To Oregon

Moving north toward Oregon. Through Modoc National Forest and a huge open valley that gave you the feeling that you could see forever.

Stopped to see Lava Beds National Monument. Reminiscent of the flows in Hawaii.

Toured a cave, a lava tube actually. Supposedly 500 lave tubes within this Park. 

Stopped at the Tulelake "Segregation Center" where thousands of American citizens of Japanese descent were interred during WWII. We were here on the wrong day to get a tour but the guide gave us a condensed version of his talk and was so interesting. Depressing, but interesting. It just became a national monument this year so we can learn from that unfortunate time in our history.

Into Oregon now along Klamath Lake and several wildlife refuges. Wrong time of year to see migrant water fowl but plenty of resident water birds to find.

More Cascades

A new rails-to-trails bike trail from town of Burney to McCloud. We only did a small part of it. Still working on it and bridges not finished plus the road surface was really soft for our cross-bikes.

So we hiked around the Park and drove some back roads to find other sights.

Showers pop up out of nowhere! 

Mount Shasta looms large

More waterfalls in the area.

Burney Falls

We found a beautiful spot east of Redding at MacArthurBurney Falls State Park. Dry camping in a lush forest. 

The falls is pretty spectacular but the rest of park is equally spectacular. 

Larson National Park is close by. We heard that the park road was not open yet because of heavy snow pack but wanted to see it anyway.

We were able to drive 10 miles into the park. Sun was shining all the way. Stopped to take pictures of the largest volcano mount and suddenly big black cloud rolled in, thunder and lightning and rain.

By the time we turned back and headed out of park it was sleet and snow. Amazing 20 minutes of fast winter storm. . .out of park and back to blue skies and sunshine.

Sunset on Britton Lake

Anybody else see a bear in that cloud!

To the Coast and Back

Still in Redding. Every RV'er must have a story about a road they found themselves on at one time or another and soon  realized they shouldn't be on it!! We have a vivid memory of such a road from our travels maybe 10 or 12 years ago. We remember it as the road from hell! 

 That road is right here--from Redding to the coast on hiway 299. Its a Scenic Hiway now. We made a day of it, drove to the ocean and back. Considerably better drive--it has been widened and upgraded, in fact a great hiway that would accommodate any rig today.

Stopped for a cappuccino at the Straw House 

The Pacific Ocean just north of Eurica. Looking for water birds with binoculars and spied dozens of Sea Lions sleeping on the beach.

Low hanging clouds covered the summit of three passes we traversed before getting to the Pacific. 

To Redding

Sunday was promised to be cold and wet so we took a commuter train to Old Sacramento for some sight seeing. Visited the Stamford mansion--railroad barron, governor of California, most remembered by having a university named after him; visited the California state capitol building; enjoyed local festival "Riverfront Days" along the river park.

Spent Memorial Day traveling to Redding, California. Through endless orchards--nuts, fruit, huge orchards.

Found a nice RV park on edge of town and had all afternoon to explore. Did Sundial Bridge over Sacramento River for a nice hike. Drove out to Shasta Dam and learned all about the construction in 1940's and impact on California. Shasta Lake is largest lake in California and its waters turned the Central Valley into agriculture empire.

We walked across the dam for sweeping views. Mount Shasta looms large in the clouds if you know where to look. A clear day would have been quite a site.

We're staying out of the mountains and sticking to foothills or the valley these days. We have had a lot of unsettled weather, they are getting snow in the high Sierras and we want no part of that. We are thinking that the weather is going to finally change beginning now--well, we hope. 

Pacerville

We are at Sutter's Mill where gold was discovered in January of 1848.  Here started the California Gold Rush that we all learned about in our 4th grade history class. The town of Colona, California is totally within this state historical area that tells the story of this time in California history and how it changed America. Pretty interesting story told in museums, restored buildings, historical sites, and personal narratives. 

This was built on the exact site of the original mill. It was in the construction of the mill that they found placer gold in the mill trace. Mill never prospered because he couldn't keep help for a lumber mill--they all wanted to look for gold.

Funky coffee shop in one of the historic buildings in town.

Old cemetary

We found this old hardware store in Plaserville that has been in same family for 3 generations. The inventory is huge. . .whatever you are looking for,  its here somewhere.  Just ask and someone will use the rolling ladders to get it for you.

We packed our lunch and found a picnic table near the American River. . .just up stream from Sutters Mill.

At the campground.