Incline
Village, Nevada sits on the north side of Lake Tahoe. Living in the
Sierra Nevadas we have a choice of what route to take over the passes.
Laurie drove Ken, Doug and I up over Highway 88, which she considers the
most scenic. Normally at this time of year, snow covered 88 would
require chains and could have closures. Lakes were covered with thin
ice, and dabs of snow looked painted on the mountain fissures.
Kris
came up from Las Vegas. Virginia and Cedric took Highway 80 which is a
fast four lane thoroughfare and serves the bigger populations from the
Bay Area.
Highway 4 and 108 are my other two favs, but 88 is prettiest.
The first night, we played and noshed.
A little wine, games, and plenty of snacks.
Kris
made the observation that Ken has lived at one time or another with all
of his siblings. He is currently sharing an apartment with his youngest
sister. Both are away from their respective homes for their jobs. Ken
is extremely neat and Virginia likes to leave dishes in the sink and
clothes hanging over the backs of chairs-til later. Hmmm!
Virginia
taught us this loud, raucous game she learned from her Italian
brother-in-law. Fast moving, arms waving, card auctioning, gambling card
game, a matter of luck, so the kids of any age have an equal chance of
winning one of four pots. Everyone could put in a dollar, two dollars, a
per-determined equal amount. Kris, Theo, Myself, and Austin each won a
pot. But the laughter was wonderful.
Laurie
brought a pot of chili from home so we had and easy dinner and lots of
time to catch up with each other. This was our family Christmas since we
couldn't all get together this past December.
On
Saturday morning, everyone geared up for skiing, except Doug,
Kristanne, Laurie and I. Kristanne is "Lodge Fluff." I'm the
photographer and Doug and Laurie stayed behind and played cards and
rested. Ken hadn't skiied in 13 years and all but Virginia and Ced had
lesson packages that give a price break for skiing.
Laurie
and I were thinking we might do cross country, or maybe snowshoe since
neither of us like downhill. There really wasn't enough snow.
Owen gets fitted for his boots.
Virginia,
Cedric, Theo and Owen all go at their own pace on different runs. Owen
is boarding. Theo is skiing. Skis are shorter and rounder than any I'd
ever seen.
Austin, who had never skiied wanted to snowboard because he likes his skate boarding.
The kids lessons were at station one. That bit about falling?
The
instructor just came up to him and knocked him over numerous times.
Taught him HOW to fall so he wouldn't put his hands out and break a
wrist. He had a two-hour morning lesson and a one hour afternoon private
lesson. The instructor said Austin was the best student he ever worked
with at that age. Kudos!
The
"bunny hill" of station one has a tramway up the hill where everyone,
kids and adults can practice their newly learned skills.
Ken decided he didn't want to go back to work with a broken anything and Virginia went with him on the bunny slope.
She coached him for a few runs on cutting and stopping and turning before they headed for the lifts.
We
all met around lunch time and then everyone went all out on the slopes.
Kris and I kept track of spare gear as everyone shed jackets or pants,
or whatever. Virginia referred to us as the "mules." The weather was
amazingly warm.
Back at our rental condo, which sleeps 16 people, Cedric made the pies.
Laurie made a beautiful salad. She said she was always salad queen as a child at home.
Ken made kabobs. (He wanted to steal the barbeque pit but it wouldn't fit in the car.
I roasted a turkey breast and we toasted our good fortune and grand gathering.
Kris
surprised Doug with a basket of goodies, as in Ben Gay, Anti Diarrheal
meds, vitamin container, gas relief, all that over-the-hill stuff
because his next birthday will be his 50th.
And
we all decided Cedric should give up his science PHD and become a pie
chef. I didn't get a picture of his apple pie. Life is not only good but
delicious.
