Chapter 4

As they left the restaurant, Bette said" I could drive." She got behind the wheel and waited for Tina to get Angelica settled in her car seat. They drove up Highway 80 over Donner Summit to Reno . Of course Alice had something to say about the Donner party and said" I think we have plenty of food so I don’t think there is a danger that we will eat each other, at least not for food. As they were approaching Reno Alice said " so are we going to drive through or stop for the night?" Everyone said we should just drive through. Bette got on the freeway and went north on Highway 395 to Susanville/Alturas. After going through several small towns they made a right turn to head to Alturas. Two hours later they were in Alturas. Bette said" last chance to stop for the night I don’t think we will find any motels the farther up we go." Helena asked" how are you doing Bette do you want me to drive? Bette replied " we are only about 72 miles from our destination I can drive until we get there. She went to the junction and turned right on Highway 299. She was going about 60 miles an hour when all of a sudden something jumped in front of the car causing her to swerve. She slowed down the car pulled off the side of the road. She asked " is everyone okay?" Alice said " nice driving Porter what the hell was that?"  Bette said I swerved to miss the deer that jumped out in front of us, hitting a deer at our speed would have caused major damage and possibly injured some of us we will just have to be more careful and drive slower from here." There are all kinds of critters out in the boondocks hundred miles from nowhere like we are now. The rest of the trip was uneventful. It has started to lightly snow and was cold. " I think that the ranger station will be close when we get there we will go directly to the campground. There are 43 Spots we will pick one out and set up camp."  The selected their site and begin to unload the car. Helena said " I am not sleeping on the ground I was not raised to camp out in the middle of nowhere. I am going to get my sleeping bag and curl up on one of the seats."  Tasha said " that sounds good to me, what you think Alice?" I hate bugs and critters so I will sleep in the car as well."  Bette and Tina set up their tent, filled the air mattresses put it down on the ground and put their double sleeping bag on the top."  I really think it is too cold and too uncomfortable for Angelica I am going to ask Alice if she can stay in the Van with them."