Deadhorse to Goose Lake

The wind kept being gusty at Deadhorse Lake, and the bug tent is on its last gasp, but provides shade, as the sun is very warm when the wind stops.   Many small boats, plus a few other float tubes and pontoon boats are launched each day--some from a few campers using the area but many from day use (perhaps coming overfrom Campbell lake).  Then, on the Friday, the campground filled up, and all sites were in use along with some at the group site.  Many fisherpeople dotted the shore as well as fished in boats/floats/pontoons.  Laura caught a large trophy trout and two smaller fish, which we cookied up for dinner.  After that, both she and Chris caught fish, but released what they caught.  The rest of us did not fare so well and didn't have bites, or if we did, none were caught.

On Friday, Brad and Judy headed toward Red Bluff, leaving Erich, us and the kids at the camp.  We planned to leave on Sunday and head to the Deschutes area, but we decided that the planned camping sites would be even windier than Deadhorse, so we decided to head back to Goose Lake and fish and explore arouind that area.   Erich decided he would go there as well, and the kids planned to leave after supper on Saturday.  Lincoln and Parker did not sleep well Friday night, and Lincoln was really tired because he was so busy playing, so Chris and Deidra changed their plans and left mid-day on Saturday, planning on getting a motel room for the night where maybe the two boys could get some more rest.

On Sunday morning, we arose early, and began to caravan with Erich out of the National Forest.  Erich's brakes did not seem to be working properly, but wr made it easily back to Lakeview then to the Campground, where we set up camp.   We returned to Lakeview and lunched at the Burger Queen, then did laundry, filled propane tanks, re-fueled, and returned to the base camp.

Goose Lake is a beautiful campground, with fields of lupine extending from the grassy campsites out into a large meadow.  Birds and other wildlife abound, around the many trails (below)..  So do mosquitos, and I wore my bug jacket most of the time, but still managed to get well eaten by the blood-suckers.  Erich is parked next to us in campsite 24, and we are in a secluded campsite 25, with Laura in 26.

It is warm at the campground, as a heat wave has hit the western states.  The central valley and interior coastal valleys like Boonville are in the 100s, and Death Valley is reaching 125 degrees.   The nineties here at the lake make it too warm in the trailer (we have air conditioning if we want to use it, but outside in the shade is nice with a soft breeze) until bedtime, when it cools down considerably.  We are cooking on the camp stove--delicious breakfasts like sausage and eggs, and today we had bacon and eggs with home-baked bread`on the toaster.  Wonderful!

The first morning (Monday) at Goose Lake was dedicated to locating a place selling California fishing licenses, which we found at the Davis Creek store.  They still have a barbecue every Fridat night, and we plan to go there this week.  Our next stop was at the Plum Creek winery, where we helped the local economy along with purchases of wine, jams, and spirits.  The owner told us that the big Goose Lake BBQ was this Sunday, so I re-arranged appointments to delay returning by two days so we could attend the BBQ.  We did some errands in town while Errich stayed at camp, and then swung by the New Pine Creek  rockshop where Laura also helped the local economy.  In addition to selling rocks to us and others passing by, the owenr sells and ships large bags of rocks to  China, where they `are made into beads and other items and sold back to Americans and others.  That night,  Erich cooked steaks for us, and our dinner was another delicious one.

The weather forecast was for a warming trend, and the next day it seemed appreciably warmer as we headed back to Davis Creek to take the long way into Reservoir C.  I hadn't known how many miles it would be nor the slowness of the road, so it took a good 2.5 hours to reach the turnoff to Reservoir C.  Along the way we passed through the Devil's Garden area, stopped to explore the historical Pease Cabin, andafter a long while on the gravel road,  decided that we would go into Alturas for lunch.  Laura said she would return to reservoir C the next day, but Liz and I decided we would take her back after lunch, since we were already near, but Erich had had enough of the gravel roads, and decided he would return to camp.  So, after swapping some gear, the three of us returned to reservoir C to fish the afternoon.

Laura fished and caught two trout equal or larger to her trophy trout at Deadhorse, and the whole time was surrounded by pelicans. 

Four large white pelicans seemed to be summering on Reservoir C, and were very interested in her.  Perhaps they hoped she had a stringer of fish they could swipe. But Laura was catch-and-release fishing, so they were out of luck.  It was a warm day, but there was shade in the smll campground (3 sites), and we read, watched wildlife, and took photos whjile Laura fished.  

We returned to Alturas, filling up with gas then doing a quick hose off at the carwash before returning to camp in the early evening.

The next day we traveled 299 to Cedarville, and spent the day doing a little sightseeing in town, a bit of rockhounding out the road by the cemetary, and had lunch at the small diner where Liz, Laura, and I had eaten before.  It was good, and we bought a loaf of homemade bread to take away with us.

That afternoon Erich's air conditioning in his trailer went out--the fan worked, but no cooling.  Erich had planned to leave to head for Red Bluiff on Thursday, but with the heatwave hitting he was concerned about B rody if he stopped at Camping World in Anderson tio get it and the brakes fixed.  As the three of us left Thursday morning  to fish Lily Lake, Erich was heading into Lakeview to make calls and do a few chores, planning on leaving real early Fridaty morning.