I drive the Yak.  400 miles today across Oregon.  Not a ton of stuff between bend and Burn to see.  Mile after mile of olive green chaperal mixed in with tall yellow grass, a few short pine trees all between fingers and buttes of old lava flows.  In the rear view mirror the 3 Sisters, 3 10,000 foot peaks, breatheren of Mt Lassen, Shasta, Hood, Ranier and the rest of the Cascade volcanoes.  Sitting around the camp fire last night with the kids (Barb snoozing) we decided these were "pissed off" mountains.  Passive-aggressive, building layer over layer of mud over the years and then blowing their tops.  Still pretty to look at... big old triangles that can be seen mile after mile as you drive through these 4000 foot plateaus.  Lots of driving... lots of time to wonder how did these peaks get here?  Passed through Crater Lake yesterday,  another surley bretheren of the Cascade bunch.  This one imploded to creat a masive hole with an eruption 100x greater than Mt St Helens.  How does one figure that out?  I'm guessing volcanic evolutional material was found at lower elevations around the cone than would normally be found.  Ah, to do it all over again, I'd be a geologist.

 

Tonights campground is a slab of asphalt next to a freeway near Boise 2 blocks fro the Water Worlds Slides Park.  Slight smell of sewage.  Neighbors 3 feet away.  Pulled over to the water park after a long day of driving.  Felt good in the 98 degree heat.  Sunset set late (9:30 ish).  Its 11:00pm and I can still see traces of the setting sun.  (i.e. its not pitch dark).

 

Last night we stayed at Theilman Park outside of Crater Lake.  I give it 5 stars.  National Forest Campground with well seperated spaces, no hook-ups, a lake beach to our own, a 11 mile bike path around the lake... $12/night.  We never saw a neighbor.  Only downside is some mesquito's the size of small dogs.  (my thumbnail at least).  The last 2 nights were at Rocky Pt Resort off of Klamath in Oregon.  Lots of birds (200 species claimed in the marsh).   Lots of birds singing in the mornings and evenings.  The site was still a bit cramped... but beautiful.  This seemed to be Emma's favorite as there were "things to do" (versus hiking) like fishing and horseshoes.  The night before we stayed at Rancheria RV park in Hat Creek outside of Lassen National Park.  Sam gave it 5 stars as its General store was well stocked in candy.  I found it initally repulsive with its closely quatered motorhomes and trailers huddle around Lake Catherine (a pond)... but soon came to admire the artistry people display in their temporary housing.  The trailers are modern shrines with Christmas lights, barbaques, comfortable lazy boy chairs, portable dog houses and bird houses and the like.  One guy brought his cat. 

 

We did get out to Lava National Monument with all its caves 2 days ago.  Very cool and I'd love to have many days to explore the lava tubes.  My flashilight failed and it became very apparent very quickly how one could bet lost for days in one of these caves.  Sherpa Sam guided me through with his lamp.

 

3 days ago was Lassen.  We had a nice hike up to about 6500 feet (peak is 10,000 feet).  One day it would be fun to sumit this peak (its safe and easy according to the book). 

 

Sam is complaining... time to go put the right wheels on the white shoulder line.  I'd hate to be a biker.  The big trucks on coming make this all a bit exciting.