It has been a great run since last weekend when K finally came up to the Hill with me. We had a great 2 nights. Got a couple projects done, but mostly took it easy, showed her all that we have done since she was here last, and enjoyed the sky, grub, campfires, cocktails, and silence. I get antsy around this time of year because Winter is coming and we won’t be up here from mid-November until April or May depending on our ability to drive up the hill on the wet road, so I like to plan a few late trips to try to get all our projects and winterization done.

Our friend Kier Furey is retiring from some 32 years of State service, most recently with the Cannabis Program at CDFA, but we knew him during many years at the Waste Board, later on known as CalRecycle. Kier bought a very cool cottage in Loyalton at an auction some 13 years ago that he has transformed into a sweet place, and he invited us, or we invited ourselves up to his place for a retirement party. As Loyalton is half way to the Hill, I decided to make the trip a two-fer.

I had planned to come up to the property on Wednesday, but I woke up with a bad back at it has kept me down for a couple weeks. I decided to change my project list to light duty jobs and go up just for 1 night. I got an early start and was unlocking the gate at 10:00am on a gorgeous morning. I fooled around long enough that it was close enough to lunch time to take a much needed break. I sat out on the upper terrace and enjoyed the view and solitude for a good long stretch. Eventually, I started fooling with the firewood box at the kitchen.

The top went on and I added a few more braces and eventually it was ready for the wood, but I lost interest and went down to check out Bob’s cabin. I walked the loop and fooled around at the boneyard. The walk reminded me to water Bob’s plants and change the wildlife water in the bin. All this activity exhausted me so I poured a healthy cocktail and went back out to the upper terrace. I was disappointed to see it so sunny as I assumed the rock wall would have provided more shade. I was however able to make the best of it.

I pulled my chair up against the rock wall in one little gap and it was just enough to shade me, but keep my feet toasty in the sun. It was a spectacular spot. A raven and then a small flock of birds flew low and close past me. I called Mike and had a nice long talk; afterwards it was close enough to cocktail hour to get serious. I BBQ’d a ton of boneless thighs and made a delicious onion, bell pepper, squash medley. I had a small fire, but again, in was fantastic, not just because it was, but it was only the second trip we have had fires since the Spring. The Milky Way was super clear. I have never seen it before stretch out from horizon to horizon. Too bad I couldn’t stay awake longer to really enjoy it in the wee hours, or even in the late night hours, or even in the night hours.

I was in bed by 8 and that was after taking a little stroll around the loop road just to keep me up for a few minutes. After talking to K, I slept from 9-8 with only 1 pee break. It was glorious. I had a crazy dream about Mike O’Leary, which was cool. The morning was calm and cool. I was excited to see if the little power pack would power the coffee pot, but it did not. It was no big deal, especially since I had brought up my camp pot which made the water part of coffee making much better than the pot I had been using. I warmed myself by loading the firewood in the newly finished kitchen wood box.

After a healthy morning constitution, I decided to maximize my visit to the outhouse by fooling with the sink drain hose. The hose is way too long and so loops way around out into the scrub and into aside hole under the outhouse that an animal dug out. The hole is alongside the path to the sink, so it is both unsightly and hazardous to old guys shuffling. I was told the composting of the poo is aided by water so I thought draining the sink water into the pit was genius. I got some digging implements and went to work.

I was happy to use a digging implement I got at a garage sale many moons ago and it turned out to be just the right tool. The handle on a 5’ length of steel with a screw auger on the end dug into the loose soil we piled up around the outhouse and made the perfect hose-sized hole. A little pry-bar work for the harder lip around the pit and I was through in no time. Not only did I shorten the hose length by 93%, I rerouted it behind the sink so it is completely out of sight and out of the way now. I also took a few minutes to finish siding the outhouse wall behind the sink now removed with the shingles I got from Mike whatshisname from SI now of Rocklin that knew Nick and Leo LaRocca. Two great little jobs that tidy things up quite a bit.

Walking back up the road, I noticed many tracks. We have had many different critter tracks each time I have come up since we put the water tub out. It has been great to see it getting so much use, while we also have not had the bug biting issues of the summer. I didn’t see or hear the rabbit or the kitty this trip, but hopefully they are doing well. With the morning warming up, I caulked my West window, considered several spots for a hot tub deck and how to deliver unlimited hot water to it. By then, it was time to roll to Keir’s house for the retirement celebration.

It was past 2:00 by the time I was locking the lower gate. I chowed on BBQ’d chicken and listened to great tunes on the drive down. I pulled over to pee and serenaded the moo-cows with the Rolling Stones’ “You Will Be Mine”, which they loved. I heard a couple more songs before I got into town, but I rewound the MP3 player back to that Stones song so I could blast it for the fools in Keir’s backyard, but I didn’t see anybody out there so I didn’t do it. I should have known someone would have been out there as they were just tucked behind the shed up on the deck. Too bad. Lost opportunity.

The boys were already higher than kites. Reinhard was there which was a great surprise along with Mike, Ken, Vince, Bob H. and Kier. We got the barby going and watched the sun set on the hills to the East behind Keir’s place at the edge of town. Vinny had rack of Lamb and Ken put on a pork tenderloin. Mr. Leaon sautéed steak strips with peppers and onion. It was a feast. Reino had to leave to take care of his mum, and as I was out front seeing him off, I heard musica wafting in the air from a distant land. I followed the sounds into town to a very cool new courtyard attached to the old funky bar. Just as I got to the corner, the band took a break.

When I got back to the house, I suggested we go listen to the musica and everyone agreed, although it took some time to get everyone moving in the same direction, and then in the right direction. By the time we got to the corner the band announced it was their last song and said goodnight. Undaunted, the boys all wanted to go in and we went on back to say hello to the husband and wife group. They were super nice and appreciative of the kinds words. I got Mike talking about the song choices with the lady and that turned into the craziest, liberalist, democraticist conversation, made ever more bizarre that it was happening at this bar in downtown Loyalton.

I went inside to order a cocktail and met a young dude at the strange little ordering window. We struck up a conversation and ended up taking our drinks outside and sitting at picnic tables talking for a spell. He was a local whose dad was a local, working at the mills at now up at the Honey lake Army Depot wrenching, welding, taking things apart and putting things back together. He was a super nice dude. When his darling little girl came out for more money for the games, he was quick to open his wallet. Moments later when his woman and small boy came out to say it was time to go, he was even quicker to get up, smash out his cigarette and say goodbye.

With that, I went inside and found Vince, Mike, and Bob H. sitting at a high boy with 3 young dudes standing around them. Vince was peaking German and the young guys were hysterical. What was this place? Somehow, Vince had found an Austrian, his cousin, and his friend to speak German with in the dang bar in downtown Loyalton. The Austrian kid has had family in Sierra Valley for generations and came here to visit. Super nice guys and funny as hell, and of course, Vinny had them all rolling. I ordered a Bourbon and coke I did not need and a Bourbon and soda for Bob. Eventually we got home. I made my bed on the front porch and slept pretty well.

Morning wasn’t too bad. I found Kier on the back deck with coffee waiting for the sunrise. Eventually Ken joined us and later Mike, Bob and Vince. Mike and Bob made their way home and the 4 of us made plans for a leisurely hike followed by resting in a grove of Aspen. All 4 of us hoisted an old oven into the back of my truck, and Kier took a spill mid-lift. He didn’t seem to have wrecked anything, or injured his recently repaired hernia, so off we went to the dump to deliver it to its next phase of life. Upon our return, Ken and Vince had prepared sandwiches and the cooler for our trip so we headed out Smithneck road along Smithneck Creek to take in the Aspen. They were glorious!

We walked a short segment of the Boca and Loyalton Railroad Trail and saw a wide range of Aspen color from still a vibrant green, to yellow, orange, and even some screaming red. It was spectacular. After an exhausting trek, the boys set out to find shade alongside the babbling brook amidst the color. We poked into a couple pullouts and side roads, but all were occupied. We headed on down to the Loyalton Rotary Park, but that was a tad too open for us. We settled into a great spot, not exactly on the creek, but plenty close to hear it with glorious shade, level clear chair space, and a full ice chest. While the conversation was indeed stimulating, I dozed off several times after enjoying a sammich and brewskies.

After a super mellow afternoon, we drove through the Sierra brooks development to look at a place Kristen and I had looked at buying many moons ago. We didn’t really get too serious, but I have never forgotten that place. With the skyrocketing values of the homes in Sierra Brooks and Loyalton from the push North out of Lake Tahoe, through Truckee, and now into Sierra value, it would have been a gold mine, as Keir’s is now. Oh well. Back to the salt mine or back to Keir’s as it were for another evening of revelry. I had a tiny bit of energy, so Ken and I wandered into town and walked the streets. Loyalton has transformed from 80% very rough, to 20% rough. The houses are nice and yards are neat and tidy and well landscaped.

We had heard that some rich guy bought the mill which was transformed to a energy facility and now back to an operating mill. He also bought the restaurant and made the new outdoor space we went to. The investments have paid off huge dividends as it has became a nice, attractive town, not without the redneck yahoos, but they have become a minority now among a ton of nice inclusive people, probably mostly commuting to Truckee or elsewhere for work.

In our wanderings, we stumbled upon a fenced off lot that I first thought was a community garden. It turned out to be a giant train set up with huge trestles, bridges, towns, businesses, farms, and dozens of scale buildings. It was super impressive. Eventually the old timer in his blue overalls and filthy baseball cap pulled down low on his forehead made it over to us. After a short time of gabbing, it was evident we were in it for the long haul. We learned a great deal about the town, the rich guy, the train set up, the school, museum, future plans, events, the hotel burning down, the stage going up, etc., etc., etc. His name was Ken and he lived in Reno and his brother owned the ranch on the edge of town. Nuff said.

We wound our way back to Keir’s and I got another fire going and made a round of cocktails. Keir’s ankle had become slightly problematic and plenty painful, so he was hobbling around. Vinny did another rack of Lamb and pork tenderloin. Ken and I sautéed onion, pepper, and zucchini’s in a lovely medley, and Vinny even had a green salad. Dinner on the back porch was awesome. The gummies came out as the sun went down on the peaks to the East. Kier did not heed the advice of the experienced among us and ate the other half, rendering him unconscious before the stars were out. He was able to stumble through setting up some tunes that produced the Dead and Cream, both of which were perfect.

Eventually I set out my bedroll on the living room floor and laid my head to rest. I was only slightly spinny. I slept well and I believe the hard floor made my back feel better. I was hoping to arise early and head back home in time for the 10:00 start of the 49ers game, so when I arose and saw it was only 6:00 am, I was pleased. I heard Seed ask if I was getting up as he had been awake for awhile, and se we did. Ken made a pot of coffee and we sat together out on the back porch in the cold early light. It was awesome. Eventually Keir came out to find out what happened the night before and he brought the first light with him. Soon I had packed up and said my goodbyes.

I imagined what it would be like commuting on highway 49 into Sierraville and then 89 into Truckee and although it was a very beautiful drive and would allow you to live in a very beautiful place, I was happy not to have to do it. I was in Truckee in 45 minutes and home by 9:30 after an easy Sunday morning drive. I was happy to be home in time for the game. I was showered and cleaned up in time for the total beat down that Atlanta delivered to an injured but lackluster Niners team that still should have put away a not very good team. Oh well, I was home, had a lot more football and relaxing in front of me, and time to spend with my lovely wife. What a joy.

Find this Spot