Drive past Shasta

a dry surprise

for John Dunphy

Former BJ and Orange County Register in California reporter John Dunphy drove 700 miles with wife Rebecca Allen from their Lakewood, California home to Ashland, Oregon and looked forward to seeing a majestic lake at the base of a majestic mountain. Didn't happen.

Tan area normally is water

On the way, John writes, they "powered up through the mountains from Mount Shasta to Ashland, Oregon. Very eerie ride as there is no snow and Shasta Lake is bone dry in some places."

Adds Rebecca: "Mount Shasta had NO snow. Shasta Lake was just a ribbon of water in the bottom. It's horrifying when you see it."

Lake Siskiyou, which provides a panoramic view of majestic Mount Shasta to the lake's south,  is down 17.5 feet.

On the heels of one of the driest years on record in northern California, Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency and urged Californians to reduce water consumption by 20%. 

Today, John added:  "Walked 3 miles on the Bear Creek Greenway in Ashland Ore. Next stop: McMinnville." You go, John!

Dunphy is dealing with Stage 3 esophageal cancer in a remarkably upbeat and humorous way.