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Lake Tahoe climbs the RV Examiner's Top Ten List
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We left Vacaville, California early the morning after our Napa Valley excursion; I with a hint of a headache that dissipated as quickly as we left the San Francisco/Oakland traffic behind. Our plan, drive I-80 to Hwy 89 and traverse the California and Nevada Sierras along Lake Tahoe through Tahoe City in route to Carson City, Nevada.
Because I am originally from Florida and owned a few boats, I didn’t think visiting another body of water was a big deal. Man, was I wrong! Lake Tahoe streaked to the RV Examiner’s Top Ten Travel Spots at first glimpse of her clear turquoise waters from smooth boulders atop a snowy ridge on the middle-west bank.
Geese cut a swath through blue skies and the laughter of children on snow boards seemed to add to the sheer sense of humility that I gained from that first encounter with America’s most beautiful lake.Leigh and I followed the shoreline for many miles, stopping each time the excitement of Tahoe scenes overwhelmed us. Large smooth boulders are clearly visible beneath the surface in debts of over thirty feet along the shoreline.
Tahoe is enormous in size, and with depths of more than 1,600 feet it is America’s second deepest lake. Tahoe’s flat water mirrors a stunning panoramic view of mountains dotted with trendy ski resorts. Lake Tahoe is a major tourist attraction for Nevada and California, but more easily accessed from Carson City, Nevada or Reno, because the roads of Nevada are in better condition.
We followed Tahoe’s shore, stopping at pristine locations to explore and experience the awe of something that is simply too breathtaking to express with the eight vowel-sounds that we use in verbal communications. Each view is surreal and magnificent. We peered at Tahoe from high elevations and locations low enough to actually wade, but the water is cold. Tahoe is a winter wonderland and a summer paradise. Boating, hiking, skiing and partying in classy resorts are just a few options. The finest thing about Tahoe is that one can just visit the lake and gain spiritual insight. It changes something inside; implanting the notion that no matter who we are, we are not alone.
On I-80, we once again found ourselves at elevations greater than 7,000 feet where the threat of a snow storm is always a concern to RV rigs, especially those with vehicles in tow. I-80 is badly pitted by the use of snow chains and in need of resurfacing. The Magic Bus vibrated and pitched in strong winds. Buster, our neurotic Boston terrier, constantly licks his saggy, black lips, blinks his big black eyes and peers at Leigh and I with tilted head when nervous. When we climb high in the mountains, he seems to interpret the slightest rise in the navigator’s and my conversational tones as reason for having panic attacks. Often, Buster will climb into Bitsey the Chaweenie’s bed in his fright. The tiny black Chaweenie often worsens the situation by snipping at Buster and growling like a wounded Cougar. At times, I do fear that Buster will enter cardiac arrest, but he usually calms down when the Navigator consoles him on the seat-belted chair behind the cockpit.
Generally, Nevada has smoother road surfaces than densely populated California. After logging hundreds of miles on many different roads in both states, we are sincerely disappointed at the condition of California’s highways - federal, state and local. I understand that California highways get more use, but California taxes are very high; maintaining roads is not a priority for California’s Congress and Governor. RVers need to be aware that I-80 East from Sacramento is going to rattle your teeth whether your rig is an A, B or C-class. I have great empathy for truck drivers who brave this route regularly.
Every cross-country RVer is subject to the dreaded experience of turning down a dead-end street with a car in tow. For yours truly, this happened at 7,200 feet on a small scenic overlook where every east-bound tourist within 50-square-miles decided at once to leave the freeway and let their children play in the snow at a particularly scenic “rest stop.” My heart sank when the tiny ice-covered cul-de-sac came in view. What I thought was a drive through rest stop turned out to be a snowy tourist-infested dead-end. Feigning calm dignity, I unhooked the Jeep - the Navigator, mercifully without comment, drove it up to a flat spot where we hooked up after I recovered with the aid of a Japanese tourist who didn’t know any English but grunted, nodded and grinned as I carefully maneuvered the Magic Bus in a 3-point turnaround that would have made my dear deceased father smile.
Carson City was a welcome site this day. We arrived in the capital city of Nevada late in the afternoon after a busy, invigorating day in the high Sierras. Carson City took its title from the Carson River, named by explorer John C. Freemont for his scout, Kit Carson, in 1844. In 1859, the Comstock Lode near Carson City was the site of the largest silver find in world history. Ironically, we hooked up at the Comstock RV Park just outside of town. We enjoyed our stay at Comstock. It is a clean full-featured facility with an air of hospitality and RV spirit. I recommend Comstock as a decent place to hitch your rig. Hot showers, Internet, and cable TV plus major casinos and great shopping await you at Comstock RV Park in Carson City. If you like to gamble, Carson City presents a host of Casinos.
Just be sure not to bring your title to rig to Casino tables and you’ll be just fine. See the USA the RV way!
*Larry Clifton is a freelance writer available for assignment anywhere in the USA. Contact Clifton at lclifton@etcmail.com
Cell: 770-355-8294.
