All were at Brian's the night before. Left almost right on time!
Sweetwater Springs Road was fun. Stopped at same gas station. Skipped
Geysers Road. Stopped at Christopher Moore's...Richard worked on new bus
that joined us in Willits with brand new engine, Gene installed CB in
Rachel's truck. 1.5 hours later or so, we left, Sherwood Road was dusty!
Did not linger at the end, but headed down 101 to 162. Gene had rear facing
external camera, and took the lead, and also up top forward camera, and
buses coordinated to take turns in the spotlight. Towards Covelo on 162,
skipped Poonkinney Road, but 162 gets pretty. Saw Covelo, headed up Mina
Road. Had a brief encounter with a muddy off-road turn cutting place. Mud
and dust roostertails skidding, etc. was fun. Not snow, though, until way
north. Cloudy skies all day. Tim gets rock puncture flat. Pit team fixes
it in 2 minutes. More driving. Kettenpom. Make decision with Brian to go
longer unknown route to the north. Leave Kettenpom after fueling, Brian in
lead. Disappears. When we get to Ruth Lake, Brian gone, we take old route.
Stop for photo op on southwest bank, then again on northeast bank of Ruth
Lake. Rain has been happening all day. Some snow flurries. Get on Hwy 36,
see snow. Go to Hwy 3, towards Hayfork, see Gene's brother, whose wife just
had new baby, stop say hi for 10 minutes. Hayfork, get gas, etc., hace
crab/cheese souffle and cookies from Susan...yum! Dark now, driving in
cold, snow imminent. Through Weaverville, up Hwy 3 still. Stop at Trinity
Center to see Sasquatch and pee. Maybe eat at Sasquatch restaurant next
year? Scarey Indian Toilet Guard! Up Hwy 3...major pass, snow on road,
thick, slippery. Took long time, esp. trucks with little traction. Group
stopped at a spot, there was some mention of turning back, but not really.
Got going again, around next corner was summit! Downhill was easier...not
as scarey as thought to be. Gazelle-Callahan Road, Old Hwy 99, I5 in major
wind to Mt. Shasta. Motel. Sleep.
Saturday, get up, spend lots of time getting breakfast. Stop at local VW
person's place, see yet another bus...visiting. Go up to Castle lake. Snow
on Road, fun! Total whiteout on the lake...Went fishing...Gene caught his
first two from that lake ever, Richard cought 3 using a handheld spool of
line and a hook...neato! Went down hill, screwed around a bit with chains,
but not much cuz getting dark. Stopped at motel to regroup for ascent of
Shasta, new doublecab ('63) pulls in...they got to Brian's in Guernevill 1/2
hour after we left, and had been trying to catch us since. Hi! Went up
mountain...Bunny Flat. Snow on road most of way. Not too cold or windy.
No chickens were cooked enroute. Two rubber chickens present and accounted
for, although slightly choked. Made fire. Cooked food, fish, ate it. Yum.
Too much for amount of people. Upon leaving, Brian initiated snowbus
manuevers, and many in group followed suit. Head down hill, yank brake,
turn wheel, and wheeeee! Some small impact with snowbank. No real damage,
though. Go down hill, back to motel...late.
Sunday, get up, prepare to leave, make breakfast in parking lot for everyone, was great breakfast, but cold. Motel lady did not approve! Got gas, went to Dunsmuir Airport for choreographed bus manuevers. Now we're late for sure! Head down I5. Yuck. Get to Red Bluff (skipped Anderson stop), SNAFU, but ends up OK...get gas. Brian jets before us to creek crossing. We catch up, only to hear he's stuck in creek. Took a look. Yep, he's stuck. Tim tries to cross to pull Brian from other side.....nope. Now two buses in creek. Long time extricating buses with tow rope/chain/cable/come-a-longs, and Aaron's bus. Tim gets stuck in mud on way out...Rustybus pulls out. Dead boar, Aaron retch. Eew. Abort creek crossing, go around....longer, but way beautiful! Not straight dirt road, but curvy some asphalt, neat trees, hills, creeks, etc....Elk Creek finally...closed, no gas. On to Stony Ford. Photo session. Local think we're wierd. Susan heads off on her own back north and east. Rest of us go to Bartlett Springs Road. Fun Fun Fun! Get to off-road area, and have fun, steamed windows, the back area of that, previously unexplored, was really cool. Back on road, long time the maxome foe we sought, but instead encountered rabbits. Mud, mostly, potholes, rocks, tree stuff. Fun...have I mentioned fun? Finally got to top, and started down...bummer trip now ending. Got to Hwy 20, went to gas station. Tearful farewells, etc. End of trip.