2nd August Dunmuir to Mineral Lodge

Off to Mineral lodge for 2 nights

As we headed out East towards McLoud on  299  ... we saw what looked like foggy haze. Opening the window - definitely smoke. Stopped at Birney Falls for the view, a hike & a swim. Carried on our way, only to see rising plumes of smoke ahead. Then a matrix sign saying the road was closed. So we had to make  a rather long diversion, back East, South down I5 & back up the hill.  Towering clouds appeared above the smoke in an otherwise blue sky.

Drove up to the National Park for a "Dark Skies" evening event: we all got to see Saturn & its rings through a telescope.

1st August Weaverville to Dunsmuir

54F at 7am, back up to 101F by 4pm - absolutely roasting. Thought we would drive by Trinity lake, maybe have a paddle.

Outside the motel in the morning (pool to cool down in last night)

Trinity lakebed from roadside

The Marina shoreline

A 5 mile drive up a dusty road to a "trail head" ... still in the trees. SInging & talking because its bear country

Prior to this we drove close to a mother & fawn (no picture)

Head of Scott mountain trail - nearby a Search & Rescue party being set up by the Sherrif for a "missing person" and by the way "there's a fire over there". We saw a helicopter with a suspended bucket earlier which will have been on its way to the fire. 

A brief saunter  along the trail (it was very hot!)

There's the fire smoke

Mt Shasta

Our room for the night at Dunsmuir Railroad Park - and another welcome pool

31st July Ferndale to Weaverville

Rowena's breakfast waffle

Last view of coast

... and its hot inland ...

the  buzzards think we've had it 

So do we, its 106F

Mr JP Gumby on holiday