6/22/2026

 6/22/2926

Today was the lava beds drive: first was Lassen, then Medicine Lake Road, and eventually Modoc Scenic Byway/ Lava bed National Monument. There are lava tubes that become caves, and there was a spelunking group ready to explore. Shoes must be cleaned in advance so the cave bats do not get white nose syndrome, a fungal disease. We stopped in Klamath Falls for fuel, dog park and ice cream. Across the street from ice cream was a store called Poppy! The original intention was for me to get a haircut at Great Clips. You can get on the waiting list in advance. Usually takes 20 minutes. At this one, my wait was 206 minutes. Yikes. We moved on.

We are camped at Crater Lake for 2 nights, Mazama Campground, named after the mountain that collapsed and became a cauldron which became the lake.

Mount Shasta

10 miles of gravel road

Visitors' center

Heading for the caves

Scoping out the options

Here's one of the caves

Fossilized Stream created this

6/21/2026

 6/21/2026

We drove through Lassen Volcanic National Park and arrived early afternoon at Manzanita Campground within the park. At the entrance, a sign read "recent bear activity. Put all food in Bear Boxes. Violators will be prosecuted. " This is a pic of our neighbor's bear box. And they were tent campers. Didn't see evidence of bear visits this morning. And the neighbors were still there.

The entrance to the park

Bubbling mud pot

Yes, that is snow around the lake

Warning to place all food in bear boxes

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The Dixie Fire 2021

 Dixie Fire:

The 2021 Dixie Fire was an enormous wildfire in Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Shasta, and Tehama counties in Northern California. Named after a nearby Dixie Road.

The Dixie Fire is the largest single wildfire in California state history. While the official cause of the Dixie Fire is still under investigation, it is known to have started after a blown fuse on a PG&E utility pole was struck by a fallen tree on July 13, 2021.

It burned almost a million acres July 13 through October 22, 2021.

How it looks in 2026

6/20/2026

 6/20/2026

This afternoon we backtracked to Chester, CA for laundry, ice cream, a craft fair, church and dinner. The website said church time was 4pm. We got there at 3 because our chores were done; but church was at 5, not 4., so we just relaxed and hung out. Pics: dogs playing in the park, art fair booth, church.

Our Lady of the Snows Church

6/19/2026

 6/19/2026

Today we didn't travel far. There was a lot of road construction with delays as they installed fiberoptic lines. We saw evidence of the 2021 Dixie Fire for miles. Lunch stop, Lake Almanor and then on to Gurnsey Creek Campground, on the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. Online it said the campground was full, but that was only the group sites. Plenty of availability. We are here 2 nights. Cost of the site per night was 1/2 price at $7.00, but we paid $3.50 because of our National Parks Senior Pass. What a deal.

Digging the trench for the cable

Lake Almanor

Dixie Fire 2021 evidence

6/18/2026

 6/18/2026

We needed fuel. Price comparison: Lake Tahoe- $7.69 a gallon (diesel) OR drive east over the mountain to Mendon $4.36 gallon with our Open Roads app discount at a Maverick station. (50 mile round trip, but it was worth it.)

Lots of road construction in town and up the west side of Lake Tahoe. Beautiful scenery! We are camped early-Granite Flat Campground on the Truckee River, Route 89, because we had trouble finding a campground. Many have only group campsites.

Sammy's first swim ever!

Our next RV

Bottom of Lake Tahoe

Mountain Road to get fuel

On the west shore

Anchored out

Boats surrounding the island

River is right behind the trees

Sammy loved it

New friend

We are in his campground.  Not sure he's happy.

6/17/2026

 6/17/2026

Each day is unique. Big down hills and steep uphills on Route 108, Sonora Pass, 9624 feet. Neither of us had seen 26% grades up or 25% grades down before. We saw the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center at the bottom of Hwy 108, Bridgeport, CA.

Monitor Pass on Highway 89 had some steep grades, too. Early in the day we took a Google maps suggested road and saw goats and llamas in a rural farm area. Fuel prices today, $6.61 gallon diesel. Our lunch stop was at Donnell Vista. We made it to Lake Tahoe and grabbed a campsite at Fallen Leaf Forest Service Campground. (200 campsites + 6 fully enclosed yurts).

Forgot to mention that 2 campers were broken into last night by young bears who found screen doors open and no owners in sight! That won't happen to us!

Cute Mr. Goat

Llanas

Headed for the Overlook

Poppy at our lunch stop

View from the overlook

Selfie

Steep road after the Overlook

Pic at the overlook

We've never seen these grades before-STEEP

Just like a roller coaster

More steep grades

The Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training center.
They practice cold weather and high altitude warfare.

Our campsite at Lake Tahoe