Wildfires in Northern California and Southern Oregon made our summer road trip challenging to say the least. But our hearts and prayers were ongoing for the brave firefighters who worked so hard to protect both people and property along our smoke filled route.
The Central California farmland was dry as a bone.
It’s amazing to me that anything can be grown in those arid conditions. But this truck full of tomatoes was proof that farming can be successful, thanks to irrigation.
The acres of fruit and nut trees need irrigation too.
But Interstate 5 became known this summer for the wildfires that raged all around it.
As we headed into the mountains of Northern California we began to see and smell the smoke from those fires.
The mountains were almost obliterated by the layers of thick smoke that hung in the air.
And then we began to see them. Caravans of fire trucks heading North. Into wildfire country.
Those brave firefighters and First Responders were heading into the danger zone. And the locals made sure to let those heroes know how much they loved and appreciated their bravery.
Almost every overpass had messages of thanks for all the firefighters to see as they headed North. It was a heartwarming tribute to them.
The mountains of Northern California and Southern Oregon were hidden by those layers of thick, acrid smoke. In fact I began to feel claustrophobic as the sky seem to close in on us.
The smoke was so thick the sunny day felt like twilight…all day. In fact the smoke became so thick I had to resort to this…
During last flu season, during a visit to my doctor’s office I picked up a mask. I suddenly remembered I had stuck it in the pocket of my purse. So that became my attire during the worst part of the smoke filled trip. And my wrap around sunglasses helped to keep the smoke from burning my eyes.
It was a long drive.
I do know how beautiful those mountains really are…and we did have brief glimpses of that beauty.
But unfortunately most of our drive was more of a struggle than a joy. But as bad as the smoke was for us, our thoughts just kept returning to those brave firefighters who were fighting these wildfires twenty four hours a day.
This photo really captured the enormity of the situation, and the bravery of those firefighters.
Notice all the burned areas…all the way up to and surrounding that building. But the building had been saved!
So our unpleasant car ride and my watery eyes were nothing compared to what we felt for the residents and the brave men and women who fought those blazes.
Some of those firefighters lost their lives in that battle.
Let’s not forget them.
This is where I live Patty. It was an awful summer and we wore masks often. We are now seeing the effects of the thick smoke and ash on the trees and other plants. But, may people who lived where their landscape was burned and home saved say that they are already seeing green poking out here and there. One man told me that the naked lady bulbs have started poking up already. We have an annual
Fall Sale at the nursery and this year was busier than ever with people who were replacing their landscape. It is good to see things getting back to normal again. My area was fine as we were on the other side of Redding toward Mt. Lassen. It is always very arid here, but we water every other day and sometimes every day. Farmers do a lot of flood irrigating. My water comes from Mt. Lassen to my well and has never run dry, but they sell a lot of water from Shasta Lake to southern Calif. and then we have water shortages in Redding, and restrictions and all that. Anyway, glad you were able to just drive on through this trip hope it is more pleasant next time…come in May!
Thanks so much for your comments Ferne! Peepaw and I kept saying over and over how sorry we felt for all of you “locals” who had to STAY in that smoke…while we were able to drive AWAY from it! Your summer must have been brutal! We can only hope the fires won’t return next year!
XOXO
Meemaw