California dreamin' (All the leaves are brown and the sky is pink....)

We made it to our goal of Redding, California so are now about 130 miles from the Oregon/California border. It was a long day of driving. We chose to drive Highway 99 thinking it would be more enjoyable than I5. Our speed limit is the same on either one and there is less traffic. It was not at all enjoyable driving through the interior of California - the smog that hung over the whole Sierra Nevada plain was horrible. The pink, smelly air was tinged with eau de feedlot, eau de dried up field and eau de unknowable factory belch. This for two hours!! If you know anyone who lives in Bakersfield or Fresno, please phone to, 1. See if they are still breathing and if so, 2. Give them my sympathies. Every kind of big business is happening there and unless they are enjoying the smell of money, they are living in hell. Enough said.
Sacramento seems to be a pretty city - first natural green we've seen - the river and canals are all full of water and the trees look healthy. We took a deep breath when we arrived in Redding - it is about 14 degrees and absolutely pouring but the air is fresh. We will have to double check the ground before stepping outside in the morning - there was already 2-3 inches of water at our steps when we arrived.