Organize, Explore, Relax

Good morning Zoey! As I write to you I know you are in school today and mom and dad are at work. But soon your dad will be heading to Idaho to your “ Idahome “ and then you and mom will follow.  Papa and I had a good three days in Redding, California.  The biggest thing I can tell you about our experience in Redding is the horribly obvious drought that is everywhere.  It looks like August here and in the surrounding areas.  The devastation of the 2018 Carr fire is also visible and one you can’t avoid no matter which way you look.  Typically after a fire the rains come and the next few years the green vegetation fills in but not here.  It looks like it did three years ago. 

Frazier slept for almost three days tucking in under our bed as if he were hiding and avoiding travel in the pickup!!  It was nice to set up and stay put for a few days.  We took one day and went to Lassen National Volcano  Park.  This has been on our bucket list( Zoey what do you think that means?) for awhile and we were so fortunate to have explored it with the fewest number of travelers we have ever had in a national park!!! It felt like we had it all to our selves.   As we climbed in elevation to 8500 ft on one of the passes the temperature dropped to 42 degrees!!  It was a day of long pants, jackets and gloves!!!  We stopped at many locations to ooh and aah and take in the beauty and history of another of our wonders in the United States.  How lucky we citizens are to have all these lands put aside for future generations to admire and hold dear.   

Here are some tidbits about Lassen Park:  there are hot steaming mud pools to view, you might see bears here!, there are 150 miles of trails including 17 mules of the Pacific Crest Trail, you might fish in Manzanita or Reflection Lake which are two large lakes, Pika can be seen here Zoey, Lassen Peak  is one of the largest plug dome volcanoes in the WORLD, it’s last eruptions we’re between1914 and 1921 with the largest in 1915, all four types of volcanic rock (shield, cone, cinder cone and plug done) can be found here, you could rent a kayak here at several of the lakes, Lassen Peak means snow mountain.  As John Muir said in 1899 “Nature is ever at work building and pulling down, creating and destroying, keeping everything whirling  and flowing…out of one beautiful form into another.”

The next day at Redding we used the time to keep organize.  I did a few things inside while Papa worked on all the storage compartments outside.  We were worried we would have less storage with the new rv but actually we are finding we have more and if we are more careful about how we store things it’s even better.  It was a lovely day to be outside and we had our chairs set up with the awning out, my geranium that I brought from AZ and our little fold up side tables.  I was able to clean up the “special drink” fridge outside and stock it and then get the outside tv running!!  Zoey, I will have some special drinks for you in there when we get to your base camp :).  We did take another drive to Whiskeytown National Recreation area just outside Redding.  It’s a lovely reservoir but was harshly affected by the Carr Fire.  We visited the visitor center and took a few side roads around it exploring the area.  The reservoir was almost full and a few boats were out fishing on the lake.  Several folks were setting up dry camps at the dry barren camping spots.  It look dry dusty and not comfortable but if you want to get out close to home for almost free then you reserve your spot and at least could swim or fish for the Memorial Weekend.  Zoey can you tell me why we celebrate Memorial Day?? 

Our last night at Redding we walked around the park which was almost full.  There is a little stream that passes through with about 20 happy Mallards swimming, napping and looking for food. The pool closes at dusk but the park is well taken care of and fun to explore. 

Dan cooked taco meat in the electric skillet outside on the picnic table and I got all the fixings for taco salad ready inside.  I wish Tessie had been there because this is one of her favorite meals!!  But soon enough I will prepare it for her.  We showered and got things ready to head out in the morning for Eugene and another Premiere RV park.  We will be here for five days so that will be fun and Frazier won’t have to get anxious about traveling.   

Geese happily meandering on the crystal blue lake..

Dan checking out the area for anything noteworthy 

Mount Lassen a beauty!

Todd this photo was for you!  The campground was shady and cold but these folks had a setup something like yours for sleeping :)

Another dramatic shot as we near the pass…

Here’s how deep the snow is at the highest point that we could travel!

The highlight of the day A BEAR!!!  We watched him amble along eating grass and pawing for bugs.  

Dan got a great shot of this wildflower.. we really saw very few as we were just too early. 

This couple came by with their two kids from Texas; we were able to point out the bear to them and they were so excited!! 

We also saw these two hungry deer.  They didn’t seem bothered by us at all.  

There she is!

The boiling hot cauldrons of mud and steam!

Looking off the road at the hot pots below 

Clouds make the photo don’t they??

The one visitor center open where you can shop and get a snack!

We got something hot to drink and split a bagel 

Zoey this shot is for you!!!  A bear about your size!!

Enjoying our snack on the outside patio…

A photographer in 1914 captured this eruption on film at Mt Lassen…

One of the visitor centers at Lassen

Whiskeytown area out of Redding where the Carr Fire destroyed hundred of thousands of acres in 2018

The reservoir of Whiskeytown.   

An afternoon snack and relac time ( ha ha it rhymes Zoey!)

Heading to Redding!!

We packed up early and we’re out of Bordertown by 8:00 am.  Our route took us through Susanville, a pine forest and on the north side of Lassen Volcano National Park.  We felt like we were in eastern Washington with logging trucks, primitive roads and Ponderosa Pine with a few small Redwoods.   The only critter we saw was an Antelope. Zoey can you tell your dad what an Antelope is?

The old cat for some reason was much more restless than he has been and went from the front to back of the truck many times.  Eventually he settled but never for long.  We always take a lunch pack with us and our water bottles.  

Traffic wasn’t bad at all although we know folks will be getting our for the Memorial Day weekend.  We made it to the Premiere RV Park in Redding by mid day.  It’s the nicest park we have been in so far this trip.  It’s got a little water falls, pond, lots of manicured grass, nice paved spots with picnic tables and trees, a sparkling clean pool and laundry area.  We left temperatures in the 50’s using our furnace to 91 using AC and changing into shorts!

After getting set up we made a quick trip to WalMart for DEF.  in case you don’t know what that is it’s an additive for diesel trucks and thanks to advice from brother in law Steve, we knew that pulling grades with the fifth wheel would use more of it and he was correct.  Steve and Cheryl have helped us a lot with good advice and pointers on getting our fifth wheel ready and we appreciate that!  Zoey, you have met them when you were a baby at Kanderosa Campground in Idaho but I’m certain you don’t remember !!

Anyway we sat outside and enjoyed the view from our camp spot and had a cool drink.  Dinner was a salad and some wings and the. We watched a little tv.   By 9 we were all in bed, including the old cat Frazier.  Tomorrow , Lassen Park!

Zoey how do you know which way we travelled by looking at this map?

Beautiful shots of Mount Shasta..

Our camp spot at Premiere and thankfully it was a pull through!

 I hope brother in law Steve doesn’t see the bugs we collected on the front !!! Dan needs to use those dryer sheets and remove them :)

Our view from the rv towards the little pond.  We saw a vole making his way in the grass towards us!  Zoey do you know what a vole is?  Ask Google!!

Palm Springs to Bordertown, Nevada

So Zoey, I apologize for not blogging for a few nights. Our night in Palm Springs was interesting.  The fellow who runs the park there is unique!  Needless to say he has lost most of his teeth but unlike you they won’t grow back.  He drives an old car with no windshield and he has not current tags in his license plate!!  Dano walked to our spot before we drove the fifth wheel on so we could see what we were getting into.  There were only three overnight spots!  All others were full time old broken down campers.  It was sad to see so many down and out people.  The fellow beside us said to Papa “ Just tell your wife it’s only for one night”!  Right off the bar the electrical circuit kept shutting off so Papa went to the care takers old rv to get help.  He had two very mean dogs and there was no way to knock on his door.  Fortunately, he came out and pointed to a button hanging off a pole.  I guess you push that when you have a problem.  So we were able to take power from another empty sight and made it through the night

The next morning we took off for Barstow, California and took interstate 15.  We had horrible winds up to 30 mph.   Our lane of traffic was ok but the opposite lane was backed up for at least 20 miles!!  Our camping spot was a clean, small property called Newberg Springs. I think you would have liked it Zoey.  There were two nice ponds and lots of Mallard ducks.  The park had only about 20 sights but almost all were taken from folks wanting to pull over for the night and get out of the wind.  There was a cool old caboose there too for kids to explore and the lady running it had two twins about 3 who you could have played with.  We didn’t do much that day because of the winds. To even go outside was an event!  

Frazier did really well so far.  He settles right down to sleep once we get on the road.  He only “talks” to us when we slow down or stop.  Once inside the rv he explores a little and then wants a snack.  He has discovered our bed and he likes to sleep in his bed once the fireplace is on.  It’s pretty cozy in the living room.  We can read stores there.  

The next morning we took off for Mammoth Resort in the town of Mammoth Valley. We drove through the cute town of Bishop and got gas there.  I could have stayed there a few nights.  It had lots of unique stores, bars, restaurants and a cool vibe to it.  We were able to find diesel at an Arco station which had room for us but it was certainly busy.  Getting fuel is still nerve wracking.  We look for Pilot or Flying J… somewhere where we have lots of room to negotiate.  

As we left Bishop our weather turned wet, cold and snowy!!   Going up to Mammoth is about 7000 ft and it was our first long haul.  The truck did great.  We were surprised to see the park was almost full!!!  The folks that checked us in had to put us in a 30 amp spot.  It was a blizzard with snow covering us as we parked and both set up.  We had a dickens of a time getting into our spot because of a few parked cars in front of us :(.  But Papa negotiated it.  Once we got inside we turned on our heat sources and cranked up the furnace.  After several disappointing tries we gave up.  It never would ignite.  We dressed warmer and hot out the electric blanket we had packed just in case!!! Betsy Story you would have been proud of me.  We had a very toasty night and Frazier jumped up on the bed that night!!! He never does that but I think somehow he knew there was a warmer spot up there than anywhere else in the rv.    It snowed most of the day.  We did take the truck off the rv the next morning so we could go explore more of the town and ski hill.  We also needed diesel.  We were shocked to see a huge crowd of folks skiing!!  The gondola and chair lift were both running. Almost all parking lots were full.  Hence the reason the rv park was full.    It was still windy and cold.  Not a great sunny spring day but when you are a hard core skier you indulge yourself.  

Anyway back to the camper , hook up, do our walk of safety around the outside ( that’s for you Tessie!) load up Frazier and we were out of there heading to Bordertown,  Nevada where we will spend two nights and take a little break from driving and do some much needed organizing. 

Zoey, here is the route we travelled from Barstow to Bordertown, Nevada. Can you figure out how many miles that was?  Dad might have to help you ❤️  

It was very foggy and cloudy going to Barstow.

Do you know what causes fog Zoey?

We saw these outside Palm Springs.  There were hundreds of them.  What are these Zoey and why are there so many here?

 

Here we are setting up in Newberry Springs. It was a clean little park but full by end of the windy day. 

Above is one of the ponds and the old caboose you could explore.  

We had some spectacular views of the Sierra Mountain Range as we headed to Mammoth.  I’m sure they could use the moisture as so many places are in a drought.  Zoey, do you know what a drought is?

Frazier slept through much of the drive in his cat bed

He curls up in the back seat and snored happily 

Here was the park and of course Dan had to cover his pickup in the back to keep snow off the hitch. Even tent campers were braving this weather to ski!!

We drove up to the ski hill to check it out. We had planned on riding the gondola on a sunny day but no such thing today unless you had you ski stuff on!

The gondola.  

This was for you Zoey and your dad… a climbing wall and play area for kids in the center of the ski village!

The chair lift…lots of enthusiasts here for sure…

Main lodge where you can warm up and have cocoa Zoey!!

Last shot of the mountain 

Cars were everywhere… I wish I could capture how many folks were here!!

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