After getting some much needed rest, it was nice not having to worry about leaving at a certain time to get anywhere. We took off from Gold Run Rest Area and decided we would drive till we saw something on the map that seemed like a good place to visit, since all our plans had changed due to the previous day. (Read about that here.) The mountains were beautiful, and I enjoyed the highway driving out where it wasn’t congested and stressful. Dean probably appreciated that more than me! I scanned my road atlas, and saw Lake Tahoe wasn’t too far off Interstate 80. I figured we could drive there to see about camping somewhere close to the waterside, which hopefully would make up for not staying on the coast.
When we pulled into Tahoe City, we first drove north around the lake. I had seen a campground on the map that seemed pretty close to a beach. Although it was a bit of a dreary day, we were determined to get this vacation back on track, and no cold, cloudy day would stop us from trying! We pulled into the Lake Forest Campground and took a drive around to find an open spot. After deciding we didn’t really like any of the sites, we drove back out and searched for the next campground. The scenic road that wraps around the lake showcasing impressive homes was quite a treat for the eyes! We drove all the way to the northern end of the lake, but the supposed campground I had quickly googled about wasn’t really a campsite for RVs. So we headed back south to the west side of the lake, hunting for Meeks Bay Campground. I was hoping that they would have an opening for us, but as we had learned, without reservations made way in advance we weren’t guaranteed a spot. We pulled up to the gate, and asked if they had any openings for two nights. She said they only had a few spots to pick from that might fit our RV, and that we could drive through to check them out before we decided for certain we wanted to stay there. Once in, we found it was tight getting around the loop of sites, but we did find one spot that Dean said he was pretty sure he could back into. I figured if he could do it, there was no sense in looking any further.
Most people were leaving their spots that morning, so it ended up being private and serene. It was just what we needed, especially after sleeping in a rest stop with loud semi-trucks with their engines rumbling through the entire night. Meeks Bay Campground is also a short walk to the beach, which is a private beach for the campground, unless you pay. It made it much less busy, with only one other family there when we arrived. The major plus was that dogs were allowed to swim just off to the right of the actual beach where it became rocky. (We did ask special permission before taking June for a swim, just to be sure!) There were huge pine trees surrounding the campground and a trail that went parallel to the main road that you could access from the resort next to the campground. This place gave us a chance to slow down and really take in a enjoy our surroundings. We had no agenda anymore, and for the first time the entire trip, our RV sat in one campsite for two nights! I got a lot less camera focused, and just enjoyed what I was seeing with my eyes, instead of being behind a lens.
We swam in the bitterly cold water both days, against our better judgement knowing we would be freezing for hours trying to warm up. The first day the water may have been half of a degree warmer than the second, but we had to take advantage of the private beach with nearly anyone out there! June loved to fetch branches we threw out in the water. She also would swim out to check on the boys and me and then would head back to Dean on the shore. The water is cerulean blue and clear as drinking water. I swam out all the way out to the end of the swimming area, and I could still see straight down to the bottom of the lake! We were all awestruck at the beauty of Lake Tahoe.
We walked on the path several times, strolling along under the massive trees, picking up an occasional pine cone to marvel at its size. We soon found we could have walked for miles with no real end in sight, as we were far away from any town or eatery. So, we spent most of our time playing games, taking walks, or swimming. The second day it rained most of the morning and then turned to snow for an hour or so! It was actually very beautiful, but we were really cold in the RV, as we hadn’t brought any winter weather clothes or extra blankets. The sun came out and warmed up the ground enough that the snow melted away at the lower elevations. We could clearly see snow capped mountains across the lake, and even right across the road from us the hills were a splash of white!
These two days gave us a fresh spirit about how we would end our trip, and I am so thankful we had the opportunity to visit Lake Tahoe! I know this area is extremely crowded during the peak season, but since we were there just a couple weeks after Labor Day, we almost had the place to ourselves. Dean and I both feel like we would visit there again, but maybe next time stay in Tahoe City to be able to visit the local shops and restaurants. All in all, it was an amazing first experience at this natural beauty.
Day 10: 87 miles
Day 11: 0 miles
31 Downing Street 