What a wonderful, carefree summer we had!
I started the new school year with ambitious creative projects underway
and plans for a return trip to the UK this month (yay!)
My kids recently returned to school and
curiously they have California-edition textbooks for science and Spanish
California doesn’t fully feel like ‘home’ yet,
and I wonder if it is delayed because we moved here via England
instead of within the country
As we continue to settle into California living,
I still have a lot to learn about the region
Here are a few things that made me a little ‘California smarter’ this summer…
***
When we were on our road trip this summer
I saw a few signs supporting the State of Jefferson,
a rural Northern California proposal for becoming an independent US state
The idea gained momentum in 1941 with the desire to break from California
with the belief that their issues were underrepresented in the state government
and overshadowed by the more populated areas of the state
With the bombing of Pearl Harbor during WWII,
the idea was shelved in the name of cooperation in the war effort
Originally, southern Oregon was part of the package
but I believe Northern California is the only region still discussing it
Although it may never achieve statehood,
Jefferson is still a state of mind of independent thinkers
***
One of our driving destinations was Lassen Volcanic National Park
located in a remote area of northeast California not visited by many
Although the region’s volcanoes are not active,
there is plenty of spectacular hydrothermal activity:
hot springs, steam vents, mud pots, boiling pools
While we were there, we saw hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail
simply referred to as ‘PCT’ around here
The trail became internationally famous through Cheryl Strayed’s 2012 best-selling memoir
“Wild: From Lost To Found on the Pacific Crest Trail”
followed by the 2014 award-winning film, “Wild”
The PCT was first proposed in 1926 and steadily gained momentum
YMCA organized relays to scout the trail’s route from 1935 to 1938
The following year the trail appeared on federal government maps
and earned the designation of National Scenic Trail by 1968
Today, the 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail traverses the US
on the mountainous spines of California, Oregon and Washington
from the Mexican border to the border of Canada
The trail is open all year, although it is impossible to follow when covered in snow
Forest fires and broken bridges cause temporary closures
and the drought this year enabled the hiking season to get started a little earlier
Traversing National Forests and protected wilderness,
this stunning hike requires about four to six months to complete
and typically traveled in the northbound direction
***
Burning Man is new to me but is common knowledge here
Currently in progress, the event started last Sunday and will conclude Monday
Burning Man began in San Francisco when a few friends on Baker Beach
burned a 9 foot wooden man during the summer solstice in 1986
By 1990, the annual event moved to Black Rock Desert, Nevada
with a big following, a dedication to leaving no trace behind,
and an emphasis on being self-reliant by bringing your own supplies for the week
Tickets are difficult to obtain, and last year’s fee was $380 per person
18% of participants traveled from other countries to be part of the scene
Once inside the event, monetary transactions are not allowed except for ice and drinks
Otherwise, everything else is ‘gifted’ to other participants
with a strong sense of community at its soul
Music, performance art, and visual art are as much a part of the week
as are the creative ‘mutant vehicles’, burning temple, and burning man
The extreme temperatures of the desert did not deter the 65,992 participants last year
***
This Labor Day Weekend marks the end to summer in the US
In some parts of the country
it is protocol for women to wear white only between Easter and Labor Day
but in California (and England) I notice no hard-and-fast rule
Which is true where you live?
Have a great weekend, wherever you are
:)
Photos: My own except Burning Man