Trip 9 - California Dreamin'

On this trip we set out to immerse ourselves in the culture and the nature of California. To discover its textures and see some of its natural wonders. We discover that California is very big. It is not a state that you can just pass through, it is, more than any other place we have visited, more like another country. It is a land dominated by mountains, the spaces between and like nowhere else, water.
Our start in the heavily populated area to the East of Los Angeles, known as the Inland Empire, is crowded into the lowlands surrounded by magnificent mountains. The feeling is of a cauldron which is trying to boil over the mountains to the fresh air of the rest of the state.
To the South is a band of Desert, which is the buffer to Mexico, which we did not explore on this trip.
We travelled North through the mountains (everywhere in California you can see mountains) to the desert, and on again to the huge Central Valley, mile after mile of intensive agriculture. Culture here is dominated by food, flatness, low income and trying to impact on the 'sameness' of the flat lands through music and festival. It is the communication and administrative corridor that links all other areas of California.
To the East is the huge mountain chain of the Sierra Nevada which clearly demonstrates the magnificence of the natural world, both in its geology and nature, reflected in the pysche and pride of most Californians. It is Eldorado, dominated by Gold!
To the West of the Central Valley are the coastal mountains, San Francisco and the magnificent coast. More isolated cultures, from mixed resources, communities seperated by mountains.
To the North of the Central Valley more mountains and a culture which looks more North towards Oregon than South to Sacremento.
This blog details our journey through California, where we pick and choose, or just scratch the surface, of this diverse and beautiful state.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Burney Falls


Friday
We left Lassen Volcanic N.P. with the feeling that we had seen something quite special, as it dropped behind us we could still see the Peak, covered with snow. In front of us growing ever larger we could see the snow covered Mount Shasta, standing out white against the blue sky, still 65 miles away. We stopped at a Mom and Pop Cafe called J.J.'s in Old Station for a cup of tea/coffee and a homemade Blackberry Danish, very nice.
We were heading for a small State Park with a lake, water fall, and campground. As with Lassen Volcano, the water had been switched off in the campground, so we would still be using the tank of Emerald Lake water. The site was large and flat and our house batteries had recharged on the journey, so we were happy.
On Saturday we packed a lunch and set off to see the water fall. We were not disappointed as it is one of the most beautiful water falls tht we have seen. It drops about 100 ft, the main flow splitting into two streams as it flows over the sheer cliff of basalt lava. However for about 75 ft either side a curtain of water cascades from the rock itself, where the basalt sits on a layer of impervious rock. The water then drops into a wide pool, to drain into a river with steep sides and disappear towards the lake. The overall effect is very dramitc and beautiful.
We stood and looked for some time, then had our lunch there. Being adventurous we unshipped Sally's manual chair and walked down to the falls, which are as magnificent from below as from above, and then follwoed the river tothe lake, about a mile and a half away. I think this is the longest walk we have done with the manual chair (apart from trips round Walmart) and it was very enjoyable.
When we left Lassen Volcanic N.P. we were on our way to see friends in Weed, near Mt Shasta, so on Sunday we left the S.P. and drove on towards Weed.
Posted by fastrak at 9:01 PM

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