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Castle Crags, late April 2023

About 25 minutes drive on Interstate 5 north of Redding, you come across a spectacular sight. Granite spires rising through the forest to the west. This is Castle Crags State Park. Pull off the highway for hiking, camping, or just plain gazing upon the beauty of it all.

Technically, these are granite pluons. Molten granite has formed beneath the surface in these shapes, cooling more slowly than the rock around them. The spires are what you can see uncovered as the surface eroded around them. Seeing that, and realizing the time scale involved in their formation, one is left to ponder the insignificance of a single human lifetime in the face of geologic time. Yeah, it’s brief.

Castle Crags CA Castle Crags CA

Music in the video is an Excerpt of “Eternal Path” by Craig Padilla and Skip Murphy (me) from the CD Phantasma on the Groove Unlimited label. Gobsmacking scenery courtesy of planet earth. It’s Really Redding.

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Superbloom Spring 2023 near Redding

A genuinely wet winter season after so many years of drought have led us into an epic season of springtime wildflowers.  Here’s a drone video my grandson and I captured a few days ago.

View of Superbloom 2023 near Redding CAView of Superbloom 2023 near Redding CA

View of Superbloom 2023 near Redding CA with Mt lasen in background

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layia_elegans
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layia_elegans
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A snow crested Redding evening

In this image, we see the Sundial Bridge located in Redding, California, captured during the early evening in late Winter. The bridge and Sacramento River is beautiful in the sunset reflection, and provides the main focus of the image. In the background, we can see the cityscape also lit up with twinkling lights, creating a mesmerizing and calming effect. Beyond the cityscape, we see snow-capped mountains towering majestically in the distance. The mountains are framed by dramatic clouds, creating a moody atmosphere in the image. Overall, the image presents a beautiful scene that captures the essence of Redding’s natural beauty and man-made marvels.

Have a good evening, Redding.

Redding's Sundial Bridge and evening nightscape framed by snowy mountaings in the distance

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A sunny day after a rare afternoon snowfall just a day earlier in Redding

The day after an unusual snowfall in Redding CA, I fly over the Sacramento River and survey the surroundings. A notable fibonacci influenced landmark at the McConnell Arboretum is easily visible. Music is by Craig Padilla and myself from our CD Phantasma from 2006 on the label Groove Unlimited. An excerpt of “Shadowed Transistion,” which is track 1.

This interesting design feature is just west of the McConnell Arboretum in Redding.

A Fibonacci curve inspired landmark in Redding

We got 6-8″ of snow.  Quite unusual. Maybe not so unusual, going forward in our new climate.

Redding looking west after a recent snowfall

Below, my favorite city, in a blanket of white. The foreground is the cemetery.

Aerial view of central Redding after a recent snowfall

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Just another snowy morning in Redding for Spring 2023

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.

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Redding’s new Bike Hub under construction

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!

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Shasta Dam spillway 6 years ago today

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.

 

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Charity Crab Feed for One Safe Place

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.

Charity Crab Feed dance sceneCharity Crab Feed dance sceneCharity Crab Feed dance sceneCharity Crab Feed dance sceneCharity Crab Feed dance scene
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.