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.

Mount Shasta in Northern California

Klamath Lake and Mt McLoughlin

The High Sierra Desert of Eastern Oregon

Branch 97 miles from the Main Library

One of the Many Closed Signs We Saw

View of Columbia River Gorge

Early Morning on the Gorge at Cascade Locks

The Oregon Coast

The Oregon Coast is magnificent as the mountains dip into the beautiful Pacific Ocean.  The water is cold making the beaches perfect for walking and surfing but unfriendly for swimming. The drive down the coast is not one you will easily forget. We stopped along the way

and visited several lighthouses. We had a wonderful tour at one staffed with volunteers who obviously loved their jobs.

Lassen to Roseburg via Klamath Falls

Mt. Shasta in California

In 1966-67, I lived in Klamath Falls, Oregon where from our house near Kingsley AFB on a clear day we could see Mount Shasta in all its glory. My favorite memory is parking the car on the side of the road and four of us snow coasted down the side of the mountain. When we returned in the summer we discovered we had been coasting over the tops of trees. 

Northern California Lava Terrain

The First Library of my Career

My first position after the University of Illinois Library School was at the Klamath County Library.  I was the Assistant Librarian and did everything from managing circulation, reference librarian, delivery in the 1955 VW van to the branch libraries to bookmobile librarian. It was quite a learning experience. We make a brief by the library. It is now double the size it was when I was there. Klamath Falls and the library survived the damage caused by a 1993 earthquake.  I acquired yet another book bag, a Friends of the Library Fund Raiser. 

After spending the night at the Crater Lake Inn and Retreat we headed early in the morning to Crater Lake National Park.  This was one of my favorite places when I lived here.  As park of my job I even delivered books to the Ranger Station and School.  As we traveled from sunshine in Chiloquin  to rain on the road to Crater Lake it turned into SNOW.  The rangers were strongly discouraging visitors from continuing to the top of the crater where the lake was totally encased in snow and fog. It was disappointing as I was really looking forward to sharing Crater Lake with Fern. We are hoping for a return visit next week --weather permitting. 

Snow falling at Crater Lake National Park

We continued over Route 62 through the Rogue River Valley past the rushing river flowing through old lava flows to Roseburg. We ended the day with visits to local wineries and dinner at a local brew pub. 

Rogue River

Eastern Side of the Cascades

Oregon Wine Country near Roseburg

Los Gatos to Lassen National Park

After nearly a week enjoying a visit with Heather's family in Los Gatos and trips to kindergarten with Greta, pre-school with Finn, Tae Kwon Do classes, gymnastics, soccer we headed to Northern California and Lassen National Park.

Finnegan ready for action

Greta protecting the Goal

We found our first snow at Lassen National Park where it had fallen the day before.
Mt. Lassen was covered in snow and some clouds.

Yosemite via Tioga Pass

Yosemite has been my favorite National Park since my first visit 49 years ago.  The beauty has been with me ever since. I always hesitated returning and perhaps being disappointed.  But when we visited the Yosemite Valley last November, while in California for Thanksgiving, I was not disappointed and Fern joined me in my love for this area.  We were to late in the season to travel the roads closed for the season due to the large snow fall. 

This trip we planned to enter the Tioga Road from the East and cross the Park.  Then the large forest fire struck the area and part of this Route was closed.  We decided we would drive the part on the Eastern edge that was open and then back track on Route 120.  But luck was in our favor and as we approached Mammoth Lakes on our drive from Arizona through the desert and mountains of Nevada, we saw signs that Route 120 had just reopened. We spent the night in Mammoth Lakes, a ski resort that averages 33 feet of snow each year. Our inn, Austria Hof, featured a German restaurant, our favorite. 

Nevada Scenery

Our Gas Stop in Nevada

Nevada's Industry

Mammoth Lakes Ski Slopes

Entering Tioga Path

Tuolomne Meadows

Fissures!!

Glacier action

Half Dome above the Valley

2013 Forest Fire

View from the Rim of the Earth

The Vortex in Sedona

Before leaving home I purchased a Groupon for a jeep ride in the red rocks of Sedona.  Surprise, surprise!It turned out to be a tour with Earth Wisdom of Sedona tours to make contact with the Vortex. Fern claims to have felt absolutely nothing. I actually felt a magnetic pull in the circle of my hands.  We made the best of it and enjoyed the red rocks and the magnificent views. 

the best of this adventure and enjoyed being out among the rocks.