

Catching Sunrise

 

The earliest morning of the trip has given me some of my best content so far. Dale and a small group of us students left around 4am to catch the sunrise at Emerald Bay. I truly did not expect it to be as peaceful as it was. The air was cold, and we were exhausted from our all-nighter, but it was totally worth it. Aside from the sunrise itself, the beauty of nature all around us was an unforgettable experience. My favorite shots were of the mountains with cars winding down their paths.

When sunrise finally broke a little over an hour after we arrived at Emerald Bay, We all scrambled to get all of our photos and timelapses together. The process of adjusting to the change of light and different angles challenged me to think more creatively about the different route I wanted to take for each picture and video.

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Lowkey in the middle of the lake

 The day started off with a beautifully morning the weather was amazing, I was going to try a new activity for the first time, which was kayaking, I have done something similar about two years ago, which was paddle boarding, but I have always wanted to kayak. 

We got to the kayak location, and every one was going to have double kayaks, I was really exited that I was able to team bond with one of my other peers, named Ashley since we are very much opposites , it was interesting to see how we would both work as a team on something that has the same rules and motions. So, on we were placed into our kayaks, the paddle boards were fun to experience with, I thought it would be easy to deal with the paddle boards and its correct motion, but I was wrong there are ways kayaking could be a bit confusing. 

We all took our pictures and were able to enjoy the view that was right in back of us, following along with the tour guide, who was giving us Lake Tahoe's history and explaining where it all started. Fun fact: Lake Tahoe's name came from the Washoe Native American word that translates to "edge of the lake", as well as going into depth in how the mountains basin creates Lake Tahoe's water clarity, being that the sediments and nutrients from the mountains. 

Overall, i'm glad my first kayaking experience was full filled with amazing people who also enjoy the views and nature just as much as I do.