ON THE ROAD AGAIN - TO WESTFIR OREGON

Currently in Westfir OR (Low 42 Rain High 64)

Subtitled: The Curse Has Been Broken (more on that later)

Yesterday we left the very scenic area of Prospect Oregon and headed to Westfir Oregon. It was approximately 125 miles to Westfir and this is the route we took.



It was another very scenic drive first along the Rogue River. Then Mt. Thielsen comes into view (Jo is getting better taking photos while we are traveling).

Not only scenic but adventurous. As we approached the Willamette Pass we first we ran into sleet that bounced off the windshield and hood. Jo tried to get a picture but it just looks like rain. Luckily this did not last long but then we ran into ground fog, what is called Tule Fog in some parts of the country. It was denser than this in spots and Bob had to slow down a little.

We arrived at Casey's Riverside RV Park in Westfir Oregon and it is a nice looking park along the Middle Fork of the Willamette River. We also have good verizon cellphone and 4g strength. Here is an image from the web. 

We are in one of the pull thrus facing the river. Would be a great site for our motorhome readers as this would be the view from your front window taken from our dining room window since it is raining.

With our fifth wheel that is the view as we step out the door. While in Westfir we will be attending the Carriage/Lifestyle Travel Club rally of the Oregon Cascaders chapter. After almost 5 years this will be our first rally. Everytime we tried to go to a rally it seems that medical or mechanical or just change of plans to avoid bad weather interfered. We felt cursed, it feels so good to break the curse. We also need to do some serious shopping as Prospect Oregon is pretty desolate in that regards.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

SIGHTSEEING, DAY 2

Currently in Prospect OR (Low 40 Sunny Currently 48)
Heading to Westfir OR (Sunshine and Clouds High 62) 

We did some more sightseeing yesterday; the Rogue Gorge and the Natural Bridge. Trails to both of these beautiful sites are easy and paved. Here it is upstream from the Rogue Gorge.

Over the falls into the gorge.

A couple of interesting items. First a partially collapsed lava tube in the gorge that looks like a cave.

Here is "The Living Stump". The ground is so hard that the tree roots graft together for nutrients and water. Although this tree was cut the stump still lives from other tree roots.

Our favorite picture of the gorge.

More pictures of the gorge.

Then it was off to the Natural Bridge. After the part of the gorge that we just left the Rogue River disappears into ancient volcanic lava tubes. It is an easy path across, a bridge if you were and a natural bridge for sure. Here is the river upstream from the Natural Bridge.

Here is the river entering the bridge.

Here is the Natural Bridge with a small blow hole evident in the middle. When the water is higher there is a lot more water from the blow hole and when lower there is no evidence of water on the top of the bridge.

Water exiting the bridge.

An interesting feature in this area is called the cave. It is a lava tube but it is blocked off. The stream rushes in and then right back out. It does serve as an example of what the Natural Bridge is.

Here are more pictures of this area.

It was another great day of sightseeing in this area. We saw a lot but there is a lot more to see. This place and RV Park are definitely worth another visit.

Today we head off to Westfir Oregon.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

SIGHTSEEING, DAY 1

Currently in Prospect, OR (Low 39 Clouds and Sun High 69)

It cleared up enough yesterday that we were able to do a little sightseeing. We first went to Mill Creek Falls.

Then Barr Creek Falls.

An easy walk to the Avenue of the Giant Boulders since it was downhill but the guide we got at the park said, "hardy walk back up. If you have endurance you will love it". Well Bob gave it a try and he did love it. These boulders were expelled at twice the speed of sound from the eruption that formed Crater Lake 35 miles away.

You can see here how the boulders are different rocks than the walls of the gorge.

Then it was off to Pearsony Falls. Mill Creek splits and you end up with a double falls. Here it is a you approach.

Then the split falls.

Our first look at the Rogue River Gorge from the Prospect bridge.

The falls on the other side of the bridge.

A beautiful part of the country for sure and we are just scratching the surface. We plan to scratch a little deeper today viewing more of the gorge.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

CRATER LAKE

Currently in Prospect OR (Low 35 Mostly Sunny High 70)

We didn't do any sightseeing yesterday due to the rain so we took it easy. From the "it's always something" file; it got real cold overnight and Jo turned on the furnace before she went to bed and the blower made a horrible noise. We will have to get that fixed down the road. Luckily we have small electric heaters and a heat pump, unfortunately the heat pump only works above 40 degrees and it was 35 overnight. 

On to our tour of Crater Lake (there are a lot of pictures). We first stopped and had a great breakfast at Beckie's Cafe. This place would get an even higher rating if the service was better. Breakfast was good and pie on the way back was also very good.

WOW or AMAZING is what we said at each new glimpse of this incredible site.

We started out at the visitors center where we saw a great film, displays and bought some postcards. Mount Mazuma exploded 7700 years ago in a huge volcanic eruption. The mountain then collapsed leaving a crater. Over time snowfall and rainfall filled the crater. With no streams in or out the water has remained pure setting the world record for clarity. We then started our tour. The view changed as we drove.

It was real cold with the wind, and there was a lot of snow everywhere we went. Here is Bob showing how high the drifts.

And the road with snow on the mountain and then a vehicle drives by showing how tall the snow is there. We couldn't drive completely around the lake as some roads were still closed but it was gorgeous just what we saw.

The view on the other side of the road opposite the lake wasn't too bad either.

This one is for Judy, we think this is a Clark's Nutcracker.

Another one for Judy with a Clark's Nutcracker with the lake showing the green algae that grows at a certain depth.

Here is more of the lake.

We end with a picture of our view while eating a late lunch. Believe us it was too cold to sit outside and eat. The view from the truck was still amazing.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo