Day 9 - Lakehead, CA

[Sunday, Lakehead, CA] Slept in until about 7:33a.m. this morning. Well, Linda slept in a bit longer, but she deserves it! John had PB on toast and a banana this morning. Linda had her Raw Bits Twang Twang. Due to the overwhelming curiosity as to what RBTTs consist of, if you stay tuned for our last posting from this road trip, Linda just might be persuaded to give out her special secret recipe.

A note about the first two pictures in today's photo gallery. Our cabin has a cute kitchenette. We think it's a Buddhist kitchenette. The sink and the stove are at one with each other. Does save room. Second picture is of what used to be a gas station next door that also did brake inspections. Gone with the wind.

Linda did something unusual (for her). She took a shower. Linda hates showers but had no choice unless she filled up a wading pool down by the grassy knoll. She decided to use the complimentary shampoo/conditioner which was in an economical reusable packet (let's call it ERP for short). It was impossible for her to open aforementioned ERP at the "tear here" area or anywhere else (thus the ERP aspect). She even tried using her teeth as tools (like she always preached NOT to do to the kids). Then she remembered her Grandmother Angie's method while on a road trip in New Mexico. She said "Here Honey, use this bar of soap. It will work just as good as shampoo". Weird feeling to rub a bar of soap on your head but it did work OK. And my hair is standing on end without even having to use any moose or reindeer or elk (can you tell I'm not sure how to spell mousse?). PS If anyone out there in blogland hates baths you can donate Linda all your foofy bath salts, etc.

We left about 9:00a.m. to go to a restaurant we saw on our "lake tour" yesterday They serve espresso drinks so John was able to get some "real" coffee (4 shots in a large Mocha). He's still vibrating! The couple that owns the restaurant just moved here about six months ago from Watsonville. As we were arriving 2 ladies were peering out the front window in fascination - not at us but at a cluster of birds around 2 feeders (one for hummers, the other for several kinds tiny colorful birds that like millet). The restaurant is very cute. They bought the whole building about 3 years ago and have been revamping it. There is a beauty shop down at the end and some other forgettable (at least we forgot it) business in the middle. The restaurant is decorated with a woodsy decor. That's where we were photographed with the buffalo. There's also a totem pole and a wooden Indian. Linda asked the lady (owner) if she was loving it here and she said that she is but that it was taking her a while to get used to being in such a small town (population about 312).

After leaving there, we decided to go back to Pollard Flat and visit the river. There were two other cars in the parking lot. The path down to the river is really nice. The US Forest Service used railroad ties (and hopefully convict labor) to make stairs down the steepest part, then they poured concrete over the rocks and left it rough to make a solid path the rest of the way down. The other cars in the parking lot were those of three fly fishermen who were all out in the middle of the river (not that deep, we suppose, or perhaps they can walk on water!) flycasting away. There are so many flies (the kind that like to hang around your head and eyes and stay with you even if you are running and waving your arms at them) down by the river that the "fly" fisherman should have caught their limit! Though we never did see them catch any fish. But the one we talked to was optimistic, at least. When Linda asked if he had caught anything he said, "Not yet" (in a cheerful/hopeful way). Maggie enjoyed the walk down and seemed to really like the river. Didn't stay too long, but took some nice photos. We think.

Having decided to "explore" on the way back to Lakehead, we took the Le Moine exit. Le Moine, you know, is French for "Lemon". The exit sign clearly stated "No Services". Perhaps it should have stated "No Services. Not Much of a Road." We wound around and crossed a creek a couple of times. We met a young man in overalls on an ATV with his dog riding on the back. He (the man) was grinning from ear-to-ear. Couldn't tell if the dog was grinning. At any moment we thought we might hear strains of "Dueling Banjos" coming from this place that appears to belong in North Georgia (sorry Jerry) or Tennessee. No, John can't squeal like a pig! Yet, but Linda's working on it. Took some "interesting" photos. One of them was of an old dilapidated couch on the front porch of an even more dilapidated (and unoccupied) house. Why would we take a picture of that, one might ask? Because we had a couch with that exact same fabric (until just a few years ago). And, for some reason, we keep seeing it (strangely neither of our children wanted it when we were ready to release it). It is the exact same fabric as Frazier's father's beloved recliner. Ah, memories!

On the way back out of Le Moine, we found a gravel side road that crossed an old bridge that crossed a creek. Had to cross the bridge and take pictures of it and the creek. Le Moine was photographically worth exploring. Wouldn't particularly want to move there. Like the highway exit sign says: "No Services".

Next exit south was Dog Creek Road. It was a narrow, all gravel road and not too well maintained. You knew you were headed for the creek because it was all downhill. Crossed a couple of old picturesque bridges. The road seemed to be getting more narrow and bumpy and we were getting a little concerned about finding a place to turn around. Met an oncoming pickup truck and negotiated safe passage so we decided there must be a turnaround somewhere ahead. Then we came to a Railroad Crossing Ahead sign so we relaxed a bit. At the bottom of the road just after you crossed the railroad tracks, was an old steel and wood bridge with a sign, "Warning Bridge Under Repair. Load Limit 3 Tons". Linda didn't want to drive across the bridge (even if John got out!). The phrase "under repair" completely spooked her for some reason. So, we found a nice place to park and walked onto the bridge to photograph the bridge, Dog Creek, the railroad crossing and tracks. John walked all the way across the bridge to photograph it. It held up! On the other side he found a sign "2 Miles to Shasta Wilderness". From the location at the bottom of Dog Creek Road you can also take a picture of the old Hwy 99 bridge that crossed the creek. Of course, it's no longer in use. As we were leaving, John stopped at one of the old bridges and was able to photograph the I-5 bridge from underneath as well. Linda's treasure was an old rusty railroad spike. It will find a place in her garden, no doubt. On our way back to a real road we saw a real estate sign offering 3,000 acres of land. John commented that they probably don't mention in their media advertisements that it is mostly vertical. The Two Old Buzzards agreed that they would much rather photograph it than own it.

Next exit south was Lakehead. So we returned to the lodge and had a light lunch in our cozy cabin. John had grapes, cheese, crackers, peanut butter, milk and a Milky Way Midnight he bought last night. Linda had a sandwich with Larrupin' Mustard Dill Sauce on grainy bread with sliced apple, lettuce, jack cheese, smoked provelone and smoked ham. Maggie had a biscuit from Black Bear Diner. Plans are to go to Allyson's Restaurant for dinner this evening. Rumor is that "You can get anything you want at Allyson's Restaurant". It's across I-5 on Lakeshore Drive, just down from where John got his coffee this morning. We will take pictures this evening and include them tomorrow when we let you know how it is. And, if you can really get anything you want...

Link to Day 9 Photo Gallery The gallery will open in its own window. When finished viewing, close that window to return here.