Raven's Roads
Living an interesting life: the travels and musings
of motorcycling author Linda R. Moore

Smoky Weaverville

Filed in Blog, Photo Essays
Smoke from the Iron Complex fires near Junction City

Yesterday we headed down to Weaverville on an errands run. Where we lived was bad enough, but as we got closer to the city–and the Iron Complex fires–we realized that Weaverville was really thick with smoke. I fished my camera out and started to snap photographs from the back of the bike.

Smoky Weaverville

The high street seemed to cower under a bizarre reddened sky. The sun couldn’t even break the whole way through.

Smoky Weaverville high street

Outside the post office, a notice board had been set up with flyers and maps–information to help people know what to do. A state of emergency has been called for the area, but the fire-fighters are stretched thin with conditions very difficult.

Various people were pondering the information with solemn looks on their faces.

Smoky Weaverville informational flyers

We followed a CalTrans utility truck back down the hill for a while. It had a bulldozer scoop on the front…I think these are used to create fire breaks or dig up vegetation.

Smoky Weaverville bulldozer truck

You could cut the air with a knife, and I mean that only slightly figuratively.

Smoky Weaverville

The sun was something else–a red glob that looked like it belonged in Mordor. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this before–it was not a cheering sun, but more a symbol of forboding.

Smoky Weaverville sun

You see those little specks of white? Those are ashes on my motorcycle seat. The “snow” was falling steadily as we left the supermarket.

Smoky Weaverville ashes

This is an absolutely horrible color.

Smoky Weaverville

Leaving town, you could hardly see the mountains in the distance.

Smoky Weaverville

There’s that weird sun again, looming over the smoke-swathed mountains.

Smoky Weaverville

:: shudder ::

I’ve posted some other photos over at Raven’s Rides.

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6 Comments, Comment or Ping

  1. Grab a free gravatar

    Florafloraflora

    Amazing photos. I’ve been following this whole story with great interest.

  2. Grab a free gravatar

    beautyredefined (12 comments.)

    Wow. I’ve never seen anything like that. Closest I’ve come to forest fires is the Smoky the Bear sign near state parks in northern Wisconsin, telling you of the fire danger level.

  3. Grab a free gravatar

    katster (14 comments.)

    Hey, Raven, is it okay if I use one of your pictures in linking to this story?

    -kat

  4. Grab a free gravatar

    Katster: Yup. And thanks very much for asking :)

  5. Grab a free gravatar

    Flora: It’s fascinating, in a sick, twisted and slightly scary kind of a way…

  6. Grab a free gravatar

    It’s a first for me, too, BR …

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