A couple of old friends (in both senses of the phrase) are getting married Saturday. I am one of the few privileged non-family-members to be invited, so I left Monday afternoon to head to California. I am, frankly, getting a little bored with the I-5 corridor, so on Tuesday I left I-5 at Yreka and headed up to Trinity Lake on Highway 3, and did a loop that ultimately came out at Red Bluff.
Mating season
About 20 miles or so out of Yreka, I saw a couple of deer headed straight for the road, so stopped to avoid hitting them. At which point I figured out what was going on–a buck was pursuing a doe. So I took a picture. 
The next morning, having camped at Lewiston at the south end of the lake, I saw another pair bent on the same activity. Or at least the male seemed pretty committed–it wasn’t so clear what the doe had on her mind.
Moving on
The place we camped in Lewiston would have been not so great in the summer, when I’m sure they fill up, but as I was their only customer that night, it wasn’t so bad. CJ and I walked into town, which seemed pretty dilapidated, but had all the character that sometimes goes with that. Couldn’t resist taking a picture of these pumps; I wondered if they are still active and functional. The relatively new-looking hoses and Texaco sign make me think perhaps they are. Appropriately enough, they are outside an antique store.
Also thought this bridge was pretty cool–you don’t see all that many one-lane bridges around anymore. The sign claims it’s historical, but I have the feeling it’s been upgraded/re-done a time or two.
The cats were nice and quiet up until Wednesday morning, but by then they were restless from being relatively confined, so I broke out the cat toy. And got double-duty from it for about 15 minutes, after which they quit bugging me. For awhile.
Just as I was pulling out, I saw an eagle fly up and land in that tree. It’s the small dark blot in the left branch of the tree. Someday I may get a better camera for shots like this–but then I have to hope the critters wait while I pull it out and get it on and focussed.
The direct way back to I-5 would have been to take 299 out to Redding, but I wasn’t ready to get back on the freeway, so I went the long way around and came out at Red Bluff, driving 90-100 miles or so to come out 32 miles further south. It was worth it, though–the mountains were beautiful, and I’ve never driven that road before. Want to again some day, though. Perhaps not in the summer–there were many indications that a LOT of people head up into those hills in the summer, and as wonderful as the nearly deserted road was this trip, is how awful it would be with a lot of traffic on it.
It was raining most of the way, giving me all the lovely effects of clouds and trees that one gets on such days in the mountains.
When I got high enough, there was even a tad of snow on the ground from previous storms. Not much, but it was nice to see it. 5-6 feet more of that would go a long way toward helping CA out the the drought.
Had thought about camping out one more night, but ended up driving on into Martinez to my brother’s house. Was rewarded by this sunset while I was setting up in the driveway. The reality was better, as is usual with sunsets taken by my phone, but you get the idea.
The cats were VERY happy to have the run of first the house, then this morning, the outdoors. They love the fence, and the neighbor’s yard. They’re sleeping inside now–the rain (yay! Rain!) drove them in.
If I get permission, I’ll post wedding pics some time next week. If not, perhaps the trip back home. We’ll see.
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