Yep, we hit snow. Or, rather, it hit us. Thankfully, we had warning. We stopped at a Walmart in Redding to purchase new wipers, chains for the tires (required, we were told), an emergency triangle, and we were set to tackle the mountain.



There is a mountain range between California and Oregon, mainly the Shasta mountain. Big sucker. I remember driving through it on our way South, at night, and everything was great. Passed it no problem. Well, snow is a whole other element. In one night we hit a massive rainstorm, then a massive snowstorm. Near the base of the mountain the snow started to fall. Not too long later, chains were required. There was a checkpoint along the way to make sure people got organized.

Now, this was our first time driving with chains. Never installed them before, nor did we want to if we had to. So, we decided to drive ultra slow for a bit on our all seasons and see how it went. It was actually ok. They were ploughing regularly. But higher up we got concerned about the depth of the snow and decided it would be safer to put on the chains.

Easier said than done. The first attempt failed, so we tried to drive back out to the highway and give up. No can do. Stuck in the snow. So, chains it is. Ianiv was a trooper and got out there down on the snow tucking the chains and making them taut. After some grunting and freezing of hands, all was ready and we were set to go. Driving was not too bad after that. Slow, but not bad. I was driving and, despite sore fingers from gripping too hard, it all went well.

So, after losing a few hours to rain, then shopping, then snow and the whole chains fiasco, we decided to stop the night before we hit Oregon, but out of most of the snow. We made it to a place called Yreka. Not a big town. Old buildings, funny name. Our hotel room was freezing when we got there, but it was nice to be inside.

So, a few hundred miles short of where we intended to be the next day, we mounted our trip into Oregon. Continued on the I5 for a couple of hours then detoured out to the coast. Long windy road, but very scenic. Made it to the Oregon Dunes at around 4, with just enough time to look around and appreciate it before the sun started to set. Great pictures to come. And that was about all the sight seeing we had. Too late for the Sea Lion Caves.

We are now mid-trip up the coast to where we’ll stop for the night at a hotel we’ve been recommended in a place called Lincoln City. The hotel is right on the beach, is very nice, and has a very good AAA rate. One of the best we’ve seen at that rating. Hopefully when we get there they have rooms (maybe one of the whirlpool ones) and then off to the bar we go for our last night away from home. Tomorrow we’re Vancouver-bound.