Stone Roads

Last Days

2011-07-04T11:43:00.000-07:00

We are cutting across Nevada in one day to get to Reno. There is plenty of snow left in the Sierras. Awesome cloud formation also. We will rest for the night and get home tomorrow. We are staying at the El Dorado, one of our favorites in Reno.

It was still cold in California when we got back. There was snow on the ground near the turnoff for Lassen Park close to Redding.

Long Trucks

2011-07-03T16:58:00.000-07:00

I love seeing the bigger trucks and longer loads after you are out of California (not legal here), They do take a bit longer to pass though, as some are more than one hundred feet in length.

Although with special permits we can have longer and larger loads hauled with CHP escorts. When they build the wind farm on Hatchet Mountain there were loads 185 foot long each day for a few weeks.

Heading for home...

2011-07-02T17:05:00.000-07:00

We left Laramie early and wanted to get back home. Stopped in Rock Springs for coffee and took off again. We saw "Little America", haven't been there for about 40 years and it still looked the same. The Little America Hotel located in Little America, Wyoming has been an oasis for travelers for over 60 years

Entered Utah about around noon and stopped at the rest area. Beautiful scenery here.
Lovely smell from the cattle trucks, too.

Got Salt?

Heading for home...

2011-07-01T19:23:00.001-07:00

We went to breakfast, got packed and got on the road. We stopped in North Platte for a coffee break and then hit the worst weather of the trip. We had a tremendous rainstorm and wind for the next few hours or so. Got to the Wyoming border and took a break at the visitor's center. There was snow on the ground and the temperature was about 40 degrees. The lady at the counter said we were at 8,000 feet here. Beautiful rock formations along the roads also.

Thank God the tornado missed us

2011-06-30T16:34:00.000-07:00

We stayed in Columbia, Missouri last night and the motel had a tornado warning. There was a huge tornado in Joplin, Missouri that wiped out half the town. Today we are back on the road heading towards Nebraska. Saw a Pony Express statue near the Harrahs close to Kansas City but around Kansas City to avoid the traffic and saw the KC Royals field and the Chiefs practice field.

Heading for home...

2011-06-29T12:42:00.000-07:00

We left Kentucky today and will need to come back here again as there is so much we did not get to see. We crossed into Indiana and then Illinois and will end up in Missouri tonight. We had to stop and see the town called Santa Claus, Indiana, and it was real but that's it. Enjoyed lunch at a new place for us, "Steak and Shake" in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

Plenty of rivers through out the Midwest and that makes for a lot of interesting bridges.

Kentucky - the Bluegrass State

2011-06-27T11:37:00.000-07:00

We crossed over the border into Kentucky and it is another beautiful state. We have friends to visit today in the Bluegrass State.

We stopped in Bowling Green in south Kentucky to see the Corvette Museum and factory. The factory was closed today but we did see the museum. A lot of awesome and classic vehicles are on display here.

We drove North to Elizabethtown to one of our favorite restaurants on this trip. The Cracker Barrel is a great homestyle restaurant and serves generous portions of food at reasonable prices. We had lunch with author, writer Nancye Sims and Focus on Jerusalem website owner Darrell Young

Nashville "Cats"

2011-06-26T19:30:00.000-07:00

Wow, Tennessee is so much fun. We started the day at The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's home. Then had some lunch and went back to Nashville to see the Country Western Hall of Fame and the Ryman Auditorium which is the "Grand Ole Opry"

On to Tennessee

2011-06-25T22:27:00.000-07:00

Left Macon, Georgia this morning heading to Franklin, Tennessee. Stopped at the Carter House in Franklin. Built in 1830 by Fountain Branch Carter, the Carter House was caught in the middle of one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War on November 30, 1864.

Got to Franklin at the same time the 13 or 17 year cicadas were hatching. They were so loud it was hard to hear one talk a few feet away.

Georgia Peaches and Pecan pie

2011-06-24T12:23:00.001-07:00

We left Florida and headed north to Georgia. We saw several instances of tornado destruction along the highway but no place to stop for pictures. Lots of signs for fresh peaches and pecan pies.

The National Peanut Museum is located in Tifton and has peanut displays located around a gift shop area. It also includes peanut planting and harvesting equipment placed throughout the building's two levels.

The Holy Land Experience

2011-06-23T10:05:00.001-07:00

On our last day in Florida we decided to go to the Holy Land Experience which is a themed exhibit and a museum located in Orlando, Florida that is meant to replicate the architecture and themes of 1st century Israel. The attraction is targeted at Christians and the Gospel message is presented several times throughout the day at different events.

2011-06-22T16:14:00.000-07:00

Today we are going to The Villages to see my brother and his wife and spend a few days sight seeing the area. They are some of "those people" who drive a golf cart everywhere.

Also you must be quite careful where you swim. We did not get to see an alligator but did see some turtles.

They have a nice back yard with a bright red water fountain and the birds seem to think it is where they are supposed to drink. I am not quite sure how they stand on the wet, round ball, but they make it work.

Air Force Armament Museum

2011-06-21T11:25:00.000-07:00

The Air Force Armament Museum, adjacent to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the only facility in the U.S. dedicated to the display of Air Force armament. Founded in 1975, it was originally located in a converted gymnasium on the northeastern edge of the Eglin main base, adjacent to Valparaiso, Florida.

Visitors can view a variety of historical Air Force planes, from a World War II B-17 bomber to an F-4 Phantom II jet. A wide variety of bombs, missiles, and rockets are exhibited, including the newest air-to-air missile, the AMRAAM, and the GBU-28 bunker-buster developed for use during Operation Desert Storm. Other missiles include the Paveway series, Falcons, the Tomahawk, Mace, Hound Dog, radar-controlled, laser-controlled and several guided by a TV camera in the nose. Also on display is the GBU-43 MOAB, Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or by its nickname, "Mother of All Bombs", the world's largest conventional explosive weapon. A predecessor, the T12 38,600 lb. demolition bomb, is also displayed.

Fort Walton Beach

2011-06-20T12:27:00.000-07:00

We entered Florida yesterday afternoon thinking about going to Destin for the white sand beaches. We stopped, as always, at the Welcome center for coupons and conversation and talked to a nice young woman about the area. She told us that Fort Walton beach was as nice an area as Destin and she would see if they had any rooms left. She called Ramada in Fort Walton Beach and did secure us a room at a reduced rate for the night. We ate at the Black Pearl, a very nice restaurant before 6 pm and got the senior and early bird rates to make it an inexpensive but delicious dinner.

Fly-By Mississippi and Alabama

2011-06-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

Quick passing through the southern tips of these two states and on to the Florida panhandle tonight. after we had Stopped in Biloxi, Mississippi. A very nice place. White sand beaches, lighthouse, Hard Rock Casino and Cafe. Took a fly by shot through the windshield of the welcome sign entering Alabama.

The Hard Rock Casino and Cafe had a lot of guitar and rock star memorabilia. A tribute to the many, many great musicians we have.

New Orleans - Day 2

2011-06-18T22:34:00.000-07:00

We spent the entire day today walking the streets of New Orleans. We started at Cafe Du Monde and waited in line like we were at a Starbucks to get their famous "Beignet" fried pastries dipped generously in powdered sugar. They say "don't wear black" and there is a reason.

We stopped and looked at an old restored church. The church is called "The St. Louis Cathedral", a Catholic church that was visited by the Pope in September of 1987.

We spent a lot of time on Decatur Street with the old buildings and restaurants. The horse and buggy carriage rides were at a bit of a standstill as a brief shower passed our way.

New Orleans Today

2011-06-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

Going to Louisiana today but we are not staying in New Orleans. We have reservations at a Best Western in Metairie, a smaller town but still only 15 minutes away. The motel's lobby is under reconstruction but the rooms are just fine. Tomorrow we will spend most of the day exploring New Orleans. Here are a few pix for today. We passed the New Orleans Superdome on the way into town.

Off to Galveston

2011-06-16T09:29:00.000-07:00

We are headed to Galveston today and then on to New Orleans on Friday. Hope to spend some time on the beach today. We saw an old Lutheran Church on the way near the town of Tivoli, Texas. I love the old quaint Church buildings.

Got to Galveston early for a day on the beach. Unfortunately the weather was not agreeable for this. Checked into the motel and went to walk on the beach. Not sure how hard the wind was blowing but all the lifeguards were in the shack, and the beach was vacant.

We did get to see a large riverboat today.

On the river, of course, and not in this surf.!

Still in Texas

2011-06-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

I thought California was a big state but Texas is BIG. We drove to Corpus Christi and were going to stay here but went across the Neuces Bay Causeway to Portland and found a motel (a new Best Western) with a nice restaurant close by. We ate at the Texas A-1 Steakhouse. Nice place, friendly staff and excellent food. Tomorrrow we will head over to Galveston.

Ready to Go

2011-06-14T15:52:00.000-07:00

After two days in San Antonio we are heading to "south" Texas. We are going to Harlingen, Texas to see a friend I have known for 10 years but have never met in person. His name is Charles and is the owner of the web site Bibleone.net. I have worked for Charles since the start of his website in 2001. You can visit his website by clicking the link above.

An accident this morning leaving San Antonio held up the traffic for awhile. We saw another interesting Texas Historical marker at a rest stop. This is where "General Zachary Taylor, commanding the Expeditionary Army of the United States sent to Texas in 1845, encamped on March 15, 1846, while en route with his troops from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande ." This is near Sarita, Texas.

Had lunch and visited with Charles for a few hours and got back on the road North towards Corpus Cristi. In Harlingen we were only 26 miles from the USA-Mexican Border so had to stop at the inspection station on Interstate 77. Lots of border Patrol vehicles on this road today.

The Alamo

2011-06-13T16:04:00.000-07:00

I didn't get the pictures loaded yet for the Alamo so I will post those now. The Alamo has quite a history and most of us know some of it.

Below is a picture from the "Battle of the Alamo" website with some history for you.

San Antonio, Texas

2011-06-13T11:27:00.000-07:00

Got to San Antonio last night and got a motel. Today we are going to go to the Alamo and the River Walk. Both have high reviews and "must see" explanation marks.

We ate lunch at a nice little restaurant on the River Walk called Boudros. Great staff and wonderful food. The table was near on the water, pictured below with the red umbrellas.

Heading for Texas

2011-06-12T07:05:00.000-07:00

Got up early and had some breakfast. We have a longer drive today as we head for San Antonio, Texas. Saw an interesting Historical Marker and the first cactus.

Used by emigrants and the Southern (Butterfield) Overland Mail, which linked St. Louis and San Francisco with a semi-weekly mail, 1858-1861. Headquarters in 1855 of Captain John Pope, supervisor of the drilling of the first deep well west of the 98th meridian. They struck water at 244 feet but sank to 1140 hoping to strike artesian flow. The well caved before its value could be determined. This $100,000 experiment pointed the way to deep well drilling in the Great Plains.

Had lunch at the local's restaurant of choice, Pepe's Cafe, in Ozona, Texas

Leaving Albuquerque

2011-06-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

Stayed last night at the Quality Inn in Albuquerque. A nice place with a free breakfast. We are heading for Carlsbad today and will stop in Roswell to check out Area 51.

New Mexico seems a bit barren and unsettled when you get out of the cities. This was an interesting sign at a rest area.

Got to Carlsbad and the place was a mess. Most unkempt place we have been in. Ended up at a Super 8 Motel and was not the cleanest place in the world.

Heading to New Mexico

2011-06-10T10:21:00.000-07:00

Got ready this morning and are leaving for New Mexico. Passed through a small town you may have heard of (if you are an Eagles fan): Winslow, AZ.

Back on the road after taking a bunch of pictures. We are stopping next at the Petrified forest. Most states have them and this is only the second one I have seen. Such beautiful rock formations and history. Lots of interesting formations plus the petrified trees.

Near the end of the 28 mile loop through the Petrified Forest is a place called the "painted desert". The colors here are quite beautiful but a little washed out in the midday sunshine.

The Grand Canyon Today

2011-06-09T07:41:00.000-07:00

I was truly amazed. I had seen pictures and read about the Grand Canyon but it is so awesome it takes your breath away. Unfortunately we should have been there earlier of near sunset for the best colors in the rocks.

Heading for Williams, Arizona

2011-06-08T08:58:00.000-07:00

We left Las Vegas a while ago and are headed for Kingman, AZ then on to Williams for lunch. Stopped at the visitor center and got a lot of information about the Grand Canyon and bought a senior pass to the National Parks for $10. It is a "lifetime" pass to all the national Parks entrance for free. The Forest lady said it was payback for paying taxes for the last 50 years of my life.

We had lunch at a well known restaurant in town called the Pine Country Restaurant. Great food and excellent pies, wonderful and helpful employees also.

After lunch we went to Flagstaff to find a motel and get ready for our big day tomorrow at the Grand Canyon and to Sedona to see the red rock formations there.

Day 2 in Las Vegas

2011-06-07T07:35:00.000-07:00

There is too much to do and see in only one day so we stayed over. Have to leave early tomorrow to stay on schedule though. There are so many types of buildings and architecture here and it is quite interesting and beautiful.

Lost Wages

2011-06-06T08:46:00.000-07:00

My first time in this resort, convention and party town. Quite a collection of different people here and plenty to see and do. We are only staying two nights at the Monte Carlo and it is a very nice place. The fountain show outside the Bellagio, the art gallery inside the Bellagio, the Secret Garden at the MGM Grand, the wax museum at the Venetian and the observation deck at the Stratosphere are all great things to see.

and in case you wonder where Batman works between movies, we found him on the street corner...

On The Road Again

2011-06-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

We are going to take a little trip across the United States and back ...got the car packed and we are ready to go, so sit down, buckle up and hang on.

We will review the motels and special places as we travel. We are only going as far as Tulare today so had lunch at the Subway in Manteca, got some high priced California gas and are back on the road again.
We are staying in the Quality inn in Tulare tonight. Got checked in and went for a long walk, found a Chili's Restaurant on our way and had a nice dinner and another walk back to the motel.

Kool April Nights 2011

2011-04-15T15:58:00.000-07:00

Whiskeytown Lake Falls Information

2011-04-15T15:50:00.000-07:00

Late, but he made it.

2010-11-15T15:17:00.000-08:00

I had a chance to go see the little electric car drive in at Turtle Bay
and the Sundial Bridge this afternoon. Redding Electric and some tv media were also on hand, as well as a handful of curious observers.

A race around the world goes through Redding.

2010-11-13T08:20:00.000-08:00

That’s because it’s three electric vehicles competing in the Zero Race, a sprint involving electric, zero-emission motors. The trio is speeding across the globe, having already put Europe and Asia behind them, to circle the Earth in just 80 days of driving. Along the way, the teams are spreading the word of environmentally friendly vehicles to towns where they stop — including Redding on Monday.

Stone Roads - the end of the trail

2010-10-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

My good friend Red recently retired last month. His blog is here. (http://hiwayjournals.blogspot.com/). He told me I had to wait for him, then I could go. I respect my elders so that was done. Now it is my turn. I also worked for GSO for a little over four years.

Like Red, I give my Creator all the credit for keeping me safe on the roads I have traveled these past four years. Thank God I never had a breakdown any where far from help. I have seen the beauty of His creation day after day as I traveled through the valleys, over the hills, across the rivers and past the waterfalls. One of my special favorites is Mount Shasta. If you search through the blog I have hundreds of photos of that mountain in every season and from every direction. It is beautiful and breathtaking.

Thanks for following along with me on the stone roads and stay tuned, you never know when it will start again...

Antlers Bridge Project Update

2010-10-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

Work continues on the new bridge on both the south and north sides of the lake. (as always, click image for a larger picture)

No Mo Sno

2010-10-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

The snow is just about gone from the south and west sides of Mount Shasta. There is still a bit on the backsides. With the cooler temperatures it won't take much rain to bring the snow cap back.

Pink Cow Statue

2010-10-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

A large metal cow sits to the east of I-5 northbound lanes, south of Yreka, north of Grenada. Creator is Ralph Starritt, who lives in Yreka and is a well-known artist. He is also the sculptor of the Yreka Dragon (here). They use the cow to promote several events throughout the year. Right now I would guess it is the "Breast Cancer Awareness" program.

Lake Level Dropping

2010-10-09T15:32:00.000-07:00

The lake level at Shasta Lake continues to drop as autumn works its way into winter. The current level (as of 10.08.10) is 1019.98 feet, a full lake is about 1067 feet.

The picture below is with a full lake this spring...

More Street Deer

2010-10-06T20:05:00.000-07:00

Yreka seems to have more than its share of street deer. I saw several today on different streets and resting on people's front yards.
(remember to click pictures for a larger image)

High in the Hills

2010-10-05T20:47:00.000-07:00

I had a delivery so far up in the hills I was next to a cell phone tower in Lakehead off Gibson road. There was quite a view down to I-5 from here.

Mr. Buffalo

2010-10-04T20:38:00.000-07:00

I saw my favorite Buffalo out on Mill Creek Road near Fort Jones today. He has a larger family now. I also saw a couple of calves and a few cows.

Mom and Twins

2010-10-03T20:45:00.000-07:00

Saw this mom deer and her twins again last week having lunch on a lawn in Yreka.

Tulelake Onion Harvest

2010-09-29T20:28:00.000-07:00

Fields and fields of onions being harvested in Tulelake. The tractors pull machiery that "rows" the onions and another tractor comes and picks the onions up and deposits them in waiting trucks following along. (look closely behind the foreground tractor in the second image after enlarging it)

Automated "Flagger"

2010-09-28T20:24:00.000-07:00

Well two cal-trans sign holders must have gotten replaced by a mechanical road traffic controller on the bridge construction project on HWY 273 just north of Yreka.
Look closely and you can see their "ghost" next to the orange cone.

(Actually it is a bug spot on the windshield.)

Antlers Bridge Construction Continues

2010-09-27T15:58:00.000-07:00

The work on the new bridge is progressing as the water level of the lake recedes.

Busy Place

2010-09-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

The Fairchild Hospital had a lot of CHP vehicles near the ambulance emergency entrance the other day. Not sure what was going on.

So Awesome!

2010-09-25T10:08:00.000-07:00

Mount Shasta is always so beautiful.
(click image to enlarge picture)

Takes Two to Hold The Sign

2010-09-22T21:44:00.000-07:00

I know those signs are real heavy, oops, forgot they have a pole hooked to them. Must be a supervisor watching him.

Some Rain and Fresh Snow

2010-09-20T16:56:00.000-07:00

We had a small rain storm Saturday night in Redding and Mount Shasta City had about one inch of rain. Mount Shasta itself got a coating of fresh snow at higher elevations. This afternoon it looked like it was floating on clouds.

Old Trucks

2010-09-19T20:43:00.000-07:00

I saw this old truck parked in a field off E. Louie Road near Montague last Friday.

More Lawn Deer

2010-09-18T18:19:00.000-07:00

Saw this young deer on Yama Street in Yreka on Friday.

I-5 Accident in Redding

2010-09-17T17:36:00.000-07:00

There was an accident on I-5 southbound as I entered Shasta Lake City coming home last night. Looks like a fifth wheel on it's side blocking most of the three southbound lanes.

Cattails Near Montague

2010-09-15T21:59:00.000-07:00

Common Cattails are a familiar sight along the shore of any marsh, pond, lake, or river. They can even be found in ditches.

Cattails are tall, stiff plants, growing almost ten feet tall. The leaves look like giant blades of grass, about one inch wide. The flower has two parts; a brown cylinder (the female part), and a yellow spike (the male part).

Cattails are usually found in a dense stand (many together).

Old Barns and Old Bridges

2010-09-14T20:19:00.000-07:00

I had to take a short cut using Louis Road to get to Lake Shastina from Gazelle and it has a nice old bridge, and an old barn by some dead trees and is quite photogenic. Note that when you click the link for Louis Road above that it is a new, split view with the map and an image from the Google "street view". Both the image and the map are "interactive". I love new technology.
(as always, click image for a larger picture)

Antlers Bridge Project

2010-09-07T17:08:00.000-07:00

They are building big stuff now. They are working hard as the water level continues to drop in the lake. The level is at 1026 feet today.

House on the Hill

2010-09-04T15:49:00.000-07:00

I had a delivery last week to this house high above Shasta Lake.
You can see the house from the I-5 freeway.
The second picture is looking from the house to the lake.

More Lawn Deer

2010-09-03T06:37:00.000-07:00

I saw this mom deer and her twin fawns again on Yama Street in Yreka yesterday. They must live nearby because I see them quite often.

Fresh Snow

2010-08-31T18:51:00.000-07:00

Mount Shasta received a "dusting" of fresh snow from our little summer rainstorm and temperature drop last week. Remember that Mount Shasta is over 14,000 feet tall so it is much colder up there.
(click image for a larger picture)

Cutting Hay

2010-08-31T06:32:00.000-07:00

I love the smell of fresh cut alfalfa hay. The ranchers are busy growing, watering, cutting and baling hay as the season progresses.

Another Photographer

2010-08-29T16:48:00.000-07:00

I found another guy that takes pictures through the windshield as he drives...

Strange Weather

2010-08-29T15:59:00.000-07:00

Within three days we have had the hottest day, then some rain then the coolest day. Saturday, with rare rain for this time of year, was the coolest day for August 28, setting a new record at 66 degrees. The previous coolest day was 78 degrees in 1927. Last Thursday it was 110 degrees in Redding.

Oh Dear, More Deer

2010-08-28T16:08:00.000-07:00

I had some deliveries in Etna yesterday and was on a little dirt/gravel road that had several deer resting in the shade of the few trees available along the road. Of course, they jump up and run as soon as a vehicle approaches.
(as always, click image for a larger picture)

Oreo Cows

2010-08-26T20:42:00.000-07:00

Saw these big oreos in a field near Gazelle.

The Belted Galloway is a rare beef breed of cattle originating from Galloway in South West Scotland, adapted to living on the poor upland pastures and windswept moorlands of the region. The exact origin of the breed is unclear although it is often surmised that the white belt that distinguishes these cattle from the native black Galloway cattle may be as a result of cross breeding with Dutch Lakenvelder belted cattle.

Belted Galloways are primarily raised for their quality marbled beef, although they are sometimes milked and purchased to adorn pastures due to their striking appearance. In the US these cows are often informally known as "police car cows,""panda cows" or "Oreo cows" after the Oreo cookie.

Hot Day in Redding

2010-08-26T05:41:00.000-07:00

Temperatures at Redding Municipal Airport soared to 110 degrees Wednesday afternoon, making it the hottest Aug. 25 on record in Redding. The high temperature beat a record for the date set downtown in 1923 and matched at the airport in 1988. The old record was 108 degrees. Wednesday also marked the first time this summer Redding has recorded a high temperature of 110 degrees or higher. Forecasters expect the late-August heat to continue today, though the high temperature should be closer to 100 degrees.

Fort Jones Accident

2010-08-24T20:23:00.000-07:00

As I passed through Fort Jones yesterday afternoon, there were firemen directing traffic and a couple of units on the scene of a "rear ender fender bender" right on main street of this quiet little town. Hopefully no one was injured as the speed limit in town is 25 mph.

Secret Mountain Top Place

2010-08-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

I noticed this secret place for the first time as the sun was shining off the buildings in the afternoon on top of this place in Etna. The recipient said he thought it was a "secret" Air Force tracking station. Maybe for UFO's? I did have my camera with me with the long range lens so that was helpful.
(as always, click the image for a larger picture)

Mount Shasta

2010-08-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

Mount Shasta is always beautiful from any direction. Most of the snow is gone now. This is from Jackson Ranch Road in Weed. Click image for a larger picture

Teepee

2010-08-17T21:34:00.000-07:00

Saw a few teepees at a deliver in Weed off Stewart Springs Road.
–noun
a tent of the American Indians, made usually from animal skins laid on a conical frame of long poles and having an opening at the top for ventilation and a flap door.

More Work Getting Done

2010-08-16T18:18:00.000-07:00

They have been working hard on the bridge project. Both sides of the lake are quite busy these days. They are also moving hundreds of tons of dirt from the south side as they cut the mountains back.

Another Old Post Office

2010-08-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

This old (1870's) restored Berryvale Post Office sits along S. Old Stage Road in Mount Shasta. I would suppose that the stage coaches ran up and down "old stage" road in the 1870's and probably delivered mail to and from this old post office.
(click image for larger picture)

Bus Caravan

2010-08-13T18:33:00.000-07:00

I saw a caravan of about 7-8 brand new school buses headed north on I-5. Wouldn't be that strange except they were empty of passengers and were from New Mexico. ??

Mom and two fawns

2010-08-13T06:36:00.000-07:00

Saw a doe and her twin fawns as the scampered across the road and hid in the bushes in Yreka yesterday.

Everyone likes a lawn statue of a deer

2010-08-12T06:34:00.000-07:00

Everyone likes a lawn statue of a deer, but in Yreka they are usually real.

Birds-Eye View

2010-08-09T18:45:00.000-07:00

Got up a little higher tonight and got a nice shot across the lake of the construction on both sides of the lake at the Antler's Bridge Project.
(as always, click the picture for a larger image)

Bigger Boat

2010-08-08T15:25:00.000-07:00

I passed a "bigger boat" than normal on I-5 near Grenada the other day. They haul some pretty large boats up and down I-5.

Good Ol' Cal Trans

2010-08-05T06:01:00.000-07:00

What do you mean I should be in the middle of the road where the cones are?

Melting Snow

2010-08-04T06:32:00.000-07:00

I had a delivery up near Macdoel yesterday and saw the north side of Mount Shasta again. The snow is still there but melting away as the summer wanes.

It's that same old smell...

2010-07-31T18:43:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I was talking about the sweet smell of summer while following a full cattle truck on I-5. This is even better, and closer. I was following a set of doubles who was following a single trailer full on Scott River Road with no place to pass and I really enjoyed going 20 mph through this country.

J H Ranch

2010-07-31T10:23:00.000-07:00

JH Ranch is a summer guest Ranch located in Northern California with programs for Husband/Wife couples, Parent/Child couples, and teens. I had a delivery there last week and they had an old wagon with beautiful flowers and a nice setting against the mountains.

Gasoline 68.9 cents/gallon

2010-07-27T18:44:00.000-07:00

I have been past this little building several times over the past few years and just noticed today that it was an old Union 76 gas station, or "service station" as they were called then. I had to convert the picture to black and white and colorize the sign to show the price of 68.9 cents and 69.9 cents for premium.
The building is on the corner of Old 99 and Callahan-Gazelle Road in Gazelle.
(click image to enlarge the picture)

Fire Near Tulelake

2010-07-26T21:19:00.000-07:00

I had some deliveries in Tulelake today and it looked like they may have had some fires started by lightning strikes. There is a plane in the picture dumping fire retardant as it was making several passes.
(as always, click image to enlarge the picture)

The Sweet Smell of Summer

2010-07-22T06:40:00.000-07:00

There is nothing quite like the smell of following a full cattle truck through the mountains on a hot day.

Melting Fast

2010-07-20T16:35:00.000-07:00

The snow is melting fast on Mount Shasta. We have had almost two weeks of triple digit weather in Redding and it has been very warm in Mount Shasta as well. The lake level is also dropping pretty quickly. It is about 18 feet from the "full" mark today.

Portable Barges

2010-07-17T09:49:00.000-07:00

Portable Barges

2010-07-14T21:20:00.000-07:00

http://www.poseidonbarge.com/I saw a few trucks hauling these portable barges over the past few days. It looks like they will be using them on the Antlers Bridge construction project also.

Copco Lake

2010-07-12T19:47:00.000-07:00

Copco Lake(click the map link to see the location) is quite nice this time of year.
Unfortunately, I had to drive all the way around it for two deliveries today. The north side road is gravel and quite unstable but I did get to see a lot of eagle's nests on various power poles throughout the drive.

Dandelion?

2010-07-08T19:43:00.000-07:00

What do you think? Dandelion or some other plant ready to disperse its seeds? Beautiful in the sunlight, so fragile looking.
(be sure to click the image to enlarge the picture to see the detail)

America the Beautiful

2010-07-05T07:12:00.000-07:00

I saw Mount Shasta and some grain last Friday and the picture reminded me of the words of America the Beautiful..

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

Got Dirt?

2010-07-03T13:12:00.000-07:00

More piles and higher piles of dirt as they continue to work on the south side.

Head of the Klamath

2010-06-30T21:19:00.000-07:00

I had a delivery in Hornbrook today at the fish hatchery. It is the head or beginning of the Klamath River in California. (Map link) The folks launching their rafts could beat me to Happy Camp on the river if all went well. (just kidding)
(click picture for larger image)

Moving the Dirt

2010-06-28T19:13:00.000-07:00

Truck load after truckload, every day, to move mountains of dirt from one side of the bridge to the other. Cutting and scraping the areas for the new freeway entrance and exit.
(remember to click the image for a larger picture)

Antlers Bridge Construction

2010-06-23T18:22:00.000-07:00

I had a chance today to get a couple of shots of the construction on the south side of the Antlers Bridge. The construction continues to "cut down" the mountain on the receiving side of the land.
(as always, click image to view a larger picture)

Another Hard Working Guy

2010-06-22T06:39:00.000-07:00

My friend and co-worker has his vehicle loaded with all seven boxes and a few envelopes and is ready to start another grueling, three hour day. Some of us work a little more than that. Read Red's blog here:
http://hiwayjournals.blogspot.com/

Back to the City

2010-06-19T10:46:00.000-07:00

Had to make another trip to SF to pick up my daughter and son-in-law. A little fog on the bridge this time and the muni running down Carl Street at the corner of Stanyan.

Log Trucks and Narrow Roads

2010-06-16T20:57:00.001-07:00

Scott River Road is bad enough on a good day. But it is better to be following one of these guys than to be meeting one on this road. Log truck drivers go extremely fast on straight roads but this road is special. The CHP that met us on one curve found that out as he barely missed the ditch. Good thing he was on the inside as the drop on the outside with no guard rail is a few hundred feet down to the river.

Two Turbines Up, Forty-four to go

2010-06-15T05:46:00.000-07:00

Two wind turbines are up and twirling on Hatchet Ridge overlooking Burney, but they aren’t producing power yet.

Construction workers must erect another 44 turbines and string in the wiring before they start providing electricity in October, said Mike Nevenzel, construction manager for at Hatchet Ridge.

For now the turbines are “free spinning,” or turning in the wind without creating energy.

“They are idling,” he said.

Visible from downtown Burney, the turbines will be strung across 6½ miles on Hatchet Ridge and produce 100 megawatts of power. That’s enough to power 30,000 to 35,000 homes.

San Francisco Trip

2010-06-13T18:16:00.000-07:00

We had a quick trip to San Francisco on Sunday to bring my daughter and her husband to the city for doctor's visits next week. The traffic was not as bad as I had imagined as it had been quite some time since I went over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Another View of Mount Shasta

2010-06-12T07:09:00.000-07:00

I usually take photos of Mount Shasta along I-5 between Mount Shasta City and Yreka, sometimes from the north on highway 97 towards Dorris. Today I had some deliveries on the south side of Mount Shasta near McCloud.
It was quite a nice day and a beautiful view of a beautiful mountain. (as always, click picture for the larger view)

In Memory - David Alan Muelrath

2010-06-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

We had some sad news today. We just found out a former employee of our company has passed away. Dave was a great guy, he had been off for about a year after an accident last winter.

David Alan Muelrath
Siskiyou Daily News
Posted Jun 09, 2010 @ 08:56 AM
Yreka, Calif. —

David Alan Muelrath, 49 years old, passed away on May 27, 2010 after a short battle with cancer. He was born in Modesto, Calif. to Ken and Barbara Muelrath on Aug. 3, 1960, and was raised in Santa Rosa, Calif. He moved to Redding, Calif. with his family, where he met his wife Krista. They were married and moved to Yreka in 1984, where they enjoyed 30 years of marriage. They raised three sons, Trevor, Tyler and Todd.
David loved camping, hunting, fishing and baseball. He coached local baseball for over 20 years, touching the lives of many young players. He attended 12 years of school and was a Certified Food Protection Professional. He made many friends working at our local hospital and nursing home in the past. He completed his career as a package delivery courier. David will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his best friend and wife Krista; his son Trevor; his daughter-in-law Beverly; two special grandchildren Cali and Luke; and his sons Tyler and Todd. In addition, he leaves his parents Ken and Barbara Muelrath of Showlow, Ariz.; his brothers, Keith with his wife Corrine; Marty; Phil with his wife Elite; and Paul with his wife Cicely; and his sister Melissa with her husband Ron; and many nieces and nephews who will sorely miss their “Uncle David.”
A family service was held on Tuesday, June 1, 2010.

Memorial contributions may be made to Madrone Hospice, 255 Collier Cir., Yreka, CA 96097.