Last month I flew up to my sisters house in Pollock Pines to share in the reunion of three of us sisters, my brother in law and my cousin. It was quite the trip! My older sister Judy and her husband Tom, hosted us for the event. After resting from our flight out to Judy's, we drove to Oregon to connect with our cousin. Along the way we stopped at Burney Falls State Park to hike and see the falls.
The trail down to the base of the falls had several very good viewpoints along the way. At this point, green leaves, brush and foliage frame the rushing waterfall.
The view from the base of the falls is the best! Burney Falls State Park is surrounded by gorgeous mountain peaks and steep, rugged cliffs. Countless trees and plants grow within the park. The volcanic origin of the park can be plainly seen in the volcanic rock covering the ground and cliffs.
Burney Falls is a 129 foot waterfall that doesn't just run over the cliff, but exudes through the cliff walls. The layered, porous basalt retains the rainwater and the snow melt and forms a huge underground reservoir.
Above the waterfall, the reservoir of ground water emerges through the ground as springs of water that rush down and through the cliff at 100 million gallons of water every day.
That would be me on the left sitting in front of the waterfall with my forever young sister Dorothy.
A sign near the falls explains how Burney Falls was named after a pioneer settler, Samuel Burney who lived in the area in the 1850's.The descendants of the pioneer settlers to this area were responsible for saving the waterfall and land from development. They bought the property and gave it to the state as a gift in the 1920's. I so appreciate those people and others like them, who think ahead and save our natural places for all to enjoy.
The four girls at the hotel. What fun to all be together again!
The meandering Lost River, bordering Chris's property. I've been told that it was named the Lost River, because it meanders like crazy, at times disappearing underground. Sort of like us girls. Always lost, always amazed by what we see and where we end up, and always glad to be together.
We drove by Mt. Shasta on the way home and marveled at its beauty.
Weed, California is a small town that is very close to Shasta. I would have liked to meet the person who made this old building and set those rocks in place.
On our last day with Tom and Judy we decided to take a drive out to Lake Tahoe. The road to Tahoe, Highway 50, was open, so we jumped at the chance to drive along the American River. At Tahoe we ate delicious hamburgers and much to my dismay, I fell flat on my face right onto the concrete. We never even made it to the lake! A sad way to end a very fun trip. Needless to say I cried my eyes out, my family cared for me, and I was able to fly home the following day and treat my numerous injuries with my own doctors. Life is looking up again, and I am feeling better. I do love and appreciate my family, and thank God every day for my precious family and friends. Adios!