8-19-2025 Likely, CA

Here we are, camped at Likely Place Golf and RV Resort.  The town itself is small, consisting of a post office, a general store and this resort.  It’s a really nice resort, actually, if you golf, which we don’t.  There are many activities including golf, bocce ball and golf.  And there’s a big, serene, quiet lake for paddleboarding and 13 pickleball courts.  OK, I lied about the lake and the pickleball courts. 

 

The town of Likely was a bustling little community back in 1878 and was originally named South Fork, as it lies near the south fork of the Pit River.  There were two grocery stores, a hotel, restaurant, saloon, leather shop, a peat moss plant and a post office.  Ranching and the lumber industry were the heavy hitters.  Back then, the USPO wanted all towns to have short, unique names.  (That wouldn’t explain Escanaba and Winnemucca.)  The townfolk could not agree on a name but lore has it that somebody looked around and said, “Is it likely that this town will ever have a name?”  Another replied, “Well….  Let’s call it Likely.”   When the railroad was established in Alturas, 20 miles north, it brought on the demise of Likely except for a few hardy souls.  Today, those hardy souls add up to 63 belly buttons.

 

I wanted to drop a card in the mail and I asked Kathy if the RV office had a mail drop.  She replied sadly, “No, but there’s a post office in town.”  I asked if she had a map of the town so we could find the PO.  She said, “A map?!”  She tilted her head a little and smiled.  Here's why:

Beautiful downtown Likely Post Office

Metropolitan Likely, CA

The jail and the saloon in Likely.
Not operative, of course.

 

As I mentioned, Alturas, CA is 20 miles north and became the focal point for the Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad.  It serviced the lumber, farm and ranch industry, primarily, also a few passengers.  Alturas is a Spanish word that means, “summit,” or, “height.”  I assume that this means that the town was built at the top of the highest point in the local foothills but I could be wrong.  It was initially established in 1879 as a trading post and supply center;  the railroad augmented that and it still serves the community of 2,715 souls.

A large Basque restaurant sits on the north side of town.  Being big fans of the whole Basque culinary experience, we decided to retrace our steps 20 miles and travel to Alturas for a meal at the Brass Rail Basque Restaurant.  It was 3 o’clock.  The establishment does not open until 5:30.  Ugh.  This little cloud had a silver lining, however.  An Italian chef created a fine dinner for us at nearby Antonio’s Ristorante, a little hidden gem.  Sometimes, what seems like a frog is actually a handsome prince!  (Not that I have anything against frogs.  After all, it’s not that easy being green.)

Antonio's in Alturas

Lasagna Boy!

 

The Elks Lodge in Alturas used to be
the NV-CA-OR Railroad Depot.

Inside the beautiful Elks Lodge

Tomorrow is our second longest drive of the summer trip, 278 miles.  It’s OK, we got this.  Our homing beacons are going off and the doctors need our business.

VIVA CALIFORNIA!
(We didn't gas up here!)