There was no room to park our MH in the small parking lot at the Calvary Church in Truckee. All the businesses around it had customer parking only signs so we moved on. We got an internet connection so we watched David Jeremiah. He is teaching a series on the book of Job. I would like to hear all of it. It was very good this morning.
We had no clue where to go this morning when we pulled out of the RV park. I looked at the map over and over. One minute we would head back to the west coast via I-80. The thought of traffic, cities and hustle and bustle were not very attractive. My other route was north on Rt 89 further into the mountains of northern California. Others I had talked to said it was a typical mountain road with all the thrills that go along with it.
The choice was an easy one in the end. Mountains. Remote. Quiet. We set out on Rt 89. California must be the biggest jock state in the country. Everywhere we have been young people are way out in the remote areas riding bikes up impossibly steep grades. Others are jogging along the road, perspiration running down their backs. We passed countless bicycles along our route today. They are all decked out in their little outfits, peddling like all get out. It made me tired to watch them.
Each little village we passed through seemed to be a tourist center. Old buildings that once housed a hardware, grocery store or dry goods store now house antiques boutiques, massage parlors, bike rentals, and small cafe’s. Each village was neat and inviting.
We stopped for gas in the small mountain town of Quincy. I was wondering if Rt 89 was still closed through Lassen Volcanic Park due to snow. A young lady was pumping gas next to me so I asked if she was local. She turned around with a smile so big you couldn’t store it in a shoe box. She had big round brown eyes and long brown hair that seemed to light up like her smile. She had a country wholesomeness that spoke of buckskin, horses and cattle. She could have ridden in from a John Wayne movie, though she might well have worked at any of the establishments in town and never rode a horse in her life. Country people are so trusting and open.
She said, “Yessir, I am.” I asked about Lassen and the road conditions. She told me that most years they don’t get it opened up until after the 4th of July. She proceeded to tell me alternate routes where we could still get to the park. She never stopped smiling the whole time.
After Quincy the road became steep and winding. It followed along a deep ravine with a roaring stream at the bottom. Darlie shot photos while I gripped the wheel as usual.
Darlie is so happy to be out here. She loves every minute. She never passes up a chance to pick up a rock to bring home. Our MH is starting to look like Lucy and the Long, Long Trailer. There are rocks tucked everywhere.
We came to a beautiful lake called Lake Almanor. It is surrounded by Lassen National Forest. There were many places to pull over and walk down to the water’s edge. The forest smelled of pine. The wind was hissing through the tree tops. Volcanic rock covered the ground. The lake was crystal clear.
Darlie found a huge chunk of driftwood that she couldn’t live without. She begged to bring it along. I told her we didn’t have room but she insisted. She got her way, of course. When we got back to the MH. She put it under the sofa. A little black spider jumped out of it and ran right at me. I killed it. They will probably find us dead in bed from some mysterious bug bite. I am sure the bug will come from that piece of wood.
We took one of the alternate routes the young lady suggested. It is a quiet road through the forest. Driving up here is like driving through a continuous park. It is so beautiful. Towering ponderosa pines stand like giant bottle brushes along the highway. Those older than one hundred years have orange bark causing them to stand out from all others. They stand like sentinels watching over their children beneath them.
Mount Lassen Peak
We found a nice place off from the road where we could park our MH for the night. This looks like a place where we might see a bear or some other woods critter. Towards evening, a park fire ranger stopped by to see us. He wanted to tell us they were doing a controlled burn in this area in the morning. He said, “It’s going to get pretty smokey.” I asked what time the burn would start. He said not until 8:00 AM. We would be long gone by then.
There are many birds hopping around in the bushes. Darlie has the binoculars and her bird book. She is entertained for hours now. She has spotted many species since leaving home. Though we sat quietly until dark scanning the forest, we did not see the bear, cougar, deer or elk we had hoped to see in this remote place. I guess they got the notice about the controlled burn and moved on.
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