After leaving Shasta Lake we were treated to spectacular views of Mount Shasta which is over 14,000ft and very impressive covered in snow.
We headed West down the Klamath River and pitched up for the night in the shade, desperately trying to cool our little van for the evening. It was a really quiet night and a very peaceful sleep with no trains or big trucks to be heard – a blissful change!
Janet had a morning swim in the chilly river, good job it was flowing so fast she had to work hard just to resist being swept downstream so it soon warmed her up. After a leisurely breakfast and watching a group who turned up get ready to go rafting we set off North and crossed back into Oregon. “Hello cheaper petrol!”
We went to Ashland and took a walk around a lovely shaded Limpia Park and the artisan market that was being held. After some great people watching in the park, including two little girls who could back flip off the swings and a bible studies group who said “the Lord” a lot!, we headed off to find Applegate Lake to cycle round. We found a nice National Forest Dispersed campsite (free) next to the river and prayed for the breeze to remain which was “dispersing” the clouds of mosquitoes. Our campfire, which we soon got underway, also helped (and was great for the toasted marshmallows later).
A paddle in the cold river cooled us a bit but we decided to ride in the cooler morning instead of the searing afternoon heat.
After a brief morning encounter with a scorpion at our campsite, we set out in the cool morning temperatures.
The cycle route was a little cut in rock ledge around the lake and 22 miles. At times there were precarious section that had experienced rockfalls, so you had to keep your wits about you.
It was lovely and quiet on a Monday morning when all the families had gone home. You could hear the odd conversation of fisherman in their boats out in the lake but that was about all, in among the lapping of the water and the birds.
We may have finished with a swim in the lake to cool off and wash our cycling gear. It would have been rude not to!
After a mammoth trip around Wal-Mart to buy parts to service our van, (there are some sights to be held there), we we treated to this beautiful sunset as we headed to Emigrant Lake for the night.
