Heat and My Stupidity in Truckee, CA

APRIL 26, 2013

Many of my friends back in Minneapolis have at one time or another completed the Lake Tahoe Century Ride.  It’s a cycling ride that circles Lake Tahoe with an additional little jaunt to the town of Truckee.  Since I was only 50 miles from Truckee and 75 to Tahoe, I thought I’d check it out.

The whole trip was a bit of a cluster.  After 5 minutes of walking the 90 degree heat in Truckee I had seen all the kitschy touristy stuff I needed for a day and pressed on.  As much as I wanted to head to Tahoe and back on two wheels, my legs were worthless from back to back bike + run bricks the previous two days. 

I got about 1/3 of the way around the lake when I decided to get a tea to caffeinate my sleepy head.  When I got out of the car I could tell something was off a bit.  I had my keys.  I had my wallet.  I even had my own mug.  What was it? ….no shoes.  And where were my shoes?  For the first time since leaving Florida years ago, I had managed to take off a pair of shoe and completely leave them behind.  Who needs shoes when it’s warm and sandy!?   Well, I do if I want to walk in a coffee shop.  I retreated back to Kings Beach on the other side of the lake to reclaim my shoes which were still right there next to the beach where I took them off an hour prior. 

I decided to continue down the west side of the lake and cut out much of the Nevada side.  Almost immediately I pick up a hitchhiker who’s also headed south.  Now, I can get along with a lot of people.  This guy was not one of those people.  There’s something about most conspiracy theories that seem reeeeally interesting when I watch specials about them on The History Channel.  Yet, when some random guy in my passengers seat drones on and on about them I can’t wait to get rid of his ass.  I lie about my final destination and drop him short of the south shore of Lake Tahoe and head south toward Folsom.  

Note:  Neither of the pics here are from Tahoe. They are from the drive southwest back through Napa. All my Tahoe pics were lost thanks to my new Android phone.