California Strawberries, not just a fruit but a festival. The Debbie broken hip/shoulder of 2022 Strawberry music festival brought me back to California to use our rain check tickets in 2023. It was the most beautiful weather imaginable. And we had the most amazing camp spot with a view of the smaller Forest Amphitheater.
The Radlers,German for Bikers, are my three camping soulmate girlfriends. We started camping together and haven’t stopped, doing the West Coast up to Orcas Island, Sedona, the Grand Canyon, and Hawaii(well not camping).
Since Vinny VanGo is with John in New Jersey, the Radlers planned to host me in a tent, and thermal underwear, new air mattress, and hot water bottles, and lots of blankets, as we decided to do another try for Fallen Leaf Lake near South Lake Tahoe after the Strawberry Music Festival; The weather forecast was cold, dipping into the 30’s on some nights near Tahoe, yikes.
We took our first camping trip to Fallen Leaf in 2018, and for the last two years our plans had been altered due to fires, but the first days of this year’s reservation have been canceled due to the extreme snow and melting, and the need to clear the campground of fallen trees.
Returning to California also meant a stop in the Vista area to visit all of the girls and my favorite IT guy and the big black dog. This included Jenny’s annual ear, cleaning fetish, lots of great food and laughing at my antics.
Julie transported me to Debbie’s house and we were off to Strawberry after dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant with margaritas.
Intown Campground in Nevada City where we were camped at a beautiful redwood forested campground that had a path into the old, western mining town of Nevada, City.
I am always on the lookout for campgrounds where you can walk to a nice place and have some libation and good food. We had the best halibut, risotto, and asparagus at Lola, a restaurant on Broad St.
We were specifically told not to line up early in the Strawberry newsletter. But somehow, although we only got there five minutes before the time, we jumped into a line. It was a bit chaotic, but the Strawberry way is to keep calm and jam gently.
The vibe at camping music festivals is like no other. People are in their happy place and are cordial and Zenn like, even though there are a lot of bodies trying to fit into a relatively small space. We eventually got there, and it was no problem. After turning into a very crowded camping area that we would later discover to be the crazy Lizard Lounge, fate brought us up into a hilly area near the Forest Amphitheater Stage. Caroline, who would arrive on the second day, had to be able to nuzzle in next to us without her having to run over any festival goers or their tents or instruments. Debbie and I contemplated the lay of the land for over an hour to situate our living space within the confines of the festival chalked paths, while minimizing the hills that were a part of the landscape. We finally found the perfect spot where we could set up her awning as a saved place for our sweet Caroline who would arrive later.
We were taking up a bit of real estate and felt a bit selfish when we met hula hooping David who was trying to squeeze in between several trees and the chalk covered border lines right next to us He was extremely friendly, and also was saving a tent and car spot for his friend Kathy who was coming the next evening. After claiming our real estate space, Debbie and I set up my carpeted palace, including a headboard backed air mattress and side table, adorned with blankets of various thickness perfect for the soon to be cold evening.
Debbie received a record amount of gawking at her trailer and had over 20 people in one day get all googly eyed over it. Once Caroline got here, and the awning was placed over her little teardrop, and people couldn’t see how cute it was, and then the gawking stopped.
Kathy arrived Thursday evening and after the typical where are you from exchanges, she offered to let us park at her house while we were in Southlake Tahoe as we were in quite a pickle because our reservations at Fallen Leaf Campground were canceled due to the bad recent weather, and needing to clear away trees. Luckily, I had found a super great deal at the Marriott Timber Lodge in South Lake Tahoe for only $133 a night for the entire two bedroom condo, but according to their information, they could not accommodate trailers or vans that were oversize. Kathy is the most outgoing and present person to whom you could ever talk, and her delightful home in Lake Tahoe is exquisite.
Fate had brought us to befriend her and she was able to help us with our dilemma.
Our favorite bands included Rainbow Girls,Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands, Achilles Wheels, Big, Richard, and Della Mae who featured Jocelyn Sky, a 14 year old girl, who we all needed to repeat her name because she will be big in the future
We would later learn from Gertrud that Jocelyn played harp and sang at Parkfield Bluegrass Festival because Amber, who was supposed to open the festival, was ill. Della Mae had discovered Jocelyn because she did one of their original songs on Instagram in many different instruments and singing and this is why they brought her on stage with them during Strawberry.
The many music camps that happened at night were incredible. All over the camping areas, there was music going on and you could stop and listen in.
The Lizard Lounge experience was certainly just that. Kathy told us about this place where people can learn to play bluegrass music. Decided to check it out at a late night jamming session after the main stage entertainment. And it was quite the place where over 50 people were gathered round under a tent outside the tent, trying to play along with the leader. Then they played your Mama Don’t Dance and Your Daddy Don’t Rock ‘n’ Roll and of course I got into singing. It was really fun but a bit chaotic.
Oh sad, Strawberry good-bye and we departed for Campground by the Lake in South Lake Tahoe, not bad for in-town Tahoe. But first a side trip to Scott’s Lake near Nevada City where the water was clear and warm compared to the frigid water, temperatures of Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas which would soon be our environment. Scott’s Lake campground in the earlier part of the summer is beautiful and clear for paddling or swimming, much warmer than Lake Tahoe.
Warm Beautiful Water in Scott’s Lake
Incline Village would be the next stop and where we would explore the kayaking possibilities that I so enjoyed in 2007 and 2013.
Marriott Timber Lodge, right under the Heavenly gondola and hub of tourist activity. Gertrud would meet up with us here and Radler resorting would commence.
Perfecting the I-phone burst mode, as we tried the art of synchronized jumping into the warm swimming pool waters, was quite the undertaking.
A sunset boat trip around Emerald Bay was enjoyed even though the bartender was initially mistaken for the captain, and it was not long before we all got to take the helm of the Spirit to Tahoe. The bartenders were dressed in whites like you would expect a captain to be, and they did an exceptional job of keeping the champagne flowing during the whole trip where we met lots of nice people.
The moon rose over Gunner Mountain as we dined at the German Restaurant, Himmel Haus, where we had excellent Schnitzel, Apfel Strudel and Pilsner, a definite repeat restaurant.
Fallen Leaf Lake – we got in the first day of the season, back to this campground and serene snow covered mountain surrounded lake in which to enjoy paddling.
No swimming this time, well except if you are Caroline and bring your wetsuit. No accidental fall into the freezing water either, even though the wind went from 5 mph to about 50 mph in 3 seconds as a thunderstorm blew through as we sat on the beach.
There is always an abundance of paddling options with the Radlers and this year is no difference. Added to the fleet was the SUPYAK, stand up paddle board with a super cushie seat that was perfect for Debbie with her first paddling since receiving the bowling nickname Hipster after her fall and hip replacement of last year.
“NeuToy”, nickname for Gertrud’s, NOYO inflatable, better for heavier wind, is much more stable than the very light easy to Red Bullet.
A new inflatable full body raft which will hopefully keep the body above water in the frigid Tahoe waters during a tow. Gertrud didn’t venture too far off shore with this one.
Beside Carolines pink fins to propel her along in the water while wearing a wetsuit,
she also had along her kayak and SUP which she graciously let me dominate in our Radler paddling togetherness.
Afternoon thunderstorms or rain events were a regular occurence in the area, and we took refuge in G’s Card Room (Gertrud’s Van) where we played Spades and enjoyed delicious cooking, not to mention heat and laughter to keep us warm until the next beautiful morning would warm up for another paddle.
Meeks Bay Resort would be the next destination and our little cove was a shorter walk than at Fallen Leaf Lake. The water was beautifully clear, sometimes smooth, sometimes not, but made for a lot of peaceful paddling except when the wind would suddenly change, and what should have been an easy paddle back to our cove was a fierce fight.
On one occasion as we paddle to Sugar Pine State Park, Gertud would have to abandon the lake, deflate the Red Bullet and hike back to the Meeks Bay Cove. Debbie and I paddled along the shoreline, even though a guy who came on a dock told us that the waves could rise to 2 feet in a thunderstorm, and he didn’t like to have dead bodies on his beach in his exclusive Chinkapin Cove. We made it back in the fierce wind just as Gertrud appeared on shore as well, very excited to have found the West Shore Bike Trail.
Paddling Back to Meeks Bay in Wind
During the past 25 yearsy, we have stayed at Lake Tahoe almost a dozen times to escape the heat of Ridgecrest in the Summer in many different locations from the Tahoe Keys to North Star near Truckee,
to Incline Village with our friends, to Marriott Timber Lodge where we so enjoyed the 4th of July Fireworks and swimming at the Beach Club.
Eating at the Base Camp Pizza while enjoying music on the patio, or swim/jumping in the heated pool, there is lots to do for everyone.
My favorite kayaking spot among the boulders near Crystal Bay near Incline Village has turned to Stand Up Paddling in Meeks Bay and Fallen Leaf Lake. Seeing He’s My Brother She’s My Sister in a Tahoe free park concert in 2012, started the whole music festing, camping van lifestyle that has changed our lives.
Biking/Walking up the Angora Ridge Rd and hiking to Angora Lake where the Radlers would cement into existence – all life changing.
Many boating trips over these years from M.S. Dixie II Paddlewheeler, to Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Ridgecrest friends (2007)
Biking around the South Camp Richardson, Pope Beach Baldwin Beach and now discovering the West Shore Bike Path starting at Meeks Bay and heading North, there is alway something new. We observed that this paved bike path went on for many miles along the lake crossing back and forth along Route 89 turning into the Homewood Class 1 Trail. Kathy, our Strawberry friend, had told us that road bike paths were being constructed all over the Lake in recent years and we hope to ride it next time. Lake Tahoe is truly one of the most beautiful places on earth where the landscape is breathtaking, now if the deep waters could just be a bit warmer !
Favorite Tahoe Videos
He’s My Brother She’s My Sister 2012
Travels with Vinny VanGo 
Thank you dearest Lisa for another beautiful account of our time together
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