Before heading out from Seven Feathers, Michael stopped at the truck scales to weigh us. I held my breath. Compared to our previous trip, with just the bare essentials on board, this time there is a lot more stuff traveling with us (and yes, I did bring one sewing machine and a few projects but "he" also brought more tools and other stuff that is in the basement). We were about 400 pounds heavier at the back and only 40 pounds heavier in the front, so not too bad. There is room for a lot more that this Alpine can haul. In fact, Michael referred to Alpine as being an "ossewa", which in Afrikaans means "ox-wagon", the type that the Boers (his people) used to make their Great Trek into the interior of the land and away from British rule.
We had a good chuckle. Alpine is indeed both ox and wagon.
The stretch from Seven Feathers went smoothly, weather perfect, skies bright, not a fleck of snow in sight. In fact, as if a switch had been turned on, it was suddenly shorts, sandals and t-shirt weather. And a good thing that there is plenty of storage on board for summer clothing and several pairs of sandals (for me of course) .
We made our way across the mountain passes, chugging up the inclines, coasting down the 5% and 7% grades. We breezed through the inspection stop as we crossed into California - I had a list ready for the "fruit and vegetable border patrol" and they waved us through wishing us a good trip. We made sure to eat or cook the "contraband" ahead of time so that what was left is legal.
The I-5 corridor is pretty familiar by now. After crossing the mountains, we dropped down to the valley and through the "fresh produce aisle" of California, with its abundance of fields and orchards. It is also the "meat and dairy section" with its numerous cattle and sheep ranches.
The only difference from a few months ago is the bright green new spring growth that is bursting through. Just four months ago the scenery was pretty dry and brown. Now you can see the new growth on the trees, replacing the white and pink blossoms that carpet the ground below.
Under bright blue skies, the snow-capped volcanic peaks were clearly visible, towering above the landscape. All three, Mt McLoughlin, Mt Shasta and Lassen Peak further east of us, were spectacular sights.
Alpine makes the drive comfortable and smooth. Ginny, our GPS lady, is our companion, making sure that we find our way to our RV parks and any fuel stop along the way. Since the software update, she now makes a "ding-dong" sound, like a front door bell, as we approach a turn-off. It has come in handy when there are a couple of turn-offs within yards of each other.
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| first view of Mt McLoughlin, over 9 thousand feet high, east of Medford Oregon |
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| at a rest stop just over the border into California, along the Klamath River |
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| Mt Shasta, all 14,162 feet visible, as we crossed over the passes into California |
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| Lake Shasta wilderness area, with the lake at the lowest level we have ever seen, and the remarkable colors of the soil exposed |
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| driving through the valley, the hills of the Diablo Range flanking us in the west |
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| green fields and hillsides |
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| new leaves appearing, replacing the blossoms (sorry about the reflection from the glare) |
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| right before our turn off to the RV park in Patterson, we passed acres of pink blossoms - a pretty sight |
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| another Alpine passed us and we waved at each other...this is what we look like driving down the highway |