Back in California (Cough Cough)

As we got closer to Grants Pass, there was smoke to the west from the Collier Butte fire to the west.  There is also the Stouts Creek fire just east of where we stayed last night, and the National Creek/Complex/Crescent Fires up just north of Crater Lake, including some land within the National Park.

As we got closer to Medford, it was as if smoke from all three fires had descended upon the region with winds from Ocean blowing west, and winds up in the mountains blowing south.  It was THICK.

We stopped just north of Medford for gas and propane, and stopped at Harry and David so that my sister Sandy will get some Moose Munch (which will pacifier her since the three Tillamook “Lemonilla Tillabars” are now gone --THEY REALLY ARE THAT GOOD), and we were back on the road within the hour.

If you look real close, just to the right of the large hill to the left of the road you can barely see Mt. Shasta through the smoke.  Yes, it cleared up somewhat after we got over the mountain past Medford, but it is still smoky.

Here is a better shot of Mt. Shasta…but you can still see how much smoke there is.  Yes, the smoke is where the “Cough Cough” comes in…it is thick, it smells, and it does make you cough a bit.

Even in the smoke, the ole mountain can still look good…like it was on a postcard…

We pulled into the McCloud RV Resort around 2:30.  This time of year, even on a Friday, there is space available…well worth the ten mile drive from I-5…and way better than the KOA over in Mt. Shasta along the Interstate.

 

We decided to drive over to Mt. Shasta and eat at the original Black Bear Restaurant.  I really like their Big Bear Burger, and tonight's burger was as good as ever...the fries, however, were a bit old (should have had Onion Rings instead).  Even though it was Friday, we were immediately seated in a nearly full restaurant, and the food and service (other than the fries) were up to par.  There is ALWAYS things that my "Restaurant Manager Eyes" catch, but I try to ignore them the best I can.

Mom got confirmation today that her surgery has been moved up and will be on August 31st.  Although the actual surgery portion is short, less than an hour, there are some pre-surgery procedures that they do…so it will be a good 5-6 hours at the hospital on that day.  We are all just glad that they were able to fit her in earlier…she will be feeling much better about it, especially after it is over.

Mt Shasta – Up-close

This was our first view of Mt. Shasta today on the Everitt Memorial Highway, which is really no highway, but a nice two lane road.  John S. Everitt  was a forest supervisor for the Shasta National Forest who died while fighting the Bear Springs Fire in August 1934.  A fire on Mount Shasta was a significant concern to Everitt and one afternoon during the firefight, Everitt set out alone to scout the fire. The winds shifted quickly and he was ultimately trapped and killed by the flames. He was the first forest supervisor killed in defense of his charge.

      

It is a nice road, not very heavily used and two lane all the way, although the last few hundred yards are a bit bumpy and full of pot holes.  The road a can be caught in the town of Mt. Shasta, find West Lake, which is also exit 738 on I-5, take it east and follow it to the north and it will turn into the Everitt Memorial Highway.  If you are interested in hiking the area, see this website.

There are many side roads and turn outs…plenty of opportunities to take pictures while driving or by stopping along side the road.

There are many views of Mt. Shasta, and we were lucky enough to have unobstructed views, although clouds were lingering.

The valley views would have been out of this world had it rained the night before…but the smog and smoke and gunk just hide everything below.

   

But the views of Shasta were real, real nice.

Eventually (20-30 minutes depending upon stops and speed) you come to Bunny Flats, which has the only bathrooms along the roadway.  This is one of the major hiking spots, which, if you go out for very long or very high, you put your info and money in that green tube and carry your part of the permit on you.  Sorry, no dogs allowed.  The nearby campsite is tents only, but there was an earlier campsite which could handle smaller (under 32’) RVs at a few of the spots leading to the loop.

   

Again, the views of Mt. Shasta are just out of this world.

As you get closer to the “Ski Bowl Area” you see the results of the avalanches which closed the ski resort down in the late 1970’s. 

There is still an active ski resort, but it is lower down from the summit.  Its access is between the city of Mt. Shasta and McCloud.

The “Ski Bowl” area, which is the end of the line for the car (and start of the walk for summit goers) is not as spectacular of a view looking at the mountain…

But even on a muggy, smoggy day the valley below is a pretty sight.

  

Up here it is legal to camp for up to three nights, and these two van dwellers are doing that. We also saw a class C heading up, don’t know if they are camping or just traveling through.

To some Mt. Shasta is a very special place…a place of mysticism, a place of spiritualism, a place of peace.  If you want to more about that, I suggest you follow these Google Search links:   Mt Shasta Mysticism;  Mt Shasta Sacred Sites;  Mt Shasta Sacred Places.  To us, it is just another nice place here on earth that God has placed before us to enjoy, respect, and share with others.  Tomorrow we move, but I will try to write about the city of McCloud, where the above picture was taken from.

RUN Dave and Marcia, RUN...back on the road again!

Yes, we are "back on the road again", running away from the safety and comfort of my sister's backyard, and that wonderful brother-in-law who can walk on water, I mean, fix just about anything mechanically, and from the shadow of mom and dad's house where warm, comfort and love abound. 

So we fought our way through Sacramento traffic to get to I-5...which was not bad since we left just before 3 in the afternoon...mailman came exactly at 2 pm.  We stopped at the first rest area to look over our tire sensors, for some reason two sensors, though put on right, were matched up with the wrong tires...a quick restart of the system fixed that.  Let me tell you, it is NICE to have a good idea what your pressures are on all ten tires at just a quick glance as it goes through each and every tire.  We got gas at a Love's station in Corning, stopping previous to that at a rest area just north of Willows to dump our tanks and walk the puppies.  And we got the camera out just after Redding.

Shasta Lake is one of my favorite lakes, definitely in the top ten.  Part of that reason is because I have been out on the lake in a "party boat" all by myself before for a few days, and enjoyed the peace and quiet, all the little coves one can hide in, and frankly to get away from the hustle of being a Restaurant Manager back in the 70's and 80's.

From the Interstate you get a few opportunities to get a quick picture, and Marcia did well...many to choose from.

Quickly our views of the Lake disappear...but Shasta Lake only comes before Mt. Shasta when one is headed northbound.

 

These pictures would be a heck of a lot better if the windshield was cleaner, but with no place to stop, it is what it is...but it shows why this area of I-5 is by far my favorite area of I-5.

Then we get to the west of Shasta, and Marcia and get a few pictures out her window...just a few areas where trees don't block your view.

The sun is setting to the west...about 15 minutes away.  We are 12 miles from the Weeds Rest Area which gives a great view of Mt. Shasta.  Speed limit is 55 in California if you are towing.  This is going to be close...

We continued to just past Yreka, next to trucks who are not, here in California, suppose to have their engines running while they break.  But we are on our way....a few more nights and we will be in Canada.  A few weeks after that, we will be in Alaska.