Where Exactly IS Lower Lake?

It looks like I have successfully navigated the postdoctoral realities, and found a place to invest myself professionally. Yahoo!!!  It's been a long year while I searched...

 The Konocti School District is a forward thinking place--they have curriculum coaches in every school in the district!    A curriculum coach works with teachers to help them grow and improve.  It is an incredible professional courtesy to provide coaches for teachers.  Being an instructional coach has been my goal all along, and I'm glad I was able to stick it out and wait for the right situation to come along.

 So, I have a week to find a place to live, a place for the horses, pack my household, and move.  School starts August 27th, and there are two duty days next week!    I'll be going down Monday to secure a home, best case scenario. Worst case scenario, I get a hotel room in Kelseyville for the first week of school!

Gio and Ber are not stressing about it... They have their new halters, they're ready to go any time! 

Meanwhile, I keep hearing from people, wondering where Lower Lake is, and what is there.    Well, it's really rural, so there isn't a lot here, except some very nice people, and the incredible natural surroundings.  The beauty here rivals Humboldt County, but in a different way.    Once I get settled, I have a lot of places to explore with my horses, bike, and feet!!  Once I get settled, you are invited to visit and explore with me.  :)

• There is the lake, Clearlake. It is the largest freshwater lake in California, and one of the oldest lakes on the continent.
• There is Mt. Konocti, an ancient volcano, and the incredible hiking trails up and around it.  
• For those who prefer water trails, there are paddling maps for the areas around the marsh and Mt. Konocti!
• South of Lower Lake, in Middletown, there's the Middletown Trailside Nature Preserve.
• There's the Anderson Marsh Historic Park, with marshlands around the southern end of the lake, near Lower Lake.
• There's the  Clearlake State Park, right near Lower Lake.
• In Lakeport, just north-west, there's Highland Springs Recreation Area.
• There are acres of grapes and fruit and nut trees.
• Miles of trails to hike or bike or ride horses on.
• Rolling hills, great mountains, and occasional hidden lakes.
• Hotsprings spring up everywhere.

 Here's a map of Lake County

And here's a map of California, showing where Lake County is in relation to other places.

Here's a link to information about Lower Lake, which I copied from this link:  http://www.lakecounty.com/AboutLC/Explore/Lower_Lake.htm

Lower Lake

Though its downtown area is made up of a single Main Street, Lower Lake is home to numerous wineries  and vineyards in the Red Hills AVA, and features some of the most distinct businesses in the county. Along with a rock shop owned by prominent members of the Lake County Rockhounds, Lower Lake houses a bustling coffee shop, deli, socially conscious candle and Himalyan salt outlet store, and other small shops featuring fine art and crafts by local artists.

As visitors enter the gateway to Tuscan Village, Lower Lake morphs into a miniature Italian town, complete with decorative buildings, small businesses, Terrill Cellars winery and tasting area, a charming wedding chapel, orchard, and amphitheater overlooking it all.

The “West’s smallest jail” is a popular historical site, and at the end of Main Street lies the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum, built in 1877 and used as a classroom until 1935. Exhibits include a re-created classroom from the late 1880s to early 1900s, a geology display donated by Homestake Mining Company with a sample of raw gold, and artifacts from pioneer families. Plays, musicals, and other events are held throughout the year by the Lake County Repertory Theater and other groups in the museum’s historic Weaver Auditorium theater upstairs.