May 22nd - San Francisco to Ashland, OR

​The Sacramento Valley was greener, with more hills than the San Joaquin Valley. I couldn't believe how low the water level was in Lake Shasta! The current drought is the worst California has seen in 1,200 years.

The drive from Redmond, CA, to Ashland is remote and beautiful. I-5 follows the twists and turns of the Sacramento River to Dunsmuir. Then you get great views of Mt. Shasta and Black Butte. Madeline enjoyed driving this stretch of freeway.

Finally, the road crosses into Oregon and drops down into the Bear Creek Valley, where Ashland is located. It is a beautiful valley, dotted with vineyards and pastures. There were no plays being performed on a Sunday night in late June, but we enjoyed driving around the quaint, small town with its small victorian houses and beautiful parks. We stayed across from Southern Oregon University. Hank enjoyed a dip in the pool before dinner.

After dinner we strolled through Lithia Park, where we saw many wild deer and a couple of wild turkeys. Hank hadn't visited Ashland in many years, the town hasn't changed much, except for the significant numbers of itinerants in and around the park. Forest fires and COVID have swelled the homeless population in the county.