Heading South....

Driving down I-5 is pure torture!  The view of Rainer was a nice diversion as we departed late the first day.  Made it as far as Springfield around 9pm and stayed in a WalMart parking lot.  Will not be one of the better campsites on this trip but day one was about making time.

 Even Petey wanted to know why in the hell we were out here on this crowded slab.

View of Mount Shasta from the super slab.

I usually avoid interstates at all costs but needed to make some time to the south to meet someone about a possible business venture.  Otherwise, I would have done the coast route for sure.  Once south of Grants Pass, Oregon on the second day I started thinking about camp for the evening.  Once on the north end of Lake Shasta I pulled off at the first signage indicating camping.  Figured it being the off season I could get a reasonably priced place with a shower.  First campground had maybe three campers in it with about 40 empty spots.  They wanted $30 for a piece of ground to park.  I don't need hook-ups just a level piece of ground an maybe a hot shower.  Nope, still $30!  Saw some county employees and inquired if there were any Forest Service roads nearby.  Two miles up the road.  I departed the hallowed campground and went in search of stealth camping....as in free!

While unloading and setting up camp Petey did some lounging on the warm rocks along the lake.

Had the place all to ourselves.  Lake is really low so we basically drove out to where it would normally be 20-30 feet underwater.  Beautiful evening with temps in the low 60's.  Not a bad spot considering it costs us nothing.  Petey standing guard.