I lived at the North Shore of Lake Tahoe from May 1976 to November 1980 – with a brief stint back in San Francisco circa 1978.
Circa 1979, I was back at the Hyatt Lake Tahoe, living in the house with Michael, Susan, and Clare. We all worked for casinos – Clare at the Nevada Club and me, Michael, and Susan at The Hyatt.
It was not unusual to get off work at 11pm, head out to the casino – first a stop at Nick’s Hideaway – the small bar across from Alpine Jack’s – and then to the Sugar Pine Lounge – the casino bar with live entertainment.
–as an aside – The Sugar Pine Lounge is where I first heard Elmo and Patsy sing “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” before it was ever recorded and released!
It was not unusual to have more than a few drinks, and then hit the Nugget for Chili Cheese Omelets and Budweiser’s about 3am before heading home.
Ah… The life of a 20-something Casino Employee in the ’70s…
One night, after a rather uneventful evening of imbibing, I was driving the three miles from the Nugget to the house – I had made it through the winding curves of Hwy 28 – and was on the straightaway into Brockway.
Oh… and I was driving my 1963 VW Beetle about 5mph in first gear.
I got pulled over in front of the Brockway Theatre. What a shock, eh?!?
The cop asked me for all the pertinent info and asked why I was driving so slow. My response was “‘Cuz I’m DRUNK!”
He asked where I lived and told him right up 267 about 2 miles away. He stepped back to his car with my license and insurance and in a moment came back and handed it all back to me.
He said “I don’t want to see you driving any faster than you’re driving right now.” and let me go.