Not just a really big hole

We made it to Crater Lake in time to drive around the scary curves and drop offs, up to the rim.  No room at the campgrounds by the time we got there, so we went over to Diamond Lake.  Minimal camp setup in the dark and sleep for me.  Adam and Michelle wandered over and met the neighbors, a group of fishermen.  They shared outrageous stories and lots of laughter before collapsing into their new sleeping bags and the first night in the new tent.

Day 3 was all Crater Lake.  Back up to the rim and around with stops.  On the north side there was still snow!  And in the bottom, near the lake.  Tempted to stop and create a snow creature but the lure of the trail called me.  We hiked up a waterfall and chilled with the burbling stream.  I made it halfway up while Adam and Michelle climbed to the top.  There were a number of places I walked in the water and stooped to splash cool mountain spring water on my face and arms. 

It was the first hiking and climbing I have done in quite some time.  It felt great to get out but I must admit I took it slow and made sure of my footing.  The new hiking boots got officially broken in!  The new knee can also be declared roadworthy. I sat at the midpoint and watched other visitors climb and admire the view, while I tested how many of the colorful blossoms I could identify. 

Michelle and Adam decided to hike down to the lake itself.  I have done it several times over the years so I settled a lawn chair at the top of the trail.  Of course, with a book in my hand, although I didn't read much as I savored the view and chatted with trekkers.  Strangers are just friends we haven't met yet.  Although I understand "we" were warned by a parent "to not talk to strangers".    A&M returned - successful but weary and the adventure continued. Michelle reported she jumped into Crater Lake and it was cold!  Adam reported he died on the way up but I found that hard to believe.  Cuz, well, he reported it.

Next stops were the Ghost Ship, the Castle and the yellow cliffs. More hikes out to look over the rim and marvel at the geologic panorama.

By late afternoon we were tired and it was time to move on.  We headed for Grants Pass, spending the night on the way to the Redwoods.  On the way out of Crater Lake, I convert the park pass to an annual parks pass and the trip morphs into a National Park tour.  Yay!!

We can make it to the next gas station

 

 

On the road - really! We head south for a Columbia River crossing and Bend Oregon. Were we supposed to turn back there?  It looks like this road works just as well.  WTH are we?  If we take the next turn. it's a shortcut to Goldendale.  About ten miles past the turn, the empty light comes on and I slow down.  Up and down, around and around.  There are a few distant houses or farms but not many.  No roadside diners or gas stations.  I slow down even more.  I coast down every hill.  We see something ahead!  False alarm.  We haven't seen another vehicle for a long time either.  And the needle slowly drops.  I estimate we can make it another 15 miles.  Hey, we could call AAA for gas - if we had cell service.  Thirty miles later we finally hit civilization and a fuel stop, after running 75 miles with the orange light on. 

Stonehenge is on the way south! Stopping and making a sacrifice for safe journeys seems a no-brainer. High above the Columbia Gorge, Sam Hill built a full-sized Stonehenge to commemorate our joint sacrifices in World War II. Sadly, not only are we lacking a bronze knife but it seems we do not have a sacrifice meeting all the "criteria". Bring back any memories, Anne or Mary?  The Washington Stonehenge no longer matches our current understanding of its original configuration.  Before he died, researchers had already changed the placements of many of the monoliths and plinths but Mr Hill decided it should stand as it was during WWII.  An amazing place!  I am always surprised by how small it really is, the same sense I had in the UK.

There is also the Maryhill Museum  on a nearby hill but we postpone that for another trip.

When Plans Go South

  

Last gas stop before the Border

Day 1, August 16th 2012
We  pack, we repack, we organize, we finish things at the house.  I check my lists and make lists for checking lists.  The Milepost arrives so we can plan our Alaska adventure. The borrowed (thanks Michael) Yakima rooftop carrier is installed and packed and repacked.

Finally at 1345 hrs PST we LEAVE Ritzville, heading north for the Canadian border.  Road construction and reroutes slow us down a bit but we arrive at the Border.  We stay at the Border and talk to Canadian Border agents.  The van is searched for contraband.  And we are turned back.  The USA Border agents talk to us and search the van.  And three hours after we hit the Border, we are back on USA soil.  Options are discussed.  Yes we could revise plans and continue to Alaska but by now we are all three just a little jumpy about the probabilities of success so we decide to exercise Option 2.   Option 2 was one of the original plans for the Summer 2012 Adventure and staying in the USA sounds pretty darn good by now.

 

Carlsbad Caverns is the new destination - South!  On the way are many of the National Parks and Monuments, some of which I have never seen and more that I haven't visited for mumble mumble years.

 

The drive to Cle Elum is filled with adventures and reroutes around the fire.   We can see the fire lines against the night sky, angry red in the dark, with flashes of crimson and orange. The sense of driving in circles grows stronger but we are firm in our determination not to return to Ritzville.  At the Lodge, the night clerk smiles and greets us.  Later we find she hasn't slept properly for days.  A fire fighter comes in for a few hours of sleep and we willingly give him priority.  The fire is mostly contained and the weather outlook is good for completing the containment.  It is past 11pm but after chatting with us the clerk opens up the hot tub room.  We slip into suits and jump in the hot tub to destress.  It is large and hot with powerful jets.  Heavenly!!  OK I realize that sounds like the very definition of a hot tub but really, how often do hotel hot tubs meet all the criteria? 

And sleep!  Day one is over.

PS:  We are all doing fine, we are now in Arizona and will tour the London Bridge tomorrow.  The cell phone coverage has been sketchy to non-existent and wifi even scarcer.  Will try to get caught up with the adventure blog.  Honest.  I will.

T minus 2

Place: Pasco
Miles Traveled today: about 80
Highlights:  Introduction. Wrapping up Ritzville necessities, saying goodbyes, finalizing lists

I find the idea of blogging my adventure to Alaska is irresistible.  If you like it, feel free to comment.  If you don't, whatever.  No one is going to quiz you on this.  Yes satire and puns are bound to creep in.

In roughly 36 hours, I will leave Ritzville and drive the Alcan highway to Alaska.  It has been a dream, a thought in the back of my head, a bucket list item or whatever to do this, for as long as I can remember.  Maybe it was alll the times I sang along with Johnny Horton on "North to Alaska".  Maybe it was listening to my aunt and uncle's stories of their trips.  Or reading Jack London or Robert Service.  It satisfies my sense of adventure and it seems 2012 is the year to do it. 

I am taking Adam and Michelle for a safety net - and companionship.  They will do the lifting and setting up and reaching and chopping.  Adam will help drive and allow me to sightsee.  I have read some guidebooks, ordered maps, studied the weather and road conditions, and made lists.  We intend to drive up through British Columbia and along the coast route northward and return through Alberta.  We have allocated roughly three weeks for the trip and it is something over 5000 miles.  The van has been thoroughly checked out and brought up to peak condition.  We will camp most of the time, and use motels occasionally. We are packing some version of meals with us and will try out new foods where possible.  We have the Manifold Destiny cookbook used by my sister Mary and husband Dave  many years ago.

On the list of things to see:  Ketchikan, glaciers, bears, museums, Anchorage, Fairbanks, gold museums, salmon, moose, caribou, Northern lights, Valdez, Homer, Denali, icy ocean, Tim Hortons.  We'd like to get to the Arctic Circle but still haven't solved the logistics.  The Marine Highway turned out to be quite expensive so is off the list.

Tomorrow is final shopping day to fill out the list.  Then up to Ritzville to pack and finish getting things wrapped up.  And search for alternate routes to avoid wildfire closures and landslide blasting in Snoqualmie Pass.

I am going to try and write every day, although I may not be able to post every day. I welccome comments and suggestions.  So all you peeps reading this, get ready to roll with me!
Jane, the crazy camel lady