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Good Morning everyone. Back from my latest camping trip. Reading up on all the posts since I have been gone. You are all busy with various chores I see, the which of, are on my agenda today and this week. With all the rain we have finally had, my grass is in need of mowing and trimming and it’s time to put the summer decorations away and haul out the fall ones. Deck railings, one portion of deck area and back landing need power washing and painting as well as window washing too. Just need a change of seasons marching along towards winter, to get me to stop camping long enough to get this stuff done. Then hopefully off to one more outing before winterizing.

I was also very saddened to hear of Mel’s passing. Left you a message on Thursday’s post Velda. All the talk of seafood has me hungry for some too I however, was able to indulge in my love of fresh Whitefish on this trip. And we ate way to much food as well. The diet restarts today

Well, things to do here, quick run to town first. Have a nice day veryone.

Good morning! It's a working Saturday for me too. I helped Bob with cutting and hauling branches off the fallen tree in our yard this morning. He called the Village when it fell, but no one even came out to look at it, so I guess it'll be our project. He enjoys it I think, and I like helping him. In a few minutes I'll leave to do my volunteer shift, 4 hours at Twice Nice shop. Then this afternoon is the first performance of this season's Artist Series, "Heralds of Harmony," Men's Barbershop Chorus. Looking forward to that. Hope everyone has a productive day.
My heart is with you, Velda.

Thanks for resizing my picture, Beth. I finally got it in there.

Good morning. Not a bad day here at all. We have a haze of smoke but not real thick...yet. If the wind shifts then that will be a different story. I see the sun, yay. I need to go get my oil changed today and I am sure a new air filter and cabin filter after all the smoke this summer.

The main freeway I-5 is still closed for 45 miles (due to the Delta fire) north of Redding and not really sure when they will reopen it as there is a lot of damage to the freeway, guardrails, and precarious burnt trees and there are still flames at the side of the freeway in areas. This is the main road from Mexico to Canada and in this area there is no good way to go around. It is mountainous and it is taking folks up to 8 hours to go around to the east due to 2 lane road, traffic, trucks and curvy. The road to the coast from Redding is even worse and not recommended for trucks. Not a desired route for truckers. I feel sorry for the truckers that are carrying perishable goods. My friend sent me a picture from downtown Redding


thanks to my friend Sandi for making me learn how to post pictures LOL

OregonLuvr wrote:
The main freeway I-5 is still closed for 45 miles (due to the Delta fire) north of Redding and not really sure when they will reopen it as there is a lot of damage to the freeway, guardrails, and precarious burnt trees and there are still flames at the side of the freeway in areas. This is the main road from Mexico to Canada and in this area there is no good way to go around. It is mountainous and it is taking folks up to 8 hours to go around to the east due to 2 lane road, traffic, trucks and curvy.

I have driven the road Karen is speaking about more than once (on my way to and from the Medicine Lake Volcano) - Route 299 east out of Redding, Ca. It is more than just "curvy". Much of it is narrow, two-lane, and mountainous. There are parts of it that are quite steep, with many switchbacks, and blind curves, with mostly no shoulder should one need to pull over. Imagining 18-wheelers puffing up the very steep part of the grade, bumper-to-bumper, at maybe 15 mph, makes me very glad that I am not there.

As Karen states, this is the only viable alternative to bypass the closure of Interstate 5: Hwy. 299 east out of Redding, to 139 north to Klamath Falls. It must be a nightmare just now.

Anne

Those fires are so disastrous in so many ways! Makes me so sad!

I finally got to bed around 2am and took half of an Advil PM and didn't wake up until 11am today! Haven't been sleeping well this week so I really needed that.

Still quiet along the creek so maybe the guy finally moved on.

Sue, glad to hear you had a nice trip! Liz, sounds like you are really enjoying married life! So happy for you!

Lots to do around here today! After a little breakfast, will start in on getting the master cleared out and organized. Gonna be a very warm day today so I will have to run the AC in there.

Have a good day!

What a great fall day. We have had many 90 degree days with high humidity. I think it was the 2nd warmest summer on record. I just don't tolerate the heat combined with the humidity. Needless to say the gardens look unkept. So I am really enjoying this fall type weather. Time to take the vegetable garden apart and put it to bed for the year. John has to get some dental work done which would cost about $3,000.00 in MN and $500 in Mexico so we are getting ready for an October trip to Yuma. Getting a vacation and dental work for less than dental care here. Will take the Shasta and camp along the way and way back. Although on the return trip we may have to get a motel room for one or 2 nights as all camp grounds will be closed farther north. I have been doing some decorating in the trailer. Bought some cork tiles and put those up with double faced tape so we can hang all the post cards, maps and campground information we collect along our trips. Can't wait to see the golden aspens along the Rio Grande.

No work for me, I'm retired!!! Had good guitar lesson this morning. lyn

Well, so much for the question I was going to ask about I-5, Karen! I will be heading from Emigrant Lake south to Napa around the middle of October, so I hope it is open and repaired by then.

In looking at the Google maps, I can see the detour to the east, but what about west of Redding? What is California 3 like from Yreka and Douglas City and then cutting over to Redding on 299? Anne, have you ever taken that route? Maybe it wouldn't have so much truck traffic.

At least I have a month before I have to drive that route.

JudyJB wrote:Well, so much for the question I was going to ask about I-5, Karen! I will be heading from Emigrant Lake south to Napa around the middle of October, so I hope it is open and repaired by then.

In looking at the Google maps, I can see the detour to the east, but what about west of Redding? What is California 3 like from Yreka and Douglas City and then cutting over to Redding on 299? Anne, have you ever taken that route? Maybe it wouldn't have so much truck traffic.

At least I have a month before I have to drive that route.

I should think in a month 1-5 will be open. If not, what about taking 101 south on the coast down to 12 and over to Napa? I’m not sure where you are in Oregon, but you could follow the coast all the way down. I took 101 north in June from the Bay Area up to Del Norte Redwood State Park with no problems.
Sandi

I am pretty confident it will be open soon. They are even talking about maybe 1 lane traffic in spots late tomorrow or Monday. I am not worried. I would be worried if I was leaving soon. I will let you all know when it opens. You should be fine Judy. I have never taken Hwy 3 but heard it was kind of a bugger even in a car. I will ask my friend in Yreka tho. I have taken 299 from Eureka to Redding and it has its issues. I always go 199 out of Grants Pass south to Eureka as I dont like 299 in my Motorhome.

JudyJB wrote: In looking at the Google maps, I can see the detour to the east, but what about west of Redding? What is California 3 like from Yreka and Douglas City and then cutting over to Redding on 299? Anne, have you ever taken that route? Maybe it wouldn't have so much truck traffic.

Hi Judy. I have never driven 299 west out of Redding (only 299 east out of Redding), but keep in mind that Redding is the northern most large city in California's Central Valley. Just to the north is mighty Mt. Shasta volcano (summit is 14,000 feet, although Interstate 5 just skirts the shoulder of the mountain), both to the east and to the west of Redding is mountainous.

Looking at Google Maps, satellite view, although I have never driven it, both 299 and 3 to the west of Redding look a bit dicey for larger vehicles (one can even click down to the actual road, and click along the road to see what it is like - actual photos of the road).

Likely truck traffic on 299 will pretty much be over as soon as Interstate 5 re-opens, so if you have a month or so you should be good.

But stay aware. Keep in mind that 2018 has been the worst wildfire season on record here in California, and with no rain in sight (first sprinkles may - or may not - come by the end of October) it can get worse before it gets better.

Generally, October is the worst month for wildfire here in Northern California - the reason for this is because by October we have not had not a drop of rain since April or May, summer temps here are scorching (100+ degrees for weeks and months on end), putting vegetation at "maximum dry" by October and then - also in October - the annual fall winds begin to blow. If a fire starts before the first rain, coupled with fierce autumn winds - fire can spread very rapidly.

Until it rains, all bets are off.

I was astonished by the video showing burned-out 18-wheelers on Interstate 5. Traffic was backed up (vehicles were stopped, bumper-to-bumper, unable to move), the fire came, and truckers abandoned their rigs to run for their lives.

Interstate 5 fire, up close and personal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2ttwYQokX4

Burnt-out 18 wheelers on Interstate 5 (about 26 seconds in):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV4F4DG1WBM

Anne

Judy I asked a few of my friends about hwy 3...............NO GO. Tough in a car but no go for RV's. Right now they are in a burn area anyway. Just bide your time. I am sure it will be open by your time frame

this is this mornings update 5% contained almost 41,000 acres

https://krcrtv.com/news/shasta-county/d ... res-burned

I know, you'll think I'm crazy, but I Google Earth'd Highway 3 and it's the kind of two lane scenic road I like. Lol