Outdoors with Don Quilici: The 2013 Q Awards

As I have done for many years, my last article of the year is to present the Annual Q Awards for a number of different reasons. Those reasons include such assorted things as: Outstanding, memorable, good, not so good, questionable, bad, serious, funny, dumb, head-scratching, are-you-kidding, etc.

These awards are presented to all kinds of people or places or things for what has occurred throughout the year.
It’s a fun way to end the year for yours truly, so here are my 2013 winners:

Best Black Bear Viewing:
On the main highway between Smithers, British Columbia and Watson Lake, Yukon. On our trip this year, we saw a total of nine black bears at different locations, either along or crossing the highway.

Best Breakfast Pastries:
A repeat winner: "Donuts To Go" on North Carson Street in Carson City. Their tasty pastries are the best, with nobody even in second place. My two personal favorites are their chocolate bars and apple fritters.

Best Canadian Friends:
Barry and Susan Drury of Watson Lake, Yukon. They have been our good friends for a number of years and it is always a pleasure to get together with them whether it is in Nevada, the Yukon or Alaska. They are the best!

Best Homemade Horseradish:
Chuck and Barbara Van Hise, who invited us to make horseradish with roots from their garden. In making it, we had a "Ton of Fun" (while crying) and the stuff we created will clear out your sinuses and leave you breathless.

Best Location To See Snow Flowers (AKA Snow Plants):
In late spring, they are located along the paved road on the east side of Davis Lake in Plumas County, California. They are near pine trees and you will also see yellow Mule Ears and purple Lupine at those same locations.

Best Reason For Buying Another Freezer:
Barry Drury, who shot a large bull moose during the past hunting season. He got 700 pounds of meat and is planning a Bison hunt which should produce another 1,500 pounds. That is a lot of tasty dinners!

Big "High Five":
Joey Crandall, who has Carson Valley website www.carsonvalleytimes.com. He is doing a superb job of making that website bigger and bigger and better and better for Douglas County. Well done and best wishes to a good friend.

Favorite Cocktail:
It consists of a large glass, filled with ice cubes, whiskey, a splash of water, an orange slice and a cherry which has been marinated in Brandy.
A great sipping drink on summer afternoons, while seated on the porch.

Favorite Cocktail Snack At Home:
A two way tie: Honey roasted peanuts (which I dearly love) or a plate filled with Italian Salami, Swiss Cheese, Ritz Crackers, green olives, pitted black olives, celery sticks and baby carrots (which I also dearly love).

Favorite Eating Out Location For Lunch:
A repeat winner: The restaurant at Bordertown, which is located at the Nevada/California state line, north of Reno on U.S. 395. Their bacon cheeseburger, French Fries and friendly service are the best!

Favorite Small Town Meat Market:
Wiggins' Trading Post in the tiny town of Chilcoot on California S.R. 70. The staff is always friendly, and we especially like their fresh sliced Italian salami, country sausage, beef roasts and Swiss Cheese.

Favorite Television Program:
Discovery Channel's "Life Below Zero."
It is fascinating to see how some folks live in the Far North.
Our personal favorite is Sue Aikens at Kavik River Camp, who spends 9 months a year living all alone, 500 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska.

Fond Farewell:
To the Operation Game Thief Citizens Board, from which I and Elaine are stepping down on December 31. I have been on the board since 1987, Elaine since 2006 and we decided that it is time for new blood on that board.

Giant Pain In The Rear End:
All of the incessant and obnoxious commercials on the television stations.
The commercials are dumb and head scratching at times, they go on and on, and some of them are even repeated during the same commercial break.

Grinch Of The Year:
The low life who broke into our vehicle while it was parked in our driveway.
That scum ball took a Garmin, a road map, coins out of our coin holder, two flashlight batteries and a water bottle. I hope he/she gets terminal diarrhea.

Most Fun-Filled Photo Activity:
Elaine and I spend countless hours poring through hundreds and hundreds of photos to create special 2014 photo calendars for close friends and relatives. Those calendars make awesome Christmas gifts to be enjoyed all year.

Most Interesting Wildlife Experience:
A two-way tie between a large black bear that ambled across the main street at mid-day in a tiny town called Hyder, Alaska; and the small black bear cub that scooted across U.S. 395, just south of Coleville, Calif.

Most Unusual Lunch Trip:
That special day in April when Elaine and I were in a private plane, that is owned by Bob and Lorraine (my first cousin) Scholes, when we flew from Indio to Big Bear Lake, Calif. to have lunch and then returned to Indio.

Most Unusual Wildlife Visitors:
The four wild turkeys that walked around the corner of our cabin while we were sitting outside enjoying an afternoon cocktail. They were totally unafraid, checked us out and then slowly continued on their way.

Special Get-Away Location:
The Quilici cabin located on a steep hillside near Davis Lake, California.
We totally enjoy spending many weekends there, while enjoying the cabin comfort, neighbors, scenery and the area's many different kinds of wildlife.

Well Done:
Repeat winners: Kirk Caraway and Jeff Munson for all their hard work in making website www.carsonnow.org a great place to go for the latest and most complete news in Carson City.

Worse Common Sense:
All of those drivers at the main U.S. Post Office parking lot, who park from the wrong direction, back out in the wrong direction, don't stop for people in the crosswalk, speed, etc. They must be more important than you and I.

Worse Travel Lanes:
The southbound lanes of U.S. 395, starting at Exit 52, just north of Reno. You would think NDOT would spend a few bucks filling all the cracks and potholes in that section, but apparently its maintenance is a low priority.

Finally:
A very Happy New Years to you and yours.
May all of your resolutions for 2014 come true.

— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for Carson Now. He can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com