Day Three: Crater Lake National Park, OR to Oroville, CA

Today. Was. HOT! We had a lot of ground to cover, and instead of taking the slow and scenic routes, we took the most direct route possible. This was due to the failing front brake material on Scrap.

We started the day with a drive around the rim of Crater Lake. The lake is a beautiful blue color, and almost perfectly round. The drive around the top rim of the lake is 30 miles, and well worth it. We learned the Native American story of how the lake was formed by two warring spirits Llao and Skell and their destruction of Mount Mazama. After concluding our trip around the lake, and saying one last goodbye to our mosquito infested campsite we headed South.

When we passed through Redding, CA the temperature read 109 degrees. We were traveling at 80 MPH with all four windows down sweating like crazy. Amber’s parents live in Oroville, CA and our goal was to make it to their house and change the brakes out. By the time we made it through Chico, it had started to cool down a little, but it was still over 100 degrees when we reached Oroville.

We sourced brake parts from the local Kragen, and after meeting Amber’s amazing family (and eating an equally amazing dinner) we got to work. After removing the front wheels and calipers it was evident that the only parts in bad shape were on the driver’s side front assembly. This is unusually as a brake system that is working correctly should wear the brake material evenly between sides. I will have to look into that when we get home. The caliper didn’t appear to stick at all, both last time and this time I remembered to re-grease all the pins/slides. My guess is that Scrap has some air in the line on that side.

Upon inspection of the troublesome side’s rotor, it became apparent that we would also be replacing that. I’ve never had any luck getting rotors turned. Mark gave me a ride into town to get new rotors. By the time we returned Ashley had passed out. She was exhausted. Amber, Mark, and I ventured back outside while Amber and I finished the brakes. It was getting dark, so we put the brakes back together, the wheels back on, and called it a night with the car still on blocks. Tomorrow is going to be a no-travel day. We are going to stay with Amber’s aunt Christie on her houseboat on Oroville Lake.
See you all tomorrow!