Exploring Lake Tahoe: Reflecting on Romans 8:26

 

Growing up in California, I was constantly told about the beauty of Lake Tahoe, yet it remained a place I had yet to explore. Did you know that Lake Tahoe, nestled on the California-Nevada border, is the second deepest lake in the U.S. with visible depths of over 70 feet? Whether you're drawn to the winter allure of skiing or the summer excitement of water sports, Lake Tahoe offers a year-round haven. Join me as we delve into the wonders of this pristine lake that defies freezing, as well as the surrounding area of Pollock Pines.

Getting There

Our drive from Gilroy was pretty simple until we started climbing the pass. Our truck threw a code and slowed down to 30 mph. Thankfully, we were able to clear the code, pull off the freeway, and shut the truck off. Once we restarted the truck, we were good to go with no more issues. This has happened to us a handful of times on our roadtrip, usually when we are driving up a steep grade while towing.


Helpful Tip: Purchase a code reader, we use ours all the time!

Our Home for One Week

We stayed at Ghost Mountain RV Campground, located in Pollock Pines. This campground is part of the CRA membership. Anyone can stay here for free and sit through their presentation, or pay 60/night.


We prefer to stay in site 91 as it is bigger than the other sites. This campground is water and electric only, but offers a  sani- dump, restrooms, showers, and laundry.


Take advantage of the pool area, saloon, and $1 ice cream. The campground has a fun ambiance, resembling a ghost town of the Wild West.


Helpful Tip: Starlink doesn’t work well here as you are in the trees, so prepare for little to no internet access.

Our Favorite Activities

When we weren't enjoying the amenities of the campground, you could find us hiking. We took trails from the campground that led us to a creek. There are many off-road trails as well.

Make sure to visit Lake Tahoe while staying in Pollock Pines. We drove around the beautiful blue lake, parked and walked a trail down to the water. Be sure to pull out in the designated areas to explore more trails and take pictures. 

We were here in the early spring, so it was cold and rainy, but I loved seeing the snow surrounding the lake. I definitely want to go back and take my paddle board out in the pristine clear waters.

Helpful Tip: Park at Emerald Bay or Sand Harbor as these spots are known for turquoise water and picturesque rock formations. Also, get gas on the Nevada side, it was 30% cheaper.

Mishaps

Along with our truck slowing down to an annoying speed, we got pulled over for the first time while towing. Luckily, it was just a nice police officer who was letting us know that our black hose was dragging. Somehow our door fell off and it fell out, but it was just our extra hose so no big deal.

God Shot

Occasionally, I grapple with insecurities about our unconventional lifestyle and worry about our kids missing out on traditional schooling, sports, a permanent home, and material possessions.


During one of these moments, a kind-hearted lady from Canada crossed my path while doing laundry. As a teacher herself, her enthusiasm and support for our lifestyle, especially homeschooling and traveling, were incredibly up lifting. She emphasized the value of experiences over possessions, recounting her own enriching house-swapping experience with a family in Costa Rica. Her carefree attitude towards material things, trusting strangers with her home, and embracing the unpredictable, reminded me of what truly matters in life. I love when God sends me people at just the right time. I came back from doing laundry feeling renewed. In our family we call this a “God Shot”.

Bible Verse

Romans 8:26 (GW)

At the same time the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we don’t know how to pray for what we need. But the Spirit intercedes along with our groans that cannot be expressed in words.

Reflection

• There are moments when I feel utterly overwhelmed, my mind racing with countless thoughts, making it challenging to articulate my prayers. While journaling often aids in focusing my thoughts, there are occasions when even that falls short.

• In such times, finding solace in silence proves beneficial. I turn to the Holy Spirit, asking for intercession. It brings comfort to know I have an advocate who understands when words fail me or when I'm uncertain about my needs. God's goodness shines through, knowing me better than I know myself.

• When I struggled with insecurities about my unconventional lifestyle, and God sent me an encouraging messenger, it reminded me that God consistently gives us what we need, sometimes even before we realize what to ask for.

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father,

You are so good to us, all knowing, and so gracious. We praise you for your faithfulness and for meeting our needs. Thank you for your Holy Spirit, who intercedes and prays for us. I ask you that you meet us where we are, offer a way out of whatever is troubling us, and renew our minds and spirit. May you send people to encourage us and may we be that person for somebody else. We love you.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences, feel free to leave a comment below. 

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