The Sierras

The beautiful drive continues through the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  Beautiful day on the road.  It is not long until we hit snow.  This area had a great deal of snow not long ago, evidenced by the just plowed piles and the salt residue on the road.

Once we clear the peak just north of Donner Pass the scenery outside our windows change dramatically.  The trees disappear, the road levels off pushing the mountain peaks into the distance. 

 Up and down over the hills has our little travel partner beside herself.

She is a trooper and settles back down for the rest of the ride through Utah.

It never seems to get old, the constant change in the countryside; here changing from the flat sagebrush of western Nevada to the salt flats just outside of Salt Lake City to the most amazing drive, weaving through the peaks surrounding this ski town. 

  Our razor sharp driver keeps his eyes on the road and we make thru another great day on the road.

Feather River Canyon

So leaving California is always hard but today the journey was made so much better by the route we took.   Thanks to great recommendations elect to leave Paradise via California Highway 70.  The canyon portion of this 130-mile scenic byway route sends us east, following the north fork of the Feather River.  We have already enjoyed the beauty of the Feather River on hikes but this drive was just amazing.
The road winds along the edge of the canyon high above the river.  Slowly the road tracks down toward the river exposing beautiful views of the wooded hillside and a lone railroad track tracking just above the river. 

  The road continues along over great historic bridges and through this awesome tunnel.

This amazing Drive weaves along the river past the Rock Creek Powerhouse.   Along the drive every cliff peak spouts a new water falls.  The rain and snow has again provided us with this show of waterfall amazement.  So much power, so much water.

The road continues along the river past a widening in the river where many boats are anchored for weekend fun.   The little stops and camp areas have evidence of great summer time vacation fun.

We then wind through a cute little town called Quincy.   So cute. Then to Hwy 89 and the 100 acre ranch for sale in Cromwell.   Hmmmmm....   

This has been the most scenic stretch of roadway we have traveled this entire trip.
Thank you and good bye California.

Lauren and Don....

 We are so grateful to stay with our special Paradise ambassador once again.  

Letting someone into your home and life is a great gift. We feel honored to stay at your new house and spend time with you and Don.   

You have been great hosts and showed us a wonderful time.

  

Thank you for your kindness and hospitality.  Love you both, always!

Picnic in Bille Park

A trip to Paradise is not complete without a visit to Bille Park.  This seems a great place for a little Sunday afternoon get together.  Even with everyone's so very busy schedules and crazy lives with things that just can not wait, we love that for a few short hours everyone stopped and  talked and ate and played together.    

Love you all, my California family!

Way to Save a City

Today we are visiting the Orville Dam visitor center.  So much in the news all over the country, the Orville Dam spill way failure was front and center as you entered the plaza.
The tallest earthen dam at 770 feet was built in 1967 and became a threat in 2017 to the cities below Lake Oroville as soon as the main and backup spillways became overwhelmed by large amounts of water from all rain and snow this past winter.  Trying to even understand all the moving parts that go into the management of  the many dams and water ways along the forks of the Feather River and its inlets is mind boggling.  "Hats Off" to those who worked tirelessly and responsibly for the safety of the dam and the people below. 

The water has receded dramatically and repair of the spillways is well underway. The dam itself is a marvel.  The lake created by the dam at its maximum fill includes some 15,500 surface areas and 167 miles of shoreline.  That is a big lake.  And the recreational area around the lake is absolutely beautiful. 

The visitor center celebrates the wildlife and history of the area. Native people play a big part of this history.  As we walk through we see a special display for a man called "Ishi".
Ishi, described as the last surviving Stone Age Indian in the contiguous United States, is discovered in California in 1911.   Found lost and starving near Oroville, California, he was largely unfamiliar with white ways and spoke no English.  Authorities took the mysterious Indian into custody for his own protection. 

A Berkeley anthropologist worked to communicate with Ishi and eventually learned that he was a Yahi Indian, an isolated branch of the northern California Yana tribe. He was approximately 50 years old and was apparently the last of his people. Ishi said he had wandered the mountains of northern California for some time with a small remnant of the Yahi people. Gradually, accident or disease had killed his companions. A white man murdered his final male companion, and Ishi wandered alone until he reached Oroville.

For five years, Ishi lived at the Berkeley Museum. He and Waterman reportedly became close friends.  The University touted the learnings achived by this effort and Ishi spent much time describing his tribal customs and demonstrating his wilderness skills in archery, woodcraft, and other traditional techniques. He learned to understand and survive in the white world, and enjoyed wandering the Bay area communities and riding on the trolley cars. Eventually, though, Ishi contracted tuberculosis. He died on March 25, 1916, at an estimated age of 56. His body was cremated according to the customs of his people

Such an interesting story.  We have so much to learn, where ever we go.

Laugh til we cry

The best times are not always the big events and outings but the special times when you enjoy the people around you. 

It doesn't matter if we are hiking the Flume...

 Or the Table Mountain...

or just playing around...

Trying to take a group photo ...

 Playing "dirty rotten hearts"  or just some California version of Mexican Train...

 Thank you, Paradise, you always make me smile.

Hiking the Flumes

Three years ago when we first visited Paradise, California we were given our initiation into the Flume Trails.

  We were totally unaware of the rich history of these amazing engineering marvels. 

It is trilling to think that these water ways were first used to transport logs down the steep canyon walls to the sawmills. These flumes also transported cut lumber from the sawmills to places where it could be transported more easily.  Later the flumes were tapped by the energy companies and for water control in the valley. 

 Today, these flumes provide us quick access to some very rugged and beautiful areas, our favorite along the Feather River. The water a beautiful color of green from the serpentine rocks which are abundant along the river.

Hiking along this trail there are countless opportunities to stop and enjoy the natural beauty of the area.  

On our last visit, the state was 6 years into an 8 year drought that left these arteries empty and mostly dry.  This year with the heavy rain and snow the flumes are running again and we are enjoy the hike in a whole new way.  

Hiking the flumes over the rushing water is truly a totally different experience. Keeping your eyes down to stay on the trail, seeing the water rushing underneath your feet and then hearing the white water of the Feather River just to your right.  So awesome.

This was a great idea with some great trail guides.

The gorgeous trail winds around the canyon for 2-3 miles ending at the Head Dam. 

This is our rest stop for stacks.  (my favorite part of any hike)  We linger for a short while and look for treasures.  Some of us find little treasures...

Others find bigger ones...

The above photo shows me carrying this 40+ lb beauty to the car, truth be told, Brad, my hero hoisted this monster on his shoulder and dragged it all the way back from the dam.   XOXO.  

Love these flume trails and the people who bring them to us.

Home is where the heart is

Nothing is better than that feeling you get when you are home.  Home is where your heart is at ease and your spirit is free to be. Being with those who make you feel at home allow you to bring home wherever life takes you.  

Love to those who bring me home.  

Spring on Table Mountain

According to the Google, Table Mountain is made up of two mountains, North Table and South Table.  Both having been created by ancient lava flows, the approximately 3,300 acre North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve is an elevated mesa with beautiful vistas of spring wildflowers, 

waterfalls,

 lava outcrops, 

and rolling hills of happy cows...

Great place for a Sunday hike with some of the happiest of all.

Beautiful spring day of

hiking 

and talking 

and laughing 

and exploring.

Paradise California always providing a new glimpse of paradise.