Thanks!

Monkeyflowers
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/777236-Diplacus/browse_photos?place_id=14

"starting the biggest climbing day of the trip without a proper breakfast and probably no lunch." Yikes! Hopefully you have some emergency food packed away. I usually carry instant oatmeal packets to that end - even if I have to soak the oatmeal in cold water it provides some nourishment. Since you're writing this after the fact I know that you survived it, but still it's suspenseful - hope "tomorrow" turns out for the best.

You've obviously done a lot of research about this route. Enjoying the journal, best of luck with the remainder of the tour.

A good bicycle photo!

I'm enjoying your journal, Wayne. It's so sobering to see how the fire affected the forests, but at least there is green undergrowth. The before and after pictures of Greenville were interesting. That there is little sign of rebuilding is so sad.

This was a rare tour with no fenders. In this case I didn't use a rear fender because I figured the solid plate on the rear rack was sufficient, and the front fender broke a day or two earlier. Future tours almost all used full fenders, but I think one other tour ended up with a broken fender.

The train station is in bad shape. Note that many of the windows are boarded up. The building is used by the trail partner, Lassen Land and Trail Trust. Their office/exhibit was closed when I was there.
https://lassenlandandtrailstrust.org/bizz-johnson-trail

No, I lifted the bike with the panniers on. Sometimes as much as 2 feet to get over the branches, one wheel at a time. The biggest trees often had the trunk 2 feet above the trail. Too high, so I had to go around them. The biggest tree had the trunk 3+ feet above the ground and I was able to squeeze the bike under the tree. Even with the smaller trees, the panniers rubbed extensively against the pine branches of the fallen trees. In one afternoon the panniers went from new looking to old looking.

Did you have to take your panniers off to muscle the bike over the trees?

That would be a great B&B for bicycle riders!

I have a sudden interest in panniers, given that I expect to get wet this summer. I see you don't have fenders here. When did you make the switch, and why?

Those are some staggering photos. Very impressive.

So sad. We’ve ridden this trail ourselves a number of times in the past.

If my tour plans are successful, the red areas will be visibly faded by the end of July. Red always fades fades first.