Spent 4 days touring round the depths of the National Forests of Klamath, Shasta, Trinity and Lassen, a huge area of mountains and forest taking up most of Northern California. In the process, I have become adept at snaking out awesome spots to overnight at, preferably with a river close by for morning dips. Had some epic drives, which completely blew Sat Nav Lady's mind (or maybe it was the canyons, fog, switchback roads, deep forests). I lost count of the number of legal U-turns she was desperate for me to make to force me back onto main roads. The more she does it the more I relish ignoring her..
Sat Nav is great for getting from A to B (usually) via a sensible route, but it locks you into deadly linear tunnel vision, with no space for exploration or discovery. The zoom function of these things tries to be helpful, by removing minor roads as you zoom out, but, in doing so, it takes away the wider awareness of what's possible, the slower, picturesque roads, the path that doesn't make logical sense. The minute you step away from the prescribed line, break out of the unquestioning path, you open yourself up to random interactions, moments and vistas that simply aren't going to happen if you stay within the borders.
The moon is now up and full, so had some suitably spooky night drives. One memorable section had deer watching me just standing by the side of the road like spectators at a rally accompanied by Portishead's Mysterons
Met a doggy version of me going the other way:
Also found me another lake, this one with beasts in:
And spent a glorious day in Trinidad too (no, not that one, this one)
Well doggone!
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