At Black Butte Lake

Since I didn't have to get the scan today I left home about 10:30 this morning, and arrived at the campsite at 2 pm.  It is hot and sunny, and the species of California oak here don't provide much good shade.  I've been here a couple of hours and still haven't set up my tent because I want to wait until the sun starts to go down.

I visited both campgrounds at this lake and while there are several campers already here, there are a lot of reservation slips for this weekend.  I found a spot that felt right to me but someone else has it reserved for the 16th, so I will just be here two nights, and will leave Thursday.

Not far from here is the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge and I'm thinking about visiting it on Thursday after I check out of camp.  I've never been to a wildlife refuge that I can remember, so I guess this is a good opportunity.

It is beautiful here and peaceful, in a high desert sort of beauty.  I can see a mountain range to the west that I think might be part of the Coastal range.  Mendocino Natl Forest is somewhere over there, but I have it on good advice that Mexican drug lords grow pot there so I will forego a visit to Mendocino NF.

I'm amazed at all the birds here, especially since I don't see or hear very many where I live.  There are raptors of some kind riding the thermals but I have no idea what they are - I can't see the wing and tail feather patterns well enough to distinguish one from another.

I took a few pictures but won't post them until I get home.  My mifi took a while searching for a 3G connection, and I'm running it and the ocmputer on battery power.

The campground bathrooms also have showers, which would really be nice for folks staying a while, swimming in the lake, etc.  I probably won't bother with it although I did bring a couple of towels.

More tomorrow.