Son James and I head North in the Tacoma Truck. James discovers a new lager before we leave. This is a very good omen.

We are headed to Crater Lake in Oregon on Arisa’s advice. We camp the first night near Whiskeytown Lake. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Whiskeytown+Lake/@40.6275208,-122.6098933,9634m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x54d2f139a1707db3:0xc865d3a6a42c8249!8m2!3d40.6221003!4d-122.5541449

We find a perfect place near a tiny town called French Gulch.

We hammer north through huge areas of burnt forest. So sad, I suppose it will take 50 years to get back to its original state. Probably will not get the chance as huge forest fires seem to happen every year now. They didn’t seem to be a thing when we came to California 20 years ago.

Crater Lake is sublime.

We stay the night at the Crater Lake campsite. First time I have ever reserved a camping spot. Clearly the way of the future I am afraid.

We head South to a hot spring that James knows. By the way, it is very hot, nearly 100F every day. Mind you it seems to be the standard temperature most everywhere in the world.

We set up camp beside a hot spring just beside a lake.

The water is hot but bearable. In fact it is perfect. A pair of Barn Swallows have set up a nest inside the the Onsen shed. I watch them for hours. I have rarely been so clean.

Throughout the day, we soak and then swim in the lake. Paradise.

What an incredible place! Only one other person shows up, also in a Four Wheel Camper, and he keeps himself to himself up in the rocks.

We have to go home. We hammer South, James does all the driving.

After a final soak, we leave camp at 8:00 and head for Susanville. Hw 395 through Modoc County is a wonderful road, real cowboy stuff. High desert, hardly any other trucks.

We finally make it to Susanville and have the biggest breakfast ever at the Lumberjack Diner.

Once again, many thanks to the Taco Truck but above all, thanks to James for excellent company, local knowledge and all the driving.

What a fantastic trip! Oregon and Northern California are hard to beat.