McArthur Burney Falls State Park is located just a few miles north of Hat Creek where we had stayed the last night, and is definitely worth going! We park near the entrance and falls overlook, snap some photos and then head on to the 1.2 mile falls loop trail, which presents the falls and their surrounding from various angles as we hike through the woods.

Then it’s time to head south (pretty much the only direction we’ll be going today) for about 41 miles, to one of the least visited National Parks in the contiguous 48 states: Lassen Volcanic National Park. The reason is not what’s to see (which is plenty & beautiful), but it’s remoteness off the beaten path in Northern California.

After a stop at the visitor center, we drive along Manzania Lake and to Devastation Area, still called that way from the blow it’s vegetation received after the eruptions of Mt. Lassen in 1914. Devastated from the snow, rock & lava avalanche following the blow up, there was nothing left standing. Today, almost 100 years later, things do look different, but the name remains.

We drive along Lassen peak lake, over the summit and stop at Helen Lake, near Bumpass Hell for a quick bite to eat. It’s a bit chilly (58 degrees F) at over 8,500 ft elevation, so we descend a bit towards Sulphur Works, where the smell really works your senses! Beautiful colors, bubbling mud pots and fumaroles however more than make up for the stink.

And then we leave Lassen National Park, head west on Hwy 32 to Chico (now it’s 85 degrees F and we’re at 195 ft elevation), and straight south on Hwy 99, stop for dinner in Yuba City before reaching I-5 and heading back home.

Thursday morning, after packing up at our West Glacier, MT campsite we headed west, along Hwy 2 thru Montana and into Idaho, then turned south onto Hwy 93 until we reached the freeway, I-90 west. That one soon took us into Washington, and an hour later we turned off again to join Hwy 395 south, which would become our longest “highway relationship” on this trip!

Driving through the sunset and into the night, we made it to Pendledon, OR, our intended stop for the night. However – KOA: full. All other RV parks: full. WalMart parking lot: full (with RVs). Guess what … the rodeo’s in town! So we decided to follow Hwy 395 a bit further, another hour through the hills & the dark, until we reached Ukiah-Dale State Park, with it’s small but pretty campground (we didnt’t actually see much of it until the next morning)!

Friday morning was quickly packed up and we were on the road again just after 8:30am. Still Oregon, still Hwy 395 and still heading south for many more miles to be covered. It wouldn’t be until 3:30pm that we leave Oregon and enter California (yep, still on Hwy 395).

Shortly thereafter, we finally left Hwy 395 and headed west, onto Hwy 299 wich took us through Lassen Co. and into Shasta Co., where we turned one more time, onto Hwy 89 south, to Hat Creek, CA, just between Burney Falls State Park and Lassen National Park. A perfect spot for ourlast night stay, and great starting point for the last 2 places on our agenda to visit!

Full hook ups, showers, campfire, dinner … all set!

As we leave St. Mary in the late morning and head into the park, we are able to go as far as Sun Point, where we then park the trailer for the next few hours while we head on further into the park and up the mountains with only the truck. Soon we find the road narrowing, steep cliffs on one side, drop offs to the lake or valleys on the other. Beautiful views of the mountains that make up Glacier National Park!

As we reach Logan Pass, the highest point in the park (that one can drive to), we also hit traffic. Yep – not because of the many tourists (although there are plenty), but because one road construction and the resulting one-lane traffic stops. We decide to drive a bit further to see the Weeping Walls before turning around … and definitely get a long time to enjoy the views, as we are stuck in traffic down & back up the other side for 2 hours. Yikes. But worth it.

On the way back towards the east side of the park (remember – we left our trailer there), we stop for great glacier views and a short hike to a waterfall. Then it’s time to pick up the trailer again and head out of the park. Now we’re off to driving around the park … since we couldn’t go through all the way, and our destination for today is West Glacier. A couple hours drive through hills, always with the mountains on our right. And at around 6pm, we reach the West Glacier KOA, where we check in for the night. Then it’s time for dinner – at the Rawhide Steakhouse & Restaurant in town.

And because it’s a nice (not-too-chilly) night, we finally get our campfire going! Yahoo!

After a morning shower, we hit Lake Minnewanka just a few minutes outside of town.  It’s the large lake near Bannf, but man made which kind of lessened the appeal. We didn’t know that till we got there though.  But what probably killed the excitement was the cold weather and the fact that the restaurant was closed at the lake.  We were a bit disappointed and headed back to town for food and souvenirs.

After visiting a half dozen shops, we collected our bounty of souvenirs and found a place to eat.  Squish Sandwich Seller (aka Celler, get it?) was our luck of the draw.  We split a meaty sandwich and boy was it good.  Like really good.  Like the meat was so tender is was, well, squishey!  Yeah, I know, a cheesy description but true.  Good food in Banff x2.

So we gas the truck up, get some ice to keep the cooler (aka beer) cold, and hit the road.  We head an hour and a half to Calgary, turn right, and head to the the US of A.

Errrrrh.  That’s a skiding to a break sound for those not into sound effect jargon.  We hit traffic in Calgary.  Just 30 minutes earlier on the radio we hear of a tanker fire.  We shurgged not knowing where it was or what we could do… only to realize we were heading right for it.

Look at the photos, that truck BURNED.  Good thing it was the cab and not the trailer.  Bravo Calgary fire people!

Flat and farmland.  That’s all there was to the border.  Knowing now that taking photos of the customs both is -verboten!- we took one a bit further back this time.  With nothing to declare (not mentioning the last two Canadian beers in the cooler), we were back in the US.  Montana to be exact with a destination of the KOA campground in St Mary, MT.  Here we feast, do laundry and call it a night.  It’s getting cold… dark… and quiet.  Should make for a cozy good nights sleep.