Where in the world are we and what is going on?

We've decided to keep it real simple for the wedding, ceremony and everything else going on with this shindig. It's all going to go down at 261 Shepard Ln. in sunny Bishop, CA.
The ceremony is going to start at 2PM. 
The celebration will continue with a burrito bar and desert station so bring your appetite and any ideas for side dish, burrito topper, or dessert that you would like to contribute. We've never fed this many people before so we'll take all the help we can get.  

Directions to 261 Shepard Ln. :
1:) From the southern approach, LAX, or Las Vegas.  Take 395 North into Bishop turn Left on Line Street.  Go three miles and turn Right on Shepard half way down the block on the Left.

2:) From the northern approach, Mammoth Lakes Airport, and Reno.  Take 395 South to a Right turn onto Ed Powers Road before you enter Bishop. At stop sign take a Left onto Red Hill Rd. At T-intersection take a left onto highway 168.  Take your first Left onto Shepard Ln.

3:) From the other northern approach, Highway 6 from Nevada.  Take Highway 6 south into Bishop.  Take right onto highway 395 North towards Mammoth and Yosemite. Take a Left on Brockman Ln, just past the Paiute Palace Casino.  Go a couple of miles. Take a Right onto West Line Street.  Right onto Shepard Lane.

That's it, there are really only three ways into and out of this town.  See you soon.
 

What to Bring and What to Do

Things you should definitely bring:

• Sunscreen, chapstick, and a large water bottle or two- it's sunny and dry and the elevation is high enough to really cook you.
• Warm jacket, hat and gloves- sure it could be 70 degrees the whole weekend, but if a heinous arctic windstorm rolls in don't say we didn't warn you! Expect nights to be below freezing. Bishop Weather
• Hiking boots- the town of Bishop is really really boring. Most anything worth doing involves hiking in the mountains.
• A casual outfit  for the outdoor ceremony and reception- no ties unless you're just really into that. Layers highly recommended for the possible warm or cold weather we could experience
• A camera- we're not hiring a professional photographer so it's up to you to help us commemorate this day.
• Clean underwear and socks for every day you'll be here. Really people, you should know this by now.

Things you might want to bring:

• Small bribes for Iris- at least if you want her to let you hold her. No candy or gum, though- choking hazard.
• Climbing shoes- if you've got em, bring em. Duh.
• Tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag- only if you're planning on camping, obviously.
• Skis- world-class skiing 45 minutes away- Mammoth Mountain
• Your swimsuit- hot springs abound up and down the Owens Valley- most people go nude to the free ones, but if you want to go to a commercial one expect to cover up. Keough's Hot Springs

What to do:
We're going to plan out a few optional activities throughout the weekend so stay tuned for that agenda. But if you're the type who'd prefer to set out on her/his own this list is for you:

• Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
• Shat's Bakery  This is one of the only in-town things to do. It's a madhouse.
• Hiking- just ask us for weather appropriate recommendations.

Getting to Bishop

If you haven't already figured it out, it's a real pain in the ass to get to Bishop from anywhere.  Here are the best options if you are going to try and fly to Bishop. Remember, November is when the weather starts to get unpredictable around here and it can seriously hamper any attempts at getting here via airplane or driving.   


Mammoth Lakes Airport: It's only 40 minutes from Bishop but you have to go through LA to get there.  There are about three flights a day. Unfortunately, to get back to the East the only flights you can get are overnight flights.  Winter weather can shut the airport down due to high winds so it is a gamble and you can get stuck overnight or longer without a flight going out. Daily shuttles to Bishop with reservations through ESTA   (http://easternsierratransitauthority.com ).  If the timing is right, we can pick you up here as well.

Reno:  It's about 2.5 to 3 hours north of Bishop.  Easy driving, sometimes flights are cheap. There is a shuttle with Eastern Sierra Transit Authority that runs daily. The schedule is here  http://easternsierratransitauthority.com/wb/pages/bus-routes/crest--lone-pine-reno.php and it looks like the only shuttle leaves Reno at 1:50 pm.

LAX: Plenty of direct flights from all over to LA.  Drive time is about 5-6 hours, easy once you leave the city and no mountain passes or snowy conditions to worry about.

Las Vegas: Sometimes the deals into Vegas are great, and it's only 4 hours from Vegas to Bishop. Plus you could win all your travel money back!  Westgard Pass can be tricky if it's snowy but it generally remains open until the middle of winter.
 
 Lodging:
      There are numerous hotels in town to choose from that are conveniently located since the whole town is only about 3 square miles.  No matter what hotel you choose, you will be close enough to our house. November is the off season so prices shouldn't be bad at all. The Joseph House Inn and The Chalfant House are a couple of Bed and Breakfasts that offer a bit nicer accommodations.   If we find a good deal we'll be sure to post it.

There is also plenty of camping within a few miles of the house. The Buttermilks offer the closest selection of  primitive camping.  Another option is the Pit, which is a little less primitive in that it has a latrine. Feel free to contact us with questions regarding the best options for camping!  

oh my god, we're really doing it!

It's true folks! After 10 long years of avoiding it, we're actually getting married. We are planning on doing it on 11-11-11 here in good ol' Bishop, California. The exact location is still to be announced...meaning we haven't really figured that one out yet. No matter what, the party will happen!