Stop and Smell the Sulfur and Pines... 🌲🏞️🌋

Today's 300+ mile journey started in Chester, CA near the southern entrance of Lassen Volcanic National Park. Lassen is a little-known treasure in northeastern California that features the remnants of a mighty volcano that last erupted in 1914 and countless bubbling mud pots. Unfortunately, 2/3 of the park was closed due to ongoing snow removal, including the epicenter of the mud pots in Bumpass Hell. Nevertheless, I found one isolated mud pot, enjoyed the sounds of melting snow, and took in the scenery. 🌋❄️🌳

I then rode around the park to its northern entrance and toured the park's Devastated Area, which is a collection of large rocks and ash that were displaced from the 1914 eruption three miles away from Mt. Lassen itself. Also, I rested and enjoyed the peaceful tranquility of Manzanita Lake. 🪨🏞️

Throughout the ride in and around Lassen Park, the sweet smell of pine trees was blissful. With my riding stead humming perfectly and asphalt as smooth as glass, the BMW felt like it was dancing underneath me. These are truly some of the greatest roads I have ever traveled. 🌲🏍️💨

Further up CA-89, I toured McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. Along its walking path, I could feel the cool mist spraying off the 48-degree crashing water. This provided much-needed relief from the hot afternoon sun and multiple layers of riding gear. Smells of rich local flora engulfed the air - a stark contrast from the central CA desert air of yesterday. 🌿💦☀️

One final note... today Beaute Noir (Black Beauty) crossed 20,000 miles. It reached the milestone on the very northern tip of California while I was impatiently riding on 20 miles of gravel in the backroads. We survived the trek without a fall. 🎉🏍️🛣️