Just another day in Paradise, with an unexpected sudden-onset thunderstorm.

Hat Creek, in Lassen National Forest, was once a stage stop for two of the major emigrant trails. Just beyond, the Hat Creek Rim soars up a thousand feet as highways 44 and 89 part company.

The Rim is rather popular with hang gliders.

Hat Creek Campground is on California State Highway 44, in the Lassen National Forest. It is a short distance east of a vista point with a nature trail, close to the settlement of Old Station.

Mount Lassen dominates the landscape around Lassen National Volcanic Park.

They closed my favorite Starbucks, at Flag City near Lodi. Sniffle. No longer will there be good customer service within walking distance of Flying J.

On the morning of the summer solstice I was in quite a bad mood, so I didn’t bother to get out of bed. But I did get in a sunrise on that May walk I’ve been showing you for the last few days, and suddenly there was heat, the sound of birds, and all manner [...]

Taking pictures of ferns on Independence Day.

We last saw our intrepid and rather breathless heroine taking a breather at the top of the trail, more or less. This jagged pile of gunpowder gray ex-lava provides a handy place to do just that before continuing to the second half of the trail. This sand is actually fine pumice and ash from an [...]