MY CRATER LAKE VACATION

We are back from vacation, we actually have been back over a week but work was too busy for me to post a blog. Work really gets in my way of doing the fun things; alas, I am happy to have a job and full time work.

This will mostly be a photo post, as I wanted to share my pictures from Crater Lake, my birthday trip. Turns out I had a harder time leading up to the day then the actual day, every year presents itself differently for me. This year I felt like I really enjoyed my day and relaxed a bit.

We left for central Oregon on Sunday to camp for a week. We ended up buying a new tent, the old one had a splintering pole and stuck zipper on a door; a new camp stove, the old one would not light correctly and was somewhat scary actually and a new air mattress. Since most of the country is doing local outdoor activities, it took a minute to find this stuff. So, off to the stores we went, we were able to get one of the last camp stoves and one of the last tents at Costco!

As you can see we were loaded, firewood and everything else we would need for a week.

We had been to Crater Lake twice before and loved it. We knew what we were in for, quiet, somewhat remote state campground. First, we had heard that you are able to get a random night at the lodge. We had never stayed there ever because it was never available, but because of Covid there had been some cancellations.

Our first night was at the lodge, 3rd floor, lakeside room, the view was so awesome. Also because of Covid they were not letting anyone in the lodge or the front patio that didn’t have a reservation, so really it wasn’t that busy. Rather than eat in the dining room for the $47 a plate dinner we opted to open our cooler and make our own charcuterie board, a couple of drinks from the bar and we had dinner on the patio.

We made the most of it, stayed up late to see the sunset, up in the middle of the night to see the stars and the pure darkness and up early to see the sunrise. Such a pleasure to start a fun week. We treated ourselves to breakfast in the dining room, mostly for a good cup of coffee. There were very few people and we could see that they were taking the sanitizing very serious.

Wizard Island, you can hike to the top, we did this in 2012 and yes that is snow. Still now on the banks.

Sunrise

After a purchase of my new favorite t-shirt we headed to the campground to set up camp!

The week was hot, I was happy that I had brought my NUUN electrolytes as we definitely needed them, on the average it was 95 degrees most days. I love the heat but ……. We spent a fortune in ice to keep our food cold, and other than a blackberry pie for my birthday we didn’t spend too much money. Check out Beckie's Cafe at Union Creek, OR

The day of my birthday, my wife packed a lunch and we drove the perimeter of Crater Lake, there are not enough words to say how much I love it. We found a turnout with no one there and had out lunch in seclusion. The only boat that is allowed on the lake is the one that goes back and forth from Wizard Island, so the lake is calm, quiet and looks like glass. There aren’t many, if any fish in it since it can’t be fished. I think I read they stopped stocking it in 1945. The blue color of the lake is my favorite and astounds me every time.

We went on a couple of small easy hikes that day, that had some pretty wildflowers and bugs that I am still sporting their bites a week and half later!