Day 23 – June 28, 2008
We were up at 0700 hours (7:00 AM) today, and had breakfast at the adjacent Shari’s Restaurant, similar to a CoCo’s restaurant in California. Our waitress was way too cheery for first thing in the morning. So, we ordered two cups of what ever she was drinking just to get started. We hit Interstate 5 south by 0900 hours.
We were up at 0700 hours (7:00 AM) today, and had breakfast at the adjacent Shari’s Restaurant, similar to a CoCo’s restaurant in California. Our waitress was way too cheery for first thing in the morning. So, we ordered two cups of what ever she was drinking just to get started. We hit Interstate 5 south by 0900 hours.
Before too long, we began to smell and see the first signs of the multiple fires burning in northern and central California. As we continued south, the smoke became heavier and the sky became darker with a thick smog-like haze. We didn’t even bother to get our cameras out for any “from the saddle pictures” today.
By the time we crossed the Oregon/California border the smoke was so bad that we donned our bandanas to filter out the smoke now coming down like snow, but more sinister, and apparently intent upon entering our lungs. The Three Amigos and the Highway Princess now looked more like the Four Banditos.
The smoke precluded us from taking any pictures as we entered the normally picturesque Shasta National Forest and crossed the long bridge over one arm of the lake. Although the lake level was down considerably and the temperatures were nearly unbearable at ninety five degrees, a few die hards were still boating in the smoke and heat.
One could still see Mt. Shasta with it’s smattering of remaining winter snow and a few white billowy clouds surrounding its summit, but somehow it was just not the same through the thick blanket of smoke. How we longed to back in Alaska with its crystal clear blue morning skies and sixty degree temperatures.
We pressed on toward our destination for the evening, Sacramento, CA., arriving around 1730 hours amid clearing skies. We opted for the Best Western Sandman Hotel, walking distance to Old Town on Richards Blvd., were we assisted by the very charming and able clerks Christina and Patty.
We wasted no time unpacking the bikes (we’re getting pretty expert at packing and unpacking by now after 23 days of this) and hitting the hotel pool and spa for a well deserved dunk before getting cleaned up and heading for dinner. After the refreshing swim we walked the short fifteen minutes to Old Town on the Sacramento River for a crab dinner at Joe’s Crab Shack. No luck, it was a ninety minute wait for dinner. So, we headed for Fulton’s downstairs restaurant for their famous prime rib dinner, “Closed for Remodeling.” We finally ended up at Fat City Bar & Cafe—no waiting. Fortunately, dinner was good. A hungry man is a grumpy man.
We had a nice treat right after dinner while searching for an open ice cream store at 2215 hours, a fireworks display. It made for some interesting snapshots, especially the reflection off the adjacent glass building. We never did find an open ice cream store, so we headed home and called it a night, except for me who stayed up way too late posting yesterday’s blog and photos.
Tomorrow it’s the home stretch, Sacramento to Santa Clarita, approximately 350 miles, presumably an easy day. Today was another 450 mile day.
By the time we crossed the Oregon/California border the smoke was so bad that we donned our bandanas to filter out the smoke now coming down like snow, but more sinister, and apparently intent upon entering our lungs. The Three Amigos and the Highway Princess now looked more like the Four Banditos.
The smoke precluded us from taking any pictures as we entered the normally picturesque Shasta National Forest and crossed the long bridge over one arm of the lake. Although the lake level was down considerably and the temperatures were nearly unbearable at ninety five degrees, a few die hards were still boating in the smoke and heat.
One could still see Mt. Shasta with it’s smattering of remaining winter snow and a few white billowy clouds surrounding its summit, but somehow it was just not the same through the thick blanket of smoke. How we longed to back in Alaska with its crystal clear blue morning skies and sixty degree temperatures.
We pressed on toward our destination for the evening, Sacramento, CA., arriving around 1730 hours amid clearing skies. We opted for the Best Western Sandman Hotel, walking distance to Old Town on Richards Blvd., were we assisted by the very charming and able clerks Christina and Patty.
We wasted no time unpacking the bikes (we’re getting pretty expert at packing and unpacking by now after 23 days of this) and hitting the hotel pool and spa for a well deserved dunk before getting cleaned up and heading for dinner. After the refreshing swim we walked the short fifteen minutes to Old Town on the Sacramento River for a crab dinner at Joe’s Crab Shack. No luck, it was a ninety minute wait for dinner. So, we headed for Fulton’s downstairs restaurant for their famous prime rib dinner, “Closed for Remodeling.” We finally ended up at Fat City Bar & Cafe—no waiting. Fortunately, dinner was good. A hungry man is a grumpy man.
We had a nice treat right after dinner while searching for an open ice cream store at 2215 hours, a fireworks display. It made for some interesting snapshots, especially the reflection off the adjacent glass building. We never did find an open ice cream store, so we headed home and called it a night, except for me who stayed up way too late posting yesterday’s blog and photos.
Tomorrow it’s the home stretch, Sacramento to Santa Clarita, approximately 350 miles, presumably an easy day. Today was another 450 mile day.
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