SHASTA AND REDDING,CA. MOOSE CLUB

We left Rogue River for Redding, California where we usually stop and spend a night in the Moose Club’s parking lot. I have many pictures of beautiful Mount Shasta because I’ve made this trip often to my place in Rogue. This time it was under cloud cover, but still beautiful. A very thin cover of snow, where normally, it is heavily snowed all  year.

The drive through the Siskiyou pass is beautiful. We were spared much rain, but the clouds boiled and threatened.

We passed what should have been Lake Shasta and it was empty except for a trickle of the original river winding through the bottom of the canyon. I was stunned to see it.  I tried but didn’t get the picture from the window.  Several miles later, Banner Bay still retained some water. It is scary and we have to wonder what will summer be like next year if this is a long-term pattern as scientists are predicting?

Then we were in for another shock at the Moose Club. Their club is 102 years old. Their beautiful building, swimming pool and so on, is 65 years old. They, like other fraternal organizations, with dwindling memberships, were facing bankruptcy. They sold out and will be out of their building  by Oct. 12th. What a bummer. We wouldn’t have been able to even speak to anyone if they hadn’t been in the process of cleaning out accumulated stuff and getting ready for a “garage” sale this weekend. Everyone was saddened by this turn of events and we spent a couple of hours commiserating with them and trying to find something to buy. I’m at a time in my life where getting rid of stuff is my goal and I need nothing, not to mention no room in the Motor Home. They hope to find a smaller place and keep their charter going.

And, to top off more bad news, Jackson Co. officials claim they never received the phone reservation for the inspection of my building foundation framing. I’m so appalled by the repeated series of mistakes they’ve made over this small building, I’ve contacted an attorney to see what, if anything, I can do about it.

 

CLOSING DOWN IN OREGON

It has been a bittersweet time for me this trip home. Not only still recuperating from the accident in May of last year, but the flood damage to my mobile home in Oregon. I had to prove to the county that the structure no longer exists or they would continue to tax me on it as a dwelling for the rest of my life. I had no idea I would have to supply pictures, but that was the requirement. And, the pictures had to prove they were taken from my site.

Lucky for me the salvage guy hadn’t yet removed the steel frame, and that I had my camera along. Many good memories went up with the bonfire to burn the trash.

A neighbor stacked and burned the mess for me on a burn day. My neighbors have been invaluable, helpful and I’m very grateful for their help.

I got a little emotional. The building department was very efficient and helpful, but the future rebuilding is still in question as it depends on the cost of re-establishing a residence in the 100 year flood plain. Thankfully, my son Doug,  built bridges for a living for several years and he is up to the task. And, I always appreciate the beauty of Mt. Shasta that dominates Highway 5 for miles and miles along the way up over the pass. It was covered with snow during a recent storm.  I’m looking for the sliver lining under this cloud.