1327.8 Miles - making progress - and finally did 'IT'....

Still bouncing around trying to find some snow free sections!

As of the last post DA completed a section of the Trinity Alps,(California)

 The Sky lakes section, Crater lake area and the Mt Thielsen section.(Oregon)

and...... 

.....John and Sandy finally did 'IT'
(tell you more in coaches corner!)

But first .... Darrell's progress!

Trinity Alps (California).... Cold, wet and raining!
...not looking forward to camping in the rain!

Luck out! - Made it to shelter where someone had a fire going!
-Small mercies are really appreciated!

J&S waiting for Darrell at Mt Ashland - (Siskiyou summit area)
Raining, wet and dreary.... didn't get up until after lunch!

After picking DA up at Mt Ashland we jump north to the Crater Lake area.

It seemed the most promising!

Still lots of snow but pretty open so the navigating was easier.

Take a detour to the crater rim .... can walk the road if trail is too tough
Prettier too!

What did I tell you!

After completing the section from Hwy62 to Hwy 138 we head
back to the dreaded 'SkyLakes' area...
According to the rangers there's still snow...
and where there's no snow...there's BUGS!!

Back at Hwy 140

Some local entertainment at 'Lake of the Woods'
(We'll do anything to delay the SkyLakes section!)

A dinner time view of Mt McLaughlin - 9450'

John, Sandy and Darrell climb Mt McLaughlin the next
day to get a better view of the SkyLakes area!

looks pretty good ... not seeing a lot of snow
Looks like it's a 'go'!

 (Oh!...Did we tell you we did 'IT'?)

Looking back at Mt McLaughlin ....
SkyLakes now safely behind...

Now move again....this time to the north side of Crater Lake.
The Mt Thielsen section - Hwy 138 to Hwy 58

Looking north from Crater Lake - Mt Thielsen in the distance.

Snow again but able to take some lower trails
to get around it this time.

Set up camp on a snow free section of dirt ...
...Usually able to find a little bit of turf!

But that doesn't seem to get rid of the bugs
.....in fact they seem to be at their worst when they first hatch out!
Did I tell you I hate bugs???

For some weird reason they didn't seem to know what to do
when presented with a whole, naked body ....
They left me alone while I went swimming!

dinner! ... Love the Jet-Boil stove!!

sunset!!  .... almost worth the bugs!

 

 

 

Finally out at HWY 58



My beer!..My beer alone!!...
And you're not getting it!....

 

 

COACHES CORNER:

We're spending a lot of our time still solving logistical problems and

getting Darrell to his various pick-up and drop-off locations...

But we did find time to do some of our own stuff.

(In case you need it...here's one more clue)

Here's our Mosquito fighting technique...
a portable fan with a citronella ring attached!!
(the fan works pretty good...the citronella does nothing!)

Poor rig - never saw so much dust in it's short life.
We promised it a loving wash and wax as soon as possible!

Our home for a few days while in the Crater Lake area...
Very commfortable!

Very 30's inside...
(Especially the part about the woman doing the dishes while the man recreates!)


(Actually darrell is very good about doing the dishes so the above is an anomoly!!)

 

While Darrell was completing his Crater Lakes sections J & S explore on their own

This is the lowpoint - we hiked down to lake just so we could say we did!
The water is super clear! - The kids look like they're suspended in air
Dan the diver would get the urge to submerge in this water!!

(figured 'IT' out yet?)

We also drove to the high point - there's still a bit of snow up here!
From here we climbed Mt Scott.... the highest point in the park.

The lookout on Mt. Scott -
(The lookout is in better shape than it appears)

The view of Crater lake from the top -
It's very obvious from up here that Crater Lake is a cauldera!

Couple of hours to get up - 20 minutes to get back down
A great way to do it as long as you don't slip!
(as usual this was steeper than it looks!........
....it would be 'salmon patte' for any exposed skin if you did slip!)

Pumice pinnacles - easily 100' tall and a number of them are hollow!
(formed when hot gases vented through the freshly laid down pumice)

They say you get shorter as you get older!......
I didn't believe them till I saw this picture..
I guess it's true!!

The Brett outdoor festival in Jacksonville...
This was the Evett Brothers doing their 'sound check'
We were really chocked to find we had missed the 'Alison Krause' concert
We were in town but it was sold out! .......Darn, Darn and Double Darn

The Jacksonville cemetary police in action!
Apparently they don't like ceramic momentos and similar ilk!

Here's IT!!
The Segway!
Remember when they first came out? ...
They were supposed to be the best thing since sliced bread and would simply be known as 'IT!'


Notwithstandin all the hype these things are wonderful machines..
They look insanely unstable but they're not....
When you're riding them it;s almost as if they respond to your thoughts!
We went on a two hour tour around Jacksoville and had a ball!!
(up and down hills, on gravel, on dirt...you name it)

IT! (x2)

See you next post!