We got to travel over Grant’s Pass, leaving CA, cutting through OR, and then back down through the shadow of Shasta.
We pulled into Lake Shasta midafternoon, and the kids were so overcome by heat that they simply couldn’t leave their devices to check out the lake, in spite of my total excitement to be here.
We had been here when Wes was two, during a week we shared with Dwayne’s brother’s family in McCloud. We spent an afternoon on the beach and paddling around the lake. I have fond memories. I knew we’d love this spot, and that the girls would remember it when we got down to the water. But Dwayne and I ventured forth first and discovered kid gold: an inflatable obstacle course/playground on the water, reminiscent of the last thing the kids did before I thought Wesley got lost and died in Croatia.
We hurried back and insisted the kids had a few minutes to get ready for the best afternoon they would have…today. Piper was suspicious of our surprise and made a deal that if she didn’t like it, she would be able to go paddle boarding with me and Dwayne.
She liked it. So did her siblings.
And our short afternoon of paddling boarding together convinced Dwayne that we could be a SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) couple who focuses our camping trips on lakes. This lake is particularly beautiful and mostly serene.
The afternoon adventures ended when rentals did. The kids were waterlogged and cold. Dwayne and I had discovered that the campground restaurant was doing a COVID special–take out dinner for 4 for less than $40. We were able to stretch that to 5 with some extra veggies, and you know the best meals are the ones you don’t have to cook yourself. After feasting on pulled pork sandwiches, cornbread, roasted corn, coleslaw, and marvelous key lime pie (both a new flavor and favorite for the kids!), we did a late night bike ride to prove to ourselves that, yep, we really don’t have enough lights or reflectors.
Since that bike ride was a little unsatisfying, I wanted to bike the 7 miles around the lake the next morning. Kyla and Dwayne joined me, but we only made it the first third before turning back. Now I’ll have to go to Siskiyou again just so I can complete the loop!
I’m coming back with paddleboards and bikes…soon, I hope!
Needopedia 