Difficult to keep track as we have been making 'tracks' since leaving Sacramento April 1st for Redding. Wireless (3G) was pretty well nonexistent in Redding so got behind in posting. A short trip of about 3 1/2 hours and set up early afternoon in Premier RV Park
A few blocks away you can hook onto paved bike paths that run both sides of the Sacramento River & shopping is a few minutes drive away.
Planning on a seven day stay before heading out but the weather turned very windy, cold and poured hard and consistent for five days straight and we said - we're outta here.
Managed to get in a bit of sightseeing though and hope to come back sometime as it is an outdoors paradise and lots to do (hiking, biking - mt biking and road riding, sailing, kayaking) and gorgeous scenery.
The RV Park has lots of grassy areas (thinking of the dogs) but avoided the area like a plague ---- loaded with ticks! A small stream runs through the centre and the temptation by everyone is to let the kids and dogs play but the office had several reports of tick problems. We found two on Tazz's ears and that was it - no more playground. Apparently very unusual to see them this time of year (mild winter).
Found some quiet (of course - it was POURING) & huge parks just five minutes away by car.
Cork Oak Tree
Honey Bee on Lavender
Spicebush Swallowtail
Pipevine Swallowtail
Along with the history of the Wintu tribes that inhabited the area is an aquarium, children's forestry learning centre and railroad exhibit.
Local Mud Turtle
Pond crayfish: Red swamp crayfish are very common in reservoirs & rice paddies in California - preferring warm water & are used as bait by bass fishermen. Originally brought in from Louisiana.
California Perch
Brown Trout
The Lories & Lorikeets are fed daily by the general public and let you know how excited they are when they see those little cups getting filled by what looks like kiwi sauce.
Native to the South Pacific Islands they feed on nectar and soft fruits. With their brush tipped tongues they easily take in the liquid nectar.
Lorikeets have longer tapering tails than Lories. Lories most often are red with patches of yellow, purple & green.
Lorikeets (smaller) are green with patches of red & yellow but they can be all the colors of the rainbow which makes these birds attractive as house pets.
This bird tired of the kiwi and let the boy know he doesn't like hoodies (latching onto his ear).
Shasta is a town with the ruins of the gold mining town (post office, church, elementary school and the oldest Masonic lodge in California). Many of the original 1850s brick buildings have been restored.
A bustling town in the 1850-1880s the "Old Shasta" was an important commercial center and major shipping point for mule trails & stagecoaches serving mining towns & settlements of Northern California. Six miles west of Redding, Shasta was once home to 3,500 residents.
The area is surrounded by hiking, mt biking, horseback riding trails and boating, sailing, kayaking, scuba diving (30 foot visibility of its waters) are some of the popular activities in the area.
While driving around the lake to check out the campsites and boat launch, a storm was in the making.
Thunder & lightning - we had the beach totally to ourselves.
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| Quiet & tranquil at Premier RV Park |
Planning on a seven day stay before heading out but the weather turned very windy, cold and poured hard and consistent for five days straight and we said - we're outta here.
Managed to get in a bit of sightseeing though and hope to come back sometime as it is an outdoors paradise and lots to do (hiking, biking - mt biking and road riding, sailing, kayaking) and gorgeous scenery.The RV Park has lots of grassy areas (thinking of the dogs) but avoided the area like a plague ---- loaded with ticks! A small stream runs through the centre and the temptation by everyone is to let the kids and dogs play but the office had several reports of tick problems. We found two on Tazz's ears and that was it - no more playground. Apparently very unusual to see them this time of year (mild winter).
 |
| CALDWELL PARK |
Found some quiet (of course - it was POURING) & huge parks just five minutes away by car.
A dam and a fish viewing station at below water level so you can see the salmon eye-to-eye.
This park has skateboarding, bike path beside the Sacramento River, children's playground and an aquatic center which doesn't open until June.
Another rainy day and I went to check out the Turtle Bay Museum and Arboretum just around the corner.
This bridge which links the bike & walking paths and the north and south campuses of the Turtle Bay Exploration Park (300 acres) crossing the Sacramento River.
The Sacramento River National Recreation Trail system spans 19 miles from the Sundial Bridge to the Shasta Dam.
The Sacramento River National Recreation Trail system spans 19 miles from the Sundial Bridge to the Shasta Dam.
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| Brian Rueb Photo |
The Sundial Bridge is built of steel, glass (yes, class bottom) and granite with no supports in the water so as to not disturb nearly salmon spawning habitat. Built in 2004 by a Spanish architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava. 200 tons of glass and granite with 4,300 ft of cable & $23 million it is specatular.
Missed the segway tours at night - cancelled due to rain.
Turtle Bay Exploration Park
Museum, Arboretum & Botanical Gardens and Sundial Bridge, one of Redding's main attractions.
The Wildlife Conservation Board ganged Turtle Bay Exploration Park funding to restore and enhance approximately 340 acres of riparian habitat scanning both sides of the Sacramento River.
The Gardens (over 20 acres) comprise climate display mediterranean-climate gardens, medicinal gardens, butterfly garden, children's garden and water features.
The Wildlife Conservation Board ganged Turtle Bay Exploration Park funding to restore and enhance approximately 340 acres of riparian habitat scanning both sides of the Sacramento River.
The Gardens (over 20 acres) comprise climate display mediterranean-climate gardens, medicinal gardens, butterfly garden, children's garden and water features.
Drought tolerant Euphorbia (Evergreen Perennial)
Cork Oak Tree
Honey Bee on Lavender
Spicebush Swallowtail
Pipevine Swallowtail
The Museum
Along with the history of the Wintu tribes that inhabited the area is an aquarium, children's forestry learning centre and railroad exhibit.
California Perch
Brown Trout
The Parrot House
The Lories & Lorikeets are fed daily by the general public and let you know how excited they are when they see those little cups getting filled by what looks like kiwi sauce.
Native to the South Pacific Islands they feed on nectar and soft fruits. With their brush tipped tongues they easily take in the liquid nectar.
Lorikeets (smaller) are green with patches of red & yellow but they can be all the colors of the rainbow which makes these birds attractive as house pets.
This bird tired of the kiwi and let the boy know he doesn't like hoodies (latching onto his ear).
Shasta is a town with the ruins of the gold mining town (post office, church, elementary school and the oldest Masonic lodge in California). Many of the original 1850s brick buildings have been restored.
A bustling town in the 1850-1880s the "Old Shasta" was an important commercial center and major shipping point for mule trails & stagecoaches serving mining towns & settlements of Northern California. Six miles west of Redding, Shasta was once home to 3,500 residents.
Notice - "Hail" on the boardwalk!
Whiskeytown
Whiskeytown Lake (reservoir) remains full in summer and features 36 miles of shoreline and 39,000 acres surrounding the lake. President John F. Kennedy dedicated the lake in 1963.
The area is surrounded by hiking, mt biking, horseback riding trails and boating, sailing, kayaking, scuba diving (30 foot visibility of its waters) are some of the popular activities in the area.
Whiskeytown Lake is now part of the Whiskeytown National Park.
Whiskeytown was located where two creeks entered Clear Creek - one from the east and the other from the west. Originally an 1849 gold mining settlement just 8 miles west of Redding the population grew to 1,000 gold miners and was known for its large gold nuggets.
In 1960 construction began on Whiskeytown Dam and by 1962 began filling with water. The Whiskeytown Store was moved to higher ground and operated for a number of years (now empty and abandoned). Inhabitants of the town cemetery were relocated and the town was abandoned. When the lake level is low and water clear, sometimes it is possible to see building foundations from the old town near the bank on the south side.
While driving around the lake to check out the campsites and boat launch, a storm was in the making.
Thunder & lightning - we had the beach totally to ourselves.
The "stay alive by staying out" sign is serious. The "GLORY HOLE" protects the dam from flooding by this circular structure - allowing overflow lake waters to drain. It isa trumpet-shaped hole 260 feet deep and has no safety devices to prevent fatal falls.
The plan was to spend seven days in Redding (hoping to cycle out to the Shasta Dam and also take in some mt biking) but five days of rain, hail and high winds sent us packing a day early.
Off to Junction City, Oregon for a night, Tulalip, Washington for a night and make our way to the ferry to Vancouver Island. Our days of wearing shorts seem to have come to an end (temporarily of course!)!
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