Campo Velo -- Cottonwood 2005



The April Campo Velo in Shasta and northern Tehama counties was based at the Alamo RV Park in Cottonwood. The Alamo is ideally located and central to some of the best cycling areas in the Cascade range and coastal mountains bordering the central valley. Over a three-day period in the last week of April, Dennis, Pete, Don, Ward and Geno rode portions of the Jamboree Century route in the foothillis below Lassen National Park and the eastern edge of the coast range on Hwy 36 and Platina (A16) Road. What they discovered was breathtakingly beautiful country, riding through open cattle range on very quiet and peaceful roads. Late spring is the ideal time to visit this area as the temperatures are mild, the hills are green and full of wildflowers, rivers and creeks run high and the surrounding mountains display snow-capped peaks.


Historic Downtown Cottonwood is the oldest town in Shata County and home to businesses serving the cattle industry.


On the Jamboree Century course, meandering Ash Creek is lined with yellow flag iris


Crossing the mighty Sacramento River


Fields of wildflowers on Ash Creek Road (royal larkspur and mixed bouquet of tidy tips, gilia, and goldfields)


What the heck?! Came across miles of newly constructed stone fences on Wildcat Road


This rancher has nothing but time and money on his hands to build these incredible stone walls.


The main barn of the stone fence rancher	Pretty Face wildflowers


Goldfields and horses on Wildcat Road


Approaching Black Butte, a cinder cone


More buccolic scenes along the Jamboree Century route


Back in camp - Mr. Gourmet, Pete, making pork stir-fry


Geno's "musubi" surrounded at Camp Alamo	Dennis, Pete, Don & Ward ready to begin the 91-mile ride


Heading west out Hwy 36 on the "Highway to Heaven" -- superb pavement, no traffic, and postcard views


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