Whiskeytown Lake was flooded over a historic town, Whiskeytown. Now, all that remains is a beautiful scene and a state historic landmark designation.

We’re taking a short exploratory trip down to Redding. Redding isn’t what’s being explored: The behavior of the transmission is under observation.

Coming out of Shasta, there’s a loooooong steep hill that is perhaps the longest straight from here to the summit. Things lumber up it, slowly. Things like us.

I’ve been trying to photograph this critter since May! The pylon is placed in Whiskeytown Lake and every shot I took until now was just a blur or obscured by something. I just find it fascinating! We took a quick run down the hill to get propane and supplies at the end of October.

15 July 2008 When we left home a week ago last Tuesday, the smoke was this thick. Blech! Just as we turned onto 299, a fire engine shot by. The fire-fighting efforts are still in full swing.