Lime Saddle

Lime Saddle

LimeSadle-Sign.jpg, 87kB

I am only on a scouting mission today, 2013.Jun.03.
I like to scout ahead on my GPZ 1100 motorcycle.
Easy to get here. No sharp curves. All pavement. Quite passable to all RV rigs.

However, the heat is unbearable. You will need air conditioning in your pull vehicle, and of course air conditioning in your RV rig once you are settled.

RULERMAR.GIF, 1.6kB

Dump

There is a dump here. And there are no Full Hookups at the sites, just water and electricity. Sense there is a dump here, you can stay a long time, and you can travel with empty black and grey tanks when you leave. However, as I ride the bike around, and check things out, I am beginning to dought if there any months when Lime Saddle will work for me. This place seems to be not cooled by the water of Lake Oroville.

RULERMAR.GIF, 1.6kB

the HOOK UPS

Standard box:
There are two breakers: one 20 Amp and one 30 Amp.

One 30 AMP 120V AC travel trailer receptacle, or TT-30R Receptacle. Some call it a RV30
Simply, another physical form for a single phase 120 voltage.

One 20 AMP 120V AC duplex receptacle. These two outlets have a GFI.
Appliances plug directly into this type of connector. If you use the cream colored outlet then you probably live in a tent.

I observed no cooling effects from the lake. Therefore, at this time of the year with temperatures at 100F degrees or above, you would have to "hold up" in your trailer with the air conditioning full-on. Not a pleasant thought...

RULERMAR.GIF, 1.6kB

Utility Power Pedestal:

The water faucet style varies a little from site to site, but they all seem to have water. Water tastes ok too.
Water is cool, therefore it is deep. Flow is weak.

I drank plenty...
I had not paid for any spaces, and I was afraid the ranger would say something with my helmet on the table. I soaked my shirt from the faucet water, trying to keep cool. It was dry in minutes, and that worked out so well, that I decided to do it again. I am sure it appeared as if I was setting up housekeeping. I was quite content to stay here. As the ranger made her rounds, she could see that I was in distress from the heat, and that I was only resting. She smiled and acknowledged me. I never had an opportunity to express my gratitude over the free 30 minute space rent. I thoroughly re-soaked my clothes and hair again, and was on my way.

But now, back on to the bike...
I had a 30 minute ride from Oroville Lake back to Chico. And now, on the bike, I was in my element. The air was still just as hot as before, but now it was moving. As I left Lime Saddle I felt good, and it seemed the heat had left no lasting effect. In fact, objectively, the air was even hotter than before, but subjectively seemed better because the hot air was moving. I could definitely feel the hot air almost burning my skin, but strangely, I was ok inside. The heat from some sections of road felt like 120F degrees while other cooler places, like in dips of the road, felt like 90F degrees. I like the cooler sections; like curves cradled in greenery. The temperature change experienced on a bike is dramatic. The extra heat from the engine would occasionally burn my ankles, just above my socks. My bike is powerful, and has never overheated even when pulling hard. I am proud of it. At 120 horses, it can climb steep hills and not even know that I am on it.

However, the bike will overheat in standstill traffic. It develops heat. It is a big bike! The fan will come on, and the engine temperature will begin to rise quickly. And when traffic finally moves again, all that heat is dumped into my lap. After a block of moving air, the engine is cool again.

I had a meer thirty minute ride, and I did not realize what was going on inside my body. Seemingly, the bike has always driven itself. I never "drive" the bike. The bike does everything all by itself.
For example, the bike would still smoothly lean over in curves, and ever so gently, like a harmless kiss, show me a close up of the fast moving pavement. I could make my shoulder touch the pavement if I wanted. But, instead, I am content to have the pavement pass by the side of my helmet. I teased the hot pavement in this way at every curve and opportunity. If I were not on the bike, this same pavement on bare skin would produce 1st degree burns, be painful and hurt. But from my magical vantage point, 28 inches above, the heat was totally muted, as in a dream. I was free now, and I was in control. And with the throatal in hand, there was a real fist full power. A fist full of over a hundred horses, at my slightest twist. It was there for me. As any rider will tell you, you do not even have to twist the throttle to get this power; Just wish it! Just think it! Now that is a good machine. Perfect control! Perfect braking! Perfect pre-pitch into the curves! That heat can not touch me, ... or so I thought.

I came flying out of the curves of the foothills, feeling no pain, and went into even hotter areas. This is the hottest stretch, which is near Butte College. There are hot dry fields, mostly sticker fields, for miles on the right and for miles on the left. I traveled across the vast expanse of hot fields to HWY 99 where the speeds rise to 70 and 80 miles an hour, on a blisteringly hot freeway. Along the road, blasts of air would change from very hot to really really hot. I had to move my feet to the outside of the pegs as the engine heat would continually burn my ankles. This is a huge machine: it is going to produce heat, and a lot of it. That is just the way physics work. The rider of a smaller bike would not feel it.

On my arms, I could feal the wind: A constant massage of flapping heat. On 99, the heat and wind are tearing at my clothes. The sensations on my skin pales to when I am passing. When passing, you go through the wind wakes. You don't feel the wake in a car, but on a bike they can be dramatic. For example, when passing big rigs, the rattling of my cloths changes to a whole body slam. Besides the body slam, I have to plow through a wall of heat. Brutal buffeting of heat at 80 miles an hour; I could feel it on my skin and on my body.

Here is the strange part: With my head and body continually buffeted, the big bike itself always holds strong. Unshaken, it's massive weight automatically leans against the wind, no matter the direction. Other large bikes that I have owned do the same. It is a marvelous but strange effect. I feel confident. I feel confident also because my bike is the fastest thing on the road. The powerful bike was obsessed with getting home, and nothing could stop it.

I know this big machine breaths speed, but I personally dreaded slower traffic, as then I would get more salt in my eyes from sweat. During a third of this ride, I could hardly see! To keep from both eyes stinging, I would squint down with one eye. But slower cars still could hardly keep the big bike from eating up a mile every heartbeat.

The road ahead was always hazy, and many sections had to be driven on faith. And with black studded leather riding gloves on, I could not even think about clearing my eyes. I know my bike does not literally have eyes. But somehow we worked together. Somehow we did not stop functioning.

Unstoppable, me and that bike rode on...

I was in the middle of heat, all around, totally ingulfed, and yet seemingly, not subject to any of it's effects, nor harm. Perhaps, I was numb or something. I don't know. The heat deceptively seemed ok to me because it was just short of a "burning" type pain. I only felt "sensations"! No pain! ...Now, that is a "ride"!

On this seemingly magical bike, I was in a kind of sacred cacoon; I was immune from heat and danger. I seemingly road home vicariously; like in an action movie, full of heat waves, and the full complement of blasts from a furnace of hell. I remember the ride as "dream like".

But that was about to change...

In the drive way, I got off the bike, and suddenly knew something was wrong. Really wrong! I was dizzy. I couldn't walk straight! In fact, I was almost falling down.

I made my way across the living room, and felt sick to my stomach. I thought that I would be ok if I could get into the shower. That was my goal, no matter what. I managed to get into the shower and turned on the cold water. Full blast! But instead of being saved, the cold water did NOT feel good at all. Not at all like I had imagined! Somehow, the water seemed to make it much worse. I didnt know if I was going to die, throw up, or pass out. Or maybe, all three. I managed to fall sideways, just outside the shower. I was conscious as I fell to the floor. I was wreathing in pain, all over my body. My muscles were really aching. I could not see. It was just a kind of "black".

I had passed out from heat stroke, but not while on the road on the bike. - thank God. Why had not this happened on the road? There, on the road, I was fine. Now, here, I am about dead. How can that be?

Back at Lime Saddle, before I had gotten back on the machine, I should have noticed the signs: like exhaustion. I had no idea that I was literally in such dire danger.

I remember that Linda found me there, naked and confused, just outside the shower stall. In pain, and with muscles "balling up", I could not get up. I could not control my rubber-band legs. I don't know how, but Linda put me in the bath tub. I am sure she glanced at my plumbing, but I didn't care. She was busy adjusting and filling water, this time with luke warm water. Not cold!
I was impressed by her fanaticism. All this because of me! She was so busy. And I was helpless, just sitting, staring, doing nothing at all. Linda shoved a very welcome glass of ice water in front of my face. I remember that I could see it. I took a few gulps, and then she rudely took it away just as quickly as it appeared; And, to make matters worse, would not give it back.

Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual
Daniel 3:19

As everyone knows, riding a bike is the second most funest thing in the whole world, so I failed to see a medical condition developing. When riding, you feel no pain. It is something magical and wonderful.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego know what magical and wonderful feels like. Indeed, for sure, we are watched over with a magical power. The furnace of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego was way hotter than mine, so their experience was way better than mine, more magical and wonderful. Unfortunately, I was rather rudely dumped out in the drive way. But Linda saved me. Thank God for Linda.

Lime Saddle temperatures will probably be low enough in December or January for a stay here in the RV. My RV is designed exclusively for cold to mild conditions along the coast.

And evidently, I am not designed for it either...

In December or January this space 22 would have a good view. The leaves would be less. 90% of the trees are deciduous, and mainly oak. There are some pine. During this time of the year, in the extreme heat, you can smell the pine resin. Nice smell!
Only a small plus: ...to smell the "heat".

Good views of the lake are hard to come by.
Here is a tiny view of the marina...

And this would be a "good" view.
I drove around to all the sites, and this would be considered good for view.
The lake is way down the hill; Perhaps a thousand feet away.

RULERMAR.GIF, 1.6kB

Therefore, I would not recommend staying here until winter. Then, at that time, I will finish this page and give a proper treatment of Lime Saddle.

...After I recuperate.

RULERMAR.GIF, 1.6kB

2014.03.07
First light and first rain...

It is finally cool enough to return to Lake Oroville. The first rains came a couple of weeks ago. As soon as the weather reports predicted rain, Linda and I planned to spend the time at Lake Oroville. (I think she wants to make sure nothing bad happens to me, like it did nine months ago in the heat.) And sure enough, some rain came last night. It was nice! It is March now, and it has been almost a year sence it has rained here. But at least the temperatures are tolerable now. The first day here there was only one other camper: a tent camper, at the north end. There was one other car; but they were just slowly driving through. They did not stay at all. So today, we are totally alone at Oroville State Park at LimeSaddle.

The rain is gone, but we got to see it. We had to wait nine months, but we got to see the rain.

... And we awoke to this beautiful view, at first light.

In the distance are the Sutter Buttes. And there are green and blue rice fields south of Chico.

Oroville State Park

GPS of Oroville State Park at LimeSaddle
It is not very high here, only a thousand feet.

And the only pines are low elevation digger pines, but the needles still make a whisper sound as the breeze flows through.

We rarely use full hookups, but when we do, we can use a heat lamp. The heat lamp maintained the inside temperature at 75 degrees. And I still was able to have the bed room window open; I like fresh air.

Heat lamps are 250 watts and can be dangerous. So keep clearances. But the power is free.

I note some excellent spaces, for future trips.
So please don't take them. I saw them first.

Space 4

Space 4:
Is our present spot.
Good view.

Space 26

Space 26
Great sun. When I was on the scouting mission, I noted this spot would be good for the RV.

Space 22

Space 22
OK Sun
Good view
This is also a spot that I noted when I was on the scouting mission last summer in Jun.

From space 4, you can see the Lime Saddle Marina boat launch. Actually, you may need binoculars to have it exactly match the picture. But, never the less, you can see it out the aft end of the RV, from space 4. The water is no longer a blue or grey, but now a dark muddy brown. I think it is from the rain last night.

Callie is disappointed. That is Lake Oroville at Lime Saddle. There are some house boats in the center of the channel. It is March and the boat ramp is just barely operational.

And sadly, there was once wave action - from water - were now green grass grows in horizontal furrows.

Normally, all of this is way underwater.

Lots of gold here.
The low lake level has exposed lots of quartz, defiantly still above the mud.

That is right, you have to go UP! Trust me, I know what I am doing.

The green grass is now growing from the rain of two weeks ago. The grass grows in long furrows, as if magically manicured. The process is by incessant wave action on the once dirt shore line, long ago.

The activity of each season is a little lower, and clearly marked. With fingers dug-in, a giant is frantically clutching at the shore, slowly loosing grip, slowly dying, slowly sliding down to a certain death. With each dying breath, it leaves a pitiful mark scratched with it's life's blood: of water. I fear there are other placid giants too, because none cry out, and none make a noise.

And look to the far shore line! Vivid iron oxide bleed from the other shore in colors of red blood, as if from a sorely open and most grievous wound. Stoically, there are no cries of pain. From miles to the south and east, the lake withers in silence.

From ugliness, comes beauty. And in the midst of a brown plaque comes a certain peace.

Where geese walk...

Some geese have no water, and have to walk a distance on the lake floor. But the walk is worth it. No plants or grass have ever grown here before.

"Are these Sky Buoys?"

The "water" buoys high overhead should be floating by November.
This picture was taken in March with a telephoto lense.

RULERYEL.GIF, 4.2kB

Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote.
Daniel 5:5

How can we be so blind? Our stacks might as well be shooting bullets instead of smoke; the wounds are the same. To me, Lake Oroville State Park is only RV stay where the handwriting is so dramatically written on the wall. I know there are better examples: like the polar ice caps and glaciers. But, as an RVer, this State Park is the scariest for me.

Also, this is the highest priced State Park that I have ever seen: $45. No wonder, there is absolutely not a single person here. On the plus side, the park is clean and well maintained, and the dumpsters are empty.

On the minus side: they could use more rain and cooler temperatures. And the water is only deep enough for geese or a waverunner.
RULERBOW.GIF, 0 kB