Highway 89: Random Topics

      The flags are beginning to appear along Highway 89 as the Fourth of July holiday fast approaches.   More buoys are dangling ski boats, rafts, kayaks, and jet skis.   Soon, navigating inshore will be difficult as a labyrinth of watercraft crowd the harbor entrances.   It's Summer, almost.   The longest day of the year is upon us.   Sunrise sends light to normally dark corners; recesses of the forest are now bathed in rare sunlight, however briefly.  Yes, the solstice of summer is nearing the Arctic Circle-its northern limit.   Think of the far northerns- 24 hours of sunlight!  Amazing.  Farther south, endless twilight, summer music festivals, long, warm evenings with the local folks outside long past their bedtime.
     At Tahoe, we join in the summerfest with glee: now is OUR time.   Oh, yes, temps reach 32 degrees in Truckee, but that's normal.  We embrace our flatlander guests and wish them well during their escape from valley heat.   We only ask they keep their eyes on the road and that they don't pee in the lake- we drink the water.
What's Up?
      Echo summit site will join as a California Landmark.  The site near the summit was the site of the 1968 Olympic Trails track meet.  The Summer games of 1968 were held in Mexico City at its elevation of 7349'.  Echo Summit: 7377' or 28' higher.  Lee Evans and Tommie Smith will be among those attending the dedication on June 27th.  A follow up event will occur Friday night in Sacramento.   The track was removed and taken to South Lake Middle School where it served students for decades.

Olympic Valley City
      Opposition grows as resort operators ask LAFCO to be left out of incorporation plans.  Squaw Valley Lodge has joined others in voicing opposition, calling the move too expensive and not in the long term interest of property owners and businesses in the valley.   LAFCO officials have paid for a study of the move.  Proponents are lying low,
Highway 89 continues to be torn up during the day and night: be careful out there.