How do you add "ing" to the verb "to stripe". Perhaps it is striping, but it is definitely not stripping.
One of my favorite days of year in Tahoe is the day the county repaints the stripes that divide the highway. Sierra roads take a beating during the winter and when the snow and ice has melted and the grit is swept away, we are left with blacktop accented occasionally by the ghosts of former stripes.
Not only do the new yellow stripes look wonderful, they also are useful at preventing collisions. For example, there is a left turn lane from the highway onto a street I travel to get home. I know where it is, even if the stripes are missing, but oncoming traffic does not and they think it is part of their lane. Eeeeeek! No more. My left hand turn lane is now restored in yellow splendor.
The truck that lays down the stripes is cute (sorry I have no picture). It resembles a flatbed truck with an Apollo lunar lander leg stuck on one side. The leg extends to the middle of the road and squirts out the paint. I have no idea how they keep things aligned or control what kind of line is being painted: single stripe, double stripe, hashed lined, etc. It just looks like a guy driving a truck.
In other news, Clare and I exchanged our snow tires today for the all weather versions. My usual tire place is the Reno Costco because they have historically charged $24. Today they wanted $58 and it would be a two hour wait. Excuse me, but isn't the point of Costco to pay less money. The freaking VW dealership doesn't even charge that much.
A few months ago I read a gushing article about a family run tire shop in Truckee called Stowe's. They have very cushy couches, HD TV showing CNN, free coffee, and got me out in under an hour. Thank you Costco for driving away my business.
Showing posts with label tahoe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tahoe. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Polar Bears
It was a mild day considering it was the last of February. Wind would make a big difference, but mercifully, it was calm. Not a bad day for a multi-hundred yard swim in the forty degree water of Lake Tahoe.
The 2009 Lake Tahoe Snow Festival runs for ten days along the North Shore. A featured annual event is the polar bear swim at Gar Woods Grill & Pier in Carnelian Bay. Around ten women and thirty men paid thirty dollars each to enter the spectacle. Onlookers sat along the pier, crowded the Gar Woods deck, and pressed close upon the beach, point-and-shoots, DSLRs, and HD camcorders at the ready. The Wet Woody machine was going full tilt, keeping the masses happy.
The course was not trivial, beginning on a rocky beach that requires ten yards of tippy-toeing before you can even think of swimming. In the distance, two red buoys marked the half-way, bobbing in the waves of two jet skis that patrolled the perimeter, dragging pool floats in anticipation of a rescue.
The ten or so women went first. It became clear that some of these people had no intention of actually swimming in the lake, particularly those that had just come from a hot tub. Sanity prevailed. But then you noticed that others knew exactly what they were doing and were making a beeline for the buoys.
A woman with a painted red nose and yellow cap won by two body lengths then lingered in inch deep water. It could be exhaustion or maybe getting out isn't all that easy.
One women who went the distance was still swimming the backstroke, very slowly. In the spirit of moving things along, the men took their marks.
Being at least thirty in number, they churned the water more than the women, spreading out almost immediately into the serious and the timid.
As with the women, some reconsidered. Icy cold water takes some getting used to even if you are otherwise in good shape. If you don't train for it, it is not likely you will not last more than seconds. Anticipating the worst, an NTPUD ambulance was parked nearby.
I couldn't tell you who won the men's race as the full-coursers blended in with the this-was-a-big-mistakers. The main activity at the finish was getting people reshoed, not getting them bundled up. When you are in forty degree water, forty-five degree air probably feels pretty good.
On the way out, I noticed that the hot tub girls were back in the hot tub, along with some hot tub boys. The "insecurity" guard was encouraging those with drinks in their hands to knock them back before leaving the premises. The carnival atmosphere endured.
More and bigger photos can be seen at my Flickr photo set.
The 2009 Lake Tahoe Snow Festival runs for ten days along the North Shore. A featured annual event is the polar bear swim at Gar Woods Grill & Pier in Carnelian Bay. Around ten women and thirty men paid thirty dollars each to enter the spectacle. Onlookers sat along the pier, crowded the Gar Woods deck, and pressed close upon the beach, point-and-shoots, DSLRs, and HD camcorders at the ready. The Wet Woody machine was going full tilt, keeping the masses happy.
The course was not trivial, beginning on a rocky beach that requires ten yards of tippy-toeing before you can even think of swimming. In the distance, two red buoys marked the half-way, bobbing in the waves of two jet skis that patrolled the perimeter, dragging pool floats in anticipation of a rescue.
The ten or so women went first. It became clear that some of these people had no intention of actually swimming in the lake, particularly those that had just come from a hot tub. Sanity prevailed. But then you noticed that others knew exactly what they were doing and were making a beeline for the buoys.
A woman with a painted red nose and yellow cap won by two body lengths then lingered in inch deep water. It could be exhaustion or maybe getting out isn't all that easy.
One women who went the distance was still swimming the backstroke, very slowly. In the spirit of moving things along, the men took their marks.
Being at least thirty in number, they churned the water more than the women, spreading out almost immediately into the serious and the timid.
As with the women, some reconsidered. Icy cold water takes some getting used to even if you are otherwise in good shape. If you don't train for it, it is not likely you will not last more than seconds. Anticipating the worst, an NTPUD ambulance was parked nearby.
I couldn't tell you who won the men's race as the full-coursers blended in with the this-was-a-big-mistakers. The main activity at the finish was getting people reshoed, not getting them bundled up. When you are in forty degree water, forty-five degree air probably feels pretty good.
On the way out, I noticed that the hot tub girls were back in the hot tub, along with some hot tub boys. The "insecurity" guard was encouraging those with drinks in their hands to knock them back before leaving the premises. The carnival atmosphere endured.
More and bigger photos can be seen at my Flickr photo set.
Friday, February 20, 2009
21 Years in North Lake Tahoe
Bonnie Tsui's Sunday New York Times article on North Lake Tahoe raised a few eyebrows among the Renaud clan. Thanks to Jane, who alerted us to it's online presence. Tahoe locals are very much tuned in to the tourist experience, as our economy is based on tourism, recreation, and second home getaways. For the record, we have had a second home on the north shore since 1988 and have lived here full time since 2005.
By the way, Royal Gorge is nice but not the best choice for an opening photo. If you were doing an article on Central Park, would you open with a shot of the Statue of Liberty? Hey, there's a lake here and it's really BIG.
Here are some of our family favorites that we regularly visit.
Getting Here
Nevada State Route 431, from Reno to Incline Village, is the most beautiful way to enter the Tahoe basin. It's a vertiginous two-lane road that climbs above timberline and affords breath taking vistas of Lake Tahoe, Reno, and the Carson valley.
Nice Restaurants
Wolfdale's in Tahoe City is our favorite place for a special occasion or for guests. Not sure on the labels, but I would call it it a California/Asian fusion cuisine.
Spindelshank's in Tahoe Vista has no lake view but makes up for it with consistently excellent American cuisine. We took a large group their during a Thanksgiving holiday and everyone enjoyed it.
Gar Woods Grill in Carnelian Bay is the place for lakeside summer dining on the deck, even if its only for cocktails and bar food. They are famous for the Wet Woody, which is similar to an orange Hurricane.
The Blue Onion in King's Beach is a great place for breakfast or lunch. You can dine on the deck overlooking the first hole of the Brockway golf course.
Less Expensive Eats
The Log Cabin Cafe in Kings Beach is our favorite place for breakfast, particularly if we are jonesing for some french toast. The only downside is that it is small and there can be a wait. The Old Post Office in Carnelian Bay is a reasonable alternative but not quite up to the Log Cabin. When you sit at the counter, you feel like a local.
The Char Pit in Kings Beach is the place for burgers, or so I have been told.
The Coffee Shop in the Tahoe Biltmore Casino in Crystal Bay, NV (on the CA/NV border) is good place to get a filling breakfast at a low price. They also have great club sandwiches, which we enjoy at least once a year.
T's Rotisserie in Incline Village, NV is our favorite Mexican barbeque place. The soft chicken tacos are sublime.
The Tahoe House, south of Tahoe City on the west shore, has great sandwiches and yummy desserts.
CB's Pizza in Carnelian Bay. A local place behind 7-11, CB's provides pizza, soups, and other comfort food. You can watch sports on large screen TVs or possibly witness someone's retirement party. Service is notoriously slow but it's kid friendly.
Pizza
Jiffy's Pizza in Kings Beach is our favorite, although there are other locations. The plain cheese pizza is very similar to what you might get in New York.
Bars
The Bar of America in Truckee is my favorite, not so much for drinking, but for the beauty of the interior. I love to take visitors here just to see the bar, which is old and very long. A great place for lunch, the food is tasty and you can sit on high stools near the front windows and watch people pass.
Coffee
The Java Hut in Kings Beach serves up coffee and expresso drinks with a local flair. They also have an assortment of bagels and wraps. If you must have Starbucks, there is one inside the King's Beach Safeway, which we affectionately call the Food Palace due to its "oversized-Tahoe-cabin" architecture.
Ice Cream
Our favorite ice cream stand is across the street fom Mourelators' Lakeshore Resort in Tahoe Vista. It is open only in the summer and serves Bud's ice cream, hence, we call the place simply Bud's. An adjacent lawn with tables provides the perfect place to enjoy three dollars of bliss.
The Char Pit in Kings Beach has soft ice cream year around. Go for the chocolate/vanilla blend.
Gyms
Need a workout or a fitness class? Asante Fitness in Tahoe City, located behind the Safeway, is well equipped and has lake views for those doing cardio work. The yoga classes are among the best in Tahoe.
Ski Areas
Squaw Valley, between Tahoe City and Truckee, is the premier area, due to its Olympic history, incredible terrain, and huge number of lifts.
Alpine Meadows, next door to Squaw, also has excellent terrain but is a bit less expensive. Alpine has very little bottom-of-the-mountain development, compared to places like Squaw and Northstar, and presents a classic (i.e. little shopping) experience.
Homewood, on the west shore, is great when there is lots of snow and provides incredible lake views.
Mt. Rose, on the road from Incline to Reno, is the highest ski area in Tahoe and provides wonderful spring skiing.
By the way, Royal Gorge is nice but not the best choice for an opening photo. If you were doing an article on Central Park, would you open with a shot of the Statue of Liberty? Hey, there's a lake here and it's really BIG.
Here are some of our family favorites that we regularly visit.
Getting Here
Nevada State Route 431, from Reno to Incline Village, is the most beautiful way to enter the Tahoe basin. It's a vertiginous two-lane road that climbs above timberline and affords breath taking vistas of Lake Tahoe, Reno, and the Carson valley.
Nice Restaurants
Wolfdale's in Tahoe City is our favorite place for a special occasion or for guests. Not sure on the labels, but I would call it it a California/Asian fusion cuisine.
Spindelshank's in Tahoe Vista has no lake view but makes up for it with consistently excellent American cuisine. We took a large group their during a Thanksgiving holiday and everyone enjoyed it.
Gar Woods Grill in Carnelian Bay is the place for lakeside summer dining on the deck, even if its only for cocktails and bar food. They are famous for the Wet Woody, which is similar to an orange Hurricane.
The Blue Onion in King's Beach is a great place for breakfast or lunch. You can dine on the deck overlooking the first hole of the Brockway golf course.
Less Expensive Eats
The Log Cabin Cafe in Kings Beach is our favorite place for breakfast, particularly if we are jonesing for some french toast. The only downside is that it is small and there can be a wait. The Old Post Office in Carnelian Bay is a reasonable alternative but not quite up to the Log Cabin. When you sit at the counter, you feel like a local.
The Char Pit in Kings Beach is the place for burgers, or so I have been told.
The Coffee Shop in the Tahoe Biltmore Casino in Crystal Bay, NV (on the CA/NV border) is good place to get a filling breakfast at a low price. They also have great club sandwiches, which we enjoy at least once a year.
T's Rotisserie in Incline Village, NV is our favorite Mexican barbeque place. The soft chicken tacos are sublime.
The Tahoe House, south of Tahoe City on the west shore, has great sandwiches and yummy desserts.
CB's Pizza in Carnelian Bay. A local place behind 7-11, CB's provides pizza, soups, and other comfort food. You can watch sports on large screen TVs or possibly witness someone's retirement party. Service is notoriously slow but it's kid friendly.
Pizza
Jiffy's Pizza in Kings Beach is our favorite, although there are other locations. The plain cheese pizza is very similar to what you might get in New York.
Bars
The Bar of America in Truckee is my favorite, not so much for drinking, but for the beauty of the interior. I love to take visitors here just to see the bar, which is old and very long. A great place for lunch, the food is tasty and you can sit on high stools near the front windows and watch people pass.
Coffee
The Java Hut in Kings Beach serves up coffee and expresso drinks with a local flair. They also have an assortment of bagels and wraps. If you must have Starbucks, there is one inside the King's Beach Safeway, which we affectionately call the Food Palace due to its "oversized-Tahoe-cabin" architecture.
Ice Cream
Our favorite ice cream stand is across the street fom Mourelators' Lakeshore Resort in Tahoe Vista. It is open only in the summer and serves Bud's ice cream, hence, we call the place simply Bud's. An adjacent lawn with tables provides the perfect place to enjoy three dollars of bliss.
The Char Pit in Kings Beach has soft ice cream year around. Go for the chocolate/vanilla blend.
Gyms
Need a workout or a fitness class? Asante Fitness in Tahoe City, located behind the Safeway, is well equipped and has lake views for those doing cardio work. The yoga classes are among the best in Tahoe.
Ski Areas
Squaw Valley, between Tahoe City and Truckee, is the premier area, due to its Olympic history, incredible terrain, and huge number of lifts.
Alpine Meadows, next door to Squaw, also has excellent terrain but is a bit less expensive. Alpine has very little bottom-of-the-mountain development, compared to places like Squaw and Northstar, and presents a classic (i.e. little shopping) experience.
Homewood, on the west shore, is great when there is lots of snow and provides incredible lake views.
Mt. Rose, on the road from Incline to Reno, is the highest ski area in Tahoe and provides wonderful spring skiing.
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Berm-(elim-)inator
In Tahoe, we are used to lots and lots of snow. The only things that hinder transportation are white-out conditions during blizzards and pre-plow snow depths that are higher than your axle. On highways, the plows run continuously, so snow depth is rarely a problem, but in residential neighborhoods, things can pile up. In the old days, the county plow dutifully pushed the snow into berms on each side of the road, blocking driveways. If your private plow had already plowed your driveway, or if you had no private plow, or if you really needed to get your car out, it was your task to shovel the berm... ugh. Berms are typically full of compacted snow and huge chunks of ice so the going can be tough.
But hark! Placer County, in their wisdom, has outfitted my local plow with a berm-eliminator, which I call the berm-inator. The plow is actually a big road grader, with a large blade a-midships. The berm-inator is an second blade attached to the right side of the main blade, which can be raised and lowered by the plow driver. When passing a driveway or other berm unworthy area, the driver lowers the second blade, which forms a V with the main blade, pushing the would-be berm past the driveway.
Gotta love it!
But hark! Placer County, in their wisdom, has outfitted my local plow with a berm-eliminator, which I call the berm-inator. The plow is actually a big road grader, with a large blade a-midships. The berm-inator is an second blade attached to the right side of the main blade, which can be raised and lowered by the plow driver. When passing a driveway or other berm unworthy area, the driver lowers the second blade, which forms a V with the main blade, pushing the would-be berm past the driveway.
Gotta love it!
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