Another somewhat restful (restless?) night in the cabin... I was ready to move on to another dwelling. My next night would be spent in a more urban AirBnb in Redding, but until check-in I had miles to hike.
The first trail of the day was a bit out of the way from Redding. In fact, I was driving in the same direction as yesterday, just deeper into the woods. I reached the trail head of Lock Leven Trail and became really excited. The air was relatively clear!
Early in the morning there were still very few people. A couple passed me, and I decided to closely follow them (in case there is a bear nearby). The trail crossed the train tracks continuing uphill.
It was really nice to hike in the pine forest again, in the wilderness preserved still well enough to feel completely alone. As highway traffic faded, I found myself listening to silence, something that you can rarely hear in even suburbia.
With that said, my best friend, the air horn, was proudly peeking from the side pocket in case a human or an animal needed to be scared. You know, safety first...
The trail featured 3 separate lakes. The first one was pretty spectacular.
The second one was only 15 minutes away...
And so was the third one... Who knows, I might have mixed up pictures of which one is which, but the hike overall was filled with lakes and water!
There were several people camping right by the lakes. Indeed, it looked like a peaceful place to sleep. I, on the other hand, was one of those who preferred to day hike such a trail and sleep in a comfy bed with a high pressure shower and flush toilet. To each their own, I guess...
As I was heading back, more and more people were coming up with camping gear for Labor Day weekend. I bet it got crowded in the area by the end of the day, another reason to stay further away from the crowds.
After a great hike, I had a quick lunch from my cooler (it was not that cool anymore, but what are you going to do...) and decided to go on the second hike. It was not the original hike that I planned, but those that I did plan were right in the area where the new fire just started. The air quality in that area was getting worse, so I decided to pick something that is healthier for my lungs.
Cascade Canal Access Trail was a local trail of Forest Knolls, relatively easy - great for the middle of the day heat. Completely shaded, this trail is very relaxing and goes along small canal with minimal views, but also minimal crowding.
After a nice walk (I can't possibly call it a hike - almost completely flat and easy), I changed into a fresh set of clothes and headed to Redding where I would spend the next 2 nights.
The drive was rather pleasant. As I approached Redding, I was shocked by the poor air quality. Several large California fires were nearby, and the smoke was filling the air. I haven't seen the sun being so obstructed before. The picture below was taken around 5 PM.
I checked in my AirBnb, which by far exceeded my expectations. I was in for a good night of sleep, finally!
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