May 19. 2008 by Merilee.

      We had a wonderful time at Crater Lake NP today.  It was in the 70’s with blue skies.  What a pleasure to feel the breeze off the 78 inches of snow that still remained at the lake.  The deep blue water with the crystal reflections of the snow covered peaks studded with tall evergreens inspired awe in both of us.  It was a panoramic beauty to behold.  The park ranger said he was guessing at a total of over 500 inches of snow this season!  (and you thought you had a bad winter).  Interestingly, the lake never freezes over due to volcanic thermals in the base of the caldera.  The sign behind Brad reads “Stay off the roof.”

We are spending three days here camping in a forest with tall trees on a the Willamson River.  It is a very peaceful and tranquil place to take a deep breath and enjoy the just arriving spring surroundings.

Crater Lake NP, Oregon

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May 9. 2008 by Merilee.

   It was a beautiful drive up the Oregon Trail to LaGrande Oregon.    The picturesque snow covered Blue and Wallowa mountain country is bathed in spring green pastures with more cows and horses than people.  This group of locals came calling early this morning by our rv site located at the foot of Craig Mountain in the Grande Ronde Valley.  This must be the land of milk and honey the early settlers were seeking.

Sue, the Fall Marsh Wildlife Preserve is across the street and the wetlands are teeming with migratory birds!  If the wind dies, I will attempt some pictures for you.

May 15, we continued on the Oregon Trail along the Columbia River and south along the Cascade Mountains to Bend, Oregon.  Viewed Mt Rainer, Mt Hood, the Three Sisters Peaks from one view point!  Magnificent!

LaGrande, OR

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May 7. 2008 by Merilee.

      This was the view of a Wasatch peak from our rv site last night!  We stayed in Brigham UT in the “Fruit Basket.”  The agricultural area was filled with beautiful flowering orchards: apple, cherry, peach and apricot.  We are headed to Oregon to have the RV serviced at the manufacturer.  As a note to future travelers, we had dinner at Maddox “Home of the World’s Finest Beef.”  It was fantastic and not to be missed.

Dick, we crossed the Snake River 3 times today in Idaho!  No worry.

Perry, UT

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May 3. 2008 by Merilee.

  This is the narrow shelf road that Brad drove down the canyon wall into tourist forgotten Spring Canyon.  Notice the rock overhang in the background.  They actually blasted this road into the steep canyon walls!  He is parked in one of the few pullouts on the descent.  One might notice the lack of guard rails, sharp curve signs, grade signs and the very narrow width of the road.

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May 1. 2008 by Merilee.

 We drove by Tombstone Rock on our back country drive to Spring Canyon.  This formation was immense.  It could be seen as a landmark from many miles away across the desert valley.  The road ended at picturesque point on the top of the canyon wall.  The Green River below was winding it’s way through the canyon on it’s way to the confluence with the Colorado River. 

Harry S. Truman - “I always remember an epitaph which is in the cemetery at Tombstone, Arizona. It says: ‘Here lies Jack Williams. He done his damnedest.’ I think that is the greatest epitaph a man can have.”

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