On the Road - Day 49

Started with a good morning with Karyn and Joshua, and with homemade blueberry pancakes. Hugged goodbye and went to Yuba City for grocery shopping and checking out the library (to upload yesterday's blog and pictures). Yuba City is very spread out, not up. There are many big box stores.



We decided to take the more scenic and gradual route to Little Bear in Blairsden, where Vivian and Rich are camping for August. North on Rt. 70 the road moved past orchards and fruit stands and the occasional fruit packing plant. English walnuts, peaches, cherries and apricots here, as well as "onoins" (on a sign by the edge of the road). Could see the foothills to our right.








As we climbed them, we had a view of the Sacramento Valley and the bleached grasses I found dazzling.


Moved into pine covered mountains which smelled great. Noticed the trees, and the view ahead, were getting shorter, because we were travelling near the top of the mountains.





Route 70 curved along the Feather River, with a train or two on the opposite side.





Occasionally the road and track switched sides, braiding paths along the river canyon.














The tunnels and bridges were inter- esting - some- times the train and car bridges were on top of one another! It seems this route through the Sierra's is the lowest of them all, and therefore historically popular with those who wish to cross during the winter. There are many small dams along this north fork of the Feather River. They are busy producing electricity for PG&E.

At a turnout, we wondered about a train that had stopped. Waiting, we learned that it was pausing for a train going in the opposite direction to pass. For the most part there was just one track, and these double-track passings had to be timed just right. Vance and I sampled a couple of wild blackberries at this turnout - they tasted of sunshine. Read a bulletin board that told of dangers swimming/wading in the river. (Apparently the water level can rise unexpectedly with increases in water releases from the nearby PG&E dams.)

At each turn and twist of the river I clicked away, as at the river's bend there were likely to be some interesting rapids.





I was filled with delight with the sunshine making the leaves sparkle, with the shapes of the river stones worn by water's dance, with the changing color of the river and the myriad ways water plunges over rocks, with high altitude air - its lightness and scent, with the shape of foothills and mountains, with every limber sapling, bending and swaying with the wind. It was a "filled up" kind of ride.

Got to the beautiful Little Bear campground, and 15 minutes later we were having a fine supper with Vivian and Rich, Eileen and Mike and the boys, Dennis and Steven.



No fires allowed, as Smokey says the fire hazard is at a Very High level today. So Rich got the charcoal briquettes going and we roasted marshmallows for s'mores. Fun! Lots of stars.









Seen along the way: Paddlepaw, (a swim school for dogs?) -- -- Little Indian Creek, where Curios/ Post Office / Museum are all in one building -- Town of Spring Garden, population 10 (!) and elevation 4,000 feet.

Ended at Little Bear RV Park, Blairsden, CA
Odometer 62,894.7 (136.0) Total: 4839.3