Lake Siskiyou, CA

Arriving in Siskiyou County, CA is an awesome experience. Driving south from the Oregon state line into California is a surreal journey that is like a gift of time travel. According to the California state statistical data, this county is 6300 square miles and only houses 45,000 full time inhabitants. It is easy to see this county revolves around the beautiful Mount Shasta and glacial lakes that surround it, as well as the lovely creeks and streams that offer delicious water and the inspiring sounds of water flowing gently over the rocks.

Weed California offers a fantastic resort that caters to serenity and self care. Stewart Springs Resort is a short drive from I-5 that embeds you directly into nature and all its resultant glory! Offering hot mineral baths and a cold mineral pool, this resort invites you to examine a world free of internet, telephone service and television. Spending time with the honeybees in the warm bath of the sun, one can almost feel their blood pressure sinking to an all time healthy low, sans medication!

Arriving in Mt Shasta (the town), one cannot help but feel welcome at the Welcome Center on Lake Street in the middle of the city. Surrounded by New Age shops and all manner of alternative therapy establishments, the place becomes a panacea for the inward traveler. The town reminds me of how Taos, NM must have felt before it became a mecca for spiritual travelers and curiosity seekers. It is refreshing to be able to find a town that offers so much and is not overrun by people with throw away cameras and the propensity to overcrowd stores and streets.

Driving from the town, it is only about 10 miles to a fantastic lake called Lake Siskiyou. Although the median age of residents in this county are over 60 years old, this locale is a gathering place for families and groups alike, with room for RV's, tents and offering cabins on the lake for others. Many of the license plates reveal the inhabitants of all these temporary residences are from California, which leads me to believe it is not well enough known to people from other parts of the country. Of course, Oregon license plates come next, and there are some stickers on the towed vehicles that reveal colleges in the east that the children of these campers, or the campers themselves must have attended.

Setting up camp near the lake makes it only a short walk to the beach area and a fantastic view of Mt Shasta across the water. Arriving at the beach area for the campground, one notices the various watercraft available for rent and the uncluttered waterways for such an enjoyable pursuit. Kayaks,canoes, fishing boats, pontoon boats and speed boats are all available, but noticeably the atmosphere is quiet, and the sheen of the water a glassy spectacle of pure beauty. Walking about one mile from the camping area is the day use beach with a white sandy area in which to sit or lie. Rentals of water craft and a small water "park" with featured blow-up water play areas for the youth are an added feature in this area. One cannot help but notice however the extremely visible and oddly repetitive signs that indicate "NO DOGS-TURN AROUND!!!" posted at almost every 5 feet into the area.

Growing up in New England I spent many a summer on a lake with a camp that belonged to my aunt in southern Maine. The smell of boat gas, the chill of the morning air and the lull of the lapping waters on the shoreline make lake vacations ones of relaxation and wonder. Until now however, I had not found a lake that gave me that feel since vacationing in Arkansas in the 1990's. Being able to enjoy not only the visual beauty, but also the quiet chirping of the birds, the myriad of stars revealed in the darkness of the evening and the hum of the hissing wood fires in the camp sites make this area one that may well be a rarity in this time period. Something tells me I will return here, or attempt to do so, as it speaks to my soul like not many other places do. I really think Northern California is underrated and under-experienced, but I do not mind, as it is a place that brings me the solitude I sorely needed in this most bustling of modern worlds.