WHERE THERE IS SMOKE, THERE IS FIRE

As we left LaPine, OR, and got closer to the California border, we saw the tell tale signs of all the wildfires still burning acre after acre of land. My usual clear picture of Mount Shasta is hazy, as you can see from the photo. As we drove along, you could not make out any of the usual landscape in the distance, all you could see was grey.

Just north of Redding, CA we happened across what appeared to be a command post for the aerial attack on the fires. Craig excitedly told me the helicopters I saw were Blackhawks. His enthusiasm for military equipment, and all things that fly was something I don't enjoy as much as he does. I made sure to show my interest and then, in a blink of an eye, we are past them and onto looking at something else.

All my sunflowers from last week had turned brown and drooped under the hot summer heat. We were held up shortly by road crews repainting the white lines on the pavement, which had faded to just a pale reminder that they had once been the bright white that was being reapplied.

After a fuel stop in Corning, CA, we headed towards the Company yard in French Camp, CA. Arriving at 8pm, and knowing that we did not have to deliver until 11am this morning, we stayed up and watched TV, before falling asleep to the humming drone of the reefer unit and the APU blowing refreshing cool air.

This morning's drive into Fremont was uneventful, until we were sitting in the parking lot of Sysco waiting to hear on the CB what dock to report to. I saw one rig start backing into a space, as another rig was pulling into it. I still can't see why the one pulling into the space did not honk his horn, or attempt to back up as he saw the other driving backing right into him. He just sat there and waited for the impact. They seemed cordial when talking to each other, both with a cell phone glued to their ears, no doubt calling their companies to report the accident.

I was happy to exit the yard and head out of the Bay Area and back to Sacramento for our second drop for the day. It is not until 6pm tonight, so we will stage at a truck stop 5 miles from our delivery location and see about taking a nap. Yep, life is rough, ain't it?