Odometer: 58,600

Time: 08:00

As there is not even coffee at the Motel we are off quickly. First stop: Starbucks. Then our car gets an oil change while we drink our cappuccinos.

Once we are all ready and awake we take HWY 44 east to Lassen Volcanic National Park. As we go up into the mountains (up to 8,000 feet) the temperature comes down again into the 60s (16 – 18 Celsius).

The park offers very scenic views of snow covered mountains and blooming meadows. The source of heat for volcanism in the Lassen area is subduction off the Northern California coast of the Gorda Plate diving below the North American Plate. The area surrounding Lassen Peak is still active with boiling mud pots, stinking fumaroles, and churning hot springs. Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the few areas in the world where all four types of volcano can be found (plug dome, shield, cinder cone, and strato). One part of the park looks very similar to Yellowstone its a 1.5 miles walk from the road and offers hot pools, mud holes and fumaroles all in one place. It was definitely worth the walk.

We exit the park in the south and drive directly to Red Bluff and then on to Corning “The Olive Capital of the World”. Unfortunately, we cannot visit the Olive Farm we want as it seems to be closed on Saturday, but we find a store that sells local olive products. Various olive oils, olives stuffed with garlic, piment, almonds, etc, spicy hot or mild, italian or greek style, etc, etc, plus also a whole range of cosmetics with olive oil. We take a small side road back up north to Red Bluff again and pass lots of plantations: olives, almonds, walnuts, peaches, apricots and corn (these are the ones we can identify).

Another very scenic and interesting day!

Overnight Stay: Days Inn, Red Bluff, CA

Dinner: Los Mariachi’s Mexican Restaurant