Attention attendees!
We're a week away from Tour d'Hoe! I hope you're all excited. The weather looks to be absolutely perfect for this event. So, here's what's happening:
9/7 Thursday Barbecue at Anthony's Classic Autowerks : 165 Borland Ave., Auburn 95603. Arrive at 5:30. Dinner at 6:00. Please bring your favorite adult beverage.
9/8 Friday Drive to Lake Tahoe: Holiday Inn Auburn 120 Grass Valley Highway, Auburn. Next to In-N-out. BRING A PICNIC LUNCH! Meet at parking lot 10:00, leave promptly at 10:15. Sacto Mitch will lead the group up towards Grass Valley. Group will stop at the Chevron station, located at Hwy49 and Combie Rd, for gas. Those who need a lunch can get a sandwich at the Subway restaurant. There's a Starbucks there as well. Drive will continue up Combie Rd/Magnolia to Dog Bar Rd, turning off on LeBarr Meadows Rd back up to Hwy 49. Through Grass Valley/Nevada City and up Hwy 20 through the Tahoe National Forest. After a brief stint on Hwy 80, the group will exit at Cisco Grove to continue the drive up Historic 40 towards Donner Lake. The group will pull off to picnic and explore the Donner Museum. $10.00/car, $9.00/seniors. From there the group will continue towards Tahoe City via route 89 and around the west shore and into our host hotel.
CHECK IN AT HOTEL: Tahoe Beach Retreat & Spa, 3411 Lake Tahoe Blvd. South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. Check in, hang out with the group by the pool, the grounds. Bring your own or buy a drink at the bar. Check out each other's cars. Make plans for your Friday dinner (ask Noel, aka Majorkahuna for recommendations) and discuss what you want to do Saturday.
SATURDAY DRIVE: Do what you want! Drive around the lake. Go shopping in Tahoe City or Truckee. Get an early start and hike in Emerald Bay. Go horseback riding at Camp Richardson. Take the Gondola up the mountain at Heavenly. For a real treat, Noel has offered to take some of the group on a tour of the lake on his boat! But space is limited so reserve your place today! Operators are standing by...
SATURDAY DINNER: @ Steamers Bar & Grill, 2236 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Dinner starts at 6:00. We will have a private party on the back deck. The menu consists of bbq tri-tip, chicken and burgers, with sides of beans and corn on the cob. Salads, soft drinks, coffee, tea, water included. Wine, beer and alcohol extra. The cost is $35/person, cash! No cards! So open your piggy bank or stop at AunTieM and pay up. ROBERT M, AKA ROBERT "LEG BREAKER" McEWEN will be in charge of collecting the money. Best to see him before the dinner and hand over your cash.
SUNDAY GETAWAY: At this point there is no scheduled drive back home. Drive back the way you came or venture down Hwy 50 to Placerville and head over Hwy 49 to Auburn. You'll pass through several historic sites like Coloma. Anyway, let your heart (or hangover) dictate your drive.
Lastly, an unexpected family situation has made my participation in this year's Tour d'Hoe an impossibility for Andie and I. While you guys are having a blast touring the beautiful Tahoe area, Andie and I will be in Utah taking care of our 3 year old granddaughter who, quite often, tells us she "needs her space".
Please, have fun, drive carefully and, by all means, pay the leg breaker!