Arcata to Anderson along Scenic Route 299

snowball fight anyone?
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Having left Kalmath feeling very disappointed because the redwoods had been cut, we decided that we would drive east from the coast and see what more of the state looked like.

Waking up to an overcast , grey morning we left Arcata [on the coast] and headed east along scenic route 299 to Anderson [just south of Redding].  As we got away from the coast the sun came out, the clouds disappeared and we started our drive in my favorite type of country.  I love the mountains and enjoying driving  in them.   I love thinking about how they were formed etc.  As we gained altitude we came into snow.  This was the first snow that either of us had seen this year and it brought a smile to both of our faces.

MOTHER NATURE IS AWESOME

Coming around a bend I noticed a large bird on the opposite bank of the Trinity River eating something on the ground.  As we got closer I yelled " Ellen, it's an EAGLE".  By the time I pulled off the road and we grabbed a camera the eagle had taken off up the river away from us.  What a sight........an eagle in the wild !!!!!!

Getting hungry we pulled off to a picnic area on the river.  Shortly after our arrival a young family arrived and started to fly fish for spotted trout.  Watching them reminded me of my wish to learn fly fishing while I am in NZ.  We watched the fishing for awhile but had to get going because  we still had a long way to go.

As we got closer to Anderson we started to see billboards about Indian Casinos.   You may or may not know this but Ellen and I both like to play the slots or 21.  I generally loose and she wins so we balance each other.  This day we both won. [plural....both.....must have been my one sixteenth indian blood]

What a great day!  the whole spectrum of weather, and scenery.