This first day was pretty uneventful – driving through the familiar valley towards Lake Shasta. The first glimpse of Lake Shasta was a shocker. The water levels are SO low! As anyone with a pulse knows, CA is in an epic drought, and we have marveled at the low levels in familiar lakes, but this was stunning.
Stayed this first night in Weed, CA (insert any joke here) at the Lake Shasta Brewing Co. Enjoyed some of their offerings, and provided instructions to some newbie shuffleboard players.
En route to Bend, OR through the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and Klamath National Forest. Each turn seemed to bring a new, more beautiful view. This is all volcanic range, home to Mt. St Helens, ….
Musings and Observations
The pointy mountain peaks constantly remind you of the volcanic origins of this area. It’s pretty humbling to try to imagine this whole range repeatedly erupting.
Grass Lake is just what the name implies. Acres and acres of waving grasses across a perfectly flat plain surrounded by mountain peaks. This is a caldera, the center spot of the volcano.
Fire damage is still visible everywhere. Some of the dead trees are being logged, as they weren’t completely destroyed by the fast-moving flames. Sigh…
As we got closer to Bend we passed the scenes of Altman/Felder family vacations at Sunriver. Lava Lands and The High Desert Museum are etched in our collective memories. Zorro the Pony, anyone??
Stayed at quirky Sunrise/Sunset at Cricketwood Farm hosted by the Einstein sisters (true name!) Bev and Brenda, plus their sister-in-law Candace. Irony alert: the Three Sisters Mountain Range was magnificently on view in the distance, capped in snow. After I got a tour of the beehives with several newly-captured swarms.
We headed to Bend for a dinner at the Deschutes Brewery. Paid homage to the beers along with a delicious dinner.
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