After two days of driving, we were looking forward to slowing the pace a bit. We had booked two nights in South Lake Tahoe, giving us a chance to enjoy the area without constantly packing and unpacking.
The plan for our full day after arriving was intentionally light. We wanted to make the scenic drive toĀ Emerald Bay, one of Lake Tahoe’s most photographed spots, and take the short hike toĀ Eagle Falls. From the overlook, you can see Fannette Island, the only island in Lake Tahoe, complete with the stone ruins of a tea house built in the 1920s. It seemed like the perfect way to ease into our time at the lake.
Before reaching Tahoe, though, we needed lunch.
As usual, Yelp came through. We foundĀ McKenzie’s at Whitehawk Ranch, a small cafĆ© tucked into a golf course about halfway between Quincy and South Lake Tahoe. Sometimes the best meals come from the places you least expect. We enjoyed lunch on the outdoor patio overlooking the driving rangeāa peaceful setting and surprisingly good food. It turned out to be one of those hidden gems that make road trips so much fun.
We rolled into South Lake Tahoe around 3:00 that afternoon. Just as we were settling into vacation mode, we began hearing an odd noise from the car. A few moments later, the Tesla displayed the message every road-tripper dreads:
Flat Tire.
We managed to pull safely onto the shoulder of a busy road. I tried using the small air compressor we always carry, hoping it was just a slow leak, but the tire wouldn’t hold air.
Time for Plan B.
A call to our insurance company brought roadside assistance, although “roadside” turned into a bit of a waiting game. Nearly three hours later, the tow truck finally arrived. Thankfully, we were only about 17 miles from a Les Schwab Tire Center, where we’ve bought tires for years.
Since the store had already closed for the evening, the driver kindly dropped us at our hotel first, then took the car to the tire shop. One less thing to worry about. We settled in for a late dinner and enjoyed a magnificent sunset.
As it turned out, the flat tire was only part of the story. The next morning Les Schwab confirmed that, after 22,000 miles, all four tires needed replacing. Fortunately, they had our exact tire size in stock and promised the car would be ready by noon. Partially covered under warranty.
Sometimes bad luck comes with a couple of unexpected bonuses.
First, South Lake Tahoe has a free public bus system, so we simply hopped on a bus and walked the last few blocks to pick up the car. No rental car. No expensive Uber. Easy.
Second, our new tires are designed specifically for electric vehicles and include a foam liner to reduce road noise. The difference was immediately noticeable. The car was quieter than it had ever been.
By early afternoon we were finally back to our original plan. We drove to Emerald Bay, admired the incredible turquoise water, spotted tiny Fannette Island sitting peacefully in the middle of the bay, and made the short hike to Eagle Falls. The scenery more than made up for the previous day’s interruption.
Looking back, we realized how fortunate we had been. A flat tire in South Lake Tahoe was an inconvenience. A flat tire in Lassen Volcanic National Park, more than 150 miles from the nearest tire shop, could have turned into a much bigger ordeal.
Instead, it became just another story from the road.
With Days Three and Four behind us, our retirement road trip was still very much on trackāand Yosemite, after three failed attempts over the years, was finally just around the corner.