Looking forward!

 It's been a looooong time!  I'm not even sure posting will work...so lets see? 

 

The Rogue River in Oregon has and continues to be a favorite place! 

We weren't able to go this year but are planning to go next June and with some family in toe!!  

Can't wait!  

We will eat ice cream, take long walks, fish and drive up to Crater Lake!  We'll be sure to go early in the day as the line of visitors get quite long!

We'll find the bluest blue water and crisp clean air!  

I'll probably wear this same shirt and Jim will have his Beaver hat on!  

Crater Lake, Oregon

Crater Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in the United States! And, we take every opportunity to visit it when we are camping in the area.

Crater Lake National Park protects the deepest lake in the United States. Fed by rain and snow (no river or streams), the lake is considered to be the cleanest large body of water in the world. The water is exceptional for its clarity and intense blue color. The lakes' depth is 1,943 feet and its width measures 4.5 to 6 miles. The lake rests inside a caldera. A 12,000 foot tall volcano collapsed following a major eruption. Later eruptions formed Wizard Island, a cinder cone near the southwest shore.
Today, old-growth forest and open meadows blanket the volcano's outer slopes.

We visited the park on Saturday and it was hot (in the high nineties)! Thunder heads formed in the distant sky and sun rays poured through the clouds to illuminate the lake. Many professional photographers were standing near me with their amazing cameras and I wondered if my little Coolpix could capture the scene as well as what they were getting! Not bad. This day was made for taking in the immense, jaw-dropping views!

Maggie and I enjoyed a nose to nose moment on the craters' edge.

This camping trip marks the end of camping for 2009! I hope you have enjoyed seeing one of the grandest places on the earth!!

Bus camping on the Rogue River!

Whenever we go on a road trip, just the two of us, we take several pictures using the longest arm technique! It's been a laughable experience to see pictures that don't exactly look that good! Anyway, here we are at the bank of the river, taking our self photo! It's a little dark but not so bad! Fishing for trout is high on Jim's list of fun things to do! Here he is taking off with the hope of catching a fish.

While Jim was fishing, I sat right on the bank of the river, in a camping chair and just observed.

I was struck by the many, many blue dragonflies that were swirling overhead! It was a dragonfly freeway experience! An Osprey flew into a tree that was towering over me. He stopped long enough to look my way and probably wondered what in the world was I doing in his territory! Another small bird that was black, yellow and bright red, flew by and we figure it was a woodpecker. Why? Look at the picture below this one!

See the holes in the tree? These are quite large holes and I don't remember them being there before. I watched for a long time to see if there was anything living in the them but nothing came around except the little black, yellow and red bird with a long beak.

Our campsite was perfect! It was situated right above the river and we could hear the rushing river all the time! In the background is our little bus, which suited us just fine as a motor home...bus style, for this trip! No tent to put up, no setting up at all! It was great!

This pine loomed over our campground and served as a perfect late afternoon source of shade. The sun moved right down the trunk until it was low in the sky. Indian Paint Brush is often not found at this time of the season, but a clump survived, and we found it. It's color and unusual flower are beautiful in contrast with the green woodsy surroundings.

We had time to read, sit by the river and relax on our quick anniversary trip. It's good to be home and back into the workaday world of selling buses!

We wish you all a good rest of the week and may you find time to do something in nature this week!

Can it be?

Twenty Years

Off we go to stroll
Near the banks of the river.
To sit by the campfire
And remember…
Year's past.
Now dream of forever
My friend,
My love.
It’s you and me
On this endeavor!

We are celebrating our 20th Wedding Anniversary for the next few days. We are returning to a place that has become a favorite over the years, the Rogue River in Southern Oregon.

I will be back in a few days with more snaps to share from the Rogue River!

And....

One last thing about our camping trip. Bath time was a challenge but this grammy and mommy figured out a solution! Use the wash tub for a bath! LA loved her bath and didn't want it to end.

After she was all clean there was time for stories in the tent before bedtime.

Camping under blue skies and sunshine!

A quick overview of our camping trip.......
beautiful skies, overlooking the North Santiam River.....
Camp site C-6........this is before we got everything out......but had made a fire.....
...the kids going to get wood........and getting the fishing reel out....
..a walk down to the river for a fishing lesson.....
.....playing in the sand and mud......mmmm....love the feel between my fingers.......oops....guess I sat in the mud too......a tromp back to camp through the woods....It has been another good weekend filled with camp fires, hot dogs, and time at the water's edge.

A View of the Rogue River in Southern Oregon

For several years our family has camped on the Rogue River in Southern Oregon. We found Farewell Bend Campground , at Union Creek, when the kids were young and fell in love with it's beauty from the start. The river water is cold but the air is often warm in late June and the fishing is tremendous. There has always been plenty of Rainbow Trout to fry and sometimes enough to share with fellow campers. Farewell Bend is located on Hwy 62 which is the gateway to Crater Lake. (I will share more on that another day). Favored Swimming Hole.....where the river splits and a pool was formed. Douglas Fir and Pine trees grow side by side in abundance.
The water makes a roaring, memorising noise as it spills and flows down the valley. It is a wonderful place to sit, listen and soak in the language of the river.
The Rogue River is left in it's natural state and protected from huge developments. The water is clear and pristine for all campers to appreciate! There are no showers at this campsite but there are flush toilets....a simple luxury for campers! The campground fills up quickly, the crowd tends to be a quiet lot due to no electric hook-ups and it's more natural means of camping. Waterfalls are present around every corner and the power of the water tears holes in the rocks over time. This river and it's location is a place we will return for years to come. It has been a place where our family has made memories and a place of rest!