Space Needle, Seattle, Washington

Our home away from home. Seattle was our first stop to visit with our kids and grandchildren and see some sights around town.

I'm Back

It's been a long time since I've posted. Part of my absence has been the formation of my new photography website www.thelightofchange.com which has been a fun way to share photographs in an easy format. I'm thinking of using this blog now for my travels with Sam. We are ready to launch into our retirement and I'm thinking this would be a good place to post photos and comments for our various trips.

North State Fires

Every summer in the California North State we are  keenly aware of the fires that ravage our forests. This year has been particularly intense as the many fires burning coincided with triple digit temperatures up to 110 degrees. For weeks in Forest Ranch we have been experiencing unusual heat and smokey air. This is a view of the sun rising through the smoke on the ridge.

Smoke Sunrise from North State Fires

July Sunrise on the Forest Ranch Ridge

The Humboldt Wagon Road

Part of the experience of living in Forest Ranch is learning about it's history. In the recently published book, The Humboldt Wagon Road (Arcadia; Images of America, 2012) Forest Ranch resident Marti Leicester and co-author David Nobel have given a fascinating account of the history of the Humboldt wagon road which was created in1863 by John Bidwell to run the 100 miles from Chico to Susanville. This road, which is the current Highway 32 was built in order to establish a trade route for the delivery of goods and services to Susanville and then to Idaho. The advent of the Pacific Railroad in 1869 put an end to the wagon transportation system.

Part of the old Humboldt Wagon Road called The county seat grade