The sun set over the all-you-can-eat China Buffet as we topped off our fuel tank with szechuan flavored vegetable oil.  With our sights set on the Lake Tahoe region of California, we pulled back onto the expressway in central Oregon and cruised down I-5 late into the night, most of us lulled to sleep by the rumbling darkness of the bus. The sun soon rose and filled up the central valley with light as we passed by Mt. Shasta and turned the corner around Sacramento towards Donner Pass and Lake Mary.  Pedal to the floor, we climbed up into the Sierra at a pace reminiscent of the Green Tortoise bus company, for which many would mistake us in the coming days.

We had graciously been allowed to stay at a cabin on Lake Mary managed by the Dartmouth Outing Club of Northern California, an organization of active alumni from the College.  Just below the top of the pass, Lake Mary is nestled into the woods between Mt. Judah, Donner Peak, and the Sugar Bowl ski area.  With mountain views, a network of hiking trails, a canoe, and a collection of other whimsical flotation devices of questionable seaworthiness, the location was a wonderful place to relax, regroup, and reflect upon our trip up to that point.

We spent the afternoon exploring the cabin and its environs.  Brian scrambled up Mt. Disney while Mitch, Elliott, Mikey, and Andy went running up and around the Sugar Bowl ski area.  Others napped on the lakeshore or out on the water in the canoe.  Inside, Forrest lit a fire in the hearth while Viv and Mikey prepared a delicious feast of steaks and potatos.

Later that evening, we were joined by Maja and Megan, two reporters from NPR’s Morning Edition.  We all gathered in the living room in front of the fire to discuss the successes and failures of our trip up until California and answer questions about the logistics and purpose of our journey.  It was the first opportunity for all of us to come together since leaving Hanover and consider the meaning of our mission and if we had been accomplishing what we had set out to do. The overwhelming consensus was very positive underlined by the recognition that we should never get complacent. There were more people to see, more places to travel, and more cause to focus our message and reach as many as possible. We have since committed to revamping our website with more content, honing our message, and continuing to work with the media to get our message out.

After the interview, we played an intense game of Pictionary, highlighted by phenomenal drawings of “How Stella Got her Groove Back,” “Meet Joe Black,” “Flubber,” and “Lorenzo’s Oil.”  It was unclear whether or not NPR was recording our game of Pictionary.  I guess we will find out on August 3rd, when the piece airs on NPR's Morning Edition.

The next day was all about lounging.  On the beach, in the water, around the Scrabble board, and by the fire.  It was a welcomed respite before we started our hectic tour of the San Francisco Bay area.

-Mitch