Dinner with Hawaii friends at Harrah's - Friday, Feb. 10

South Lake Tahoe, NV: 

When Bob got home from work he changed clothes and we headed south to Carson City for the drive up US 50 to South Lake Tahoe. I drove so Bob could nap. It was still light out so we had a very pretty drive up the Sierra Nevada. It was twilight when we got to the lake so we could just see it as we started down the hill toward the lake.

As we drove, it got pitch black as there weren't many street lights where we were. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw motion in the lane next to me. Heading straight into my path was one of the biggest raccoons I have ever seen. At 45 mph there was nothing I could do to avoid it. Thump, thump. I ran over it twice. OMG. If you know me, you know I love animals and it pained me to hit it! I'm glad it wasn't a deer or we would have been in a world of hurt.

We got to Harrah's 1/2 hour early and went to the sports bar to watch the Portland Trailblazers play the New Orleans Hornets. The Hornets have the most bizarre uniforms I have ever seen--green on one side and navy blue on the other with a yellow stripe down the sides. Are they trying to confuse their opponents?

But I digress. Our friends Robert & Dorothea met us at the bar and we went to dinner at the American River Cafe in Harrah's. The ambiance was very nice...a woodland theme. Dinner was good. We loved catching up on each others' lives. Robert and Dorothea are part of our Hawaiian ohana (family). We are so happy they told us they were coming to our neck of the woods. Robert and the rest of the family snowboarded. Dorothea held down the fort at the ski lodge and watched over the grandkids when they got tuckered out from lessons. Thank you, Robert and Dorothea, for the nice treat.

Bob, Susan, Dorothea, Robert

Our drive back to Sparks was uneventful. It takes about 1-1/2 hours to go between Sparks and Stateline, NV at the south shore of Lake Tahoe.

Bob is thinking about doing the Lake Tahoe Triple in 2013--that is three marathons in three days. It takes three days to get around Lake Tahoe doing marathons (26.2 miles per day). My biggest concern is the altitude and the hills. This will not be an easy task. We'll see what 2013 brings.

I am looking forward to warmer weather when we can escape to the cooler temperatures of the Lake Tahoe area for the day (picnicking, hiking, walking).