Old Town Rush Kayak

Exploring hidden gems in California

The hourglass-shaped peg measure was sitting in the corner of the bar, its chrome dulled from disuse. The bartender, displaying enviable dexterity spinning spirit bottles and rattling ice-cubes with vigour as he enthusiastically mixed merry margaritas, hadn’t bothered with the peg measure for ages. He was an old hand at this and his approximations were spot on and reflected as such in the superb cocktails he slammed down on the bar.

I can attest this because at Gomez’s, an absolutely hopping Mexican restaurant in Mammoth Lakes, California, I had some my best margaritas ever, not to mention fantastic chicken wings.

As we sat, guffaws bouncing off the walls, you’d hardly believe that we’d started off as strangers on a bus five days ago in San Francisco. But pretty places and lovely locales act as blitzkrieg bonding agents and turn strangers into friends.

Of the fact that Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Lakes are pristinely beautiful places there is no doubt. Look at the pictures and you’ll know that.

Our first stop had been Squaw Valley, 194 miles east of San Francisco, close to Lake Tahoe. Even though it was almost the beginning of June, the ski season was yet in full flow. In fact this year, the skiing season went on right till the 4th of July. We spent our morning at High Camp in Squaw Valley indulging in some skiing and hot-tubbing. The latter means skiing down a slope, stripping down to your bathers or bikinis and jumping into pools within which the water is a comfortable 39 degrees C. It is a fantastic experience to lounge within them sipping mimosas (sparkling wine and orange juice) and take in the snowy slopes and lofty white peaks all around.

Squaw Valley is near the north shores of Lake Tahoe and our next night’s halt was at South Lake Tahoe about 40 miles away. That evening we played hopscotch with the border: we stayed at Lake Tahoe Embassy suites just across the border in California, but walked across to Nevada for dinner at MontBleu Resort Casino and Spa. In Nevada gambling is legal and if you’re a Frank Sinatra fan, then his swinging hit ‘Luck be a Lady with me’ will ring in your ears the moment you set foot into the casino.

But honestly you don’t go to South Lake Tahoe to pull at slot machine handles; there are better and more enjoyable ways to tempt fate. The Heavenly Gondola at the Heavenly Ski Resort takes visitors up the mountain where there are fantastic views of Lake Tahoe and lovely trails to ski and snowboard during winter and hike and mountain bike during summer.

Captain Bob Inc.: Old Town Rush kayak $250.00

Selling our Old Town Rush kayak. It is 9'6" long. It's very roomy inside for bigger people. I am 5'10" and have bigger legs an fits me just fine. It's a very stable kayak too which makes it great for beginners and kids. Comfy seat too with adjustable backrest. Nice adjustable foot pegs too. Included is a spray skirt which works well for rougher waters or colder days. There are normal scratches on the bottom but nothing bad. Lots of life left in this kayak. The color is a darker shade of lime green and black. See my blog for more pictures.

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Boys' Life

Boys' Life

Adventure kayaking, trips from the Russian River to Monterey : includes Lake Tahoe, Mono Lake, and Pyramid Lake

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