A Day of Adventure

Here's one of the photos my son texted me - Grey Rocks Lake.

The lake is not the type you can simply drive to; it's nestled in the mountains, requiring a hike to reach its tranquil shores. Yet, for those willing to venture forth, solitude awaits. For two nights, he found himself the solitary inhabitant of this serene retreat. Rather than embarking on extensive hikes, he chose to spend his time relaxing. His days were filled with leisurely naps and reading amidst the natural splendor of the area.

A single hiker arrived and pitched his tent just 35 feet away from his camp. This surprised him - as vast as the lake was, the hiker chose to camp so near. It bothered him, especially since he could even catch the scent of the other camper. Adding to that, a lively bunch of chipmunks devoured all of his trail mix!

Around 7,200 feet in elevation. 

The landscape is striking, with its rough and uneven terrain. In the upper right corner, the distant figure of Black Butte is visible. I shared a closer photo of it with you the other day. Moving further to the right of Black Butte, would be Mount Shasta but the mountain was shielding it. 

Following my leadership training session at BSF, I grabbed a quick lunch - half of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich - before setting off. The presence of numerous large trucks on the road, posed a challenge as they often exceed the speed limit, of 65 - and around curves where the speed drops to as low as 35.  This made navigating between them a bit nerve-wracking. Consequently, the trip took us 90 minutes to complete.

TMI

As I was driving off I-5, far from the nearest restroom, I suddenly felt the urgent need to pee which rarely happens to me. Despite always making sure to use the bathroom before leaving the house, the need became more intense the deeper we ventured into the woods. I had no choice but to do something I hadn't done in years. Find a secluded spot, to squat – a task that's not easy anymore. 

That made for a good laugh for my husband and I. 

Then we drove around the corner and there was my son, waiting on us. He looked well rested.  As we drove back home, we enjoyed a lively conversation about Rosicrucianism, the history of the Roman Empire, and the Knights Templar.  My son, does love to talk! 

We had just passed a stretch of the Interstate, and approximately 15 minutes later, a tragic accident occurred involving an 85-year-old man. It was a rollover crash, and unfortunately, he did not survive. Authorities suspect that it may have been due to a medical emergency he experienced. The accident caused a significant traffic backup that lasted for hours as there were other vehicles involved but miraculously no injuries'.  It's unusual to see such heavy traffic around here except during winter when they stop vehicles going up to the mountains to check for tire chains.

 Foodie kindly paid for our gas and treated us to dinner at In-N-Out. I ordered a double-meat burger with no cheese and grilled onions, along with a chocolate shake, and no fries. After dropping him off, I was so exhausted that I immediately crashed. The day was a wonderful mix of family time and unexpected adventure - from enjoying the scenery to having an uncomfortable experience of squatting in the woods, which I hope to never again repeat!

Until Next time,

Debby