Other than a few short bursts of rain, today (Wednesday) was sunny. The temperature stayed at 8 degrees for much of the day. And Bill kept saying how much better life looks in the sunshine!! 

We sailed through Grant’s Pass with no snow! We had been wondering when we’d come to Shasta Pass and finally the enormous and beautiful mountain appeared. What a stunning and surprising monolith!. But it took Shasta Dam for us to stop our race for Palm Desert. The dam is currently at 1/3 capacity and the shocking sight drew us to the information centre to find out more. 

The security guard answered more of our questions than the interpreters. He assured us the dam can fill in 8 months of rain (I didn’t push him for details of just how that was going to happen). In our fun conversation he also revealed that he has competed in the Calgary Stampede seven times - bull riding. When Bill asked him if he had ever been injured we were treated to details of skin grafts over the broken eye socket, and other assorted injuries. We just never know when the fun is going to happen.

We are in Redding which brings us back on schedule, pulling in just after sunset. Now we are loosely planning the next three days travel. California is one long state!!