Summer is almost over--and Mr. T and I realized we hadn't taken the RV out for a single trip. Of course with the price of gas being more than gold that's not surprising, but still, one must at least make a token summer excursion. With that in mind we decided we could spare 4 days for our Summer Vacation.
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The food was purchased, the Minnie readied, dogs' papers located--in short, we were ready to roll. And then we found out an offer we had made on a house had been accepted! It must have been the shortest haggling session on record because in about 90 minutes--after 9 months of 'no home'--we were suddenly back on the board!
In the midst of the phone calls and paperwork, we took off for Chester next to Lassen National Park in Plumas County. Why Chester? Because 17 years ago, as we hiked to the top of Mt. Lassen, an 89 year old hiker told us the best milkshakehe'd ever has was made in Chester! We have remembered that hot tip all these years and "going to Chester to check out the milkshakes" has been on our list of things to do "SOMEDAY." 
Our first night was spent at the Woodson Bridge RV Park in Corning, CA. It was a wonderful campground right on the Sacramento River. It was peaceful and calming. Peaceful and Calm we were not.
In our first day and a half away from home I discovered I'd left my clothes at home; I fell down the river bank and scraped my knees, leg, and elbow; Mr. T discovered too late we were supposed to pick up the rental car on Saturday and when we went to get it on Sunday, we had to pay the full 3 days' rental fee because our 2 free days coupon was no good without a Saturday night; and, to finish off the vacation start--Mr. T was badly stung/bit by some nefarious bug which landed him in the Chester Clinic for a going-over and tetanus shot!
Not to be discouraged we forged ahead with our milkshake mission. I am sorry to report that the Chester soda fountain--in operation since 1946--only produced mediocre milkshakes. Alas--another legend bites the dust.
Hint to future travelers: IF YOU ARE DRIVING AN RV DO NOT TAKE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY 32 FROM CHICO TO CHESTER.
It was a white knuckler all the way and the poor RV steering wheel has new indentations in it. There was almost no clearance! Sharp rocks on the sides or sheer drop off down the mountain--and very narrow lanes. I was doing triage in my mind over motoring possibilities--if I come upon a bicyclist, the cyclist loses. If I come upon a vehicle crossing over the line on a curve, there is no backing down. Anybody on foot is a goner.
The mountains are beautiful--clear streams, lakes, trees--all that mountain usual stuff. We passed through several burned out areas and that was hard to see. Everything still smelled of smoke and burned wood.
Check the photo gallery for pictures of Mt. Lassen and Bumpass Hell. And more about the house later after we catch our breath!
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