Well, I had a great road trip! (pic heavy)

[skygazer]

I left Tuesday and got back yesterday.

First, I drove up the gorgeous California coast -



I went to a really cool beach that was made up of "gravel" that was actually ocean-polished glass -



Then I took a ride through some beautiful Redwood country -



And on to Lassen Volcanic National Park, where I camped near a mountain lake -



Saw some neat hot springs -



And climbed a volcano -



Up a gnarly trail -



To the summit -



Where the views were incredible -

[lizziegrace]

1. Wow

:wow:

Beautiful. :)

[lost-in-nj]

2. Beautiful

What a nice trip
and wonderful pictures!!!!

Thanks for sharing!!


lost

[RevolutionaryActs]

3. Those are awesome pictures!

Thanks for sharing! :hi: :D




I r gud speler! :dunce:

[sasquatch]

17. .

:spank:

[skygazer]

4. Kick for vacation pics

:hi:

[SeattleGirl]

5. Beautiful pics!

:thumbsup:

[fizzgig]

6. wonderful pics

looks like you had a great time. thanks for sharing :hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. My dear skygazer!

Oh, these are wonderful!

All the prettiest places...

I think you had a ball, didn't you?

Welcome home, sweetie!

:hug:

[skygazer]

8. Thanks, CalPeg!

I did indeed! It was a fun solo trip and I beat the Labor Day crowds which was wonderful. But it's always nice to return home. :hug:

[Redstone]

9. Lassen Park is one place in California that I've always wanted to see, but

never managed to go to. Especially that part called "Bumpass Hell;" with a name like that it HAS to be interesting.

Glad you enjoyed your trip. Did you go up via US 395, one of my very favorite roads?

Redstone

[skygazer]

I took Route 1 up the coast

Then headed east on 36 which was really beautiful. I haven't driven 395 - I'll have to check it out.

Yeah, Lassen was wonderful - I saw it on the map and looked up some info on the Internet. I understand it never gets really crowded and the weather is great. It was well worth it - even better than I expected. (the photo of the hot springs was taken at Bumpass Hell, named for the mountaineer who discovered it. He hoped to exploit mineral rights but while showing it to a party of people, he fell through the crust up to his thigh on one leg. He lost the leg and evidently his enthusiasm for the project. :shrug: )

[Redstone]

11. You absolutely MUST take a drive up 395, to see Mono Lake if nothing else.

Mono Lake is what first drew me to that part of California; I sent money to the Mono Lake Committee before I even visited that area.

Do it. You won't be dissapointed.

Redstone

[Midlodemocrat]

10. Awesome pics! Looks like a great time.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

12. "ocean-polished glass"

LOL. You mean sea glass?

:hide:

Looks like an interesting time. Were you alone?

[skygazer]

13. Some people don't know what sea glass is

I figured I'd make it clear with the fewest amount of words.

Yeah, I went alone. I love to travel alone - there's no compromise. You go where you want, you stop when you want, you eat what you want. I like that freedom and I really enjoy some solitude. Especially in nature.

[Bennyboy]

14. That is Glass beach in Fort Bragg.....It used to be

The old garbage dump. Back in the sixties the trucks would come and just dump the garbage right into the ocean. We used to dive for abalone there a lot back then.

I love that drive, one of my all timer fave drives in the world. I love North Coast Brewing Co in For Bragg, they have the best beer ever there!

[Gormy Cuss]

19. Yep. Glass Beach is the prettiest dump that I've ever seen.

I love North Coast Brewing too, also the restaurants down at Noyo Harbor.

[Shine]

15. Fantastic!!! I'm so glad you went for it!

:thumbsup:

Great pix. I really liked the sea glass "gravel", very cool. Glad you made it home, safe and sound.

:hug: :loveya:

[skygazer]

18. Thanks darlin'

That beach was so cool - I felt like I was walking on a carpet of jewels. Very beautiful.

And I made it home safe and sound and, in case you missed it, proposed to my sweetie who said "yes." So I'm gettin' hitched. :bounce:

Quite a week! :hug:

[ThomCat]

16. I'm incredibly jealous!

(No, I'm not really, but I do wish I could go on a trip like that.)

I'm very glad you had a good trip and got to see so many beautiful places. :hug: