Post by Clementine on Mar 13, 2017 0:47:53 GMT -5
The journey to California was long and winding. I-80 would offer the most direct route there. The shortest way to I-80 from Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park was to head East out of the mountains. I-80 was just short turn north along I-76 up into Nebraska. From the I-76/I-80 junction on, it was westward ho!
Looking over their shoulders the entire time, it took little over half a month to wind their way to California. To avoid trouble like uncomfortably large numbers of walkers, it was necessary to detour through the outskirts of cities like Cheyenne, Wyoming and Salt Lake City, Utah. The need for resupply made it impossible to avoid the cities and small towns altogether. Other troubles, like possible bandit bases and environmental roadblocks, added extra detours and backtracking. It all added extra time to the trip.
The Clear Lake area of California, where the cabin was, had been through a number of its own dramatic changes since Dakota had left. Over two years, a number of wild fires had ravaged the area. Years of drought added dry fuel all over the hills and mountains surrounding the lake to make the infernos some of the hottest and most firestorms to hit California.
The lands around Lakeport, where Dakota's family cabin had sat, was not immune. On Clear Lake's west and southwestern edge, the Snow family ranch sat up in the hills above Lakeport, CA. Looking toward Clear Lake from the top of the mountain the cabin was on, one could see the next hill over with the neighboring vineyards and farm spread out around it. The vineyards below spread out toward Lakeport itself and the western shore of Clear Lake. To the east-southeast and just out view behind a couple other hills was Lampson Field, the local airport. Just three miles south of Lakeport and untouched by the firestorm.
Looking over their shoulders the entire time, it took little over half a month to wind their way to California. To avoid trouble like uncomfortably large numbers of walkers, it was necessary to detour through the outskirts of cities like Cheyenne, Wyoming and Salt Lake City, Utah. The need for resupply made it impossible to avoid the cities and small towns altogether. Other troubles, like possible bandit bases and environmental roadblocks, added extra detours and backtracking. It all added extra time to the trip.
The Clear Lake area of California, where the cabin was, had been through a number of its own dramatic changes since Dakota had left. Over two years, a number of wild fires had ravaged the area. Years of drought added dry fuel all over the hills and mountains surrounding the lake to make the infernos some of the hottest and most firestorms to hit California.
The lands around Lakeport, where Dakota's family cabin had sat, was not immune. On Clear Lake's west and southwestern edge, the Snow family ranch sat up in the hills above Lakeport, CA. Looking toward Clear Lake from the top of the mountain the cabin was on, one could see the next hill over with the neighboring vineyards and farm spread out around it. The vineyards below spread out toward Lakeport itself and the western shore of Clear Lake. To the east-southeast and just out view behind a couple other hills was Lampson Field, the local airport. Just three miles south of Lakeport and untouched by the firestorm.