CA Highway 299

Saturday, October 27th we work to a campground shrouded in fog. The heavy morning marine layer hung in the air. Black and white cows grazed in the dewey grass as ghostly fog drifted among the herd. One half mile south of our Mad River RV park, we left Hwy. 101 taking the exit to California Highway 299 East, toward Redding and I-5. Our 8:30 departure time rates as an early start for us; but we know the road and have a destination 334+ miles today. Any day we travel over 265 miles equals a long day.

Hwy 229 winds up and over a series of passes that each rise between 2000 and 3000+ feet of elevation. It's an ear-popping journey.

The motorhome rumbled around the curves as if on a solicary trek. Few travelers ventured out this early on a foggy Saturday morning.

The fog hung in the mountains looking like a picture ready to be painted. Some fog wound around the grand evergreens like a fluffy wool scarf. It drifted in wisps and strands in the valleys.

The deciduous trees dressed for Fall stand out among the dense green evergreens in this Six Rivers National Forest.

As the road moves east the Six Rivers forest gives way to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Little towns with names like Willow Creek, Salyer, Burnt Ranch and Big Bar pop into and out of view quickly. Population numbers in these towns may be 31, 260, 162 or 38. An RV park can be found in some of these towns, and so can river rafting businesses. This could be a very popular summer destination. The town of Big Junction with 600 population at 2888 elevation, Derrille noticed a sign for a new 88 site RV park coming soon.

We noticed the area scarred from a fire filled with new growth.

The trees in some sections looked like skeleton standing together, all whitish and looking dead.

After hillsides of maple and fir, we passes an area with mostly pine trees. Some of the pines sported this light green dress.

The speed limit sign reads 55 MPH, but not for us...RADAR ??? on this windy road?Although we could run at 50 mph, Derrille felt the coach preferred to run at 45 mph. Fortunately for the people behind us, passing lanes show up frequently, especially on the uphill sides of each hill. Being a courteous RV driver means using the right lane up the passing lanes, and finding other places to pull over between the passing lane opportunities to let the cars behind you scoot by. Only 3 cars gave us "thank you beeps". As the time passed, the traffic increased.

Clearly marked turnouts provided additional places to pull over. Nearing Redding, we did follow a pick-up slowly pulling a trailer loaded with two pontoon boats.

That driver apparently didn't know about being a courteous slow driver. The twisting asphalt didn't allow us to travel 45 mph very often. The signs can tell some of the story.

In some spots along the road the handmade rock guard rails appeared to be like those created during the CCC project. Recently built walls help hold the rock in place, ands seem to be made as a single unit. Pre-treated boards with rocks create barriers to hold back rhe hillside in slide areas.

Another structor to help with slides and erosion appear to be ledges cut high into the rock walls that tower above us on each side of the road. At many places along the route signs were turned away from the road, but ready for winter. They stated chains needed or 4-wheel drive vehicles with snow tires OK. You don't want to come this way during the winter months unless you are well prepared.

At a midpoint in our journey the towering trees and rock walls quit being on both sides of the road. A flowing river appeared on the left side about 200-300 feet in a valley below the road. After the couple of building that make up Burnt Ranch, the river appeared on the right side of the road, and only 25-50 feet below the road.

From here the road follows the Trinity River. In some places the shoulder provides wide shoulders, big enough to part an RV. Many other spots along the river side of the road have a small patch of gravel just big enough to accomodate a fisherman's car. Some people fished from the edge. Some stood in the river, and others seem to float down in a boat, and then get out to cast their feathery flies into the river. At one place without any fishermen, I spotted a fish jump out of the water. Some of the places with parked cars made we wonder how the fishermen and their gear got down the steep slope. Then I noticed one car had a rope attached to the trailer hitch and hanging over the bank. That person apparently rapelled down. At one spot along the river I noticed two kayaks beached on the opposite side of the river. Then I saw the tent higher up. This two adventurers must be kayaking the river and camping along the way. I didn't spot it quick enough to get a photo.

Weaverville counts as the biggest town along Hwy 299. At 2045 feet elevation, Weaverville boast a population of 3983. The western end of town includes an 1800's village motif with interesting shops and businesses. Modern architecture surfaces on the easten end of town with a Burger King, Starbucks, CVS Pharmacy and TOPS food. Shasta College calles Weaverville home.

No road trip would be complete without the orange Road Work signs. Fortunately for us, the road crews took Saturday off. After leaving Weaverville a large sign proclaims a Road Alignment Project. Work has begun to take some of the continous hairpin curves out of the road. The next time we travel this way may be a lot easier driving.

Continuing east, Douglas City claims 1900 residents and Shasta claims 3213 residents. Shasta sits at 1000 feet elevation...more ear popping going on. The road takes a long downgrade. Just outside of Redding people flock to the Whiskeytown Rec. Area. The road travels over several inlets of a large lake.

The Shasta State Historical site maintain a small 1800's ghost town for tourist to see.

Mount Shasta is visible in the distance.

The road quickly drops into Redding. The clock say noon by the time we clear Redding and head south on I-5. With good weather and limited traffic we managed the twists and turns, ups and downs, in 3 to 3 1/2 hours. We stopped at a rest stop for lunch and continued south another three+ hours to Lodi. We refueled at Flying J and then went across the street to spend the night at Flag City RV park. When we left this morning dressed in long jeans and sweatshirts, we turned on the heater and I bundled up in a blanket. By the time we stopped for lunch the temperature inland hit 70 degrees and we felt a need to change into shorts and tees and use the AC!