Lake Tahoe, Nevada to Prunedale, California – 9/15/2014

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 (Monday)

We left the door open for about an hour this morning just to be able to look out onto the lake. Gorgeous! We finally got out and walked around the resort a little before we checked out (around 11:30 PM). We got to see the pool and two hot tubs, along with the activities center – which had a ping pong table, some chess tables, a little movie theater area, air hockey, and some other games you pay to play. There were also restrooms. Sure hated to leave the beauty of the Worldmark but we know we’re going to go back.

I woke up first, so pretty, sunrise over Carson Valley.

Genoa is right down there, and I think I see Minden, Nevada.

And at the front of the unit, to the west, just beautiful.

We left the door open it was so beautiful from our front deck.

Just can't get enough pictures of Lake Tahoe. — Just can’t get enough pictures of Lake Tahoe.

I was impressed with the chest of drawers/TV stand.

Custom made to accomade a DVD player and wall mount. — Custom made to accommodate a DVD player and wall mount.

So hard to stop taking pictures of the lake.

Entrance with flowers. They must take them in at night.

The building across from us with mountain rocks nearby.

They look like they grew next to each other.

I confess I am fascinated with the big trees that grow in the rocks.

How do they survive the wind storms? How deep can their roots be?

Log bear with cub. — Going to the pool, log bear with cub.

A little like Iron Blosam, great views, but mostly looking down.

Edie's eye catching all flowers in sight. — Edie’s eye catching all flowers in sight.

Video games, I think for those below 6 and over 60.

I like the retaining wall, if it works over time.

They seem to be doing a good job of building a road to last.

We had to wait for the construction before we could go down the hill. What was really neat was once we got down the hill and parked in the Dollar Tree/Safeway parking lot, the Prius dashboard showed we got 285 miles to the gallon. We were impressed. Of course it was all downhill.

Wow, love the Toyota. Every time we shut it off it gives a summary of the drive.

We got to the Worldmark owner’s update a few minutes early. A sweet young woman named Lindsay came by to take our lunch order. After a few more minutes a nice young man named Phil came out to greet us and take us back into a room with several other “customers.” There we watched a slide show while he talked. He had some really good tips for how to get where you wanted when you wanted. Regarding Worldmark, he told us most high demand locations and times are booked 13 months out. He also said that 42% of those reservations are eventually canceled. Phil advised that wait lists are the way to go to get one of those cancellations. He said we are allowed eight wait lists at a time and to use all of them for the period we want. That way, if any cancellations come up for any portion of it, we get them. Then, when you get what days you want you cancel the others and you call the resort and ask to combine all of them so you only get one housekeeping fee and one room for the entire stay. Nine out of ten times they can, he said. He also said 67% of all the rooms are two bedrooms and they’re easier to get, so ask for a two bedroom. We also found out the Wyndham Club Pass is for developer purchased points only. We did not qualify. Bummer. Some of it could have worked nicely but not willing to pay the $11,000 to $32,000 they want for 5,000 to 10,000 points. Really enjoyed Phil and learning a few tricks and tips.

Promised a hundred dollar gift card, a great book of all the resorts and a lunch. Okay, we'll bite. — Promised a hundred dollar gift card, a great book of all the resorts and a lunch. Okay, we’ll bite.

Nice poster for where we will be in November.

Excellent panini sandwich with potato salad and or chips was served.

Phil was the group presenter and our personal consultant. He is a very nice fellow, did an excellent job, and best of all was very knowledgeable.

The drive down the mountain today was about 275 miles and took about 5 hours. We decided to avoid bay area rush hour and drive down U.S. 50 to Sacramento, then take Interstate 5 south to Highway 33 at Santa Nella, (over Pacheco Pass) and then through Hollister area to Highway 101. We had the drama of driving near a wild lands fire in the mountains on highway 50. We stopped for gas near Lodi, California at a Chevron. We got the Safeway discount of 20 cents per gallon, that brought the gas down to about $3.60 a gallon. We thought of our friends in Lodi but knew they were busy and wouldn’t be home.

Dramatic when you are not sure of where the fire is in relation to the road you are travelling.

Looked close. — Looked close and like it was making its own weather.

At times it looked real close. We sure smelled it.

Was glad when we only saw it in our rear view mirror.

Picked a Chevron for the reward points from Safeway.

saved 20 cents a gallon, for all 7 of them. — Saved 20 cents a gallon, for all 7.2 of them.

Got a little snack which ruined Edie's appetite and possibly saved my life. — Got a little snack which ruined Edie’s appetite and possibly saved my life from the ravages of near starvation.

The green round low growing plants are tumble weeds in the making. The will dry out, uproot, roll in the wind like a ball and come out of the darkness to thrill you on a dark night at highway speed.

Below the dam, not Tahoe, but nice to see some water.

On top, San Luis Reservoir is usually full of water to near the highway

Got to Prunedale and to our restaurant, in the parking lot we were amazed to find these wonderful flowers on a climbing shrub.

So delicate, intricate, and ... — So delicate, intricate, and …

When we got onto Highway 101, we called Lexi and made arrangements to meet her at our favorite little Mexican restaurant near our home, La Tapatia. We got there around 7:00 PM, and Lexi showed up shortly thereafter. Michael got a chicken quesadilla, Lexi got shrimp enchiladas, and I got a cheese enchilada. Lexi also got a small scoop of some wonderful cinnamon chocolate ice cream. The restaurant is small but it was full of people. Really good food. We used to call it the nice guy restaurant because they are so friendly there.

Edie had a lonely, sad little cheese enchilada.

Lex had a shrimp tostoda, she gave Edie and I some bites, it was delicious. She took her rice and beans home.

I need to ask if they blend the cinnamon in themselves or buy it that way, sure is delicious.

We are now “home” at the mobile in Prunedale for awhile. We still have a few things that need to get done before we head out for Banff, West Yellowstone, and Columbia Falls, Montana. We have a fence to put up and some work to do underneath the mobile to dampen the lateral movement.

That was our day. Hope yours was great!