Popular Post Yessongs Posted August 12, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted August 12, 2020 Ok finally made it up to Mt. Lassen/Lake Almanor as these were good bets for staying safe with Covid. 34 cases in Plumas County with no deaths, no hospitalizations and no one ever in the ICU here. Outdoor activities are good this time of year and these places did not disappoint at all. Those pine trees and that crisp, fresh mountain air is second to none. 2,100 people live in Chester, Calif and it is a small town and laid back for sure. 5 restaurants, Chinese, Mexican and 3 local home cooking places. The Mexican Food place was just outstanding. Plumas Pines Resort is a great place to eat dinner over looking the lake, had dinner there 3 nights. Stayed at the Best Western Hotel and was a 40 minute drive to Mt. Lassen and 15 minute drive to Lake Almanor. Lot’s of RV’s and plenty of camping here with good facilities. Clean, crisp and clear all the time we were here between 82-85 degrees locally and 75 degrees up high at Mt. Lassen. Mt. Lassen is a hidden gem for sure, never been here or the lake in 51 years living in San Jose, too bad I waited so long. Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Big Bear and all of the others I have been to many times, but this place just had a great vibe for sure. Get in there at the lodge, check out a few places to go and off we went up the mountain. The Sulphur Lake was cool, bubbles sulphur from the ground similar to a volcano, get out of the SUV and you smell it right away….was cool. The Lakes there are just off the hook beautiful and all the surrounding areas the same. At 8,500 feet (2,590 meters) want to check your stamina? Take a hike on the Lassen Peak Trail for 2 1/2 miles about a 30 degree incline. We got up about a 1/1/2 miles in and I was done! Jesus, Rachanee could have gone the additional mile…..she pisses me off, but she’s younger then me too. Rented a boat for 2 days at the Lake, great time, did not realize how many people rent boats. They did not have a Ski Boat available the entire time, wanted to just hit 60 MPH on the water and watch Rachanee take it all in. Settled on a “Pontoon” boat that could have seated 16 people, it could go a max of 40 MPH. It was definitely a “cruiser” and 2 different days spent 2 hours each exploring how big Lake Almanor is….it’s much bigger then I thought. Water is much warmer here then Lake Tahoe. Outstanding time here and Rachanee just loves the Mountains here in Calif and Lake Almanor was outstanding too. Kiss….Well what can I say? The “critics” hated these guys over the 45 years they were together. The "farewell tour” for me was not to be missed. Saw them 3 times over the decades, great show always and I just knew Rachanee would like this final show and I was right. After seeing the videos of their first 3 shows in USA, got tickets for the March 6th show here before all the Covid crap started at Oakland Arena. Unapologetic, in your face and loud and clear as they descended from the rafters of the arena one last time. Jesus, Rachanee was jumping in her seat as the opening song was “Detroit Rock City” and they set off enough “pyrotechnics and bombs” one might think they they were in Beirut! They brought it all one last time for sure. Of course Mr. Gene Simmons could not help himself one last time either, taking the torch, blowing the fire and being hoisted in the air to do “God of Thunder” one last time. Rachanee asks me “Oiiiii, why does he spit the blood like this”? I told her he is “God of Thunder” Na Krap….Paul Stanley was nice enough to come out before the show and talk with her LOL! My Son traded in one of his Ibanez Electrics and bought a 2016 Gibson Les Paul Studio model in Cherry Sunburst. Nice Guitar….sounds great. I surprised him and bought a Paul Reed Smith Custom 24 for him as a gift and gave it to him a few weeks back. Bought it on-line here and took it over to a guy who had worked with Neal Schon a few years back, had him adjust the bridge, adjust the truss rod, lower the strings a bit, put on locking tuners etc. Great addition and he has a nice collection now. 8 1 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Yessongs Posted August 12, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 12, 2020 I am directing videos now too LOL! 3 1 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steelers4Life Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Yessongs said: I am directing videos now too LOL! I was expecting you to appear in the vid like Hetfield and provide the vocals. 🙂 Edited August 12, 2020 by Steelers4Life 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazarus Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 Great pics. Beautiful swan. 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galenkia Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 Great scenery shots Mike, just stunning, and we even got treated to some bikini shots. 😀 Love Kiss myself,been a fan 40 years and seen them twice live. Destroyer is my favourite album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skalliwag Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 Wow,that’s the best thing I’ve read all week. awesome.Love the Les Paul.....droooool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Smooth Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 My brother is in the Dept of Corrections and was assigned to the Susanville prison several years ago. When I drove up to visit, I drove through that area on Highway 32 from the Chico area up toward Lassen and through Chester into Susanville. Just a gorgeous part of the state. Those alpine lakes would be much too tempting to pass up without dropping a line in search of a few frying pan sized trout. Another lake not far from there and has a reputation for it's trophy fishing, though not as scenic as Almanor, is Eagle Lake, just north of Susanville. Your wife looked like she was having to time of her life. Was never a fan of KISS, but I bet they put on a great live show. Appreciate the pics, thanks for posting. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Smooth Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 (edited) 4 minutes ago, Mr. Smooth said: Edited August 12, 2020 by Mr. Smooth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golfingboy Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 Great set of pics, you and the wife are staying very fit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yessongs Posted August 13, 2020 Author Share Posted August 13, 2020 23 hours ago, Steelers4Life said: I was expecting you to appear in the vid like Hetfield and provide the vocals. 🙂 Yeah Hetfield can still sing some amazing vocals still after all of these years, I wish I had his money too LOL! 23 hours ago, lazarus said: Great pics. Beautiful swan. 😉 Thanks Matt.....every camera guys dream being out of the city like this in the Sierra Nevada's. 21 hours ago, galenkia said: Great scenery shots Mike, just stunning, and we even got treated to some bikini shots. 😀 Love Kiss myself,been a fan 40 years and seen them twice live. Destroyer is my favourite album. Alan, Kiss brought it one last time, you should have seen some of the women there at the show...seriously. 19 hours ago, Skalliwag said: Wow,that’s the best thing I’ve read all week. awesome.Love the Les Paul.....droooool. Yeah, The Gibson is nice and a good collection piece for sure. 19 hours ago, Mr. Smooth said: My brother is in the Dept of Corrections and was assigned to the Susanville prison several years ago. When I drove up to visit, I drove through that area on Highway 32 from the Chico area up toward Lassen and through Chester into Susanville. Just a gorgeous part of the state. Those alpine lakes would be much too tempting to pass up without dropping a line in search of a few frying pan sized trout. Another lake not far from there and has a reputation for it's trophy fishing, though not as scenic as Almanor, is Eagle Lake, just north of Susanville. Your wife looked like she was having to time of her life. Was never a fan of KISS, but I bet they put on a great live show. Appreciate the pics, thanks for posting. For sure, that area is nice up there and sorry I waited so long to get up there. Yep Highway 32 is the way we came and left out of town into Chico....just beautiful. Yeah those lakes are beautiful for sure and was amazed not one person in the whole week we were there was fishing! I wondered why? @boydeste He would have had a field day there with no competition. Yeah Rachanee is just ecstatic at being in the mountains here ( Sierra Nevada's) she just loves it and the lake was a great time too. Hey need to tell you, it's official, my Son bought a home in Elk Grove and is moving up there the 2nd week of October. Got a place up off Laguna Blvd, saw it on the way home and he will be the 2nd owner, 15 year old home and I am really happy for him. The GF landed a job there at Sutter General Hospital. If you see him up at "Centerfolds" let me know.....I know you have a few regulars there LOL! 18 hours ago, Golfingboy said: Great set of pics, you and the wife are staying very fit Thanks buddy, yeah I am not getting any younger that's for sure. Rachanee is closer to 50 then 40, and she too takes her health very seriously, works out 6 days a week. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Smooth Posted August 13, 2020 Share Posted August 13, 2020 Elk Grove is a very desirable area. I heard a few years back that it was the fastest growing school district in the state and number #3 in the country. Must be the nice salaries teachers make from all the property taxes being paid by those $400 thousand dollar and up home owners! He'll be about a 30 minute drive from my area, I'm up toward Roseville. Lots of nice places in Elk Grove to go for a drink and meal, at least once the closures are done with. Who knows when that will be? I'm sure they will love living here as Bay Area transplants. A ton of people from there have relocated here over the last 25 years for the cheaper housing and less traffic, although that has gotten bad as the population has increased. I work a swing shift, 3-11:30 pm, so it's seldom been a problem for me. Tell him congrats from me and welcome to the Valley. He'll need to get used to the heat though. Could get up to 109 this weekend. I ain't leaving the house! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaksey Posted August 13, 2020 Share Posted August 13, 2020 Awesome, awesome, awesome!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhunDon Posted August 13, 2020 Share Posted August 13, 2020 As always @Yessongs a great story and fantastic pictures. Thanks to you both. 🤗 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yessongs Posted August 14, 2020 Author Share Posted August 14, 2020 19 hours ago, Mr. Smooth said: Elk Grove is a very desirable area. I heard a few years back that it was the fastest growing school district in the state and number #3 in the country. Must be the nice salaries teachers make from all the property taxes being paid by those $400 thousand dollar and up home owners! He'll be about a 30 minute drive from my area, I'm up toward Roseville. Lots of nice places in Elk Grove to go for a drink and meal, at least once the closures are done with. Who knows when that will be? I'm sure they will love living here as Bay Area transplants. A ton of people from there have relocated here over the last 25 years for the cheaper housing and less traffic, although that has gotten bad as the population has increased. I work a swing shift, 3-11:30 pm, so it's seldom been a problem for me. Tell him congrats from me and welcome to the Valley. He'll need to get used to the heat though. Could get up to 109 this weekend. I ain't leaving the house! Just like you said, Elk Grove is alot nice then I thought once I got farther into the city and just just stopping off for gas off Hwy 5. Oh yeah it is alot warmer up there in the summer for sure. Appreciate your inputs. Now I am in a "pickle" as to what to do with my home here in San Jose. I got lucky in that he stayed here after college to save up for a down payment and kept an eye on my place here while in Thailand. I don't want to sell it, or rent it out as I like having a home here in USA. 16 hours ago, Shaksey said: Awesome, awesome, awesome!!! Thanks alot... 16 hours ago, KhunDon said: As always @Yessongs a great story and fantastic pictures. Thanks to you both. 🤗 Appreciate that Don, trying all things possible to stay sane with all the crap going on in the world you know. So nice for a full week to get away from it all. Hope you and your family are safe and well. I got to make it "across the pond" one time before it's too late. Would really like to meet some of you all. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalEden Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 Buy a home in Tahoe. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazarus Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 (edited) 21 hours ago, CalEden said: Buy a home in Tahoe. Only if you like shoveling snow in the (big) winter(s)...5555. Of course, Mike's wife will do it as a fun "workout." Edited August 15, 2020 by lazarus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yessongs Posted August 15, 2020 Author Share Posted August 15, 2020 22 hours ago, CalEden said: Buy a home in Tahoe. For sure... 21 hours ago, lazarus said: Only if you like shoveling snow in the (big) winter(s)...5555. Of course, Mike's wife will do it as a fun "workout." Wifey is pretty adaptable, she's likes everything, that helps alot. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazarus Posted August 15, 2020 Share Posted August 15, 2020 8 minutes ago, Yessongs said: For sure... Wifey is pretty adaptable, she's likes everything, that helps alot. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrmango Posted August 15, 2020 Share Posted August 15, 2020 22 hours ago, CalEden said: Buy a home in Tahoe. I just sold one 15 days ago in Homewood and never again!! The bureaucracy is unbearable - It takes years to cut down a tree! Plus when times are normal, the traffic is unbearable. 4th of July weekend it's impossible to go anywhere as hiwy 89 is stop and go the entire perimeter of the lake. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalEden Posted August 16, 2020 Share Posted August 16, 2020 On 8/15/2020 at 8:49 AM, Mrmango said: I just sold one 15 days ago in Homewood and never again!! The bureaucracy is unbearable - It takes years to cut down a tree! Plus when times are normal, the traffic is unbearable. 4th of July weekend it's impossible to go anywhere as hiwy 89 is stop and go the entire perimeter of the lake. Sounds like the Bay Area/Southern California commute traffic. How about Donnor Lake up the road? I did see on the news that since the virus the San Francisco Bay area people are buying up all the property in Tahoe. Maybe it's time to leave the Cali Bureaucracy Stalog. I'm loving the Pacific Northwest and would never go back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrmango Posted August 17, 2020 Share Posted August 17, 2020 6 hours ago, CalEden said: Sounds like the Bay Area/Southern California commute traffic. How about Donnor Lake up the road? I did see on the news that since the virus the San Francisco Bay area people are buying up all the property in Tahoe. Maybe it's time to leave the Cali Bureaucracy Stalog. I'm loving the Pacific Northwest and would never go back. Actually Tahoe traffic is worse than the bay area, as it is stop and go (mostly stop) at all times during the busy season. I almost bought a house on Donner lake Road (The South side) and the traffic was much better than Tahoe with far less building restrictions but a much smaller lake. As for the sale time, it was literally sold within a few hours after the listing with several offers above the listing price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roomark Posted August 17, 2020 Share Posted August 17, 2020 Very nice pictures .. Enjoying life that's what it's all about you're lucky in these times. Both looking fit too , good too see 🍻👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yessongs Posted August 17, 2020 Author Share Posted August 17, 2020 @CalEden @Mrmango Well, can say no traffic in the Lake Almanor area for sure.....some nice places over there, lot less people then Tahoe year around. No skiing or snowboarding, but snowmobiling seems to be the locals favorite. 9 hours ago, roomark said: Very nice pictures .. Enjoying life that's what it's all about you're lucky in these times. Both looking fit too , good too see 🍻👍 https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Lake-Almanor_CA @roomark I asked Rachanee if she would f**k me on the boat and we could videotape it, kind of like Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson a few years back? She didn't think that was a good idea! She's no fun, I am going to get rid of her LOL! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roomark Posted August 17, 2020 Share Posted August 17, 2020 4 hours ago, Yessongs said: @CalEden @roomark I asked Rachanee if she would f**k me on the boat and we could videotape it, kind of like Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson a few years back? She didn't think that was a good idea! She's no fun, I am going to get rid of her LOL! I thought you said Tommy DEE for a minute 😱🙈🤣🤣🤣 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinoydave Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 Wow....... great pictures....... shows us Brits a completely different America, our MSM don’t show us 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts