Heading for the Northern California Coast - Early September!

We're driving north into southern Oregon along Interstate 5, to Grants Pass for an overnight. Our pleasant 2-week visit with Doug and Della came to a close.


Motorhome Parked at Doug's House

 Doug and I worked together in Anchorage, Alaska for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from 2004 to 2007. They live in Redding, California now, close to Della's parents. Our stay with them was punctuated by local fun recreational trips in the area, in addition to a 3-day trip Paula and I took (with the assistance of their Jeep) to a Blackberry Music Festival, the Lava Beds National Monument, and to Burney Falls State Park. The trip to higher elevations provided a brief respite to the otherwise hot 95-105 degree weather. It has been a long time since they have received any rain here, and drought conditions seem to have permanently set in. Wildfires are common and longlasting in northern California, and water supply reservoirs are at all time lows.  Despite this, it is a region of striking natural beauty, and extremes.

Rafting on the Sacramento River

 

Exploring a Cave at 
Lava Beds National Monument



All Time Low Water Level in Shasta Lake