Authors Note: This is the longer version of the Tahoe honeymoon story with a continuation to San Francisco. The time of year is early May. The story is part of M.L. Thompson's World Tour anthology on the Archive. The usual disclaimers apply. Rated PG for innuendo.
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A person with a very powerful telescope could have seen the bright red figure on the top of Mt. Tallac overlooking Lake Tahoe, but they would not have observed the small additional figure enveloped in the red cape. Clark hugged Lois back to his chest as they watched the sun rise over the Sierra Nevada, the shadow line retreating before the assault of the new May day. As the forest was warmed by the sunlight, the aroma of pine began to ascend to the heights.
Below them, still in darkness was small, tranquil Fallen Leaf Lake. To their left and north was the vast expanse of the 10th largest lake in the world and the deepest lake in the United States. The water was so clear that even Lois could see the lake bottom near the shoreline. Clark, if he chose, could have tracked the large sport fish deep in the lake, or even perhaps the fabled "Tahoe Tessie", their version of the Loch Ness Monster. Right now he chose to nibble gently on his wife's ears, switching conscientiously from right to left and back again. It was cold up here, he reasoned, and he was keeping her ears warm. He could hear her purring softly from his ministrations.
"Happy Anniversary."
Lois giggled. "How many have we had this year?"
"I've lost count," Clark breathed. "You warm enough?"
Lois nodded, then laid her head back on his shoulder, opening the right side of her neck and right shoulder for more attention. He obliged contentedly, then softly stroked her arms under his cape. Her hands were occupied holding it together in front. Clark slid his arms down hers and hugged her more tightly to him. It was so wonderful to feel her here with him, enjoying one of his favorite sights, the wonder magnified with the sharing.
She watched in contentment as the town of South Lake Tahoe was slowly revealed to them, a curtain rising on a new day. On Heavenly Valley, snow still gleamed on the ski runs, just now dormant for the languid summer days to come. Daylight sparkled off the cable lines running up the mountain. The town began to come alive with traffic.
"It's still early," he said softly in her ear, "and I have something I want to show you before the visitors come."
Lois let loose of the cape and turned in his arms, reaching up to his neck and head, presenting her lips for a kiss. " You're the tour director here. Whatever you want."
"And I want a *lot*," he growled before kissing her thoroughly. Lois giggled softly as he scooped her up to fly away. "First, I'm going to change into something a little less...flamboyant." He flew down the mountain to the unpopulated north end of Fallen Leaf Lake, stepped into the cover of the trees and spun into blue jeans, black T-shirt and windbreaker. He stepped back to her to see her transfixed by the perfect sight of the glass smooth lake fringed by rustic cabins and small boats reflected on the water.
"How perfect is that," Lois stated as he resumed his previous posture of hugging her back into him.
He looked out at the view too. "As perfect as the woman watching it with me. And I have something better yet to come."
Lois looked up at him, "You always do."
"Sweet talking will get you anything, my dear. Come on, there's more. For this, I want you to close your eyes until we get there."
Lois gladly obliged and snuggled her head under his chin as he scooped her up once more. It was a short flight until she felt the ground under her feet again and once more was held with her back against his chest.
"O.K. Open them."
She opened her eyes and gasped. "It's gorgeous." She was standing in small unroofed enclosure looking toward the opening of a small bay. Looking around, she saw they were on a steep island in the center of the bay. The ground on top was smooth and she stepped away from him to take in the full panorama around them. The hillside of the bay was very steep with small boat anchorages along the shore of the emerald colored water. Nestled in the trees at the head of the bay was an imposing but rugged structure.
"A castle!" Lois gasped.
Clark stepped into exaggerated tour guide mode. "It's a grand summer villa modeled on a Scandinavian castle circa 800 A.D. Vikingsholm, which is *only* accessible by boat, on foot..." Clark looked at her and winked, "or air, was built by Mrs. Lora Knight, a wealthy Chicago widow, in 1928, as a summer home. No tree was felled in construction on the site. From its completion in 1929 until 1944 she spent two months of every summer here, inviting notable friends to stay the summer with her. Servants would prepare a sumptuous afternoon tea and row them out to this little island with the tea house, where they would spend a leisurely afternoon. The tea house originally had a roof, but it was lost to the elements and never replaced. This island, called Fannette Island, is the only island in Lake Tahoe." Clark then took Lois' right hand in his left and pulled her around the little pergola, gesturing grandly with this right arm as if to present the splendor of their view to her. "This is Emerald Bay, now a state park in Lake Tahoe."
"Oh, Clark, it's wonderful." It was as if he had presented a perfect jewel to her.
She turned to him and laid her hand on his chest in a familiar gesture from their first days together as partners. Enthusiastically, Lois exclaimed "This whole tour idea has been absolutely wonderful! I love seeing where you have been, what sights you enjoy, and," her voice lowered suggestively, "what things you like."
For his part, beyond sharing things he enjoyed with Lois, Clark loved seeing this side of her, childlike and enthusiastic. The hard bitten cynical reporter had left the building for the day and he loved it. The light in her eyes and her joyful expression drew him in like a moth to a flame and he kissed her very thoroughly.
"Clark, we just did that. We just left home a short time ago," Lois mock protested.
Clark broke off the kiss, grinning, "Ah, but I can never get enough of my beautiful wife. God, I *love* calling you my wife."
In reward for the comment, Lois reached up and placed both hands on the sides of his face and pulled his head down for another kiss. Suddenly her stomach let out a large growl and she began to giggle. "I think we forgot breakfast in the excitement of getting out of Metropolis."
"Never let it be said I starved my wife for anything," he winked again, "even food. How about a visit to Pancake House?"
Lois' eyes got large, "They have a Pancake House here?"
"And hotels and casinos on the Nevada side, and stores and businesses of all kind. And people who live here year round," he teased.
Lois turned and looked at the view again. "Imagine living and looking at this beauty every day."
"I *am* looking at it," Clark said as he stared directly at her.
"Oh, you, you *honeymooner*, you." She kissed him again lightly. "But don't ever quit."
"No chance of that." Clark looked around to spot any early morning, early season sightseers, and seeing no one, picked up Lois and flew back toward the town of South Lake Tahoe. Businesses were along Highway 50 for the most part, framed by tall pine trees on one side and lake on the other. He landed in the trees behind Pancake House and Lois and Clark casually strolled hand in hand onto the parking lot and to the front door of the Pancake House.
Clark was in absolute heaven and a silly grin seemed permanently etched onto his face. He loved sitting here across from Lois, so he could watch her, in an ordinary restaurant in an ordinary town doing what ordinary, normal people do. It was his dream and Lois had fulfilled it for him. She was hungry, he noted, as he watched her tuck into a big plate of waffles enthusiastically. Traveling gave her an appetite, it seemed.
She caught him watching her. "What?"
"I just enjoy watching you enjoy your meal."
She blushed at the attention. "You seem to enjoy everything I do. I never had that before." She smiled, then gestured at his plate now empty of the three egg California omelet, hash browns and sourdough toast. "And I notice you are up to your usual standards."
"Well, traveling takes a lot out of me."
Lois just kept herself from spraying a mouthful of waffle onto her plate as she erupted in helpless giggles. He just made her feel so wonderful with everything he did and said. She *felt* like a honeymooner.
After several sips of water, when she could finally talk, she asked "So where next?"
"Well," he said mock somberly, "we will *drive* up Highway 89, the west side of the Lake, and then go on over to San Francisco. How's that?"
"That sounds great." Lois looked over Clark's shoulder through the windows to the lakeshore. "Oh, look, Clark, it's a hot air balloon."
Clark turned and looked at the multi-colored balloon rising gracefully from the beach, then turned back, a glint in his eye. "So, do you like to fly, Mrs. Kent?"
Lois' eyes twinkled with their shared secret. "Oh, I *love* it very much Mr. Kent. Especially *on* something so colorful."
It was Clark's turn to be caught off guard and he almost choked on his coffee. He muttered softly, "I think the term is 'in' a hot air balloon, Lois, not 'on'." His eyebrow arched.
Softly, Lois replied "Oh, I think 'on' is more appropriate." Then she threw him a mischievous grin.
Clark could only shake his head at her, enjoying every second of the byplay.
They left the tip on the table and rose to leave. The tip had been substantial because the service from the young female waitress was outstanding. Somehow, Clark always got attentive service. As Lois watched Clark pay their bill at the cash register, she felt a sudden wave of pride and of possessiveness. He was hers, and he loved her. Going out like this just seemed so right for them, so ordinary. That was why these weekend vacations were so wonderful. They had time to themselves. She never in her life imagined she would feel this way, wanting a life over her job. Well, now she had both, with him.
Hand-in-hand Lois and Clark strolled out into the now bright morning sunshine. Lois inhaled deeply. "Smell that pine. It's wonderful."
"Yes, it is, but I thought you couldn't live without smog."
"I've smelled pine before." Lois defended herself. "At girl scout camp in the Berkshires."
"Ah, yes. Where you learned how to start a fire."
She bumped her hip against his. "It came in pretty handy on Spencer Spencer's island. You know, let's walk a little. I need to work off those calories. Unlike you."
"Well, I could suggest a more pleasant way to work off calories."
"Here? Now? You are incorrigible!"
"Yep. And proud of it. But I have a special treat waiting in San Francisco for us, so why don't we walk along the shoreline a little and then find a handy stand of trees and be on our way?"
"Sounds like a plan. At least there *are* trees to hide in. Unlike Death Valley."
"Didn't you like Death Valley?"
"Oh, it was pretty and interesting and unusual and we did...something unusual, but it was hard to find cover for take off and landing, you must admit!"
"I do admit it was a challenge."
They walked a little way and came upon a historical park. Lois, ever the fiend for information, started reading the plaques. "The Donner Party! That was here?"
"Well, up north just a ways. Donner Pass, named for the ill fated first party, became the main emigrant pass from the east to the west. It's a pretty place, you just don't want to get snowed in with no food. It's not a cheerful story."
"But it is history, Clark. A lot of history is not pleasant."
"Lois, you continue to amaze me. I thought I'd never get you out of Metropolis and here you are devouring the history of the rugged west."
"It's not *that* surprising, Clark. It's like a story, only it happened in the past. But do you know that a lot of the real stories didn't get told?"
"Well, we can go to the park and see the historical displays if you want. Donner Pass is now part of the main road from Reno to San Francisco, so it's on our way. Let's go find our 'transportation' and get on our way."
Lois paused and looked at Clark. "You know, I just had this strange thought. It almost *might* be more fun to drive. To drive the route, you know?" Lois looked apologetic, like she was afraid of hurting his feelings.
"Honey, that's really not a bad idea. It gives you more of a sense of what the pioneers saw and experienced. I've done it some, just to do it."
"Really?"
Clark shrugged. "I like to try different things. Anyway, the short of it is that while it's fun, it's also sometimes very long time-wise. And there are many boring places to go through to get where ever." He checked his surroundings for any evesdroppers and then said to her confidentially, "I actually picked the car up and carried it further down the road several times out here in the west just to save myself time."
Lois just stared at him in amazement. "The things I learn about you!"
Clark held out his hand. "Your chariot awaits, madam." Lois put her hand in his, they strolled into the trees and he spun into the Suit.
Once they were at a comfortable altitude, Clark resumed his tour guide duties which he took very seriously. His fund of trivia was deep and wide and he enjoyed sharing it with Lois. "The name Tahoe comes from white man's mispronunciation of the original Indian name. Signs of Washoe Indian habitation have been dated to 10,000 years ago right here on the south shore. In 1844 as America was expanding westward, John C. Fremont discovered Carson Pass to the south of us and saw Lake Tahoe. The pass is 10,651 feet high, but you can't really see it from where we are because it's behind this whole ridge. As you remember from our little journey to Death Valley, the Sierra Nevada range, which runs from up ahead, the north end of Lake Tahoe, to Walker Pass near Lake Isabella, was a formidable barrier to people trying to get to California. So discovery of the pass was a big deal. They were trying to find a better life than they had then in the midwest and east, and were actually fleeing to foreign countries, since California was ruled by Mexico and Oregon was British at the time."
"Imagine how history would have been different if you'd been around."
The thought startled Clark so much that he stopped in mid-air and looked at Lois. "I never thought of that. But people needed to strive for themselves. The same thing could have been said if the expansion happened after the Wright Brothers discovered how to build an aircraft that would fly. History is what it is, I guess." His gaze raised up over her head and he exclaimed, "Whoops!"
"What, whoops?"
"The people in the balloon are waving at us." He turned them slightly so she could see.
"Do you ever wave back?"
"Sometimes, when I'm not in a hurry."
"Do we wave back now?"
"What the hey. We're on our honeymoon. Although we may have to pay the price later if they recognize you. I'll just give them a brief salute and we'll get on our way." Clark did so and they resumed their flight up the west side of Lake Tahoe.
"I wondered why you spun into the Suit."
"I think it's a good idea if I'm going to be up a long time and might be seen by aircraft. If I fly around in jeans and a T-shirt, the public might think there is another flying man around and start looking for him."
Lois smiled at him, "Another of your Rules?"
Clark got the connection. "Yeah, just like in the jail on Spencer Spencer's island. We learned a lot about each other that trip."
Lois kissed Clark's jaw after they were out of sight of the balloon. "You're a much better ride than in a hot air balloon, Clark." The she returned to admiring both the breathtaking sight of the lake itself and the magnificent homes dotting the lakeshore and clinging to the mountainside. If someone in the balloon had just taken their photograph together, they would deal with it later. Life was too short to worry about everything. "Would you *look* at those homes, Clark. Who can afford those?"
"Very rich people, I imagine, Lois. Although some of the older homes were quite cheap to build but now are worth a fortune. To continue my tour, in 1852 Tahoe was officially named Lake Bigler after John Bigler, California's third Governor, who lead a rescue party into the Sierra to save a group of emigrants."
"The Donner Party?"
Clark shook his head. "No, they were in 1847. So I guess they weren't the last group to need rescuing. By the way, California became the 31st state September 9, 1850, but the California bear flag was first raised at the gold town of Sonoma June 14, 1846. And Oregon became the 33 rd state February 14, 1859."
"Dang, you're better than the Daily Planet search engine."
Clark threw her a smirk. "Well, I studied up to impress you."
"How about I ask a question. Maybe stump you?"
"Oh, yeah, Ms. Lane, intrepid reporter. Go for it."
"Well, apparently the western US map changed rapidly in a few years time. Why were all these Americans risking death to get to California?"
Clark laughed. "Give me a hard one!"
Lois quirked her eye at him.
"Two words: Sutter's Mill."
"Gold!" Lois announced triumphantly.
"Yes. January 1848 at Coloma on the American River near Sacramento, not far from here. So a lot of people came to California in search of gold and they had to eat. They stocked Lake Tahoe with trout and a large fishing industry was born. Then gold was found in the Comstock Lode in 1859 at Virginia City." Clark again stopped in the air and pointed northeast. "See, beyond the mountains on the far side of the lake, the valley with houses and trees. That's Carson City down there, the state capitol of Nevada. The next set of hills is where Virginia City is located. It's now a tourist site." Clark again flew at a leisurely pace and continued. He gestured to the forest below them. "These mountains were practically denuded of trees by need for wood for bracing in the mine tunnels. The fish in Lake Tahoe fed the miners and the fish were totally depleted by 1904. Right below us is Tahoe City, a nice artists community now, but once the hub of the commercial fishing industry. And up ahead of us, to get us more into this century, is Squaw Valley, the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics."
"Clark, I'm getting a headache."
"Actually, I'm getting tired of my own voice too. How about we head for Donner Park, if you still want to see it?"
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tbc
Artemis
