Yesterday, we started the long trek East as we headed over the coastal mountains and through the dead center of the state to Lake Almanor. More on that in a minute, but for now, let's say goodbye to the surprisingly awesome town of McKinleyville. We spent Thursday night enjoying the accommodations and made a pit stop at the grocery store to get snacks for the following day's journey. You have to love anyplace where you can see the "World's Largest Totem Pole" in a Safeway parking lot!
Friday morning, it was up, up, and away! As we merged onto Highway 299 east, I though to myself that we would be driving in this direction for the next three months.
About halfway to our destination, we stopped at the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area for a little mid-day hike. I don't know why, but this sticker just tickles me half to death!
Well, we never did find the whiskey or the town, but what we did find was Whiskeytown Falls, which was probably one of the nicest waterfall hikes we've ever done. So often you tromp down miles of trail only to find a mediocre waterfall and about a thousand onlookers jockeying for the best spot to have their picnic lunch with a view. Here, we ran into maybe four people on the trail, and there was absolutely nobody at the falls. We had the whole place to ourselves! We dipped our heads in the freezing water and enjoyed the view.
On the trail, the air was clear and pure, but when we made it down to the lake after our hike, there was a brownish haze that reminded us of the wildfires not too far to the south. The rangers said that so far the park had been spared from the destruction, but we're still early in the wildfire season ... so fingers crossed!
Just before nightfall, we arrived in Lake Almanor at our new home away from home for the next five days.
We got the sense from our surroundings that Lake Almanor is one part of a common phenomenon in the West: a large, dam-made reservoir that's been colonized by seasonal vacationers with large motor boats. That said, the lake wasn't why we were here. We were here to explore one of the under-rated gems of the National Park System: Lake Almanor's majestic neighbor, Lassen Volcanic National Park. I'm sure we'll have lots to report on that soon!
And, here's where we've gone so far ...
Thanks for the birthday wishes, Chris. I have to admit, I'm just catching up on your blog now. It sounds like you guys are having an amazing journey (and a lot of exercise!)
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