Oh ! How I Appreciate Shaver!

I grew up in the Valley, in Fresno to be specific. I will always have a warm spot in my heart for that town, but today I realized why Shaver is so appealing to me.

I often get the "bug" to get to the city...the buzz of people everywhere, the social chat as one shops, the traffic jams---I guess I really don't look forward to the traffic jams. But I continued through my (traffic jams) day realizing the great differences between where I grew up and where I live today. I did enjoy my day in Fresno, the fresh vegetables in the store, Mocha Berry Coffee at Starbucks www.starbucks.com, Sees Candy www.sees.com, but, as I slowly meandered back home up 168 and into the clouds I could smell the manzinita and feel the air cool as I drove higher and higher in elevation. Green became a dominating color, and the grey of concrete slowly disappeared. Squirrels scampered in the distance, deer jotted across my path, and the trees loomed overhead seeming to get taller and taller as they engulfed the highway. What a change in surroundings in a short 40 minute drive. Yet once here one is only minutes from skiing, boating, hiking, and the forest--there is nothing like the forest. I do need to get to "the city" once in a while, but today I am most comfortable in Shaver Lake.

I am always surprised, when visiting the Valley, to here people say that they have never been to Shaver--you live in Fresno and you have never been to Shaver? Whoa, that must change! The Sierra Nevada Mountains provide a little piece of heaven and are so close to valley cities! So if you read this and you have never been to Shaver Lake, come on up--you will love it!