[A/S] Lake Tahoe & The Ponderosa - September 20, 2000

[hhamp5246@xxxxxxx]

Hi Gang,

Last night was great.  We decided to go out for Chinese food, but first 
walked the dogs.... we stumbled upon a small band of wild horses... eleven.  
They really looked good, sleek, shiny... they were quite attractive.  They 
were right across the side road next to our campground.  We watched them as 
they snuffled around scavenging for nutrition. I still don't see how they 
survive on sagebrush.

We enjoyed the horses for a while then finally found the one and only Chinese 
restaurant in town.

I can't tell you what a surprise it was.  If this guy was cooking in San 
Francisco it would be a five star restaurant.  It was the most remarkable 
food I have ever eaten.  
I got the crispy chicken with walnuts, Don got the crispy shrimp with 
walnuts. We also got some fried rice.  The whole meal was outstanding.  I 
spoke to our waitress, who is the owner/chef's wife.  It seems he has cooked 
in some famous places, but wanted his own place... the rents in places like 
SFO are just too steep.  I feel like I've discovered a superstar and his 
light is under a barrel.

This morning we set out for Lake Tahoe.  We went through Carson City, it's 
not far down the "hill."  It's bigger than I expected.  The state buildings 
are quite attractive and the shopping was pretty extensive.

We went up another steep grade passing Lake Spooner when all of a sudden the 
royal blue of Lake Tahoe showed between the pondersoa pines.  We drove along 
the lake admiring it's beauty and wondering about the houses whose front 
doors were no more than 3-4 feet from the street.

I have been to Tahoe before, but over on the other side at Stateline.  This 
side presented an opportunity to see Incline Village so we hung a left and 
drove past huge waterfront estates and expensive "Craftsman" style houses.  
One waterfront house had a for sale sign with a leaflet for the taking.  I 
grabbed it.  The house is large, squished between two others... has 20 feet 
of water frontage.. Price Upon Request.  Drat.  I about fainted when I saw 
that the property taxes are $16,000.00 a year!!!  That's not mistyped. 

We cruised around Incline Village for a while, including the little town 
center.  It reminded me of every resort town I've even been in.

Almost across from the entrance of Incline Village is the Ponderosa Ranch.  
We went in and wandered around looking at the displays.  The little town, 
full of crappy gift shops. Sheriff Coffey's office. The saloon, the shops, 
then there was a chapel, there were lots of antique vehicles.  Many old 
wagons hitched up to fiberglass horses and mules.  The little barn has funny 
little pigmy goats, who must miss all the attention from the summer tourists. 
 They came running over for scritches.  The props barns.

I wanted to save the best for last.  The Cartwright's log ranch house.  We 
walked up the hill and saw the barn first.  I remember so many episodes where 
the boys would be tacking up their horse infront of that barn.  Across from 
the barn sits the house.  I can't explain, but it made me feel all warm and 
fuzzy seeing the house.  You can't just wander in, there are tours every 20 
minutes or so.  I didn't like that, but actually it's better because you 
learn so much. You enter through Hop Sing's kitchen, which is adjacent to the 
hired hand's dining room.   From there you go into the main room, first past 
the dining table then you are between the massive rock fireplace and Ben's 
office with his desk.  The bookcase is there next to the stairs which go 
nowhere.... just up, around the corner and they stop.  It all felt so 
familiar, I had been there hundreds of times before over the years.  I almost 
expected Little Joe to come flying down the stairs.  They run a movie, it's 
about 10 minutes.  I loved it, it told about the actors and some behind the 
scenes stuff.  I was fascinated to learn why the show was conceived.  RCA was 
the parent company of NBC....  (I think it was NBC).... they had a new 
product they wanted to sell, and this show was the perfect sales tool.  They 
never dreamed it would become such a smash hit.  What were they selling?  
Color TVs. 

The thing that most shocked me is the house isn't a log house at all.  It is 
Hollywood magic.  It's a frame house with spaced rough sawn 1 X 12s.  In the 
spaces they have chinking which gives it that authentic look.  It's stained 
dark brown. Voila, a log house. 

We wandered around some more, stopping for some turkey burgers.  The cook 
offered the dogs some rib bones, but I declined as they never get cooked 
bones.  Then he asked what breed they are.  "Border Collies."  Then he 
actually told me someone got the better of me because they are Australian 
Shepherds.  He knew this because Tucker is a tricolor.  I had to convince him 
that Tucker is ABCA registered and most definitely a Border Collie.  

We finally left and stopped at Spooner Lake.  We took the dogs down to the 
lake and circled around on the trails.... it's a lovely spot.  I was 
disappointed that we saw no wildlife except for chipmunks.  

Then back to Carson City..... 

Walmart for some necessities and an RV parts dept for a new slinky carrier 
and a fridge fan.  The fridge fan runs on batteries and they supposidly are 
great at keeping the fridge cold because of the way it circulates the cold 
air.      

Then the AT&T shop for an external antenna for my cell phone. A "Dual band 
antenna and custom cable adaptor."  It really works.  When I got back here I 
had two lines for a signal.... I attached the little antenna and all of a 
sudden I got 4 lines.  The bad news is it's magnetic so it won't "stick" to 
the trailer... I have it on the window ledge now. The office is closed so 
I'll be sending this using it.

We cruised the residential section of Virgina City on the way back.  
Wonderful victorians, fancy paint jobs... It's a really neat little town.

Tonight..... left over Chinese... so delicious.  After dinner we walk over to 
the cemetary with the pups.  Lots of horse poops, but didnlt see any wild 
horses.  I saw one today visiting with two horses in a corral.  The wild 
horse looked good, he was fit.  The two captive horses were way too 
skinny.... I hate that.

Extended the stay here... then back to Reno for a day or two..... tomorrow is 
the last day of summer.

Hunter