Wednesday, July 25, 2012 Chester, Ca to Lakeview, Oregon

Today was about visiting Mount Lassen.  Although it was going to be a short day distance wise, about 190 miles, we were still on the bikes as when arrived at Lakeview, Oregon at around 6 p.m.  Prior to leaving Chester, Ca., Fred provided complimentary bike detailing for us while Carolyn posed with the finished products.

Who's That Girl?

Fred's Detail Service

L-R,  Brian, Terry, Susan and Mike

Sharon and Steve with their motorcycle

We got on the highway and rode about 33 miles from the town of Chester to Lassen Volcanic National Park.  Lassen Peak last erupted in 1915 and was made a National Park in 1916.

T-Rice, "Whats Up"

 Once we entered the park, we stopped at the Visitor's Center, then began riding through the park.  We first came upon Emerald Lake and then Lake Helen.  The colors of these two lakes were amazing.

L-R, Susan and Fred, Terry, Sharon and Steve, and George

Emerald Lake

Lake Helen

Linda and Brian , Lake Helen in the background.

We then stopped and hiked for about 1.5 miles on a mountainside trail to Bumpass Hell, which is still a very active part of the mountain.  As we hiked, the smell of Sulphur became stronger as we got closer to the area.  When we arrived, we found bubbling mud holes and water, and steam rising from the ground in several spots.

John, Barbara and Susan on the trail to Bumpass Hell.

Steve and Sharon with Lake Helen, on the way to Bumpass Hell.

First sight of Bumpass Hell from Trail.

Bumpass Hell

Boiling Mud at Bumpass Hell

After hiking back to the motorcycles, we continued on through the Park and then headed to Lakeview, Oregon, which was our final destination for the evening.

Lakeview is the same city we stopped in during our trip in 2009, when Linda and I got a front flat tire on the motorcycle.  Since Lakeview did not have a shop that could fix the problem, Fred utilized some duck tape and sealed the leak.  Linda and I rode on this Fred's Macgyver fix for over 230 miles to Reno, Nevada, the closest motorcycle shop.  That was entertaining.

Tomorrow we will be heading to Pendleton, Oregon, riding over 300 miles.