Crater Lake National Park, OR
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Luckily, the road up to the rim at Crater Lake National Park was open and it was a perfectly clear day! I was finally able to see Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the U.S (over 1900’)! And it was more beautiful than I expected.
working our way up the mountain
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The road out of Medford, OR up to the lake follows the Rogue River for much of its winding course up into the Cascade Mountain Range. A dense forest of red cedars, Douglas-firs, pines and spruce trees line the narrow road. The patches of snow that we began the ascent with slowly grew into inches and then feet - until it was well close to the height of the POD! As we pulled into the park we headed straight to the lake …… we knew it was there and yet we couldn’t see it because of the 8’ wall of snow that surrounded it! We put on boots, bundled up - and followed a small path up the snow bank to the rim. WOW!
climbing snow fields to view the lake
Crater Lake National Park
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7,700 years ago, this amazing caldera was created in a violent eruption causing the top of the mountain to collapse into itself. The lake is fed purely by snow and rain and the intense blue color is a testament to its depth. Seeing it surrounded by 8’ of snow made the many shades of blue - sky and water - all the more intense. There is a road that follows the entire rim of the crater - open in the summer and early fall - which would have been nice to have driven. And there is a beautiful lodge - currently all boarded up to protect it from the harsh winter. However, it felt very special to be there at this time of year; the road open, the sky pristine, and us - practically alone - witnessing such majestic beauty.
Wizard Island, once the peak of the mountain, is now an island
Crater Lake National Park
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We wandered for awhile over the iced-over snowy banks getting as close as we dared to the edge. It was a long way down…… and being a human luge was not on my list of to-dos! The 27 degrees and wind finally brought us back to the POD and we headed back down the mountain heading NW to the Oregon coast.
a long, slippery way down into the crater
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We always like to find new roads to travel on - even if we are heading somewhere we have been before. New adventures and sights await and you never know what you'll see. This time we found ourselves following the Umpqua River all the way from the Umpqua National Forest, which borders Crater Lake to the north, all the way to its delta at the Pacific Ocean in Reedsport, OR. It was a beautiful and relaxing drive through small towns and farms - lots of sheep, goats, llama, cattle and even one buffalo farm! At one point, I believe around the town appropriately named Elkton, we came upon a very large herd of elk!
sunrise at Nye Beach
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We took our time as we headed north along the coast and headed to Newport, OR. The Oregon coast can be rugged, craggy and wild at most turns but as you head into Newport the historic Nye Beach appears as an oasis of calm. Wide, flat and filled with tidal pools it is a perfect walking beach.
Tim's oldest friend, Rand lives here and we were able to spend an evening and most of the following day with him. All in all much too short of a visit. Unfortunately, we suddenly found ourselves pressed for time because the POD decided that it was almost 2,000 miles past due on its routine service........
and the closest Mercedes dealership that could service the Sprinter in the next few days was in Seattle, WA.
miles of beach to explore
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a 5 mile walk with Milly, the beagle
Nye Beach, OR
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Saying goodbye to the Oregon coast we headed inland toward Portland in order to spend some time with Tim's sister Ellen in Banks, OR. The Willamette Valley is home to over 500 vineyards and probably just as many nut (filberts, hazelnuts) farms. The 150 mile long valley is fed by the Willamette River that runs its full length and is protected on 3 sides by mountain ranges. Created during the last ice age this valley has rich soil deposits making it perfect for growing!
Ellen and her husband Bob treated us to wonderful home-cooked dinners, great wine, and terrific conversation. It was relaxing and fun ...... and we never left the house! We also got to do some laundry which, while on the road, is a REAL treat!
Thank you!
Once again, we find ourselves having to move on before we really want to ...... but Seattle is calling! 8 a.m. appointment.
Every step........
morning mist and morning deer at Ellen's!
Banks, OR
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