Back on Home Turf (almost)

We are back in good, old California.  We left Burns, Oregon this morning toward the west and then turned south on US-395.  This is a beautiful road, two-lane all the way.  The first 80 miles is empty, save for one rest area at about mile 60.  However, after that stretch, we come alongside of Lake Abert.  This is really spectacular alkali lake at about 4,200 feet elevation.  The road follows close upon the eastern shore for almost 15 miles, sometimes looming over the shoreline. (click for Wikipedia article).  The lake is pure blue in color with white deposits around the edges.

Up until we reached the lake, there was very little traffic.  Only an occasional car now and then.  At the lake, a ton of motorcycles appeared.  Lake Abert must be a favorite destination for riders.  I had not known of it until now.

We arrived in the small town of Lakeview.  Ate lunch in a small diner and walked around the downtown.  An active, although not economically rich little town.  Just south of Lakeview we crossed into California.  We wondered why the called the town Lakeview when it is way south of Lake Abert.  Then south of Lakeview we came upon Goose Lake.  Much bigger than Abert, but nowhere near so pretty.  The water is a silted gray brown and the shoreline rather less dramatic.

From Lakeview it is a short(?) 60 miles to Alturas.  This is the junction of US-395 upon which we arrived and which continues on to Reno and points south and US-299 which heads west over to Redding and beyond ultimately ending just north of Arcata.