Volcano, Lava Tubes and Waterfalls

Being from NC we are more than familiar with the problem of deer on the roadways, but I have to admit that we had never seen a sign like this before. _DSC7721We immediately become ultra alert as we can’t imagine what a major deer problem entails.  Stormy ponders whether a doe in this area would be called a Majorette?

Today we head farther north and our first stop is Lassen Volcanic National Park or at least as close as we can get to it since recent snows have many roads here closed.  We enjoy the scenery on this drive, but are even more entertained by the strange roadside signs and airplanes.  Yes, it appears that people locally store their planes beside the road instead of at airports.

_DSC7745
A plane with no airport

We soak up the short educational trail at the road closure point in Lassen, but since all other park services are closed due to snow (14′ on the road up) our visit at this park is short.

Our next stop is one that Terrie has been excited about since she left home.  She can hardly contain herself as we arrive at the Subway Cave Lava Tubes.  We did not print out the self-guided tour from the link so had to rely on the info available at the site most of which had been removed by vandals.  I tell you this to explain why we were so lost once we got in the dark, dark tunnel.  Terrie jumps out of the truck as only someone so filled with joy can do and ran up to read the entrance sign to the cave.

Storm at the entrance to the Lava Tubes
Storm at the entrance to the Lava Tubes

She reports back to us that according to the sign we all need to bring a couple of light jackets for the tour.  Not questioning her authority, we all suit up by donning all the extra jackets and shirts that we have.  Just before we enter the lava tube cave, we stop to read the sign again.  I have to admit, I thought it said light jackets too at first (old age vision…) but what we finally realize is that it says we need a couple of lights.  Oh yeah, it’s a cave and it is DARK!

After scrounging up an assortment of tiny flashlights including cell phones, off we go.  Wow – it is pitch black in there and our little flashlights are barely cutting it so we try to navigate by bouncing our voices off the walls like bats and Terrie LOVED it!  She was thrilled that we were not sure which way to go to get out and she especially enjoyed the crevasses in the floor whose depth is immeasurable!  It requires all three of us to remove Terrie from the cave and proceed with our trip, but as much as we all love seeing Terrie enjoy herself we have much left to see today.

Next we hike the 1.3 mile loop at McArthur-Burney Falls and make a quick stop to see the bridge from the movie Stand By Me.  After all that excitement, we plan to rest up in Weed for the night but not before we swing by one more scenic road to get some pics of Mt. Shasta.  Lucky for us that we get them because the next day the entire mountain is enshrouded by clouds and snow.  Here is a slide show of the days events:

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About Sunny Weathers

Pilot, motorcyclist and full time RVer. Follow me as I travel all over the US in my Country Coach RV volunteering, making new friends and pursuing a constant outdoor temperature between 70F and 80F. I'll share the fun and the tribulations and any great survival tricks I learn!

2 Replies to “Volcano, Lava Tubes and Waterfalls”

  1. Jim Dukeman says: Reply

    WOW we never went to these places, wish we had, beautiful, thanks for sharing. GOD BLESS

    JD
    Jim

    1. Sunny Weathers says: Reply

      I give to give all the credit to Dean for researching this trip and finding cool places to visit. He told me that he used Google Earth to go along the route and look for interesting places that others had found and posted picture of on Google Earth.

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