“I advise you to say your dream is possible and then overcome all inconveniences, ignore all the hassles and take a running leap through the hoop, even if it is in flames.” Les Brown
Highway 395 passes through Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, where I stopped a bit to enjoy these Canada Geese. -- Photo by Pat Bean
Travels With Maggie
Looking back at the fire from a service station in Bridgeport, where I -- gulp -- paid $4.99 for a gallon of gas. -- Photo by Pat Bean
My travels down Highway 395 the past five days have taken me from Oregon to California to Nevada and back again yesterday into California. \
“I already relinquished my lone apple to the agriculture inspector at the Alturas station,” I said to a second ag inspector as I re-entered California at Topaz Lake yesterday.
She smiled and waved me on.
Highway 395 is not one that will put you to sleep. The landscape it runs through is an eclectic mix of mountain passes, high deserts, green forests, both fresh water and salt lakes, historical parks and national wildlife refugees.
My dog, Maggie, and I have enjoyed every minute of the often steep and twisting drive. Me because of the awesome scenery, and Maggie because driving always lulls her into a pleasant sleep. She also enjoys the scents her nose discovers during our morning and evening walks at a strange new place. .
Flames were visible across the water from out Bridgeport Reservoir campground. -- Photo by Pat Bean
Yesterday’s travels took us over 7,000-foot passes that looked up at mountains still containing patches of snow. With all the heat so much of the country has had this year, the sight seemed like a miracle.
The red clouds I came upon in the late afternoon seemed much the same, until I realized the color was being reflected onto them by flames. Suddenly my view ahead was full of smoke, with actual flames occasionally visible from behind a ridge to my right. The flames, however, hadn’t yet reached the road and the smoke was mostly overhead, so I drove on, passing the fire just before entering the town of Bridgeport.
I breathed a sign of relief that the road hadn’t been closed, although I think it was later shut down.
The wildfire is still burning this morning, I can see it from the Bridgeport Reservoir RV Park and Marina, where Maggie and I spent the night.
It was nice, as we slept, to know there was a body of water between it and us.
Pat Bean's blog 
Fire has its own season in the Southwest. As a city guy and coast dweller, I have been oblivious to the impact fires wreak on our great forests. This year, as a traveler in the SW during fire seasonI was very aware that Az and Nm each had the largest fires in their history. Simple carelessness is the cause of all too many millions of lost acres.
Wow fire can be so beautiful and scary at the same time. I would also be glad to have a lake between me and a fire like that.
Wow. Looks like quite a sight.