Pictures we took of Fandango Pass in the northeastern corner of California are not yet available so we used some that were much better anyway that can be found here.
"The summit of Fandango Pass in northern Modoc County reveals a mountain lake and the Nevada Hays Range in the distance. The Fandango Pass Road is gravel, but a pleasant drive in the summer time. The Applegate and Lassen Trails both used Fandango Pass on the last legs of the trek into Oregon and California."
[I have a sister who might argue about the "pleasant drive" we took in her Toyota. While we bounced around on little more than a goat trail, I got to look out over eternity while she talked about how bad her vision was getting as she admired the desert flowers along the way. I was supposed to look for the bigger rocks. We hit every one I think in the car she wanted to keep pristine for sale.]
Would have been better if we used this wild horse east of Cedarville for traversing the Pass. Probably wouldn't have been very cooperative though.
While looking for this Ft. Bidwell Indian Community Center, we happened on "Bird" (Roberta told us everybody called her Bird). She generously offered to show us "up in the hills" the last of 4 geothermal exploratory wells drilled starting out from a low temperature warm spring that is being tapped for direct heating. The geothermal brines have gotten progressively warmer
Well 4
Well 1
Map of wells all located on the reservation lying right alongside the town of Ft. Bidwell.
I think it was someone other than Bird who talked of early efforts to commercialize a catfish farm but it seemed the locals weren't much interested in buying the catfish. Little wonder with the fishing available in such an area and the market for commericial catfish farms was very slow in development. A very sophisticated tilapia nursery in New Mexico with similar development is reportedly having great success.
The hotel in Ft. Bidwell has recently gone out of business and no coffee shops were available. When I asked we were directed back to Cedarville, from which we had just come. Incidentally if you take a right at the "bug station" (California inspection station) going north from Alturas you will arrive shortly at one of the greatest motels (Sunrise Motel) you will ever find anywhere for $47/night.
So what?
This isn't meant as a travelogue. Consider this in a country with the 2nd largest production of electricity from geothermal power after the U.S., The Philippines:
Arroyo said that in order to address the expected electric power gap of around 100 MW in the Visayas in 2010, the government will speed up "as soon as possible" the privatization of the geothermal power plants all over Visayas in 2008 so the private sector can take over and expand the capacity before 2009...
...critics here have a different view of the development plan...
"The Visayans would naturally be mesmerized dreaming of having around more ‘RORO’ boats, fast crafts, modern ports and airports, linking bridges and mega malls, blondes, tourists in topless suits...
http://www.investorvillage.com/...
That is a real threat no doubt. Same horror could be visited on the Fandangos.
Further north is Adel in the valley where the Crump Geyser might finally be developed any day now after it was drilled a half century ago. The natives were not worried I noticed. Never heard of it said one fellow in Plush which is even closer. A young feller - how would he be expected to remember the old stories?
Both projects are stalled by lack of funding and general disinterest while the comic book character who brought us liquid buyouts, greenmail, poison pills, swiftboating and consequently George Bush; now intends for us to have it all with junk energy.
"Keep Warm" is the motto.
Best, Terry