June 21, 2015 Fathers Day
PNMTA Family Fun Ride and BBQ Report
As riders, BBQers, and film crew (more on that later) met at the Douglas County Fairgrounds parking lot, the day was already a bit windy. A small but very capable delegation of riders were filmed preparing and leaving on their days adventure.
The film crew was putting together a promotional video about the “rugged, relaxed and reachable” aspects of the Carson Valley area for the Carson Valley Visitors Authority. Our BBQ and riders will be one part of the CVVA promo video.
After the riders left the staging area, Nate L with Kiwi by his side, a trailer full of BBQ essentials, the film crew behind him and myself taking up the rear, led the way to Sheep Camp, our BBQ destination. Along the way it was quite obvious that the smoke from the Washington Fire (between Markleeville and Ebbitts Pass) was blowing just about to the Sheep Camp area. On arrival we got lucky that Sheep Camp was just on the edge of the large smoke trail. It was there but not thick. Even more fortunately, as the day went on the wind shifted a bit and our air was clear and he sky’s above were blue. The trees offered plenty of shade so the ezups were not needed. And much less wind on that side of the hills.
We all pitched in and got the BBQ, tables, etc., set up in no time. The film crew interviewed Nate and myself, discussing PNMTA, the Pine Nut Mountains, and the wonderful attributes of living and playing in the Carson Valley area. Just as my interview was finishing up, as if on que the riders rode into camp.
The film crew then mounted a GoPro onto Denny’s handlebars and filmed the riders coming and going on the roads around Sheep Camp. They then filmed numerous creek crossings, which were “mostly” successful. The video cameraman even got splashed a couple of times. And loved it! Thanks Jon.
All this hard work created quite a thirst and appetite so a break was welcomed. Apparently the video cameraman was really hungry because he jumped right in at the helm of the grill and went to cooking. Burgers sizzled, gourmet dogs were cooked up, big fat portabello mushrooms with Nate’s secret mix of oil and spices were all sandwiched between toasted buns. Oh Yeah!
A few other non-riders showed up for the BBQ. We invited a couple of local teenagers who cruised by on their quads in for burgers. The film crew also got some video of them riding.
The chit chat, stories and lies were all as good as the food.
After sitting around for a while, all fat, dumb and happy, camp was broken down and we were heading back home around 2-2:30pm.
For those of you that couldn’t make it, you missed a good one. The good news is that it probably won’t be the last one.
Thanks everyone who showed up. Hope you all had as good a time as I did.
DougH