We turned east on highway 299 to traverse some mountain roads.
We stopped in the quaint town of Willow Creek for lunch and stumbled upon their museum. The Willow Creek - China Flat Museum houses a wonderful collection showcasing the interesting local history and the docents were informative.
What we didn't know was the fact that we were in BIGFOOT Country. From the time of the Native Americans, Sasquatch has been sighted here. The museum prides itself on the Bigfoot exhibit which contains "generous donations of items including Bigfoot foot print casts, Bigfoot pictures, maps, and other papers exhibited in a building specifically built to house this collection." Their enthusiasm was so infectious, I have to admit we drove through the mountains with our camera ready. Boy do I love small towns.
We continued to find treasures. "Six miles west of Redding a row of old, half-ruined, brick buildings remind passing motorists that Shasta City, the lusty "Queen City" of California’s northern mining district, once stood on this site. These ruins and some of the nearby roads, cottages, and cemeteries are all silent but eloquent vestiges of the intense activity that was centered here during the California gold rush."
The Shasta State Historic Park was so captivating. Strolling the street, of what was once the largest brick town north of San Francisco and now was just a skeleton of its former self, was riveting. Iron shutters still swing on massive, old, iron hinges before the doors and windows of grass-filled, roofless buildings that once were crowded with merchandise, and alive with the human sounds of business, trade, and social endeavor. Boom to bust! The tale of so many places we have seen.
Heading to our campsite, we passed Lake Shasta. While still majestic, it is only at 57% capacity. Sadly, its shorelines are scarred by the last few years of drought.
Home for the next couple of nights is Lake Siskiyou, the recreational jewel of Northern California. On a clear day, this lake reflects Mount Shasta, a potentially active volcano. At 14,179 feet, it is the fifth highest peak in California. We can't wait to see all of it!
This is the view out the back window of our RV. It's a pretty sweet sight. It will be a peaceful home base for exploring this new terrain. Exciting stuff!
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1 comments:
Bigfoot exhibits may be as rare as Bigfoot sightings! I have never heard of such a thing? Are you a believer after visiting the museum? Is Bigfoot our there? Why is he always blurry in photos?? So many questions...
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