FROM SACRAMENTO: Take Hwy 80 to Truckee, then take the Hwy 89 exit heading north toward Sierraville. Stay on 89 all the way to Graeagle (don’t go left at the 49/89 split or you’ll end up in Downieville). Eventually you’ll reach Graeagle. At the northeast end of town next to a golfing range/burger shack you’ll see a sign pointing toward Johnsville. Turn left here and take the road—cleverly called Graeagle-Johnsville Road—all the way to the top (about 4 miles). Our place is the grey-colored house on the main road, across the street from the Iron Door restaurant and two down (see Google Map below).

Address is 348 Main St. The phone # is 530-836-2022. If you run into a problem that needs an immediate solution, call Maurice at (916) 539-4012, Mary Anne at (916) 398-1077, or Matt at (415) 518-1402. Or just pretend you didn’t notice it.

FROM RENO:  Take 395 north, then Hwy 70 west toward Portola. Continue past Portola along the Feather River to Blairsden, and turn left on Hwy 89 to Graeagle. See above for the rest of the directions.

Yes it has a full kitchen, washing machine/dryer, and two bathrooms.

(IF YOU’RE STAYING IN THE WINTER, SCROLL DOWN TO “WINTER SETTINGS”)

ARRIVAL

Key to the cabin is in the circuit breaker panel to the right of the front door, on the bottom of the panel box. It goes to the deadbolt above the front door handle.

WI-FI PASSWORD IS ON THE BACK OF THE DOOR TO THE GARAGE. SET YOUR CELL PHONE TO WI-FI CALLING OR USE LAND LINE.

First thing to do when you arrive is turn up the thermostat on the water heater. It’s in the garage. The light switch is to the right of the interior garage door about chest-high (it’s reversed–up is on). The pilot light is always lit (well, it’s supposed to be). A means 120 degrees, B means 130 degrees, and C means 140 degrees.

The gas fireplace thermostat is on the wall on the far side of the dining room, and the pilot light is always lit (well, it’s supposed to be). Push the dial all the way to your left when you leave.

Don’t put anything down the kitchen sink that will mess up our touchy septic system.

DURING

The dishwasher is slow. If you use it, leave lots of time to complete the cycle.

If you can’t find something, it’s there–keep looking.

DEPARTURE

Push the dial of the gas fireplace thermostat
all the way to your left when you leave (lowest setting).

On the water heater turn dial back to “Vacation” when you leave.

If you don’t want to clean the cabin upon departure, call Julie Noker at 530/320-3359 and see if she’s available to clean it (about $80-$100). Leave the cash on the dining room table. Do the dishes, laundry, and beds yourself. There is a cleaning departure checklist on the fridge.

Take everything you brought out of the refrigerator (except beer and ice cream if Matt if heading up next) and haul out every scrap of garbage. Sometimes there’s no one at the cabin for weeks.

Don’t forget to put the front door key back in the super-secret hiding place that no burglar would ever think to check.

DINING & DRINKING TIPS

Full list of dining options here.

The best brewery is The Brewing Lair.

Best place for breakfast and lunch (summer only) is Bread & Butter.

Best place for pizza is Cuccia’s but it’s pricey. Cheaper pies are at Gumba’s II Go. The restaurant burned down but they reopened as a to-go only biz. Open Wednesday – Sunday 11am – 7pm.

The store in Graeagle is okay for basics (good meat counter though). Better to stock up on food at Ikeda’s in Auburn. They make the best goddamn chicken pot pie on the planet. Get one hot one for now, and two cold ones for later. Their beef pit is awful.

The only restaurant/food-source in Johnsville is the Iron Door down the street, which is only open in the summer and is pricey. The bar can be fun and pours stiff drinks. Call to make sure it’s open.

The Mohawk Tavern is legendary for its hardscrabble clientele. Great place to play pool and drink Pabst Blue Ribbon. (530) 836-1241

THINGS TO DO IN THE AREA

WINTER OPERATION

2. Shut all the water fixtures in the bathrooms (upstairs and downstairs, including the shower) and kitchen, then go into the garage and shut the water spigots behind the washing machine.

3. Go into the basement, far left side area, and close the three spigots on the ceiling. One’s on the east wall, one’s in the middle, and one’s on the south wall. Then on the west wall, stick your hand into the Indiana Jones Spider Hole of Death and turn on the water main (see diagram below). Closed position is parallel with the wall. Open in perpendicular. Turn the handle until the end of the handle is pointing away from you. You’ll hear the water rush in. If you see water pouring from the ceiling, it means you missed one of the spigots. Go turn that off.

4. Go back into the dining area and listen for any running water. If you hear it, you either missed an open valve, or a pipe burst (not good).

5. Go into the garage and see if any water is running there.

6. If you’re using the washing machine, connect the hoses to the two spigots. Don’t mix up hot and cold.

7. There are floor heaters in the two downstairs bedroom, but only use them if you’re in the bedroom. Don’t let them run all day long.

8. Keep the door to the unheated Mud Room closed.

9. Shoes for the cross country skis are in the cabinet in the Mud Room.

10. Be sure all cars are not left of the white line on the road or they will be towed (or worse, as the road is plowed by massive trucks often). You’ll probably need to dig out parking spots. Do not park across the street or anywhere else in town.

BONUS TIP: If you’re staying there solo, the upstairs bedrooms are always the warmest.

CLOSING THE CABIN:

1.  Go into the basement, far left side area, on the west wall, stick your hand into the Indiana Jones Spider Hole of Death and turn on the water main off. Closed position is parallel with the wall. Turn the handle until the end of the handle is pointing to the left of you. Next, fully open the three spigots on the ceiling. One’s on the east wall, one’s in the middle, and one’s on the south wall. You’ll want to find a bucket to let them drain in. 

2. Next, go in the garage, remove both the washing machine hoses at the spigots (hot and cold). Open both hot and cold spigots, and pour a little antifreeze down both both hoses. Next, pour about 1/4 cup antifreeze into the washing machine tub (the part that spins around with lots of holes in the bottom–pour it into those holes), then run the washer for a few seconds to let the antifreeze circulate throughout the washer hoses.

3. Next, turn the temperature dial on the water heater to VACATION.

4. Next, fully open all the water valves in the house: kitchen, both bathroom sinks, and shower, then pour a splash of antifreeze down the kitchen sink, both bathroom sinks, and the shower drain. Also pour some antifreeze in both toilet bowls and the upper tank.

5. Turn the dining room thermostat all the way to the left (lowest setting). DO NOT turn off the pilot light to the gas fireplace. Check to make sure the floor heaters in all three bedrooms are off.

That’s it. Remember to put the front door key back in the top-secret hiding spot.e