Despite the drastic heat wave that hit us while on the playa (I’ve been assured that 112 degree highs and 95 degree lows is quite abnormal), I really did enjoy my time at Black Rock Desert. It was good to get a feel of desert life, hang out with some really cool people, geek out, drive aimlessly without roads for miles and miles (even in massive dust storms!), watch Transformers on a big screen with flame shooting art cars behind me and so much more.
It was quite a memorable experience.
But without a doubt, the highlight of the week was 4th of July evening, while I was preparing some late afternoon drinks for Chris and I after he landed the paramotor – a couple coming up to us on bicycles who had just arrived. No, they weren’t coming over to see the cool paramotor that just landed – they were gushing over Tab. Apparently, they had just arrived in their own home built teardrop camper. Nomadic Serendipity and the Playa brought us together to create Camp Teardrop:
We became fast friends with Roy & Courtney, and enjoyed teaming up resources with them and sharing in the misery of the heat.
Temperature Log / July 6 / 102 degrees
On Friday, the four of us broke camp and parted ways. Chris and I decided to head towards the coast for cooler temperatures and started heading northwest. We found Modoc National Forest and their *free* campground. It was gorgeous, deserted and relaxing.. but still hot. So onwards we headed.
Temperature Log / July 7 / 99 degrees
We got into Fall River Mills, and stopped on the side of the road, contemplating where to head towards next. Chris had experience paragliding at Hat Creek Rim nearby, and there was free camping allowed there – or we were debating about heading up into Shasta or Lassin Mountains for the evening. The answer came to us when Chris’ paramotor instructor, Greg, pulled up and invited us back to his home for dinner with his family. The three of us then headed up to Hat Creek, with the intention of me doing a tandem with Greg. I was all set ready to go.. in the harness and everything.. until he mentioned getting air sick. I couldn’t get that out of my mind (it’s my biggest battle with things like that).. and when we had a rough first attempt at taking off.. I just couldn’t convince myself to jump off a 1000′ cliff anymore. Well, the jumping didn’t concern me.. it was the hour under canopy that concerned me.
So instead, I sat on the edge of the cliff and took some gorgeous pics of Chris flying around:
We stayed at the launch zone overnight, and had our slumber interrupted by a couple playing really loud and icky vile gangster rap music. In the middle of the night, I’m sure our minds made the situation out to be worse than it actually was.. but we were scared, played it cautiously and as soon as they left us alone, we left down the opposite side of the mountain. We found a rest stop that seemed peaceful and stayed the rest of the night there.
Temperature Log / July 8 – 2p / 110 degrees
We headed on across the state, taking a back mountain road out of Redding cleverly named A16. It was narrow, windy and absolutely gorgeous. Golden hills and mountains, and the temperature gauge reached 110 degrees.
Temperature Log / July 8 – 4p / 85 degrees
Over a range of mountains and we were into the Trinity National Forest.
Temperature Log / July 8 – 7p / 55 degrees
The temperatures began to drop.. the hillsides turned green and covered with redwoods! Onwards we went to 101, and started heading south in search of a spot to overnight. We ended up staying in Humboldt Redwoods State Park for the next two nights, nestled amongst the redwoods providing delightful cool shade.
Unfortunately, redwoods don’t charge up solar panels very well and we were starting to run low on voltage. So, onwards we went towards the coast into Ft. Bragg. Seeing the Pacific Ocean, after so many days in heat and desert conditions… was a breath of fresh air.
Searching around on Google, we found Camp One – a free campground that is part of the Jackson Demonstration State Forest. It had excellent reviews, and seemed to be pretty off the beaten path and unmarked. Sure enough, we arrive and it lived up to every expectation and more.
Where else can you get a camp space that is at least an acre in size, has bathroom facilities and stunning scenery FOR FREE?? Now granted, we couldn’t get cell signal without hiking a mile up a trail – so we did spend our days in coffee shops of the very cute city of Ft. Bragg working during the day. But this place was amazing and relaxing. And I’m now reluctant to pay upwards of $30-50/night for parking in essentially a parking lot crammed next to other huge RVs.
We stayed there until last weekend, when we relocated to Camp & Sons outside of Willits for the Rhythm Society‘s weekend campout.. which was totally amazing. Very magical grounds, lots of cool people and non-stop dancing.. in a pond, no less!
We’re now stationed in Sacramento with Sean & Lindsay, catching up on work, e-mail and vehicle maintenance. We’re also researching where to go next.. because for the first time we actually have no where to be until Burning Man 🙂
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