Boats and Buoys

This blog was written by Eydie Scher. She sent me this story of how she spent her weekend. Thanks Eydie.

The wind kicks up. How do we tie a 26 ft. boat up to a buoy while bouncing around on the Lake? It is our first time out and we are anxious to get the boating season on. Buoys do not come with an instruction manual though they do come with exorbitant price tags. Accessories are not cheap either, such as a buoy line and of course, a dinghy. I'll get to the dinghy later.

There is no choice. All winter and spring we take pictures of the boat buried in snow. The blue winter cover is dotted with huge holes. It can't last much longer. The snow melts and gradually the boat becomes visible. We clean it and ready it lake worthy. It is June before boat meets lake.

Getting back to bouncing around. There is no way we are going to hook up this boat. We hope the evening brings calm seas. Chambers Landing is our port in the “storm”. We dock there and walk to our house. We hunker down and wait. Finally, yes, it's a done deal. Our boat is hooked up to the buoy. Now what do we do? Swimming to the dock is not an option. The only way from boat to shore is in our inflatable raft.

Carefully, very carefully, we both climb from boat to dinghy. Oars are ready. “Paddle harder, paddle faster”, the captain yells. I follow orders. The distance from buoy to land is much further than it looks. The raft is folding. It needs air. We hit the beach. I fall in. It will get better. It does.

Okay, we have a powerboat, not a “blow” boat. Therefore we need power and that of course requires big bucks. At $4.11 a gallon, Obexner's promises the lowest fuel price on the Lake. First we have to find it. The place we pass hundreds of times by car does not look the same from the back. There it is! Our credit card is depleted and the boat is _ full of gas.

The very next day, we are ready. Company is invited. It takes my husband and I a pretty long time to paddle out, climb on the boat, uncover it, unhook the boat and hook up the dinghy. Well, you get the idea. Our friends patiently wait on the dock. They know the ropes. Quickly opened and poured is a bottle of chilled wine, and snacks. Now this is a good beginning.

It's an idyllic afternoon. The view on the Lake is akin to Switzerland though minus the cheese and chocolate. Pictures are snapped with the turquoise wake, blue water and snow caps.

It's a short hop from our buoy at Hurricane Bay to Sunnyside. A dock is open. My husband struts his stuff and deftly slides our boat alongside the dock. Can it get better than this? The bar menu suits us perfectly. Sunnyside has always been one of our favorites. The food is good, the prices reasonable, and the ambiance perfect.

Our water chariot awaits. The ride back to our buoy is flawless. Our passengers leave from the dock. Tying up to our buoy is easier. Dusk is setting in. It's back in the raft. We've got it down pat. The shore reaches up to greet us. I fall in again but at least it's after dinner.

Our next trip is back to Chambers. This time, it's to hang out in the early evening and sip those famous Chamber's punches. My husband chats it up with everyone and anyone. We are the regulars. It's a lovely place to dock but beware. The weekends during the summer are crowded and dock space gets scarce.

People are talking. Rave reviews are in. It's about the new West Shore Café. On the way to the boat, we stop. Behind ordinary doors is a feast for the eyes. The outdoor area is gorgeous. Tables adorn the deck and dock area. If you want to go by boat, you tie up to a buoy, (we know how to do that) and they pick you up and bring you in and back out. On a beautiful summer afternoon, close your eyes and reopen them in Hawaii, except for the snow caps. We didn't stay for lunch this time. The food is supposed to be good but pricey.

It was a shorter trip than anticipated. Sugar Pine Park has also been one of our favorites to bike to or drive to. Since it's a weekday, the dock is empty. Picnic benches and shade are minutes away. Old building now house historic treasures such as a 1925 wooden boat. No, we are not now or ever, getting a wooden boat. The beaches, though thinned out by the overflowing Lake, are inviting, especially for kids. Speaking of kids, how come they can stay in the Lake for hours and don't feel the cold of the water like we do? Concrete steps alongside the dock lead to a sandy bottom beach. My camera, I forgot my camera but we will go back with the grandkids.

The ride back to the buoy is breathtaking. I named our boat “Poetry in Motion” because I do write poetry. Yes, it's all worth it. “Poetry in Motion” lives up to its name on Tahoe. Being on a boat on Lake Tahoe is poetry.

There are other places to go on the Lake. Our next trip will be to Emerald Bay. That, in, itself will be a story.

It's back to shore. The dinghy is still losing air. This time, I jump in.