A Sunday ride in northeast California

[MikeBenzon]

Last Sunday afternoon I took a ride on the Tiger. I have been wanting

to try out a dirt road I always see on the way to Alturas CA, so

Sunday

I decided it was time. The road I am talking about is located on the

east side of Adin pass, on Hwy 299 where the Pit River crosses. The

road goes north from the highway and I was hoping it would follow the

river to the west to County Rd 91, which a lot of us refer to it as

the cutoff road from Bieber to Hwy 139 north. It kind of does, but it

veers off to the north about half way through and comes out at a

place called Happy Camp. I know, another Happy Camp. How many Happy

Camps are there just north of Redding? The ride went through some

beautiful valleys and forest. I used my GPS to navigate through, but

I still managed to try several dead end roads at the unmarked

intersections. I was taking a break on Road 91 when I noticed I was

getting a flat rear tire. I hopped on my stead and rode it south to

Lookout where I coaxed a closed gas station owner to come out and

help me with the tire. His name is Bob and he owns motorcycles. He is

also a returning war vet from Irac. We tried to plug the hole but I

pretty much destroyed the tire getting there and so I had to have my

wife come get me with our trailer. The rear tire was too worn down

for the ride, but I went for it anyway. Even with the flat tire

problem, I just couldn't stop telling my wife about how much I

enjoyed the ride. She was not as impressed. Back to Bob. Bob is one

heck of a nice guy. After all the work he did, he would not accept

any money. I will stop in from time to time and fill up with gas at

his station to repay him, even if his gas is on the high side. Have

you ever been to Lookout? It is a very old tired town. I think Bob's

station is the only business in town. Many of the town's building are

falling victum to time, but I like to pass through there once in a

while. It is like a picture back in time, as many of the small towns

in the northeast corner of California seem to be. Sometimes I like to

just stop there and turn

the motor off and listen to the gentle breeze blowing through the old

buildings. It is funny how some of the simplest things in our lives

become the most treasured.

Stop in a say hello to Bob when you are out that way.

MikeB

Burney CA