Gpanda in the Forest Fire
Jul 1st, 2007 | 02:41 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 6,664
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Gpanda in the Forest Fire
Here's a trip report I posted on the US board. I include it on this board only because Pandas are from Asia.
Author: Gpanda
Date: 07/01/2007, 07:27 am
Just back from a family reunion in Lake Tahoe. I'm a regular on the Asia forum, but this is too good to skip.
Used FF miles on NorthWest to book Bos-Min-Sac. The night before we were set to leave, NW called my cell phone to report flight cancelled. They rebooked us on Delta through Atlanta (Do they own a map?). Showed up early, but no seat assignment because of overbooking. After much agonizing, we did get seats and were on our way. Arrived Sacramento at 11:00 p.m., spent the night at a Marriott on US 50.
Driving to South LT, we accidently stopped at an organic Farmer's Market and loaded up. The best nectarines I have ever tasted and assorted other fruits and breads. A total waste on my Plebian family, but WTH. It is very scenic to drive up US 50. Saw many signs warning of "Very High" Fire Danger. Portents.
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Author: Gpanda
Date: 07/01/2007, 07:53 am
We arrived at our first night cabin off of Spring Creek Road. Up 89 past Camp Richardson. This was my brother's in-laws' cabin. It was in habited by my brother, his wife, thier daughter, my niece, her husband and two children. The sentence was only one night. We were moving the next day to an adjacent cabin. The place was scenic on the outside and mayhem on the inside. Dinner was at my aunt's rented cabin. many cousins, etc. They're from Michigan.
The next day, Monday 6/25/07, smoke was visible to the immediate south. We checked the news and a forest fire had started near Angora. We were concerned, but not worried because Fallen leaf Lake was between us and the fire. The smoke was quite unpleasant.
Ignoring the smoke, I planned a BBQ. Bought pork choips and chiken at Overland Meat Co.. This is a great place. The meat was delicious. Much more flavorful than my normal purchases at Whole Foods. Overland Meat is on US 50 past the Y towards Stateline.
Spent the day at King's Beach on the North Shore to avoid the smoke. Very pleasant. There's a very good sandwich shop across the road. Smoked a cigar with my nephew. Came back down the eqast side after coming up the west side. Stopped at a safeway in South Lake Tahoe to buy veggies.
Returned to the cabin and began whirlwind dinner preparations. Chopping and slicing and organizing. somehow, dinner appeared 1 1/2 hours later. The pork chops (dry rub)and chicken (marinated in soy and ginger)were the stars.
The smoke was getting worse, but the news said the fire was 40% contained.
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Author: kapish
Date: 07/01/2007, 12:41 pm
Thanks. North Lake Tahoe and the Zephyr Cove area would be enough distance away from the smoke etc.
Glad you had a good time at Tahoe.
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Author: Gpanda
Date: 07/01/2007, 01:38 pm
Spent the night in our own cabin and eased into the day. Stopped by kids cabin and hung out with family. Ate tamales from Farmers Market, very good.
Went to internet cafe to play poker online. While we were there, smoke got worse and fire engines screamed by. Apparently, a controlled burn got out of hand and they closed 89. We could not get back to cabin. Most cars were gone and 5 adults and three kids were back at the cabins. many cell phone calls later, they went up the west side of lake and we went up east side. A relative made reservations at a North Shore motel, Sun and Sand for five rooms. We all met there and got our bearings. There was never any real danger. Our cabins were still protected by Fallen Leaf Lake. Mediocre dinner at Jason's.
Continually called Cal Trans number and was advised that 89 was closed from Emerald bay to the Y.
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Author: Gpanda
Date: 07/01/2007, 05:29 pm
Next morning, the first order of business was to find a new place to stay. My brother found Tahoe Sands, a time share place in Tahoe Vista that rents out rooms that are not being used by owners. It was originally army barracks, but has been updated. It was right on the lake and quite comfortable for a very good rate of $54 per night. I think they may have lowered it because we wanted 5 rooms and were evacuees.
A very pleasant day at the TS beach. They had a BBQ at night that was decent.
BTW, each morning we were on the North Shore, we had good bagels at the Java Hut.
On Thursday, I got up at 4:30 a.m. and drove down to the Emerald Bay roadblock even though Cal Trans said 89 was still closed. Somehow, they let me through after a sob story about lost luggage. On my way back I told them there would be three other cars from the reunion. Everyone got their luggage.
Beth and I and my cousin went to Sand Harbor, a beach on the east side below Incline Village. This is a great beach with beautiful sight lines. Get there early, the good spots fill up. Very little shade. Bring an umbrella.
WE had dinner at Lanza's, an old Italian spot from my sister-in-law's childhood. No reservations, so get there at 4:45 p.m before they open. The food is solid, but not great. The squid steak was quite good.
The TS had no rooms for us on Friday night, so we broke up a day early. beth and I went to visit my first wife in Virginia City, NV. She's an artist and is doing well. She and her boyfriend were very gracious. I had not seen her in 25 years.
WB and I went to Reno. B went to the museum, which she said is good. I played poker. I had lived there 25 years ago and wanted to see how things had changed. the city has grown a lot, but not for the better. Endless tracts of subdivisions.
For dinner, we went to a great restaurant, 4th Street Bistro. The food was excellent. This must be the best place in town. The lamb chops were perfect and topped with a Tapinade.
Easy flights home ( we're used to flying to Asia).
Author: Gpanda
Date: 07/01/2007, 07:27 am
Just back from a family reunion in Lake Tahoe. I'm a regular on the Asia forum, but this is too good to skip.
Used FF miles on NorthWest to book Bos-Min-Sac. The night before we were set to leave, NW called my cell phone to report flight cancelled. They rebooked us on Delta through Atlanta (Do they own a map?). Showed up early, but no seat assignment because of overbooking. After much agonizing, we did get seats and were on our way. Arrived Sacramento at 11:00 p.m., spent the night at a Marriott on US 50.
Driving to South LT, we accidently stopped at an organic Farmer's Market and loaded up. The best nectarines I have ever tasted and assorted other fruits and breads. A total waste on my Plebian family, but WTH. It is very scenic to drive up US 50. Saw many signs warning of "Very High" Fire Danger. Portents.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: Gpanda
Date: 07/01/2007, 07:53 am
We arrived at our first night cabin off of Spring Creek Road. Up 89 past Camp Richardson. This was my brother's in-laws' cabin. It was in habited by my brother, his wife, thier daughter, my niece, her husband and two children. The sentence was only one night. We were moving the next day to an adjacent cabin. The place was scenic on the outside and mayhem on the inside. Dinner was at my aunt's rented cabin. many cousins, etc. They're from Michigan.
The next day, Monday 6/25/07, smoke was visible to the immediate south. We checked the news and a forest fire had started near Angora. We were concerned, but not worried because Fallen leaf Lake was between us and the fire. The smoke was quite unpleasant.
Ignoring the smoke, I planned a BBQ. Bought pork choips and chiken at Overland Meat Co.. This is a great place. The meat was delicious. Much more flavorful than my normal purchases at Whole Foods. Overland Meat is on US 50 past the Y towards Stateline.
Spent the day at King's Beach on the North Shore to avoid the smoke. Very pleasant. There's a very good sandwich shop across the road. Smoked a cigar with my nephew. Came back down the eqast side after coming up the west side. Stopped at a safeway in South Lake Tahoe to buy veggies.
Returned to the cabin and began whirlwind dinner preparations. Chopping and slicing and organizing. somehow, dinner appeared 1 1/2 hours later. The pork chops (dry rub)and chicken (marinated in soy and ginger)were the stars.
The smoke was getting worse, but the news said the fire was 40% contained.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: kapish
Date: 07/01/2007, 12:41 pm
Thanks. North Lake Tahoe and the Zephyr Cove area would be enough distance away from the smoke etc.
Glad you had a good time at Tahoe.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: Gpanda
Date: 07/01/2007, 01:38 pm
Spent the night in our own cabin and eased into the day. Stopped by kids cabin and hung out with family. Ate tamales from Farmers Market, very good.
Went to internet cafe to play poker online. While we were there, smoke got worse and fire engines screamed by. Apparently, a controlled burn got out of hand and they closed 89. We could not get back to cabin. Most cars were gone and 5 adults and three kids were back at the cabins. many cell phone calls later, they went up the west side of lake and we went up east side. A relative made reservations at a North Shore motel, Sun and Sand for five rooms. We all met there and got our bearings. There was never any real danger. Our cabins were still protected by Fallen Leaf Lake. Mediocre dinner at Jason's.
Continually called Cal Trans number and was advised that 89 was closed from Emerald bay to the Y.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: Gpanda
Date: 07/01/2007, 05:29 pm
Next morning, the first order of business was to find a new place to stay. My brother found Tahoe Sands, a time share place in Tahoe Vista that rents out rooms that are not being used by owners. It was originally army barracks, but has been updated. It was right on the lake and quite comfortable for a very good rate of $54 per night. I think they may have lowered it because we wanted 5 rooms and were evacuees.
A very pleasant day at the TS beach. They had a BBQ at night that was decent.
BTW, each morning we were on the North Shore, we had good bagels at the Java Hut.
On Thursday, I got up at 4:30 a.m. and drove down to the Emerald Bay roadblock even though Cal Trans said 89 was still closed. Somehow, they let me through after a sob story about lost luggage. On my way back I told them there would be three other cars from the reunion. Everyone got their luggage.
Beth and I and my cousin went to Sand Harbor, a beach on the east side below Incline Village. This is a great beach with beautiful sight lines. Get there early, the good spots fill up. Very little shade. Bring an umbrella.
WE had dinner at Lanza's, an old Italian spot from my sister-in-law's childhood. No reservations, so get there at 4:45 p.m before they open. The food is solid, but not great. The squid steak was quite good.
The TS had no rooms for us on Friday night, so we broke up a day early. beth and I went to visit my first wife in Virginia City, NV. She's an artist and is doing well. She and her boyfriend were very gracious. I had not seen her in 25 years.
WB and I went to Reno. B went to the museum, which she said is good. I played poker. I had lived there 25 years ago and wanted to see how things had changed. the city has grown a lot, but not for the better. Endless tracts of subdivisions.
For dinner, we went to a great restaurant, 4th Street Bistro. The food was excellent. This must be the best place in town. The lamb chops were perfect and topped with a Tapinade.
Easy flights home ( we're used to flying to Asia).
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Jul 2nd, 2007 | 08:46 AM
#11
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 0
Sorry, computer issues. What I meant to say was that my choice of a family reunion over Guen's GTG was not entirely voluntary. Even Pandas are bound by some earthly chains.
As another aside, someone at my office suggested that I was a harbinger (look it up, Bob) of natural disasters.
Jul 2nd, 2007 | 01:17 PM
#13
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 0
S-thanks for your good wishes. Fun may not be entirely appropriate for my family reunion. To paraphrase an aphorism, "My family is often wrong, but never in doubt." At one point early on, I realized that I was going to do and say what I wanted and let them carry on as they will. Life is too short.
The local Tahoe population was very worried about the long term effects of the fire on lake clarity and tourism. With July 4th and fireworks approaching, they are very worried. Whenever anyone on the North Shore realized we were evacuees, they went out of their way to be nice. Gas prices remained the same.
The local Tahoe population was very worried about the long term effects of the fire on lake clarity and tourism. With July 4th and fireworks approaching, they are very worried. Whenever anyone on the North Shore realized we were evacuees, they went out of their way to be nice. Gas prices remained the same.
Jul 14th, 2007 | 01:16 AM
#15
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Hello Gpanda, Thanks for your message re; hiring a car and driver when I arrive by ship in Laem Chabang. You suggest starting a new thread - dont know how to do that?? Also how do I do a search on here?? Sorry am very new to this. Thanks for botherin to respond. Good Luck
Jul 14th, 2007 | 02:12 AM
#16
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 0
Ojunet-to post a new thread, click on the new post on the left above the list of posts. This will allow you to title your post and include the text.
There is a search box near the top of the screen slightly to the left of center.
Good luck.
There is a search box near the top of the screen slightly to the left of center.
Good luck.
