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COOLER TEMPS & PLENTY OF
ACTIVITIES
By: Ron Wilson
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Tenaya Lodge |
June 17, 2004....
Nestled inside the High Sierra Mountains in
California and located at the southern
entrance of Yosemite Park is the beautiful Tenaya Lodge.
Webmaster Tim Paes and I just returned from
the Outdoor
Writers Association of California (OWAC) 2004 Spring Conference that
was held there.
Tim and I have seen
the upper entrance of
Yosemite several
times. It is located near places that we have hunted deer in years past.
It’s also the quickest way to head over the Sierra’s to the Mammoth area
of California. But we had never ventured to the lower entrance until the
conference.
We could go on and on
about the lodge and all its amenities, but check it out at
www.tenayalodge.com and I will get on with some of the other events we
participated in at the lodge.
I had signed Tim up
for a cooking demonstration while I attended the members meeting and
workshops. However, my wife Diana had told Tim I had signed him up for
nude canoeing!
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The lobby at Tenaya |
We signed in and as we
headed for our room, I looked over the entrance door and there was a
canoe. I couldn’t resist telling Tim, “There’s the canoe you’ll be using
for the nude canoeing event I signed you up for!” Tim just looked at me
and said, “Yah right!”
We unloaded our stuff
in the room and headed for the Supporting members trade show. Nothing like
meeting people who understand what you do and appreciate it!
At the noon luncheon
Tim got a small sample at what was to come. Tim’s plate was piled high
before he was half way through the food presentation!
Tim remarked, “Boy
they sure treat you guy’s good”. I said, “Tim you haven’t seen anything
yet!” I didn’t know it at the time, but neither had I!
At 1:00 p.m. it was
time for the members meeting. On the way there, a lady was holding up a
sign that said cooking class. That was Tim’s queue to exit stage left and
get a lesson from Tenaya Lodge’s Master Chef Fred Clabaugh.
Once Tim and I got
back together later in the day I heard all his about his new found
expertise at making a wilted spinach salad with mango curry dressing, pan
seared halibut and strawberry tart.
With cooking and
members business out of the way it was time to take a quick break and get
ready for the awards event and dinner.
The cocktail reception
gave us the opportunity to visit with outdoor writers that I hadn’t seen
for years. However I was sure glad I had my cowboy boots on because it can
get a little deep when a bunch of outdoor writers get together and have a
few drinks!
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President Carol Martens, Leo Vrana and Don Vachini |
The dining room was set up fantastic and on
each plate was a menu of what we could expect that evening from Chef
Clabaugh. We started with a pear and shrimp appetizer followed by a dish
with micro greens and blue cheese. The main course was Tournedos of Beef
in a wine sauce. This was topped off with a chocolate tart that just
melted in your mouth.
With each course of the
evening there was an accompanying wine that complimented the meal. Each
dish was arranged on the plate like an artistic masterpiece. As I devoured
each course I felt like I was destroying a piece of art but as I relished
the flavors I couldn’t help but think it was destroyed for a good cause.
When I woke up the
next morning, I really didn’t feel the need to eat but since we were
headed to Bass Lake to fish I forced down the breakfast buffet.
We arrived at
Miller’s Landing
Marina on beautiful
Bass Lake around
8:00 a.m., a little late for fishing as far as I was concerned but this
was really all about Tim and me getting away from computers and the stress
of work!
We were given a
24-foot pontoon boat to use for the day. That left bass fishing out, but I
was prepared with a couple rods with leadcore line on them!
We headed toward the
dam. As I looked over and saw a couple locals trolling, I told Tim, “The
fish are right there!”
I put on a fire tiger
pattern Ex-Cel Lure and a gold red head. As we trolled past the local
anglers one rod bent over and the drag clicker started screaming. Tim
grabbed the pole and starting fighting the fish that was doing some
acrobatic jumps well over 100 yards behind the boat, Tim got about 60
yards of the line in when the rainbow trout went airborne again and spit
the lure. If my ears heard right Tim said, “Damn!!!!”
We continued trolling
in the area and Tim had a couple Kokanee on a red Ex-Cel and 3 trout on
blue silver. It’s really hard to stay on the fish with leadcore line and
no depth sounder.
After Tim had caught
and released a limit, we called it an early day to go back to Tenaya Lodge
to catch a nap before our train ride and dinner that evening.
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Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine
Railroad |
At 6:00 p.m. we
departed for the Yosemite
Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad where we would take a steam train ride to
a secluded part of the woods. There we would enjoy a BBQ dinner and live
entertainment.
What a great
experience riding the old narrow gauge tracks and watching the great puffs
of black smoke as it pulled the cars loaded with OWAC members and their
guests up the steep inclines.
We were rounding a
bend in the tracks when shots rang out from a pair of masked desperadoes
that came galloping up on their magnificent steeds proclaiming they were
robbing the train. They said they wanted our money, oh ya, they also would
accept credit cards, but no American Express. These bandits were
definitely modernized!
After another great
meal it was time to take the train ride back in the dark, The dark,
rolling puffs of smoke highlighted by the trains light and the broiler
fire showing from below the engine was a very pretty site to see at night.
The train ride was a great experience and one I would recommend you take
when you’re in the area.
After two exciting
days Tim and I left the conference to go back to Bass Lake and visit
The Pines Resort.
Rhonda Barick director of rooms and marketing
for The Pines Resort invited Tim and I to Bass Lake for a cruising
luncheon aboard the
Bass Lake Queen II.
Capt Dale Livesey gave
us a narrated cruise on Bass Lake. He only stopped talking long enough to
grab a bite to eat and catch his breath every now and then.
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Bass Lake Queen II Captain Dale
Livesay |
He delivered an almost
non-stop encyclopedia of information about the lake as we cruised along.
He showed everyone where the Bald Eagle nest was located. He didn’t get
close enough to bother her and her chicks but offered binoculars for those
aboard that wanted to get a closer look!
Dale pointed out the
history and buildings around Bass Lake. He informed us that the last
available vacant lot on the lake recently sold for $700,000.
He even gave a movie
history lesson about all the movies shot on and around the lake. One of my
favorites was The Great Outdoors.
Dale told us a very
interesting story about how the cabin, built by the movie studio, was used
for a big party after the movie was finished and somehow burned down
instead of being moved piece by piece back to the studio lot like it was
supposed to be!
I know that Dave had
to be a fisherman in his spare time, as some of the story’s while factual
seemed to be stretched just a wee bit! His knowledge sure made the cruise
interesting to say the least!
If you get a chance to
visit Bass Lake, I recommend a cruise with Captain Dave; the information
is well worth the fee.
That evening Tim and I
headed to
Ducey’s Bar and Grill for dinner. The restaurant overlooks the lake
giving an awesome vista to enjoy your dinner. Oops we forgot one thing.
Make a reservation!
We had to go upstairs
and wait in the bar for an hour. However, it wasn’t a waste of time as
Chris, the bartender, who also loved to fish, told us about different
streams in the area where one could find success!
Tim and I had an
enjoyable dinner and then decided to make a trip back upstairs to chat
with Chris about fishing some more!
After a great nights
sleep, we arose and headed back to Ducey’s for breakfast. While sipping
orange juice I noticed one of the attendees at the conference and lake
cruise, Outdoor Communicator Leo Vrana, was fishing off the dock.
After fishing a short
while, Leo and his wife came in for breakfast. Leo said, “Where were you
Ron, the fish were biting just like Captain Dave said they would be. I
caught and released a 10-pound bucket mouth this morning.”
He said, “The fish
didn’t want the bait I was using, but when I caught a perch on it, a large
bass grabbed and swallowed it and before I knew it!”
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Ducey's on the Lake from the
Bass Lake Queen II |
Now any outdoor
communicator in his right mind would wonder about this report of a monster
bass caught by Leo, but with Captain Dave saying the big boys came in
early every morning hunting for food and the fact that a hen mallard that
had four day old chicks the day before, now only had one very nervous
youngster left, made his story seem not only plausible but down right
credible.
The Pines has a full
service marina with patio boats, wave runners, ski boats, fishing boats,
canoes, paddle boats, knee-boards and tubes, fishing poles and rental
slips.
Tenaya Lodge and the
Pines Resort is an excellent location for launching day trips into
Yosemite and the surrounding areas. With an abundance of outdoor
activities, one could easily spend a week and never see the same thing
twice.
Whether your plan is
to visit the abundant beauty of Yosemite, hike its awe inspiring trails,
fish its awesome streams and rivers or enjoy the numerous water sports on
Bass Lake, you won’t find a more central location then either of these
resorts.
You’ll enjoy the fine
dining and amenities available at both Tenaya and the Pines. So if your
looking for that vacation full of activities for you and the family or
just a quiet weekend with a loved one, visit the area, you’ll be glad you
did. |
