LOST TROUSERS

View from our deck - Meeks Bay, Lake Tahoe

DATE: Wed, Oct. 12, 2011
HOME: Meeks Bay, Tahoe, Ca
DISTANCE: 49 miles
ALTITUDE: 3700 ft
WEATHER: Extremes again 32 at start – high 60’s at Tahoe
NARRATIVE: 
When we left Sierraville at 8:30 it was 32 degrees out.  An hour later it was already 47 degrees and climbing.  Destined to be another beautiful day in the Sierras.  The ride into Truckee from Sierraville is beautiful, with vistas of the meadows and forests all along the route.  Unfortunately, the traffic was quite bad, with full logging trucks dominating.  We were helped by the construction which stopped the traffic.  We were usually let through.  Rather than continuous traffic we had the groups as the workers let them through the construction zone.  We pulled over when needed, but then had the road to ourselves until the next group came whizzing by. 

It took us until Noon to get to Truckee – lots of climbing, but fun climbing – many rollers, not one long steep climb.  Another transition was made in Truckee – a real population center, largest we’ve seen since we began riding in Bellingham. 

The ride from Truckee to Tahoe until we got to the bike trail at Squaw Valley was really, really bad, but we had a wide shoulder.  Unfortunately, the pavement on the shoulder was in a state of deterioration, rivaling some of our worst Bay Area roads.  Once we got on the trail it was lovely – Tahoe is trying to preserve a little bit of nature in an area that is being overwhelmed with development.  The lake is truly a gem. 

The real story of the day, though, is Bob lost his pants.  He thinks he left them at Sierraville.  This wouldn’t be such a terrible loss for most people, but he travels with only ONE pair of pants for off-bike wear.  He did have a pair of shorts, though.  Looks like we’ll have to take a detour into South Lake Tahoe tomorrow morning.

It’s popcorn time as we watch THE WIRE.  We heard today that Police Chief Anthony Batts resigned, and once again, The Wire, while portraying gang life in Baltimore, has so many similarities to Oakland - politics, schools, crime, BUREACRACY!  It's a fabulous series by David Simon available on Netflix.  A must see.