L to M: Redding to Ferndale, CA

We checked out of our motel room and gassed up and got coffee before we hit the road. The GPS suggested we take US36 instead of US299, which we knew to be a better road, but we went with it. Soon we were on a windy road after having to drive on I-5, which we hate to do. While Emily took a nap, the van started to lose power. We had already traveled almost 3,000 miles this trip. Max had picked up a small guidebook to automotive problems in the Lassen NP gift shop, and began to think that he had correctly diagnosed the knocking noises as the catalytic converter crapping out. But, we were 120 miles from the 101 with no real towns to stop in and get the van looked at, so we plowed our way through the Shasta-Trinities. 36 is windy, and hilly and at one point a signed warned "BUMP" but really, it looked like the road dropped off into thin air. We persisted, and the van held up like a champ and once we reached the 101 we decided that we'd made it that far, we needed to eat before we talked to a mechanic so we headed off to No Brand Burger Stand in Ferndale, CA. We love this place and were sad we missed it on the way up, so we were thrilled to eat there.Fortified with lunch, we drove to Mike's 76 in Fortuna, CA, recommended to us by a fellow customer at the burger stand. The mechanic crawled under the van with Max and confirmed Max's diagnosis of a failing catalytic converter. He recommended another mechanic down the road that works on them. The mechanic at the catalytic converter place was also nice, but couldn't fit us in until Thursday. Max had to go to work on Friday, so this seemed to push our trip a bit too long. He gave Max some tips on how to improve driving, such as removing to oxygen sensor- which creates an escape hatch for exhaust being trapped by the blocked up cat- and thought we could make it home over the not so mountainous highway 101 to the south. It was about 4pm and we didn't feel up to more driving, given our stressful morning. While at the auto parts store, Emily saw that the Fortuna theater was playing the Rise of the Planet of the Apes, a movie we had heard about and wanted to see. There seemed to be no better time to immerse ourselves in a movie and forget our situation, so we caught the 4:25 show. It was great. Everyone should see the movie. It was the best part of our day and we wanted to watch it again, but we were hungry again so we headed back to Ferndale for the night.They were able to squeeze us in at the fairgrounds, despite the Humbolt County Fair opening there in a couple of days. Everyone was real friendly and we had a nice dinner at the pizza place in town. We were hopeful that the next morning we'd at least make it within 100 miles of home, where our AAA plus membership would cover the tow if need be.

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