Jeff and I have needed a vacation for some time to restore our sanity and refill our reserves after the last several months we’ve had, and so we planned a trip to see the Oregon coast. The plan is to bookend the trip with mountains and begin the coast at the southern end of the state’s famous Highway 101. Yesterday’s flight from Nashville to Seattle was uneventful, if quite delayed. We then took a second flight to Medford, OR, which is the closest airport to Crater Lake. We got a taxi to the hotel to save a couple hundred dollars on the car rental, and then Jeff walked 10 minutes to get Abby’s Pizza because he hates to pay for delivery. It wasn’t great. It’s a chain out here, but I was the opposite of impressed with the too thick crust and flavorless toppings. We won’t be trying another location.
We think this was Mt. Ranier.
After worshipping online with our home congregation, Jeff caught a taxi to the rental place to pick up our car, a black Ford Escape. We stopped at Fred Meyer for some drinks and snacks, then started driving the hour and a half to Crater Lake. It was like driving through Endor, or else the X-Files. I kept expecting little teddy bears in loincloths or a Sasquatch to wander out onto the road.
Before we started touring the lake, we found one of the last available parking spots in Rim Village, and Jeff walked to the cafe to pick us up something quick for lunch. We now know what a mistake it is to enter a national park without picnic sandwiches. Jeff paid $16 for two hot dogs that really weren’t that great. We’ll know better next time.
The lake itself was stunning. I don’t think I’ve ever seen water that blue and still. The caldera rim reflected with such symmetry it looked like the diatoms I used to read about in college biology classes, or maybe like individual pieces in a kaleidoscope.
The plan was to drive around the rim as far as we could before winter weather damage closed the road. On the way back to the car, I tripped on a rock lining the path and went down hard on my left. At least it wasn’t my bad leg, but I have a mighty bruised knee to show for it.
Once on the Rim Drive, we saw different views of Wizard Island and plenty of foliage and wildlife, especially chipmunks and birds. It’s strange to think that the devastation of a thousands of years old volcanic eruption could lead to such abundant life. I’m reminded of a line from The Wrath of Khan in the description of Project Genesis that created life from lifelessness.
When we left Crater Lake around mid-afternoon, we happened upon signs for the Rogue River Gorge Viewpoint and decided to stop. It was a happy little accident, as it was not crowded at all and was pretty impressive.
Next, we drove to the historic Prospect Hotel in the tiny town of Prospect. This hotel, built in 1889, is actually a bed and breakfast. The rooms are named after famous writers. A plaque in our room said that Jack London actually did stay at the hotel, though I’m not sure he was in our room that’s named after him. The hotel staff gave us a hand drawn map of some local waterfalls, and we decided to scope out the locations to hike the next morning. One, called the Avenue of the Boulders, was visible from a bridge, so we went ahead and looked at that.
For supper, we went down the road to try Prospect Pizza, and this time, we weren’t disappointed. The pizza was good, and the owners were very friendly. The outdoor eating area was kind of romantic and laid back at the same time, so it was a good ending to our day.
Next, we drove to the historic Prospect Hotel in the tiny town of Prospect. This hotel, built in 1889, is actually a bed and breakfast. The rooms are named after famous writers. A plaque in our room said that Jack London actually did stay at the hotel, though I’m not sure he was in our room that’s named after him. The hotel staff gave us a hand drawn map of some local waterfalls, and we decided to scope out the locations to hike the next morning. One, called the Avenue of the Boulders, was visible from a bridge, so we went ahead and looked at that.
