Crater Lake, OR

We have been pretty much without good Internet for the last couple of weeks so I am running a little behind.  Jim and Tracy went on to Crater Lake and Lee and I stayed in Bend to have the Doctor look at my shoulder again. We were considering staying and having surgery done there.  We ended up with 2 shots in the left shoulder and 1 in the right shoulder and we are hoping to buy time so we can complete our trip before I deal with shoulder surgery.
We left Bend on August 21 and have made our way south to our daughter, Karen, in Mill Valley.  We will spend a week here and then over to Reno and down to LasVegas to visit our niece Brooke.

We drove over to Crater Lake from Bend to visit Jim and Tracy at the Diamond Lake RV park.  We spent the day doing the scenic drive and going to the falls in the area. At the end of the day we sat at a picnic table here at Diamond Lake and had pizza together.

This pyroclastic flow

Here's what it looks like where that  pyroclastic flow has occurred . Nothing grows.

I've never seen a lake as blue as Crater Lake. The lake is formed by the lava Caldera rim.

Peaceful picnic spot along Diamond Lake.

Jim and Tracy our hiking buddies.

No matter where you view Crater Lake from it is spectacular.

The fires are burning all around us.  The day after we were at Crater Lake the north gate was closed due to the fires.

Lee just loves these Ponderosa pines.

Beautiful path to the falls.

Clear water falls

Watson Falls

Toketee Falls

White Horse Falls

We stopped for a snack and Bailey became king of the hill.

Gorgeous peaceful spot.
A really nice day spent with really good friends.

Lee and Tracy waiting for the pizza
We will stop and see Jim and Tracy when we head east in Arizona.

lava Butte trail in Oregon

Today we went to the Lava Cave Visitor center and watched a  movie and then we took an interpretive trail with Ranger Bob.  It was very informative. After we hiked the Lava Bed trail we took the shuttle to the top of Lava Butte. It was a very interesting and educational day. I marvel at how God can take lava and just a bunch of rocks and turn it into it's own beauty.

This is Cascade Meadows campground RPI very nice about 8 miles from TT campground.

That Sisters and Broken Top mountain out there.

This is Mt. Bachelor it should have a lot more snow on it.

God splashes color in the most barren of terrains.

This is where the lava flowed forth. The Newberry volcano is still considered active.

Marvin and Marie and Lee and I

What a site

Fire tower at the top of Lava Butte
 Remember life begins when you hit the end of your comfort zone.

Smith Rock State Park in Oregon

After visiting Flyte Camp company we drove to Smith Rock State Park.  We decided to hike the river trail. The weather was great in the low 80's and not full sun.  Walking along the crooked river was beautiful and the dogs had access to the water and could cool of.

This is my favorite picture of the day the lighting was perfect.

What's a hike without seeing one rattle snake?

Nicky says what are you having for lunch, maybe I like that better than what mom  packed me.

Nicky cooling off and getting a drink.

I love to take pictures of unusual looking trees.

When we came to the end of the river trail we could go back the way we came or go onto the Misery trail.  Jim and Tracy decided to go back and Lee wanted to go the Misery Trail which he claimed would be shorter.  Now by now, you would think I should know better and not follow him but I did.
So  up we go.

There is still a lot of smoke haze from fires in WA,OR and CA.

Almost to the top.

You can clearly see the trail we are going up.

This is heading down the other side.

Getting close now

You can clearly see the trail we came down.
When we got to the bottom the sign for Misery Trail said most difficult and why were we on the most difficult trail?  Because Lee said it was shorter. Well, Jim and Tracy beat us by an hour.  So much for that theory.

Nicky and Bailey say bye for now.