tahoe day 3 - sunrise

we were supposed to go on a hot air balloon ride.  these rides are however highly dependent on good weather conditions in order to proceed.  typically the best rides are early in the morning when the sun just rises and you see the changing of the light conditions.  makes for better images and pictures as well because the light is not so strong and harsh.

so part of the drill for such rides is that you have to get up early to prepare, but before you actually go to the site (which was just down the road from where we were), you have to give the company a call to check if the ride is still on.  unfortunately, our ride was cancelled due to strong winds.  on the ground, you could hardly feel a breeze but i guess they have some way of measuring this around the lake (where the ride was supposed to take place).  we were a little disappointed but better to be safe of course.

so we decided that since we were already up - it was 4.45 am when we made the call, we would go up into the hills and catch the sunrise.  so we went back to near where we were on the first day and found a good spot  but boy was it a little chilly at that hour... summer at 5.30 am or so is not what you expect it to be.  it was cold.  i wonder how i am going to run the marathon in such conditions:)

but the wait was worth it.

fannette island.  the water is still, like a sheet of glass.

the top of one of the mountains catching the first direct rays of the sun.

a view of vikingsholm in the early morning light