Going West with Ann and Fern: Los Gatos to Columbia River Gorge

Finn and Mom Making Greta's Cake

We were lucky to be in California for Greta’s 6^th birthday. She was so excited. Everyone who came it contact with her knew it was going to be her birthday. Heather made a beautiful cake with a heart shaped center filled with raspberry crème. On the big day Grandma whipped up Greta’s favorite scrambled eggs for her special breakfast in bed.

Greta 6th Birthday Cake

Greta loves Breakfast in Bed on her Birthday

Dressing the Princesses and Fairies

When Greta and Finn headed out to school we headed North once again toward Crater Lake. We passed Mt. McLoughlin and photographed it from the side of the highway next to Klamath Lake. I actually climbed this mountain, probably in my Keds, in 1967 with a group of friends. It was steep and volcanic with lots of sliding rocks and I do remember it as a real challenge but I made it almost to the peak. In all the brochures about climbing the mountains in Oregon, this mountain is said to be difficult, only for well-equipped experienced hikers who should carry a GPS. Lucky we made it up and back with no losses.

The next mountain on our route was Crater Lake NP. There was beautiful weather and we saw the mountain from the highway but the National shut down closed this beautiful park and many more on our route. We continue through Eastern Oregon stopping briefly to see the Gilchrist Branch Library. When I worked for the County Library this a 97 mile for the monthly delivery. At that time Gilchrist http://www.gilchristoregon.com/ was still a company town owned by a timber company.

Passing thru Bend we entered the high sierra desert, a little populated area with all the beauty of the sage desert. Then we reached the beautiful Columbia River Gorge with its magnificent views and beautiful waterfalls.