California Redwoods

Deer were plentiful as we followed the Rogue River south to California.

We stopped to walk a trail at the Rogue River Gorge.

Water flows under a natural bridge formed by a lava tube.

Water flowing under the natural bridge.

As we entered the Redwoods, we stopped here for our first walk.

Meander through with us as we gaze with wonder at these tall trees.

You can't capture an entire redwood tree in one photo...they're too tall.

Me standing beside an overturned root to show perspective of size. redwoods have very shallow roots and you see many downed trees.

Joselyn walking beside a downed redwood.

I just know the ferns carpeting the forest floor are a beautiful compliment.

Foggy morning in the redwoods.

We stopped to watch the elk in this meadow.

Our morning hike was through the Lady Bird Johnson grove. Up on a mountain, the road to the parking lot is not big-rig or trailer friendly, so perhaps this trail is a little less traveled.

It has a wide path and many friendly resting places.

I love to notice the little things too, and reflect on the beauty of both large and small.

The fog in the forest gives it a fairy-tale look.

Dew was dripping from the leaves.

The site where the grove was dedicated.

A photo from back then...

Pretty flowers

Redwoods and ferns

Flowering trees

Tiny blooms on the forest floor

And the creature I've been looking for....a banana slug!

Crater Lake, OR

Care to join us for a ride around the rim of Crater Lake, OR? The Rim drive just recently opened, so we are lucky to be able to see this incredible lake from all sides.

Our first overlook of Crater Lake and Wizard Island

It's hard to capture the deep blue/purple of the lake in a photograph.

There is still some snow

Some more views...

Crater Lake caldera was formed by a volcano. No water flows in or out of the lake. Only precipitation and evaporation change the lake levels.
There is one trail down to the water level. From there you can take a boat ride around the lake. I hiked down as far as this bench, then considered the steep climb back up.

Joselyn hiked all the way down....there she goes.

Here comes the tour boat. Joselyn didn't take the boat tour....just the hike.

I sat and enjoyed the view while I waited for her.

The snowdrifts were quite deep along here.

We've reached the highest point on the rim.

Some info about the trees we're seeing...

Whitebark Pines

About the "Phantom Ship" formation

Phantom Ship

Hope you enjoyed.

Oregon Coast

One last view of the Washington coast,

and North Head light,

and we crossed the Astoria Bridge into Oregon.

In Astoria we stopped at Fort Clatsop, a recreation of the fort where Lewis and Clark stayed before their return journey.

We watched the musket demonstration.

Then on to the beautiful Oregon Coast

We spent the night at a marina.

Twin rocks on a foggy morning

Another bridge...forget which one

And another misty morning view

We stopped in Tillamook at the Cheese factory.

and watched them making cheese

Then we tried the free samples.

They make very good ice cream too...3 flavor sampler.

At Cape Meares we decided to try the hike down to the beach. You can see the trail on the right of this map.

It started out pretty tame.

Bend low to go under this fallen tree.

Stop to look at the little things.

The beach still looks a long way down, doesn't it?

Oh, and the trail is not so well maintained down here....can you see Joselyn?

The last descent to the beach looked too rocky and steep even for us hardy souls. We turned around here.

Then a quick stop at Cape Meares light.

We saw the kites flying high at a kite festival in Lincoln City

Pretty and large kites

Cape Foulweather

We took a side trip to so Joselyn could meet up with a friend there. Lo' and behold we were just 10 miles from Laura (Cougarfan1) from the womens rv forum. So she came over in the morning for another mini-get-together.

Murals on the store walls at Bayfront in Newport

Had to stop at Mo's...

For some of the famous clam chowder, yum.

Visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium...my favorites were the jellyfish,

colorful touchable tide pools,

and the puffins.

A view of Heceta Head Lighthouse

This stop was well worth the $11.00 entrance fee. How often will you get to go inside a sea cave and watch the hundreds of sea lions that hang out in there?

A little disclaimer by the elevator that takes you down to the cave.

Sea lions inside the cave. We watch from a safe and fenced off area.

Close up of the entrance.

Somewhere down there is the entrance to the cave.

Sea Lions outside on the rocks.

Kissing?

Laura said we couldn't leave the coast without having a meal of Dungeness Crab. She suggested Winchester Bay. So that's what I did....Joselyn declined. It was delicious, but too messy for a photo.

Finally hooked up with my cousin, John & his wife Jo Ann. They were on the road too, so we met at a restaurant for breakfast where our routes crossed. Had a great visit...we decided we hadn't seen each other since we were about 10. We'll have to try not to let another 50 years pass before we meet again.