My daughter and I had a great time on our road trip this year. In addition to our usual stops, we went to new places.
As you can see by Itzl's concerned look, this group is for us to check in at to let people know we are alive, doing OK, and not affected by such things as heat, blizzards, floods, wild fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, power outages, earthquakes, or other such things that could keep us off DKos. It's also so we can find other Kossacks nearby for in-person checks when other methods of communication fail - a buddy system. Members come here to check in. If you're not here, or anywhere else on DKos, and there are adverse conditions in your area, we and your buddy are going to check up on you. If you are going to be away from your computer for a day or a week, let us know here. We care!
IAN is a great group to join, and a good place to learn to write diaries. Drop one of us a PM to be added to the Itzl Alert Network anytime! We all share the publishing duties, and we welcome everyone who reads IAN to write diaries for the group! Every member is an editor, so anyone can take a turn when they have something to say, photos and music to share, a cause to promote or news!
OK, we do have a diary schedule. But, when you are ready to write that diary, either post in thread or send FloridaSNMOM a Kosmail with the date. If you need someone to fill in, ditto. FloridaSNMOM is here on and off through the day usually from around 9:30 or 10 am eastern to around 11 pm eastern.
Monday:
BadKitties
Tuesday:
ejoanna
Wednesday:
Caedy
Thursday:
art ah zen
Friday:
FloridaSNMOM
Saturday:
Most Awesome Nana
Sunday:
loggersbrat
Come on in and I will tell you some of the highlights.
Silver Falls was suggested and we went there. We wanted to do a hike that would have taken us around 7 of the falls and behind some of them but it was raining and we had gotten a late start that day. We had intended to see the falls we could hike to in about 2 hours and then move on the Umpqua Hot Springs, ending in Ft. Klamath for the evening. But we had to settle for just seeing Silver Falls, which was a short hike off the road. That being said, it was beautiful and the first time I have ever been behind a waterfall. Like the guide says on the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland, you get to see the backside of water! I did take a 55 second video of it because I COULD! but it is no great shakes to anyone besides me. Here is a picture of Silver Falls, Oregon, on a typical pacific northwest October day.
We left there and traveled to Umpqua Hot Springs, on the road to Crater Lake. It is a turn off on a Forestry road and then a little road and finally you come to a parking lot and a trail head. The trail is short but extremely steep for an old lady with asthma, but once on top, it is quick to the springs. The great thing about the hike in is that it is easy out and you appreciate that when you feel all noodly from laying in the hot water. There are 5 or 6 little tubs that have been cemented in around a bubbling spring. two hang right at the edge of the cliff, overlooking the river below. Here is a picture of them.
My daughter took the lower one and I took the one above her and it was glorious! The temps were about 108 degrees and it was raining. What a wonderful time we had there.
From there, we drove around Crater Lake, not through the park as we had planned. It seems they close Crater Lake in the winter due to no visibility and mucho snow. So we were late getting to our motel in Ft Klamath. It is run by an older hippy couple who wanted us to check in, (the only guests at this time of year) so they could go rest for the evening. We got there at 8pm but I had called when we had service for a hot second and she was forgiving. The motel is on Hiway 62 at the south end of the park. There is nothing around, no phone, no tv, no hot food til the lady makes breakfast sandwiches in the morning. We brought snacks. The place had been restored, it was lovely and quaint with a motel, some rv spaces, some tent spaces, and some cottages. It is a madhouse in the summer to hear them tell it but sleepy in the winter. I hope to go back with Mr. Zen to camp in the summer in the spot they have right on the lake. Here is a picture of the motel.
Across the street, all the buildings were abandoned and boarded up. One had a scarecrow in a chair on the front porch and a covered satellite dish. It had been empty for 10 years. Interesting wide spot in the road.
We saw lots of other fun things and I took tons of pix but other people's vacations are boring. These were some high points. We had a fine time in Portland, but the recommended breakfast restaurant, Sanborn's, was closed for vacation or repairs so we had to content ourselves with the wonderful reviews of it. Next year!