Burney Falls and beyond......

We left Reno yesterday, driving north on Hwy 395. But before we left, we got these sweet visitors.

The funny thing was, the mommy and babies got through the chain link fence, leaving Daddy outside. He moaned, and bobbed, and ran back and forth, obviously very distressed to be separated from his family. For about 10 minutes, he fretted, finally realizing he could fly, and easily lifted himself over the fence to reunite with his group. ("Silly as a goose" comes to mind)

This is pretty unfamiliar territory, especially to me (Stacy). Directly out of Reno is wide open Nevada wastelands... dry, brown, scrub, with abrupt hills and deep "washes" through the desert landscape.  The lakes (Silver Lake, White Lake, even really big Honey Lake) that were supposed to be along this road are no longer here, lost in another in a long series of drought years.

We climbed over the mountains (slowly) into California, winding through what became high prairie forests.... tall, spare Ponderosa Pines and cedar, with very little undergrowth. It smelled so clean and fresh!

We drove through Susanville, past Mount Lassen and on to Burney Falls.  It was beautiful terrain.

Mt Lassen

We stayed at an RV park about a mile from Burney Falls State Park.  Once we got settled, we went up to the Park. We walked the 1.3 mile "Falls Loop Trail" which took us through a vista point at the top of the 129-foot Falls, down to the base of the Falls, and along the Burney River, then up again.  It was perfect weather, the water was clear and cold (48 degrees). Fishing season doesn't open until the 26th, so at least the trout were safe.

Burney Falls

Burney Falls

Over one million gallons of water goes over these falls daily. The falls themselves are made up of multiple "spouts" arranged around a semi-circular series of cliffs. Really impressive.

We drove from Burney this morning toward Oregon, passing by Mount Shasta and its surrounding cinder cones.

Mount Shasta

Cinder cone

Yes, we are on our last leg home after an incredible 10-month adventure.  Both of us are a bit road-weary, but a little sad that this is coming to an end.

Almost home....