This is what Peggy and I saw what we looked out our window on Thursday morning. It was beautiful, but possibly not the best conditions for a road trip.
We are watching the Oscars in Las Vegas, which may be the best ever, especially in recognizing what is positive (and wrong) about our nation, with humor. They just sent a tweet to Trump.
The Oscars can go on, however, so I have time to put up a blog on our trip down here. We woke up at our home in Southern Oregon on Thursday to several inches of fresh snow. It was beautiful, but I immediately begin to fret over road conditions. Would I have to put on chains to get over the Siskiyou Pass? If so, it pretty much guaranteed I would be delaying the trip for a day. I hate putting on chains.
As it turned out the road was dry, the Siskiyou Pass and Mt. Shasta were gorgeous, and the Sacramento Valley was showing signs of spring.
There was a bit of water about, however. The Yolo Causeway, which is normally farmland, looked like an ocean with overflow from the Sacramento River.
Anyway, here are some photos that Peggy and I caught along the way.
The Madrone in our backyard had a new coat of snow.
Our ceramic jay was looking cold.
The sun came out, however, and the highway report told us that no chains were required over the Siskiyou Pass.
And Doodle, our rooster, was glad to warm up. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.)
I had the first shift driving, so Peggy used my camera to get these shots of the Siskiyou Pass.
Another snowy shot going up the mountain. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.)
It was looking more like spring along the Klamath River.
There was even a crocus blooming.
Peggy found Mt. Shasta peeking out from behind the clouds.
Black Butte, which hangs out next to Mt. Shasta, was actually free from clouds. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.)
The Central Valley was showing signs of spring. The Coast Range is in the distance.
Rice paddies were covered in water with thoughts of draught far behind. The mountains show recent snow.
A reflection shot.
The Sacramento Valley was filled with fruit trees in bloom.
More…
And finally…
I’ll conclude with this photo of the Yolo Bypass filled with water reflecting the extensive flooding that Northern California has experienced this winter. Normally, this is farmland.
25 thoughts on “On the Road to Las Vegas… Was It Winter or Spring?”
Animalcouriers
Quite a few extremes there Curt. Quite beautiful all round.
Curt Mekemson
The contrasts were fun, AC. Thanks. –Curt
Andrew Petcher
Some great shots there Curt. Keep the snow, don’t send it our way!
Curt Mekemson
Thanks, Andrew. I’ll tell the snow gods you don’t want a visit. But the snow gods are going to do what the snow gods do. 🙂 –Curt
Andrew Petcher
We have been spared snow so far this Winter Curt and as we head towards March I hope we are past the threat!
Curt Mekemson
Still swirling around here, Andrew, but I suspect it is about over here as well. Interesting, the ski areas in the Sierra Nevada Mountains are claiming they will be open until the 4th of July, which may be great news for skiers, but backpackers not so much. –Curt
Annika Perry
Curt, what glorious photos – spectacular scenery in all its winter hues. Then loved the bright vibrant colour of the crocus! Glad you both got there safely – how’s the weather for the trip back?
Curt Mekemson
Thanks Annika. I was amused to find the crocus. Our daffodils are about to bloom. I told them that they might want to reconsider.
Weather on the way home… always a question mark at this time of the year. If it’s decent, I’d like to drive up through Nevada and then cut across the Sierras for Reno to Sacramento. There is supposed to be around 20 feet of snow going over Donner Pass. We haven’t seen that much snow there in years. –Curt
ralietravels
Beautiful photos. I miss the mountains and the snow, but on an absolutely beautiful day in Florida today, I am willing to let you keep the snow.
Curt Mekemson
Thanks, Ray. This is the time of the year when Florida shines, so to speak. I don’t mind the snow as long as it behaves and melts off at our house in a day or so. When we arrived home from the East in January, it had snowed two feet and had to park at the bottom of our hill and carry everything up. Not nice. —Curt
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kaytisweetlandrasmussen83
Very cool pics Curt! In all definitions of the word!
Curt Mekemson
Thanks, Kayti. From snow to flowers and now back to snow again! –Curt
leggypeggy
From a freezing jay to a blooming crocus. Ah, the extremes of the seasons.
Curt Mekemson
I know Peggy… the vagaries of spring. And now we are heading back to snow. –Curt
gerard oosterman
I love the ceramic birds, Curt. The thoughts of draught is somewhat puzzling. I would pull the curtains a bit tighter. 😉 I do that all the time!
Curt Mekemson
The artist is a friend, Gerard. It’s the first work Peggy and I have ever commissioned. Does the curtain trick work? 🙂 –Curt
davekingsbury
Love that reflection shot … well, it got me thinking! 🙂
Curt Mekemson
Mirroring earlier thoughts, I’ll bet. 🙂 –Curt
Bill
Beautiful scenery. Interesting to see your snow. We had a snowy day a couple of months ago and it’s been warm and dry ever since, with multiple record highs. Supposed to top 80 today. Oh well. Our turn will come someday.
Curt Mekemson
The weather is wild and becoming more so, Bill. Northern California has jumped from severe drought to serious flooding. I’m told it is snowing at our home again. Peggy and I will be back there tomorrow to see. –Curt
allthoughtswork
That reflection shot was freaking awesome.
Curt Mekemson
Thanks! Lucked out. –Curt
Oh, the Places We See
That last photo is amazing. But I didn’t know California ever got that much water. All I ever see (except for the coast) is brown. Glad you watched the Oscars. I found Kimmel to be a witty host — and not as caustic as he could be given the current political situation.
Curt Mekemson
Thanks, Rusha. California actually earns its “green and golden’ claim. But you have to catch it in the late winter to early summer to catch the green, and usually by early summer you are too late. 🙂 As for the last photo, it’s called open the floodgates. The Yolo Causeway has been saving the area around Sacramento for decades. –Curt