10/18/25
Today was No Kings Day, throughout the United States. I was disappointed not to be able to take part in the events, because I boarded the train just before the Truckee event started. However, my Servas hosts Roz and Russ went straight from dropping me off at the station to the event with their signs, and later reported that the event went wonderfully. I’m including a picture of their signs (and Roz’s ingenous way of attaching them to a Swiffer mop for easy carryability and swivelability—check it out for your future protest sign opportunities!)
I’m seeing in my Facebook feed that many other cities—including Portland, of course!—had wonderful, well attended marches and rallies as well. Many of you turned out for them, and I loved seeing the pics of your faces and signs. It heartens me to see this defiance of authoritarianism and support of immigrants’ rights, as well as the joy and creativity that so many people across the nation are bringing to the resistance. Let’s keep up the pressure, as well as the love, joy, creativity, and community building. Goodness knows we all need it.
I’m on the train now, about to stop in Elko, Nevada at about 8:30 pm. My next destination, at 6:30 Mountain Time tomorrow, will be Denver. I’m looking forward to it!
But first! OMG. These past 48 hours were my first time in Truckee, California and Lake Tahoe, and the natural beauty was truly mind-boggling.
Roz and Russ were wonderful hosts. They picked me up at the train station, drove me to their stunning lakeside (Donner Lake) home; took me to a local museum where I learned more about the history of the area, including the tragic story of the Donner Party; took me up to the peak of the nearby mountain where we could look down on Donner Lake; and shared a wonderful dinner with me.
The next day, we marveled at the morning mist on the lake as the sun rose in the sky. This was the view from their back deck.
Then, we set out for Lake Tahoe. The lake itself was breathtaking, and we stopped at several places around it, including a picnic lunch at Sugar Pine Point State Park, where we walked down to the water’s edge and I got to see how staggeringly clear it is.
On the way back, we happened upon a brilliant stand of golden aspens. I had been really looking forward to seeing aspens in Colorado (and I hope the season will line up so that I will be able to) but this was a wonderful preview.
Then this morning, Russ took me out on a bike ride through a nearby neighborhood, which was absolutely beautiful. All the pines and boulders in the area make for a rugged aesthetic that the 1930s and ‘40s housing stock blended into perfectly. (Lots of log cabins and A-frames.)
The weather cooperated wonderfully as well. It gets cold early in the season at that elevation (~6000 ft/1830 m) and they had had a dusting of snow the day before my arrival. But by the time I arrived, the warm sunshine had melted it, and highs were in the 60s F (around 15-20 C) and with the direct sun at that elevation, it felt at times almost too warm!
If you’ve never visited this area, I encourage you to put it on your list. (And take the train to get there! Also stunning!)
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