Crater Lake, Oregon.\, Camille and Shelby - Week 29 - July 19- July 25, 2021

This was the week we took Camille and Shelby to Crater Lake for their birthday activity!

We left Tuesday morning, headed south to Eugene, and then went east on Highway 58.  It was fun for us because neither of us (in our memories) had ever been on this route before.  Turns out it follows the North Fork of the Willamette River - and we didn't even know there was a Fork of any kind belonging to the Willamette.  Our goal was to get to Oakridge by noon to eat lunch at Stewart's 58 which is a well known burger joint.  But we got a late start because a certain someone's shoes couldn't be found.

We switched our lunch goal to Dexter, Oregon and the Rattlesnake BBQ.  It did not disappoint!!

It was classic Kazakh style with outdoor seating.... if you chose.

Sketchy indoor without any atmosphere - zero, nada, necheevo.

Surprisingly, the food was great.  Course...it was Tuesday so there was no bar-b-que...sorry....but it was Taco Tuesday....but no brisket filling because that would be bar-b-que.  But the hamburgers and nachos were terrific.

And yes, Dad at the whole thing.

The cook forgot to make Shelby's hamburger...it came later at nt charge.  It was a fun experience, and we'd go again for the food.

Finally got to the vicinity of Crater Lake at 5:00 ish.  We'd planned to stay at 1000 Springs Sno-Park because it was free and relatively close (I couldn't get a reservation for the night at the Park's campground).  So we settled in to the parking lot (we discovered later that there were nice places beyond the parking lot where we could have parked, but we didn't know all of the ropes).  We ate dinner and had the first round of Rummicube.

Next day (Wednesday) we entered the park.  It really is stunningly beautiful!

We liked the cones on the tree with Wizard Island in the background.

We read all of the signs on the pathway...had to because both visitor's centers were closed because of C_ _ _ _.  The girls became Junior Rangers - or they will when they get their badges in the mail.....they thought they were "too old" to turn their packet into the ranger.

When we had exhausted the sites at Rim Village and had thoroughly pursued through the gift shops we went on a hike to---

It was nice - not steep and nice and flat.  The trail ended at a canyon which exhibited the effects of nature and erosion.

The next day (Thursday) we took a leisurely drive around the lake (circumference of 33 miles).  All the stops were perfect photo opportunities.

No trip to Crater Laker is complete without a photo of the Phantom Ship.

Thursday afternoon we did the trail to Plaikni Falls.

Last night at camp and a delicious frozen chicken lasagna dinner

On our way home, we did stop at Stewart's 58 for lunch....but it was 10:45 and lunch wouldn't be available until 11:30 so we ordered eggs and stuff which weren't eligible for a photo.

We did do another remarkable thing this week.  We cleaned the refrigerator!!!

Beverly's birthday was on Saturday- 43 years old.  We gave her a blue Mason jar that Magnus had found in the "Far Dump" and a bag from Crater Lake.

Next week we go o Sutton Lake for our "family camp."