Going Back To Cali, Cali, Cali

As all things, good or bad, must do, they must end. And now, it was time to head back for my home in Northern California.

The experience that was Oregon soon began to slide one grain at a time into from the present into the vast memory bank that most people carry deep within their minds. There were still some interesting tidbits that the nation's 33rd state still had in store. Upper Klamath Lake proved to be soothing in its own right, which surprised me a bit after the incredibly breathtaking vision that greeted me at Crater Lake just a couple hours beforehand.

I passed through Klamath Falls (where the heck are the falls, by the way?) and encountered something right at the border that I'd figure California would be on the cutting edge of in terms of modern conveniences - a wi-fi enabled rest area. If I had seen the sign sooner, I would've stopped over and broken out the laptop to test the setup.

Alas, I was back in California, but a few more picturesque surprises awaited, one of which was racing a train. Entering the small town of Dorris, a long train cut off the flow of traffic entering town. Considering how the road coiled through here with sharp turns and stop signs that limited speed, this speed-burner of a train got quite a lead before I was able to catch up again. With no cars at all for miles at a time on this stretch of the highway, I imagined myself in the Old West as a lone ranger of sorts, saddled up on my thoroughbred horse and racing against modern technology itself as the volcanic cone of Mt. Shasta gained more prominence in the windshield.

Later on, I was treated to the most picturesque valley of epic Hollywood pioneers venturing west/Cinemascope blockbuster movie that hasn't been made in seemingly eons. If that style of movie ever did make a comeback, I'd suggest that the film crew come up here, if only to shoot some spectacular setting shots for their project.

Soon enough though, the virgin territory I had been traveling through became the once-ventured as I drove into Weed to reconnect with I-5 back to Redding and points south. The discovery and thrill of the prior few hours soon transformed into the mundaneness of brownish farm fields, scattered Indian Casinos, and hundreds of bugs splattered on the front side of my vehicle.

California, rest in peace
Simultaneous release
California, show your teeth
You're my priestess, I'm your priest

California, you're no Oregon, at least for those almost three days I was traveling through the latter. But you are home to me, and it was time to return to your comforts