Since I had to be up in Oregon for a photo workshop and I hadn’t visited my sister and Lars in a long time, I decided to drive the journey and turn it into a road trip. I took my time, stopping when I wanted to get out and take pics. Once you get past Sacramento, the 5 fwy turns into some of the most scenic and graceful landscapes. Rolling yellow hills, snowy mountain peaks, oak forests, rivers galore, lakes and bridges, it’s got all the eye candy for the person who’s visually oriented like I am.

Mount Shasta. Something about this place is magical.

I stopped to take a much needed soak at the Stewart Mineral Hot Springs in Shasta. The system goes like this. For $25, you get a tub in your own little room that spews out 180 degree silica mineral water which you mix with cold water. Soak there for about 10min but don’t rub your skin because the silica is like little shards of glass. Get out and wrap your sheet around your body and shuffle down to the wood burning sauna for as long as you can take it. When you’re done there walk outside to the deck, down the stairs, and jump into the freezing cold river water to complete the process and close your pours. Repeat 3 times. The area is said to contain sacred healing energy.

This is the pool you are supposed to jump into.

And this is a guy getting out.

And this was on my way back. I stopped at sunset right after my hot spring soak at one of the Shasta Lake bridges. This is a composite of 4 pictures.

And here are some houseboats docked in the lake.