Run Around the Hills with BaddTaz

July 27th, 2002

by Genny Paauwe

There's nothing like being lead through the hills of El Dorado County by a Tasmanian Devil, but that's exactly how we spent Saturday, July 27. We were hot on the tail of one "BaddTaz" as he whirled and twirled down some mighty kinked stretches of road, making growling noises as he went. Or was that just Dennis Detloff driving his '91 BRG, BaddTaz, with it's throaty exhaust roaring?

Dennis' sidekick, Barbara, was doing just that -- kicking him -- we're sure, because a few times she clutched the windshield frame and we could see her eyes bug out in the sideview mirror as BaddTaz took some fast curves. Hang on Barbara!

The Tasmanian Devil stuffed toy managed to hang on tight, but that was probably because his legs had been slammed into the trunk lid. His hair was frazzled from the wind, but the toy managed to maintain his fixed grin throughout the day. We know, because we were following, trying to keep up with the little devil.

The wild rodent took the original 19 cars from Cameron Park to Rescue, then out Salmon Falls Road where things really got loopy (this is where the sidekicking began), then Hwy 49 south to Placerville. We'd be back to Placerville later, but first we had to get closer to where the fire was burning near Sly Park (which had shut Hwy 50 there in both directions). Back through Camino and down Main Street for lunch in Placerville at Tortilla Flats.

Mexican food is exactly what we would have thought BaddTaz would like to eat: something spicy and hot. We enjoyed it, too, and hope to see that little devil again next year!

Thanks Dennis and Barbara!