August 1 - Drakesbad

Old shoes/ new shoes

Boiling Springs Lake

Meadow at Drakesbad

I lost my pen and didn't get a new one until Burney, so I don't know the mileages for the next few days.

This day mostly consisted of Chris wanting to sleep all day and me dragging him along. He really needs non-drowsy allergy medication - he's reacting really bad to the pine pollen.

We crossed a ton of roads and made it into Lassen National Park, which is okay. No King's Canyon, but there are some pretty views. Most of it is just forests.

We did go through a really active geothermal area today and took a side trip to Terminal Geyser, which was a crazy steam vent that sounded like all the demons of hell were going to come up at any moment and swallow you up. It was crazy! It smelled like sulphur.

Then we passed Boiling Springs Lake, which is what it sounds like - a lake fed by boiling springs. It was awesome, this crazy light blue color and all the dirt around it was rainbow colored - reds and pinks and oranges and purples.

Then Drakesbad, of course. This place is awesome. To stay here as a real guest there's a two year waiting list and dinner is $21.95, but we can come in, use the laundry and shower facilities and swim in the hot spring pool (which they control by adding more cold or hot spring water depending on the temperature), and have the same dinner for $10. THE FOOD. I need to learn to make Chicken Valencia apparently. Best food on the trail by far.