Tahoe, CA - My first shot at going "Brazilian", 4/7~6/203 - Trip Report

[BajaTaco]

I won't even try to compete with Yukon Bob describing this trip, but here's a little bit of the story...

This trip started off great when I got a window seat on the plane and enjoyed the "living topo map" on the way to California. I fired up the GPS and watched as it said we were doing 500 mph at about 32,000' http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/cool.gif I was able to see roads and lakes on the ground, and knew their names - too cool. Toys R fun.

I just had a carry-on pack, so I enjoyed the great weather outside on the curb at the airport waiting for my amigo - the Brazilian. His approach down the terminal lane was unmistakeable. I jumped out and stood in the middle of the road waving my arms - he stopped as a security guy yelled at us for having fun and making it simple. As we took off, I immediately became enamored with the environs of the 4runner. NICE! What a great vehicle.

We took off and headed for San Francisco - Jack wanted to show me what it looked like - it was pretty big, lots of tall buildings. We went to a neighborhood Indian food place that Jack knew of - it was a great lunch buffet. After our bellies were full, we headed for Tahoe and then it became apparent - why I was given the warnings about Jack's dogs http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/skull.gif No - they didn't try to bite - in fact, after Jack properly introduced me to Shadow (while she was in the back of the 4runner) she never barked at me again. I felt pretty special! But the smell... OHMYGOSH... http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/shakehead.gif Jack had given them some new chew bone thingys, and they were obviously made from some sort of dried bean dip composite... before long, there was an overwhelming odor... worse than the random gaseous offerings we had enjoyed until now... this was SERIOUS. At first I thought it was the green fields and crops along the highway... "they must be fertilizing" I said. So we rolled the windows up and turned the AC on.

http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/freaked.gifBad idea.

more later



Post Edited By Moderator (JackSilb) : 8/3/2003 4:33:55 AM GMT

[YukonBob]

You are a very brave man, Mr BajaTaco. http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/ieh.gif

I guess that I will have to wait to see what happened to Jack.

Once you've gone Brazilian, can you go back?http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/smhair.gif

[WhiteThaiGer]

[quote]

BajaTaco said...


never barked at me again. I felt pretty special! But the smell... OHMYGOSH... http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/shakehead.gif Jack had given them some new chew bone thingys, and they were obviously made from some sort of dried bean dip composite... before long, there was an overwhelming odor... worse than the random gaseous offerings we had enjoyed until now... this was SERIOUS. At first I thought it was the green fields and crops along the highway... "they must be fertilizing" I said. So we rolled the windows up and turned the AC on.

http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/freaked.gifBad idea.
http://home.rochester.rr.com/abbysues/AbbySues1/originalimages/icon_rofl.gifWait, no more, let me catch my breath http://home.rochester.rr.com/abbysues/AbbySues1/originalimages/icon_rofl.gifhttp://home.rochester.rr.com/abbysues/AbbySues1/originalimages/icon_rofl.gifThis is too funny!!

Ok, go on..


***************************************
http://www.confluence.org
http://www.usgo.org

[GoodTimes]

BajaTaco said...


..."they must be fertilizing" I said. So we rolled the windows up and turned the AC on.

http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/freaked.gifBad idea.






http://home.rochester.rr.com/abbysues/AbbySues1/originalimages/icon_rofl.gifBWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!http://home.rochester.rr.com/abbysues/AbbySues1/originalimages/icon_rofl.gif


olllllllo <---- If you can read that, roll me over.

KG6OWO

Price is soon forgotton, quality is not.

[YukonPeggy]

baja taco said...
odor... worse than the random gaseous offerings we had enjoyed until now...

I don't understandhttp://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/headscratch.gif ...what other offerings were being enjoyed? I can already see who the alpha dog was in the Lake Tahoe pack. Where's the rest of the story?http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/sleeping.gif

Peggy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When life hands you lemons, ask for a bottle of tequila and salt.

[JackSilb]

Hello,

Sorry I was away all this time. Work is going crazy. Yeah, for you too I know.

Baja, forgot to tell you that we visit Palo Alto, the Stanford campus, and the reservoir along I280 (that I forgot the name now). All this before the trip really started. I did not drive through San Francisco because of the time and to make sure Baja comes back again. We just had a pick while crossing the Bay Bridge.

Baja loved the big threes around here. I love them too. The temperature could not been better.

The drive to Tahoe:

As we drove on the highway, exercising our muscles opening and closing the windows due to some natural gas release, and to the fact that the 4Runner doesn’t have power windows, we enjoyed the GREAT weather. Around Sacramento was getting hotter.

And then …
Darn Lucky!!! Shadow never did with me what Lucky did.
It was too ugly to describe in words. That was the perfect expression OOOOHHH SH!@#@#, yes the “sh” word. It cold not been better applied.

I was so upset that I did not think about taking pictures so you could see the sh@@##@$#@ he did. I mean literally speaking.

We made an emergency stop into a supermarket to buy cleaning supplies. I spent about $20.00 and 40 minutes under the sun, about 90+F, cleaning the !@#$#@$#@..

It was HOT; I believe that it was nothing like Bob saw. But enough to think about what a heck Bob was thinking about when he decided to go to the desert in the summer.

As a good Brazilian and my disciple, we did not have a plan or a schedule. We were just enjoying the single bachelor life. I felt that I was back to undergrad school. I had a car, money, no work to think about.

When getting to Tahoe we saw the jets on the air strip. Probably my pilot did not know I was driving this weekend because I saw my plane there.
I am sure Tahoe is one of the tiny air strips that see more private jets than many of the countries tiny air strips.

We stopped by a supermarket to get some supplies. The more we got, the more we realized what we forgot to bring. No biggy, that was all part of my plan of not having a plan. Now I have a kit for taking on camping trips. That includes a bottle opener for the so needed refreshing hydrating “lolitas” and a cutting board for barbecues.

We almost got distracted from our main objective for this trip while in line for paying the groceries, then again in the parking lot. More on these distractions later. Ulf, ulf, and ulllf.

The 4WDTrip 1

We decided to get focus on our mission and hit for a trail that had great pictures on the Backcountry Adventures – Northern California book. Baja can provide the name of the trail later.

After driving for a while on asphalt, we found more asphalt. The trail seems to be gone now. The part that did not have pavement is closed. That is OK all part of our plan. In the mean time the “lolitas” were getting cold.


The Accommodations:

My compadre, el BajaTaco, decided that we should start looking for a camping spot. I was under the impression that it was early. No plans no worries. After all it was just 7:00 PM. After searching for 30 min or so we realized that making the famous Brazilian barbecue would be difficult because fire was not permitted.

Senhor Baja found a real campsite, a kind of busy but still away from the lake enough to give us a chance of peace.

Right there we saw CAMP SITE FULL. There were two employees sending all cars back to the road. But, they don’t know Jack.

“Jack - Hello”.

HELLO SIR, the campsite is full! All the sites are taken or booked.

“Jack - really, well let me check anyway, people some times don’t show up, it is late already. Nobody come for camping at 7:30 PM”.

OK BUT IT IS FULL!.

At the gate Baja used all his charm and barking skills with the beautiful young grand mother that was taking care of the reservations. As soon as she heard Baja’s accent, she asked where are you from?

“Baja – Arizona”.

Oh boy, that was all the necessary information we needed.
“wait bit here son”.
Here, check these spots and come back to let me know which one you liked.

“Baja – thanks lady, very kind of you”.

“Baja - do you have a phone number that I may contact you in case we have a problem on our site?”, ha ha ha just kidding. He was very respectful.

We set camp, started the fire, cooked two great steaks about 2+ pounds of beef. Baja could not believe that we would eat that all. He really liked the Brazilian barbecue from chef JAQUE. Just sea salt and fire, eat small pieces slowly with your hands…

We were ready for a good sleep. Baja and I did not sleep much the previous night. He left his home around 3 AM. I went to bed at 3:00 because I was working on the house and packing, then I was up again at 6:00 AM to finish the last touches for the open house and pack the car.

Day two will come in another posting.
Stay tuned. I will correct grimmer and spelling as time permits.

-JACK
p.s. One of the biggest problem about this trip was to decide between enjoying Lake Tahoe and doing 4WD trips. Both were VERY appealing.

For some reason there were much more distractions to be barking than I expected. The distractions would come in double or triple. I could not figure it out why so many of that level of distractions were alone. But, hey I was just allowed to bark. Nothing more.

So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...

[JackSilb]

How about some pictures for you?


http://linux1.rxtx.com:8085/4wdtrips/photogallery//data/media/71/TahoeView4.jpg



http://linux1.rxtx.com:8085/4wdtrips/photogallery//data/media/71/TahoeView13.jpg


You can find all the pictures I took here
http://www.rxtx.com:8085/4wdtrips/photogallery//categories.php?cat_id=71

Where are the ones I am on it? Baja has them.

-JACK



</div>

So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...

Post Edited (JackSilb) : 7/19/2003 6:30:31 AM GMT

[YukonBob]

You guys are too much fun!http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/ok-kewl.gif

Peggy came and woke me up this morning. Jack's posted and you have to seeread it, right now. What a way to start the day.http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/rofl.gif

It's great writing when someone can smell your words.http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/lol.gif

Bring on the distractions!http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/hop.gif

[BajaTaco]

http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/baja_rofl.gif

Jack, I'm glad you finally showed up to help me out here. Great pics! Man, I miss it after looking at those photos. That place was beautiful... and COOL.

Dang, I just don't have time to write more or post pics yet... so much going on.


http://www.bajataco.com
Vibram or BFG - getting there on rubber and seeing it all!

[Cecile]

Ah great fun reading, and seeing the pics - just glad that we don't have smell-o- rama or scratch & sniff on the website yet!

Cecile
Well behaved women rarely make history-
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
Real women shift into 4WD!

[YukonPeggy]

cecile said...
just glad that we don't have smell-o- rama or scratch &amp; sniff on the website yet!Amen!http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/rofl.gif

Peggy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When life hands you lemons, ask for a bottle of tequila and salt.

[JackSilb]

Because of trips like this is that I start to question if I really need to move to south cal.

Thank you all for the feedback. It is good to know that people care to read it.

Did I stop on day two?
I better check to see if I have wrote all the days or left something out.

This weekend I had another trip (will post during the weekend), thanks GOD no dog accidents. I believe Lucky was showing Baja how tough Brazilians are. We make it happen not matter what.

I missed my other dog friend; Sr. BajaTaco. Doing these trips alone is not as much fun. Besides that when the distractions come in a group you need reinforcements. And a reminder to just stay barking ...

I have a plane to catch.

Tchau amigos.
-JACK

So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...

[Ursidae69]

BajaTaco said...



This trip started off great when I got a window seat on the plane and enjoyed the "living topo map" on the way to California. I fired up the GPS and watched as it said we were doing 500 mph at about 32,000' http://www.rxtx.com/4wdtrips/forum/emoticons/cool.gif I was able to see roads and lakes on the ground, and knew their names - too cool. Toys R fun. Hey Chris, I was always told to keep my GPS turned off on planes. I've done it too though, it's cool to see how fast your going. They get amazing satellite reception up that high! Shocker huh! http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/ok-kewl.gif

A few Pictures of my 2001 GMC Sonoma ZR2.
106k and still running strong...
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4290567759
Please Tread Lightly: http://www.treadlightly.org/

[BajaTaco]

Ursidae69 said...

[quote] Hey Chris, I was always told to keep my GPS turned off on planes. I've done it too though, it's cool to see how fast your going. They get amazing satellite reception up that high! Shocker huh! http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/ok-kewl.gif Yea, it was COOL! It depends on the airlines... Southwest doesn't mind at all if you want to use the GPS. Except you need to turn it off at takeoff and landing when they say "please turn off all personal electronic devices".


http://www.bajataco.com
Vibram or BFG - getting there on rubber and seeing it all!

[BajaTaco]

OK, finally got some PICS (http://www.bajataco.com/tahoe2003/index.htm) up!


http://www.bajataco.com
Vibram or BFG - getting there on rubber and seeing it all!

[JackSilb]

I was about to ask you for the pictures. This will help me get the 2nd and 3rd days report up.


http://www.rxtx.com:8085/4wdtrips/photogallery/data/media/71/L_PICT0011.jpg
-JACK
</div>

So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...

Post Edited (JackSilb) : 7/19/2003 5:52:25 AM GMT

[JackSilb]

Baja,

These are great pictures. I miss our trip already. This week I can't travel. I have to open the house for prospective buyers. My agent is on vacation.
I have to put up my pics from my last weekend trip.

-JACK

So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...

[JackSilb]

Just in case anyone is looking for the track for this trip.
-JACK
http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/attach.aspx/26/McKinneyCreekTrailTahoe_CA_07-05-03_GPSTrack1_1.jpg
http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/attach.aspx/25/McKinneyCreekTrail_Tahoe_CA_7-5-03.zip</div>

So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...

Post Edited (JackSilb) : 7/19/2003 6:34:02 AM GMT

[JackSilb]

Day Two – Saturday Morning.

After a long and very nice Brazilian barbecue, and a nice fresh night, it was time to get up and start all over again.

I heard Baja cleaning up his tent. That meant that was time for me to get up. The guy internal clock was a head of me a couple hours…

By the way, one of the conditions that Baja would come for this trip was for him to bring his own tent. For real Brazilian machos you don’t sleep on the same small tent along with another male. Well, unless you have a particular taste or interest. Anyway, let’s continue with the trip report before I start being called one thing or other.

We were looking for breakfast with two goals in mind:
1 – Good looking company
2 – Good food.
Or was the other way around. Don’t remember at this point.
We found two or three options that satisfied these goals.

Breakfast was fresh squeeze orange juice, bagels, eggs, fresh espresso drinks, and lots of distractions.
Sticking to our commitment to 4WD trips we picked a nice trail that had a bit of the famous Rubicon. Baja drove most of the time. I was enjoying the view and playing with the electronic toys. You can do a lot with the GPS when someone is driving for you.

The good thing about having water around you is that the scenery changes a lot. Each lake was nicer than the other we found on the way. At the other hand, the bugs were hungry. That was about lunch time for them.

We climbed about to snow level. Just check the trip pictures. The river crossing enabled the dogs to have some fun too. They were very quite after some playing in the water. That was nice.

On the way back we decided to drive around the entire lake, cross to Nevada, and cross back to California. It is very interesting to see how the Casinos change the cities just ½ mile away from the California border. It seemed like a mini Vegas.

Did I mention dinner at the lake shore with the sunset with pink color?

-JACK

So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...

[JackSilb]

Day Three.

We decided to have a head start on the way back and take the long route.

Unfortunately, 1/2 of the people that were on vacation on the same area decided to do that too. It took us many hour driving in 1st or second gear. You got it, right?

No matter what, we saw great views and enjoyed our trip very , very much.
I miss it already.

We need to get back to be able to better explore the area. Lake Tahoe is on my list of returns for sure.

That is all folks.
Thanks for reading the trip report. I wish you were there with us.

-JACK
</div>

So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...

Post Edited (JackSilb) : 7/21/2003 6:03:53 AM GMT

[YukonBob]

Jack</div>
A very nice trip report. http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/ok-kewl.gif Thanks for taking the time to share with us.</div>
One question? There a many comments about distractions but I didn't see one photo. Are distractions a mythical characterhttp://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/headscratch.gif </div>

[JackSilb]

Well, I realized that pictures may compromise our commitment to just bark. At the moment we would take a picture it would stop being a distraction and become, huh what is the word, liability maybe. It could have a long life and bring LOTS of headaches.
I have no problem sleeping these days...

-JACK
</div>

So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...

[GoodTimes]

Hey baja, I think I went "brazillian" this weekend too.

I drove out to Tucson late thursday night (arrived 10:00 friday morning), looked around at apartments until I found one I liked (1:00), signed the papers and had lunch (2:00pm), stopped and chatted with the HR person at Amcor (2:45pm), and left for Los Angeles at 3:30. I got home at 10:45pm.

Does that count?http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/ieh.gif


olllllllo <---- If you can read that, roll me over.

KG6OWO

Price is soon forgotton, quality is not.

[WhiteThaiGer]

GoodTimes said...
Hey baja, I think I went "brazillian" this weekend too.

I drove out to Tucson late thursday night (arrived 10:00 friday morning), looked around at apartments until I found one I liked (1:00), signed the papers and had lunch (2:00pm), stopped and chatted with the HR person at Amcor (2:45pm), and left for Los Angeles at 3:30. I got home at 10:45pm.

Does that count?http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/ieh.gif Yep. That's actually what you would find under 'Brazilian' in the appropriate dictonary. Late night driving too, very important ingredient to make it really Brazilian, in fact, if you hadn't mentioned Tuscon I would have thought it was a trip by Jack.


***************************************
http://www.confluence.org
http://www.usgo.org

[BajaTaco]

http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/shocked.gif That's totally brazilian d00d http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/shocked.gif Man, you know how to pick out an apartment FAST!


http://www.bajataco.com
Vibram or BFG - getting there on rubber and seeing it all!

[JackSilb]

Good move GoodTimes. Just get it done. Not time for distractions.
As long as you were driving safe and stop when needed, you did good.

I am sure you are felling a great satisfaction and accomplishment. The tire sensation will go away soon since is body not mind.

Valeu! (Cool)

- JACK

So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...

[GoodTimes]

I had actually intended on spending all weekend out there trying to find one. But since I got into town early, I looked around while waiting for the check in time at the hotel. That was about the 6th complex I stopped at, and the 3rd apartment I toured. I figured what the heck. The price was right, in a decent location, and was quiet. It is a bit on the small side, but will do for the next few months while I look for a house.


olllllllo <---- If you can read that, roll me over.

KG6OWO

Price is soon forgotton, quality is not.

[BajaTaco]

Cool - what part of town did you end up in?


http://www.bajataco.com
Vibram or BFG - getting there on rubber and seeing it all!

[GoodTimes]

I'll be about 2 miles north of U of A.http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/beertoast.gif (off the corner of Campbell and Prince).


olllllllo <---- If you can read that, roll me over.

KG6OWO

Price is soon forgotton, quality is not.

[JackSilb]

Oho,

Do I see someone getting in trouble?

-JACK

So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...

[GoodTimes]

JackSilb said...
Oho,

Do I see someone getting in trouble?

-JACK
</div>http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/notme.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/biggrin.gif


olllllllo <---- If you can read that, roll me over.

KG6OWO

Price is soon forgotton, quality is not.

[BajaTaco]

GoodTimes said...
I'll be about 2 miles north of U of A.http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/beertoast.gif (off the corner of Campbell and Prince).
</div>Well that means you oughta have a date within a week or so http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/biggrin.gif When you go to dinner, take her to DaVinci's italian restaurantat 3435E. Ft. Lowell (next to Circle K) it's nice and close to your apartment and has great food http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/burger.gif not cheap, but GOOD.

That's a great area - you're gonna like it!


http://www.bajataco.com
Vibram or BFG - getting there on rubber and seeing it all!

[GoodTimes]

BajaTaco said...
Well that means you oughta have a date within a week or so http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/biggrin.gif When you go to dinner, take her to DaVinci's italian restaurantat 3435E. Ft. Lowell (next to Circle K) it's nice and close to your apartment and has great food http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/burger.gif not cheap, but GOOD.

That's a great area - you're gonna like it!
</div>I'd be lying if I said the close proximity to the school didn't have at least a small part of the decision.http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/rolleyes.gif


olllllllo <---- If you can read that, roll me over.

KG6OWO

Price is soon forgotton, quality is not.