California Raw, Day 11

Driving to Crater Lake was nothing like we expected. Whereas we thought we’d be driving a lone desolate road further and further into the snowy void, most of the drive was populated. And we didn’t hit snow at all until the last few miles. Mom said that they better have the whole park open because there is no way any of it is snowed in . . .

Well, our opinion quickly changed as small patches of snow gave way to larger and larger snow banks. Eventually we found buildings that practically had snow up to their roofs (Picture 128). When we got out of the car at the lodge there was a strong wind blowing, little bits of snow whipping through the air, and the temperature that was every bit as cold as you might expected. Picture 129 shows what the lodge looked like.

Getting to the lodge was a huge relief. Early we followed the advice of the GPS and turned off on a small road/trail. It looks like something that was scenic (which is was) and met up with the main road two miles away. There is a similar thing in Yellowstone, a beautiful drive, so we decided to take it. Well, this road got smaller and smaller. Still we didn’t mind forging on, there was nothing treacherous to worry about. (Picture 123: before the appeared to start going straight down.) Then we came to the first steep hill going down. Getting out of the car and surveying the situation (it wasn’t nearly as steep as some private drives I’ve seen out here) we decided to forge on. Then we somehow found ourselves with a drop off on both sides (i.e. no place to turn around) and a second steep drive. The trail was getting progressively worse as was our level of concern. Only .3 miles away, we decided to forge further. And we did finally meet up with the road again, a la Yellowstone. But this is not Yellowstone and after we kissed the normal paved road, hearts still racing, we were back on our way.

Those were the most notable parts of the day. Dinner at the lodge was excellent. We have no phone, TV, air conditioning, cell service, extra electrical outlets, or Internet in our “deluxe” room at the lodge. So though I’m writing this tonight, it won’t get published on the blog until sometime tomorrow afternoon.

Also, waking up in Crescent City was interesting. (They have a fog horn too, by the way.) We paid a bit extra for a hotel and room on the ocean. But what we woke up to was grayness. The water was gray. The sky was gray. The place where the water meets the sky was gray. It was pouring rain (as it does most days in Crescent City apparently). Bottom line, if you ever find yourself staying in Crescent City, don’t worry about hunting down a room with a view – it isn’t Key West. (I wore my sun shirt in protest.)

And that reminds me: I’ve been wondering if the sailors on the Pacific ocean are different that those that sail the Atlantic. Not that the north Atlantic can’t be a mighty warrior queen. But what we’ve seen of the Pacific ocean has been alien and intimidating.

So that just about wraps it up for today, except for the rain and fog. I told Mom that I haven’t minded it because it really characterizes the Pacific Northwest; I’m happy to be experiencing it. And it does make for good pictures as well. But there sure is a lot of it, this fog. This morning my mind kept trying to come up with a haiku, though it never really gelled. Maybe something like:

Gray wet sky and sea,
Lighthouse and fog horn, lonely.
A sleepy morning.

Or maybe:

Gray wet sky and sea,
A lighthouse and fog horn keep
lonely company.

And it seems we’ve moved past “Ondine” as our thematic piece. We’re now solidly into Ravel’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in G, second movement. (And of course performed by Martha Argerich.)

Ten new pictures.