2023 Lake Almanor - Day #1

From 1988 to 2009, a group of families spent a week every summer at the Dorado Inn at Lake Almanor. The venue switched to the Tsasdi Resort at Lake Shasta for 2010 and 2011 and then back to the Dorado Inn from 2012 to 2014. The annual event fell apart as kids were in college and priorities changed. The week was an important part of my life for a long time.

Last fall, Drew took it upon himself to see if we could get the band back together for a year. I was surprised when the Tomasins, Snipes, Nooters and Wallens all committed and put down a deposit. Something happened over the last couple of months and the Wallens backed out; I need to sit down with Wallen and understand what happened.

I planned my retirement to fall just as we were taking off for the trip. It is going to be special to have Jack, Drew and Carmen, Morgan, Lee and Daniel with us for the week.

Sharon and I spent the morning packing and loading the car. We rolled from Carmichael about 1245 pm. Going 80 to 5 to 99 to 32 to 36 with a stop for gas in Gridley, we were at the Dorado Inn about 420 pm.

We are staying in cabin 4 this year. Over the next hour, everyone showed up. It is going to be a large group. There are eight Heringers: Sharon and I; Drew and Carmen; Morgan, Lee and Daniel; and, Jack. Jack's roommate Jason is also with us for the week. The Nooters are in Cabin 3. Drew and Carmen are in Cabin 1, while Morgan and Daniel are in Cabin 2.

The Tomasins and Snipes are in the large cabin south of the main resort. There are nine Tomasins in Cabin 5, including: John and Julie; David and Lo, Chris and Cassie; Mikey; and, Tomasin's nephew Nick and his girlfriend Blakely. The Snipes in Cabin 6 include: Kurt and Joy; and, Keith and his girlfriend Lizette.

I tried to rally the group to go for pizza in Westwood, but the concensus was just to order pizza and pick them up. Splitting into two groups, Drew, Carmen, Jack and Jason ran into Chester and picked up pizza for the main cabins from the Pizza Factory.

Jack and I finished the night playing cribbage. He beat me handily...