Ten Far North California Travel Observations

This month, we're traveling to the farthest North, South, East and West churches we can find in California. Each week, in addition to church reports, we'll be reporting about our travels.

 1) As Jesus said, "This wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign." Well, we found one shortly after we got on I-5 North. A large home-made sign posted on a trailer truck read, "Saturday is the Sabbath; Sunday is the Mark of the Beast." Recently we visited some good folks at the Seventh Day Adventist church, and they didn't let us know about Sunday being evil. I'm curious whether it is best to skip Saturday to Monday (playing heck with the calendar) or do Saturdays twice.

2) Last week we were in Chicago for a late Christmas with our daughter and son-in-law and in Indiana for a wedding. We had snow expectations for the Midwest (like Cosby and Kaye in "White Christmas") but were disappointed. California came through with the holiday white; first with lots on Mount Shasta and more by the road along the way.

 3) The scenery was gorgeous, even with the bleakness of the desert (high desert -- low precipitation every year, but plenty of vegetation). Mountains covered with evergreens were all around, and snowy Mount Shasta dominated much of the time. A full moon shining on the Butte Valley would have been beautiful (sadly, it was cloudy the night we were there). In addition, Dorris boasts the highest flagpole west of the Mississippi.

4) I turned on the TV at the motel to see a couple engaged in activities that I would hope were a part of a loving marriage, but I have my doubts. I quickly changed channels but you'd think they'd understand we're on a church field trip. Otherwise, a nice room, a comfortable bed and clean.

5) There was a Mexican restaurant a short walk from the motel. The dining room seemed to be the living room for the family that ran the place -- kids watching Animal Planet on the TV and a treadmill as part of the decor. But the food was good, so all was well.

6) Train whistles! Amtrak's Coast Starlight and several freight trains come through the area every day.

7) The full moon rose above the mountains as we drove home. Wow. Sadly, no photo.

8) The motel offered a continental breakfast. I (Mindy) appreciated the hot coffee, and Dean had a pastry. We could have had oatmeal if we'd wanted it. The vending machine seemed to be in a midwinter slump, though.

9) We both had colds, so this was good practice travelling while ill. It will probably happen again this year. You don't want a picture of the mountain of used tissues, so here's another photo of Mount Shasta instead.

10) We paid $3.99 a gallon for gas on Sunday in Dorris after paying $1.79 a gallon for gas on Thursday in West Lafayette, Indiana.  In a Dorris market, a sixteen ounce jar of Jif Peanut Butter was almost $5, a couple of dollars more than you'd pay in most of the state. This is the price to be paid for living in the high country.

--Dean and Mindy