Thriftlodge Redding

(With apologies to Carly Simon!) Well, it's not ALL just waiting. There's obsessively checking the weather in Rome; revising the packing list; dithering about which luggage to use; shopping for must-haves, and then returning them...Very important step today: got my husband set up to use Skype! Only one big hurdle remains: SHOES!

... Shasta Lake and Mt. Shasta instead. After visting Shasta Dam (2nd largest in US), we took a scenic drive for views of Mt. Shasta. With help from our handy scenic drives guide, we took a route that took us to Hedgecreek Falls, where we could walk behind the falls, and Burney Falls, reputed to be the most beautiful waterfalls in CA.

We finally headed to Lassen Volcanic NP yesterday (10/18 ...

... which was just getting ready to close out for the summer. We ate outside at an Italian restaurant called Pasta Piatti, where we both had fresh salads and split crab cakes. After lunch we split up so Chris could peruse the wine shop and I could take photos. I stopped and bought some essential oil home spray, trying to get that "spa" scent of the Chrysalis Inn ...

... my supervisor and Jean, big boss met us downstairs to escort us to get new pictures taken for our "key cards" It appears the first ones taken were too dark and had to be redone.

We then walked around and met everyone (major who's who people) and the rest of Diane's Unit. I was given a tour of the building and discovered that until I received my "key-card" I could leave my area to go to the restroom but could not re-enter my ...

... we hiked Bumpus’ Hell where there was snow and geysers. We camped in the backcountry. Aaron lent me his tent and he decided to sleep outside. It started pouring, his tent could not withstand the storm and slowly flooded. I was soaked and at around 11 pm I finally mustered up the courage to ask for help. I called to Camille in the next tent over and she invited me in. We squeezed four of us into the 2 person tent – it was much much better ...

... and stuff. it is dangerous stuff!

So basically we are trying to connect two hiking trails to make the Shasta-Trinity trail by August 15th. Our work consists of taking out tree stumps, pulling out big rocks, and making the trail even. It sounds kind of boring but it is actually really fun and we are working on a really beautiful stretch of trail. There is a really nice view of ...

It's monday morning and I'm writing from a library in Redding, CA. My flight out here was amazing, God worked in incredible ways by putting me next to a couple who are from Sacramento and were returning from a Baptist Ministers' Conference in Chicago. I had a great time ...

... peace churches." Louis already knew quite a lot about the history of the Brethren, since one of his great grandfathers and one of his great-great grandfathers had been Brethren ministers. Also, an earlier ancestor of his had been part of a Brethren community in Pennsylvania in the early 1700s. We were impressed to learn that the Wrights' church in Springfield (near to Eugene) is very active in helping homeless people and also hosts a "Fair Trade" store! Pat and Owen also ...

... friends and then Amy and Nick's place, (Bella has grown too!), and had fun with them in their home, (also decorated for our anniversary), before arriving in Palo Cedro in time to celebrate our 40th Anniversary at home. We hope you have enjoyed sharing this trip with us, dear readers. If you ask us we will show you the 1400 pictures we took on the trip. If you don't ask, we may show you a few just the same. Auf Wiedersehen!

... Sacramento. We planned to get as far as we could before we needed sleep. We passed through several farming towns & drove about 5 hours before needing a motel at Redding. Nath & I checked out the local TJ Max store & bought some cheap clothes before we all crashed after our long night on a plane.