Day 2 turned out to be one of those days where the drive itself was every bit as memorable as the destination.
Our first stop was Burney Falls, a place we had never even heard of until it kept showing up in online searches for “must-see stops” along our route. We’re glad we listened. Fed by underground springs, the waterfall pours over a moss-covered cliff in countless streams, creating one of the most beautiful waterfalls we’ve seen. It’s definitely worth the detour.
From there we headed into Lassen Volcanic National Park, one of the hidden gems of the National Park system. Around every bend the scenery seemed to change. One minute we were looking at bubbling mud pots and steaming fumaroles, reminders that the earth beneath us is still very much alive. The next we were surrounded by rugged volcanic peaks, alpine lakes reflecting the blue sky, and meadows bursting with wildflowers. And yes—even in late June, patches of snow were still hanging on.
Rather than rush through the park, we stopped often to explore the short trails and viewpoints along the road. It was the perfect way to experience Lassen without committing to a long hike, and every stop seemed to offer a completely different landscape.
Eventually we made our way to Chester, California. Calling Chester a “sleepy little town” might be generous. Our bigger concern, though, wasn’t finding entertainment—it was finding electricity.
The next Tesla Supercharger was in Quincy, and our navigation estimated we’d arrive with just 2% battery remaining. That’s closer than we’re comfortable with, especially in the mountains where elevation changes can make energy consumption unpredictable. Unfortunately, there aren’t any charging stations in Chester—or anywhere between Chester and Quincy.
That’s where a little travel creativity came in handy.
Our motel wasn’t exactly luxurious, but it did have one thing we needed: a standard 110-volt outlet. The gap under the room door was just wide enough to snake an extension cord outside to the car. It wasn’t fast charging by any stretch, but overnight we added enough miles to comfortably reach Quincy the next morning, with plenty left over to continue on toward South Lake Tahoe.
Sometimes road trips aren’t just about spectacular scenery. Sometimes they’re about improvising with an extension cord and celebrating the small victories that keep the adventure moving.