Tall Man With Beard seen in neighborhood

     Yes, it's THAT man, again.  Tom Stienstra, the outdoorsmen's outdoorsman, was seen strollingin the vicinity of Meeks Creek the other day.  In today's  Chronicle, his story appeared i the rear pages of the sports section.  His article highlighted the locals oft visited trail that climbs from the lakeshore at Meeks Bay to the lakes in the Desolation Wilderness, the source(s) of Meeks Creek and a significant tributary of Lake Tahoe itself.
     Tom always has his camera and has quite an eye for the great landscape shot.  Here he captures Crag Lake and its fast disappearing frozen surface.  It's been a warm springtime in the Sierra and the photo of the lake is one more testament to a warm summer ahead.
    His description includes many different observations, from the changing seasonal landscape to the awakenings of indigenous wildlife.  Having walked this path on several occasions, it was easy to imagine being alongside for the hike.  The mayor looks forward to his next hike up Meeks Creek.

Minister of Latin American Affairs: Update
     The minister announced his itinerary for his next southern sojourne.  He'll be leaving next week for 2 weeks in Uruguay.  He'll be in Montevideo, the capitol, most of the time, with some side trips to Buenos Aries for meetings, etc.   It's mid autumn in Latin America, a nice time to go on a trip south of the equator.  The conference will host most member states' representatives and they will discuss current topics: Venezuela's election results; Mexico's new president's meeting with Pres. Obama today; and the future of immigration reform in the US Congress.  Good luck to our minister.

First season's diver
     A sign of the season's change:  a scuba diver at lakeside ar Hurricane bay was preparing his tank next to the shore before testing the May 1st lake waters.  Must be spring.

West Side Pizza
       Heard from locals that West Side Pizza owners have put the business on the market.  After moving the family to Santa Barbara two years ago,, they have decide their future is on the south central coast.  It makes sense to me.  Why deal with TRPA anymore?  Why deal with El Dorado County anymore?  Why deal with Meeks bay Fire District anymore?  Why worry about the Homewood Resort project anymore?   Sad but true, business along the West Shore is seriously challenged these days.   Look at the old Norfolk Hotel building-now boarded up tight, after owners ignored the blight for all these years.  Now it's just a sorry sight.  It reflects its across the highway neighbor, The Tahoe Cedars property, with its new 'for sale' sign screaming across highway 89.