Heading North Through Lassen Volcanic Park

When we got up from our cozy slumber in Lake Tahoe it felt so good to look out the sliding door to find that the storm that had dogged us the day before had moved on. Kenny, Ed and I had breakfast and took a walk around back of our hotel to get a look at the lake.

Lake Tahoe was very beautiful and the world was silent.

the view of Lake Tahoe from our hotel

It was a bittersweet morning. Kenny and I would be continuing on without Ed from this point. Because he lives near LA, Tahoe was the northern-most point from which he’d be able to comfortably make it back home in one day’s ride.

Eds RSVWhen you really enjoy someone’s company their absence is a palpable thing. Even though they may occupy a space separate from you on a motorcycle of their own, you miss them when they aren’t there. Ed is a great riding companion. He’s game for anything, doesn’t whine or complain and he’s always good for a laugh. One went left and two went right. I missed him before his Aprilia was even out of sight.

With the sun sun shining down on us once again, Kenny and I set off towards Lassen Volcanic Park. Though I knew the name of the park, I really didn’t know very much about it.

Riding in Lassen Volcanic Park

When we entered from the south, rounded a corner and… WOW! It was beautiful.

Fuzz at Lassen Volcanic Park

The scale of the peaks and valleys was huge. There were snow capped mountains, sparse rock faces jutting out of the hills, rock gardens and for the first time throughout the trip, pockets of wild flowers growing. I couldn’t believe I’ve never heard much about such a beautiful park.

Have you been there?

Riding in Lassen Volcanic Park Riding in Lassen Volcanic Park Riding in Lassen Volcanic Park
Hairpin in Lassen Volcanic Park

rainbow mount shastaOur pace for the day was slow and steady. The two of us were pretty mellow all day, really. We didn’t stop for many pictures along the way as we gradually worked our way to Mount Shasta. Our goal was to get into a good position to pick up Route 96 just north of Yreka, the following morning.

We finished our day narrowly escaping another crazy thunderstorm that blackened the sky and chased away the rainbow that led us to our hotel.

More Posts From This Trip:

Fuzzygalore

Rachael is the whimsical writer behind the 20+ year old Girlie Motorcycle Blog. As a freelance blogger, she is on a mission to inspire laughter, self-examination, curiosity, and human connection. Girlie Motorcycle Blog can be found on several Best Motorcycle Blog lists.

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8 Responses

  1. Anthony says:

    I’ve been loving the updates on the California Trip Fuzzy…..Makes me more and more excited about my big trip next year to the MotoGP…..

    I have never done a trip that lasted more than two days, so planning a 14 day journey is a bit daunting, but I’m up for the challenge….

    loving the photos you’ve taken along the way too…..and that hairpin shot above is awesome.

    can’t wait for the next update!!

    • Fuzzygalore says:

      Thank you, Anthony 🙂 I’m really glad to know that the posts are being enjoyed.

      I was reading your post about the MotoGP trip earlier. I’ll save my comments for your post 🙂

  2. I love Lassen. Amazing when you see giant boulders very far away and realize that the volcano threw them there. Took a little hike; our kids made snow angels in July. Did you visit the (smelly) sulphur pits?

    • Fuzzygalore says:

      We had that same conversation about the boulders when we exited the park on the north end. There is a whole area where the landscape is covered in a blanket of rocks as if they were grass. When you stopped to consider just how that blanket got there and then saw the mountain in the distance it was like an “A Ha!” moment. And then thinking about the power and violence that made it happen… wow.

      I need to take Chloe there <3

      The stinky fart pools? We didn't stop for them 🙁

  3. I love the twisty road and rainbow pics. Isn’t it great when you don’t know much about a place and then discover it’s really, really awesome? That happened to us a couple of times on our recent trip. Makes it even more memorable. The colors in that Tahoe picture are sweet. That’s one of those bucket list places for me.

    • Fuzzygalore says:

      Thanks, Kath 🙂

      Yea – it was a total surprise. I believe the man, the myth, the legend Bob Ross referred tot hem as “Happy Accidents”. I think not knowing what to expect really gives you an authentic reaction.

      Unfortunately we didn’t really spend any time exploring Tahoe. But, it sure looks like a nice outdoor playground.

  4. David Stans says:

    I stumbled upon your website tonight around 7 pm west coast time, and it is 2:20 am and still reading and snooping around. I have to say I’m envious of your rides and blogs and it was so nice to see some dedicated riders. This site is amazing to me and I personally want to thank you for taking your time to create a site that has already brought so amny thoughts about the future and feelings about the past! This is what lifes all about , just glad your sharing a little slice of yours with us. I started a blog recently with much of this in mind, this has inspired me to be diligent in my posts but also to take the time on the road to enjoy the moment and the ride not just the destination.

    • Fuzzygalore says:

      David-
      This has to be one of the nicest comments I’ve ever had, thank you. It feels good to think that someone might’ve found spark for their own riding.

      I look forward to reading about your adventures, too!

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