Life and all in Redding California
Shot this view of my backyard while sipping coffee recently. Very soothing.
We’ve had a lot of snow this season. Very unusual, and yet very welcome after so many years of draught. The Sierra and even San Bernardino Mountains are getting buried in feet of the deep white fluff. Excellent! Hope we don’t get an atmospheric river.
So this video is from last November, as you may guess from all the Fall foliage surrounding the scene. Fun to see the sunlight gleaming on the copper roof. Construction is very much farther along at this point. Still very exciting to see!
If you are riding the “Diestelhorst to Downtown” bike path from the Sacramento River to Downtown Redding, this is where you end up. All that trail and bike path is protected from cars for biking, and then from here on in to Redding it isn’t. It remains very dangerous to ride anywhere in downtown from here. So awesome, a challenge to fight with literally hostile Redding car drivers on city streets. Awesome so long as you harbor a death wish, unfortunately. Not recommended. Sigh.
But, at the Bike Hub, you will be able to rent an electric bike to safely take on the Sacramento River Trail. Also a new pub based on Mt. Shasta’s famed Pipeline will beckon the hungry and thirsty. Should be an excellent bike hub, indeed!
Exactly 6 years ago today, I took this video of the spillway at Shasta Dam near full flow. We have not seen anything remotely near this capacity reached since then. Our Sacramento River watershed has been suffering terrible drought over these last few years. Take a couple minutes to experience the power and majesty of the mighty Sacramento River at the iconic dam during a “normal” year. Sound up:
Will we ever see the likes of this again? Has climate change forever altered the rainfall pattern we came to depend on in California? Serious questions.
The annual Crab Feed is a Charity for the local women’s refuge, One Safe Place. I’ve posted here about this iconic event at least once before, 12 years ago, seen here.
These images are from 2023, and are from the after-party dance. Lots of line dancing and good time. The photos here were taken by my daughter Erin.
Looks like a good time was had by all. Hopefully a lot of money raised for the women’s shelter, One Safe Place. Unfortunately, even 12 years later the refuge facility is just as necessary as ever.
Here’s a great project to build 4 homes in Redding with this intriguing new construction method. Is this the wave of the future?
So, evidently I live in a science fiction novel. They print houses in my town. And I took a photo of the work getting underway using a supercomputer/digital camera/phone I carry around in my pocket. Then, I sent my satellite navigating camera airborne for aerial shots. It’s easy to get bogged down with all that seems to be going wrong in this world. But given my perspective from across nearly seven decades of progress on this planet, so many things have improved greatly. Astonishing, really. #thisisredding
About an hour drive north on I-5 from Redding is the Mt Shasta Ski Park. Went up on Sunday 1/22/2023 and captured this photo of my grandson, 9, with the glorious mountain in the background, sporting a lenticular cloud crown.
Such an amazing facility to have so nearby! Winter sports, it’s Really Redding.
Here’s my pal Craig Padilla offering the gift of music for everyone. Recorded for Christmas in a living room in Cottonwood CA (near Redding CA) in 2022.
Craig Padilla is an American electronic musician and composer known for his ambient and experimental electronic music. He has released numerous solo albums and has collaborated with other artists in the electronic and ambient music genres. Padilla’s music often incorporates elements of space and cosmic themes, and he is known for his use of synthesizers and other electronic instruments to create expansive, immersive soundscapes.
Padilla began his career in the 1980s, releasing his first album, “Beyond the Horizon,” in 1986. Since then, he has released a number of albums and collaborative projects, including “From Within” (1991), “Paradise Found” (2003), and “The Great Shift” (2017). In addition to his solo work, Padilla has collaborated with other artists such as Steve Roach and Michael Stearns, along with local northern California artists Marvin Allen and Skip Murphy (me). He has also and has composed music for film and television.
Padilla’s music has been described as “ethereal” and “otherworldly,” and he is known for his ability to create immersive, atmospheric soundscapes that transport the listener to far-off places and realms of the imagination. His work has been praised by critics and fans alike, and he has developed a devoted following among fans of ambient and experimental electronic music. More about Craig at https://craigpadilla.bandcamp.com/
Only a few more days left to enjoy an evening stroll through the McConnell Arboretum festooned with zillions of dancing lights. Seen here from above via my drone video:
I’ve written about this unique attraction before, and it just gets better every year. Great fun to invite some friends to dinner, and then walk the show grounds.
The Garden of Lights is an annual holiday light display event held at the Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding, California. The event typically takes place from late November to early January, and features a variety of holiday-themed light displays throughout the park’s gardens and trails.
Visitors to the Garden of Lights can enjoy a leisurely walk through the park’s gardens and trails while marveling at the colorful and festive light displays. The event also features live music, hot cocoa, and other festive activities.
One of the highlights of the Garden of Lights is the Park’s Christmas Tree, which is adorned with thousands of twinkling lights. Other popular displays include the “Tunnel of Lights,” which features a long tunnel adorned with colorful lights and holiday-themed decorations, and the “Festival of Trees,” which features a collection of beautifully decorated Christmas trees. Really well done synchronized music and lights to popular Christmas songs.
Overall, the Garden of Lights is a must-see holiday event for those visiting or living in Redding, California. It’s a fun and festive way to get into the holiday spirit and enjoy the beauty of the holiday season with friends and family. Now through January 8 2023. Tickets at the link:
https://www.reddinggardenoflights.org/