Northern California

[Clod Stomper]

I recently spent three weeks working in Northern Cal (Redding).  I must say, the people there reminded me of the "gun culture" in this state.  They are some of the most freedom-loving and gun-loving people I have met.  I won't go into details because they're still behind the curtain.  The odd thing is that I was working with government employees.  CalFire, US Forest Service, and retired Forest Service.

 

There is, unsurprisingly to me now, a very active movement to separate from central and southern Cal and create the State of "Jefferson".  I saw quite a few signs while driving around, especially in the more rural areas.

 

Very nice country.  Even if it is prone to burning fiercely.  I didn't get much time to see the sights, but the one day I got off, we (I traveled with a buddy from the Smokies) climbed Mt. Lassen.  It's a volcano that last erupted in 1915. (Oops.  Last MAJOR eruption was 1915.  There were smaller ones in the years after.)   I'm in pretty decent shape, but the thin air at 10,000 feet had me sucking wind.  I must have stopped a couple dozen times before the top.  And the grade wasn't even that steep.  Of course my buddy, who hikes in the Smokies for a living, beat me by half an hour.  

 

There are fields full of large rocks, probably hundreds of square miles, from the really big eruption of Tehama (the original mountain), which was tens of thousands of years ago.  From a long distance (Redding), you can see the edges of Tehama, miles away from the present peak.  And millennia later (can't remember the estimated timeline), Lassen Peak poked up through the rubble of the original mountain.  

 

Seriously, driving by these fields full of these enormous rocks, one can imagine that it would have been terrifying to have been within one hundred miles of the explosion, with these rocks falling all around (and maybe ON) you.  But I don't think humans were yet on this continent at the time.

 

I would have liked to visit the Redwoods, Mt. Shasta, the coast, and a bunch of other places, but we didn't get a chance.  

 

I missed Little Man, and I probably won't travel that far, or for that amount of time, away from him again.  Aside from that, and the flights, it was a pretty good trip.  Made decent money (thanks taxpayers) and got to see a part of the country I've never visited before.

Edited September 21, 2015 by Clod Stomper

[buck1032]

It is pretty up there. I only made it up there once in my 16 year stay in San Diego. There is still some parts of the active gun culture in SoCal. But they are vastly out numbered by the idiots in charge.

[NextExit]

Beautiful country out that way.  I used to live in Klamath Falls, OR.  On a clear day, I could see Mt Shasta (about 80 miles)

Nice place to visit, expensive place to live.

[btq96r]

NorCal is on my "someday I'll get there list."  I'd like to hit the parks in the picture perfect weather with a backpack and nothing to do but walk around and enjoy the sights.

[analog_kidd]

I was watching an episode of Stossel on "Borders" and they had a section about state borders. The guest said that in the early 40's there was a movement to separate off the norther half into another state, and it was just about to be approved, when the Japanese attacked. WW-II started and the nation lost interest.

[Danger Rane]

Glad you had a nice visit, the area is beautiful (especially when it's not all burning). My folks are still there and I end up going back for visits every year. My parents and friends used to ask me if I would come back for good, but I told them that having tasted freedom from the oppressive state Govt and the ridiculous gun laws I would have to be the worlds biggest fool to intentionally put myself back into that. It is a shame, because as you mentioned the people in the north are very like minded to the culture out here in many ways. They have been trying for a while on the State of Jefferson movement but their biggest obstacle is the water. The south has very little of their own, it is almost all provided by the north via mountain runoff and collected/rationed from man made reservoirs. The Govt in Sacramento knows that if they relinquish the north end of the state to the "crazy conservative movement" that they will also be giving up control of their precious water for the souths agriculture. As you noted though, the gun culture is alive up there, though severally restricted and living in loopholes. I'm able to shoot with my Dad almost every time I visit as several of the guys from his church have set up their own ranges.

[LagerHead]

I've been up on Shasta, to somewhere around 13,500 feet. That's the highest I've ever climbed. The view was amazing. I can still remember looking down on clouds and eagles soaring while sitting on a glacier eating lunch. I don't think it gets too much better than that.

[K191145]

I would "NEVER" advocate seceding from the United States, that would be traitorous IMO, BUT, I have no problem with a section of a state breaking off and creating their own if there's such a division in political philosophies. Wouldn't bother me to see a few more states added like maybe, North California, South Illinois etc. I also wouldn't mind if Virginia gave about 5 counties to DC. Of course DC would demand a Rep. which would most likely be a staunch socialist liberal but the alternative would be a chicken sh$t back scratching RINO. You would just be giving them the same REP. as the one who was elected in the counties Virginia gave to DC. AHH, I know that wont happen, it's not impossible but not likely.

[tennesseetiger]

Believe it or not, a large portion of California is very conservative but they are out numbered by the city people in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, etc...with that said, the powers at be will never let California break apart because that would destroy the vote machine they have created.

[btq96r]

the powers at be will never let California break apart because that would destroy the vote machine they have created.

 

The built in Electoral College advantage is much more important to Democrats than any individual voting benefits.  They'll go to the mattresses to protect that.

 

Could it ever happen?  I won't say never with the states finances being such a mess.  But it would have to be a three way split, with the conservative north getting one state, and the liberal south being broken into two, or else it won't be palatable in the least.

[Ron Padilla]

It is a beautiful State and of course I am a little biased having lived there for most of my life, as well as having driven through most of it.  We would pull into a rest area south of Mt Shasta and could look back at a majestic mountain top.  And if it weren't for the politics I would probably still be there.  But there are other areas of the country that are just as gorgeous with a far greater understanding of our right to own and bear arms.  St Gorge, UT is another area that has so much in terms of beauty to offer, but my heart will always be in Cali but my body and soul for now are here, glad you got to see a magnificent area of our country. 

[tennesseetiger]

It is a beautiful State and of course I am a little biased having lived there for most of my life, as well as having driven through most of it.  We would pull into a rest area south of Mt Shasta and could look back at a majestic mountain top.  And if it weren't for the politics I would probably still be there.  But there are other areas of the country that are just as gorgeous with a far greater understanding of our right to own and bear arms.  St Gorge, UT is another area that has so much in terms of beauty to offer, but my heart will always be in Cali but my body and soul for now are here, glad you got to see a magnificent area of our country. 

I love Northern California I just couldn't ever live there because of everybody else in the cities lol San Francisco Bay area and north of there is truly a beautiful place. I could drive for hours and not get bored just looking at everything.

I was literally in awe the first time I saw the San Francisco Bay from the Mountains/Coast on the North side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Absolutely beautiful to look at.

Edited September 21, 2015 by tennesseetiger

[K191145]

It is a beautiful State and of course I am a little biased having lived there for most of my life, as well as having driven through most of it.  We would pull into a rest area south of Mt Shasta and could look back at a majestic mountain top.  And if it weren't for the politics I would probably still be there.  But there are other areas of the country that are just as gorgeous with a far greater understanding of our right to own and bear arms.  St Gorge, UT is another area that has so much in terms of beauty to offer, but my heart will always be in Cali but my body and soul for now are here, glad you got to see a magnificent area of our country. 

 

Lake Elsinore? I bet you are familiar with a very popular skydiving airport there. 

[Ron Padilla]

Yes there is one there and one over in Paris just over the hill by Edwards air base. They had built a moto cross park right next to the airport there in Lake Elsinore as well, and have speed boat race's out on the lake.