TOTAL TRAVEL DISTANCE -- 1,817.2 miles (plus about a hundred or so in foot travel from hikes, geocaching searches, shopping excursions and an extensive square dance program) ... every bit of it within the confines of the State of California!
Cap 'n Baldy here!
Mount Shasta -- 14,179 feet above sea level and nearly 10,000 feet above the surrounding terrain...
"First, there is the Mountain. Last, there is the Mountain. Every hour of every day, there is the Mountain. You see it clearly 100 miles down Interstate 5, far below Red Bluff, far below the place where the immense Central Valley of California gives way to the southern Cascade Range which leads northward into Oregon. You see it standing alone in a cloak of brilliant snow above a landscape which is parched from many rainless days. You see it in otherworldly splendor, generating its own weather, changing from hour to hour throughout the day. That is our view as small mortal human beings. The Mountain is what it is, doing what it has done for millions of years, with a vastness beyond our comprehension."
I wrote the above paragraph in 2007, as part of a travel book describing a memorable two-week holiday in nearby Mount Shasta City. It was a time of grand adventure in the company of friends, Harmon and Sandy Harris and Bonnie and Dave Stotler. It was also our first outing since the surgical removal of Barbara's brain tumor earlier that year.
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This journey is to participate in an intensive five-day square dance workshop in the tiny old lumber town of McCloud, about 10 miles southeast of Mount Shasta City. This will not be our first trip here to participate in a dance workshop ... it will be our fourth. Our caller for the week is Darryl Lipscomb, an internationally-recognized Texas-based challenge-level square dance caller and instructor. It's always a bit scary for us to start one of these high-level workshops ... at least at first! Then, it gets to be fun!
In between square dance tips there was Farkle, Cribbage, Crafts, Puzzles -- more Brain Training!
We stay at a 1940's lumber workers' apartment house, now reincarnated as the McCloud Timber Inn. Presided over by shaggy Steve Hamilton, who owns and runs the place all by himself, the inn consists of five apartments. For 60 bucks a night, we have full use of an immaculate one-bedroom apartment, complete with kitchen ... and...of course ...acceptable coffee maker! We grow quite attached to this quirky place as our week up here proceeds!
As we have discovered on previous visits, this country is an infinite treasure chest to explore. Human settlements are sparse and widely scattered ... the green pine forest seems endless ... the gold mountain meadows are glorious ... the sublime presence of The Mountain oversees everything!
Forty miles to the east of McCloud off Highway 89 sits McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. We consider this a must-visit place since our first visit back in 2002. In this wondrous place, Burney Creek flows into nearby Lake Britton over a spectacular 130-foot waterfall ... very full this season from the blessings of abundant winter rain and snow in the area. We opt for the 45-minute Falls Loop Trail, preceded by a picnic lunch at a tree-shaded picnic table ...
Herself at the Falls Loop lower bridge ... hiking opportunities abound here . Of course, if you REALLY want a long-distance trail hike ... the Pacific Crest Trail runs through the park! There is a little-bitty sign at a PCT crossing point that says Mexico is 1,400 miles to the left and Canada is 1,200 miles to the right! We probably will not attempt to hike this trail in this incarnation but 'tis a wonder to know it exists!
We have long known that Mount Shasta is the subject of much lore and legend. We delved deeply on a previous visit into the Saga of the Lemurians, a race of advanced beings that live within the Earth underneath Mount Shasta. The Earth is, after all, hollow and has a life-giving sun at its center. I perceive your horizons sorely need to be expanded with this bit of advanced knowledge!
Mandalas and Crystals ... D-U-D-E!!
Hippie and New Age Cultures abound hereabouts with serious tie-dye tee shirts on sale in every gift shop. Also available are bright green tee shirts with this yellow emblem emblazoned on the front ...
Now ... Jefferson isn't really a state...yet! It's a Proposed State made up of large chunks of Northern California and Southern Oregon. The Double-X signifies the abandonment these rural folks feel from the political population centers to the north and south! This secession movement has been going on since before World War II.
As we have done on every previous trip here, we visit the brilliant and moving Living Memorial Sculpture Garden, ten miles above Weed on the road to Klamath Falls, Oregon. This memorial is dedicated to American military personnel killed or wounded in action ...
The Nurses ...
Coming Home ...
We are totally alone here ... there is no wind ... all is appropriately silent ... The Mountain is ever present ... a moving spiritual experience ...
The long ride south ... did I mention it's a 730-mile run from home to get our first view of Mount Shasta? We stop overnight at Solvang, the charming Danish village off Highway 101 above Santa Barbara ...
We have another unexpected evening treat in Solvang ... good seats at the Solvang Conservatory Theater...we see a vigorous, passionate production of a modern rock-hip-hop musical entitled "In The Heights" ... it's a reminder of how much we enjoy live theater!
The Solvang Theater ... a grass lawn to a have a picnic upon ... warm oatmeal cookies and good strong hot coffee!
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WHAT A JOURNEY!
WHAT A PRIVILEGE!
WE ARE TIRED BUT THE TRIP IS WORTH THE EFFORT!
Until next time, beloveds ... stay well and know that God is good and generous!
Affectionately,
Baldy aka Bob
