Fire Tour 2020: California (Act 3)
Welcome back to California! Back in September 2020...
As with most extended family vacations, we were beginning to get excited to get home. I mean, we had been on the road for three weeks now. Since we had missed out on Crater Lake, I was adamant about checking out the Lava Fields and Lassen Volcanic National Park. It's like California's very own miniature Yellowstone.
On the way to Klamath Falls, we decided to continue onto California, instead of the visit to Crater Lake, which was recommended that we unhitch for the drive. We didn't have a safe spot for the trailer without paying for another night at Klamath Falls. They didn't have any vacancies and we didn't have any interest staying again. We had a few choices of campgrounds near Lassen, but it was a Sunday. And a lot of the offices seemed to be closed on Sunday. Except Hat Creek RV. They answered and we booked a few nights. Relief knowing we would be able to check out the area. This whole trip had been a reservations the day before kind of trip. I loved the thrill of it, but it was stabbing the little planner inside of me slowly and with a dull blade. Oh, OCD. How I love thee.
Day 1 was on our way to Hat Creek. We stopped at the Lava Beds. So. Cool. The park had an eerie feeling... We were going through just a month after the Caldwell Fire blazed through. It's now December, as I write this, and some areas are still closed. Anywho... The park has a series of caves. Some are easy. Others are for spelunkers (which I was not brave enough for). Some with bats. Spawn asked the rangers about bats. She was also wearing her zombie facemask. The rangers told her that she was the scariest thing that was currently in the park. Hilarious.
Day 2 in the area included quick visits to Subway Cave Lava Tubes and McArthur-Burney Falls followed by a tour of Lassen Volcanic National Park and Bumpass Hell. The caves were so very dark. Cabana Boy has great directional skills, but once we were in the dark, he had no clue. At least he listened to me when I told him I knew the way out.
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Subway Cave Lava Tubes |
What was going to be a quick trip turned into a 1.5 mile hike around the falls. Amazing. Beautiful GIANT waterfalls. We didn't realize it yet, but poor Spawn was donezo. Cue the sound of a bomb ticking...
McArthur-Burney Falls
We kept our fingers crossed that Spawn would nap on the hour drive to Lassen, but no luck. I underestimated how long we would be at Burney Falls and by the time we got to Lassen, it was getting late. We entered on the North highway and barely made it to the visitor center before they closed and I was able to get some Lassen swag. Woohoo! As we continued through the park, we realized, although beautiful, this was probably not the best timing. We needed more time. But then Spawn fell asleep. So we continued on to Bumpass Hell. By the time we got there, the sun was setting. Then I read the sign. It was a mile and a half hike down to the pots, one way. With daylight going fast and Spawn asleep, I decided I was going to hustle and Cabana Boy decided he would stay behind. He didn't have any interest in the walk with the steep mountain side trails. Just as I started to walk, I stopped. Something in me made me turn around. I headed back to the truck to discover that Spawn had awoken, freaked out that I had gone without her and continued to create a waterfall of her own all over the truck interior with what was left of her smoothie. I totally thought to myself "Maybe I should have hiked..." Cabana Boy got her cleaned up and we headed back to camp. Back the way we came. It's always a faster drive the second time around. At least I got some amazing pictures.
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| Mt. Lassen & Lake Helen |
We were going to stop and see some friends, but the timing was off. The Padres were headed for the playoffs and we needed to be someplace we could get a signal! So we headed into Reno and planned on staying at the Sparks Marina RV Park for a couple nights before heading out to Black Rock Desert. First, I needed to make a stop at Trader Joes for provisions. Tradition when headed to BRC. Luck would have other plans for us...
That right there is what you would call a broken leaf spring and a big fat smashed tire. Face. Palm. Leaf spring blew, trailer frame collapsed on the tire, tire blew creating a huge plume of smoke, and tire shreds to pieces causing minor damage to the bottom of the trailer. Not only did it blow right when we got into Reno, but right in an area where traffic cameras caught the smoke and immediately sent roadside assistance. Luck with luck, I suppose. We were in a place with service, both cell service and auto service. We had to cancel our RV reservations because we no longer had the RV. Because it was now too late in the afternoon, we had to wait until the next morning to tow. AND last time we were in Reno, drunk Hun had some fun at the Grand Sierra and actually had two nights comp'd hotel rooms. Woohoo! Just enough time for the leaf spring and tire to be replaced. Did I mention that while Roadside Assistance was helping, they were rear ended by a hit and run?!? If they weren't there, it would have been OUR truck that took the hit. I apologized but I was oh so thankful.
Ground Control
View from Hotel Room and View from the Ground Floor
A GREAT BIG SHOUT OUT to John's Spring Service, Carson City Towing and Nevada Freeway Service Patrol. Once that was all said and done, we decided to head out to the desert. I mean, what else could go wrong, right? Luckily, not a whole lot. Whew! So, off to Black Rock Desert we went.
Last time we went through Reno, we were so close to going out there, but decided to head to the next visit instead. I've regretted it ever since. We've attended the Burning Man event for a number of years and I've always wanted to be out there when it wasn't event time and the 2020 event didn't happen. This was an experience we shouldn't pass up. We were not disappointed. It was unbelievable. There were others out there with their sound camps and art camps. We were a music and light camp. Cabana Boy put on a show! It was clear. Not too cold. Hardly any wind. Full moon. Perfect conditions. Spawn loved the sand and freedom to run FREEEEEE! Without further ado, here are the pictures and a little video for you. And for those of you looking for some playa from Burning Man 2020, just let me know. I did bring some home, per tradition.
Spawn did not want to leave, but we needed to head home. We had been gone for a MONTH. And the Padres were advancing into the playoffs. Gotta go! The rest of the trip was relatively uneventful. One quiet and lovely night in Coleville and one shady and questionable night in Ridgecrest. Check out all the reviews and links and check out all of the Top 10 stuff that's out there.
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