The Neighborhood

Travel

I continued my journey south today and really didn’t have a clue where I was headed. I wanted to be within striking distance of the Bay Area but it is so vast I wanted to still be able to camp one more night before heading for my next visit.

I spent last night in Susanville CA which is a town that has seen better days in a lovely location ringed by mountains. It seems the major industry there are the three prisons in the vicinity which employ something like half the adult population of the town of 16,000 people.

I treated myself to a hotel and shower and a steak dinner.

Today I set my first destination as Chico set at the base of the mountains in the Sacramento river valley. The journey to Chico was through very scenic winding roads but being the last day of Memorial Day weekend, madness ensued as everyone was rushing back from the mountains for their nine to five. I drive the speed limit which made me the slowest vehicle on the road.

Once I arrived in Chico I knew I was in California. It could have been almost anywhere in California only with more trees. There I took stock and headed to a random campground in the Mendicino National Forest across the valley. My first choice ended up with a road closure so I diverted north to the charmingly named Mudflat Campground.

As I left the Sacramento river behind I was driving through rolling hills of dry blonde grass studded with oak trees and cattle. My route took me out into ranching country on some dirt roads and these rolling hills were enchanting. I stopped at a few places along the gravel roadside to take some photographs. (if you click on the gallery below you can cycle through full screen versions of the images.)

The final section of road was a steep single-lane climb up the mountain. Here the country is not much different than at Lava Beds National Park. Pines and manzanita and grass. There is an abundance of flowers here as well. Another similarity is that a forest fire had ripped through here a number of years ago. I find the campground which consists of nothing more than a couple of flat spaces to the side of the track.

This suits me fine as I am mostly self-contained. The day got quite warm here in the low 80’s (30C) by the time I parked. I grabbed the camera and a cold beer and headed further up the road on foot. It is nice to be out without the whine of the motor and transmission. The road wound its way up the hillside revealing a hazy view across the valley I had just crossed. The geology is varied and seems to change every 20 or 30 feet along the road. I worked-up quite a sweat and realized my shower this morning was all for naught.

As I climbed higher a black headed vulture lifted off and circled a few times overhead until he gained enough altitude to disappear over the other side of the mountain. Now a thunderhead loomed above me and eventually blocked the sun. This made the temperature just about perfect.

I am not sure about the above photo. It is just crazy chaotic, but that was the attraction.

The above is my favorite.

When I returned I organized camp and explored the area around the camp. A spring meant running water just below the road which was easier heard than seen. Here in this arid high chaparral country a little water goes a long way to creating a thick wall of vegetation.

I then set about bathing myself with a small bowl of water and a wash cloth. The air was warm and dry and this did much to improve my mood. I fixed scrambled eggs with guacamole for dinner.

The Neighborhood

After dinner I listened to the quail chatting and scolding or whatever quail talk about. These quail flew up in the branches of burnt trees and called to each other over the streambed. I have lived in the Sonoran Desert and Gambel Quail are common but I do not recall the behavior of perching high up in trees. They tended to scurry along the ground and under bushes. I have learned these are California Quail and are the state bird.

As evening progressed the Quail got closer to my camp and hid in the deep bushes. For a while the camp was full of activity. Some hummingbirds came for a visit. Next a couple of Jack rabbits appeared on the road in front of my truck. Water in the desert attracts lots of animals. I am sure I missed others.

And thus I found myself embedded in their neighborhood for the night and while I no doubt disturbed them with my presence my hope is my respectful quiet meant I was tolerated at least in their little neighborhood.

I leave this with a soundscape of what I heard. Most of the calls are from the quail. You can hear their different calls like the tiny pip and the longer ‘Chicago’ call along with fluttering of wings as they flitted about the brush. There are some distant crickets and even further out is the soft cooing of doves as well as stellar jays for the careful listener.

I felt guilty that I would disturb them if I went to bed after dark so I closed up camp and went inside for the night while the birds had enough light to move about if they needed to.

In the morning I made a recording nearer the stream while making breakfast. Again the quail are the stars of the show but the sun hasn’t risen so the crickets are more numerous and their bright sounds louder. Other birds chime in and the faint trickle of water adds to the effect. The cooing dove make an appearance again.