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Long Stretch
Lightly traveled.19 May 2010 Red Bluff, California:
A Leisurely morning in Alturas was a vacation-paced pleasure. In hindsight, an early start would have provided dry roads, as the sunshine receded downwind and an ominous wall of gray greeted departure.
A lengthy consideration of weather and riding options led to the decision to head WSW past Red Bluff and stage for a Thursday ride of Highway 3. Thursday's forecast was the driest of the week and Hwy 3 is one of Northern California's finer back roads. A campground outside Platina, CA was the destination.
A kind word for California is in order: 65mph speed limits on many rural roads, and drivers who pull over when they see you want to pass. What an f-ing revelation!
The pleasure of rolling through NE California at a healthy clip was only diminished by the weather. The forecast was 80% showers, and that's about what the rain gods delivered. But the blustry, gusty wind demons delivered a surprise workout, as the frontal passage was vigorous. Rain riding attire worked well, but the tastier twisty sections required moderation of pace in the wet. Temps dropped to the low 40s over the pass near Mt.
Semper Fidelis
In a field. By the road. Good on ya. Lassen and snow patches were abundant.
Two roadside installations required a stop: The first was a collection of metal sculptures made of mechanical scrap. Flying Old Glory and the Marine Corp colors and sporting futuristic weapons, there was a strong military tone. In the middle of nowhere with no other signage, they spoke for themselves.
The second was a 20' tall figure. Also in the middle of nowhere. With a guest book. Turns out it was a Muffler Man. These were produced in the 1970s for display in front of retail shops, primarily muffler shops.
The guest book contained the story. Google him.
The route I chose had a back road connection to get down to Hwy 36. It turned out to be a secret little gem, twisty, smooth, empty, too narrow for a center line. It descended down a steep slope from Shingletown to Manton, and then down a long gentle ridge to Dales. Beautiful. If it weren't for the brutal side wind toward Dales, it would have been a nice ride. When you are just wishing for the ride to end, it's a sure sign the buzz has been killed. I got over it. Anyway,
WTF?
Muffler Man. Google him. I recommend this little back road connector.
Arriving in Red Bluff, the entire southern sky was a wall of gray squall line. I was fueling up under cover when this deluge hit. It was inspirational for my camping plans: I headed straight for the Sky Plaza Motel, another $40 bargain near downtown. It rained steadily until almost 9pm.
Thursday it's up Highway 3, maybe all the way to Yreka, and then assess the situation. More wetness is due Friday and Saturday, so it may well be time to head for the barn.
Thanks for the comments. Stay tuned.
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tiffini
non-member comment
rain
Well least you are still enjoying the rain. It is fun reading your blogs. Thanks tif