If you need to catch up, here are my previous posts about our adventure.
@joshman/gearing-up-for-my-next-adventure
@joshman/living-in-a-trailer-the-journey-continues
Before we left the Redmond/La Pine area, here of a couple of sights we took in:
Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Pictured beyond the barren landscape is the Lava Butte, there also a mile-long lava tube nearby you can hike inside of.
According to Venice.ai:
The monument is known for its geological features, including numerous lava flows, cinder cones, and volcanic ash deposits. It also features several hiking trails, lava tubes, and a 6,400-year-old obsidian flow. Newberry Volcano is considered a relatively young and active volcano, with its last eruption occurring about 1,300 years ago. The area is also home to the Lava Lands Visitor Center, which offers educational exhibits, a video, and a short walk to a viewpoint of the surrounding volcanic landscape.
A photo of inside the lava tube.
Peterson Rock Garden and Museum
This museum was a cool place to visit to see both rocks and rock sculptures, but it was poorly maintained. It's a shame really, but I can't imagine they have much of a budget to keep it going.
According to Venice.ai:
The Peterson Rock Garden and Museum is a popular attraction in Redmond, Oregon, featuring an extensive collection of rocks, minerals, and fossils from the United States and around the world. The museum was created by Ken Peterson from 1935 to 1939 and showcases a vast array of geological specimens.
Medford, OR
Here is our campsite in Medford, Oregon. When you take everything you own with you, it's easy for things to get into disarray. Learning how to best pack and organize yourself is a constant process. As time goes on we get more and more efficient.
Crater Lake
A couple hours away from Medford is Crater Lake, which is breathtaking and a must see if you ever visit Oregon.
According to Venice.ai:
Crater Lake is a deep caldera lake located in the U.S. state of Oregon, and it is the main feature of Crater Lake National Park. The lake is about 2,148 feet (655 meters) deep and is the deepest lake in the United States. It is also the seventh-deepest lake in the world and the deepest lake in the Western Hemisphere. Crater Lake was formed around 7,700 years ago when Mount Mazama, a massive volcano, collapsed in on itself. The resulting caldera was filled with rain and snowmelt, creating the lake. The lake is known for its deep blue color and water clarity, which is due to the fact that it is fed only by rain and snowmelt, with no rivers or streams flowing into or out of it.
A New Travel Companion
Allow me to introduce our new travel companion, Lucious. He is a juvenile red-eared slider that I found wandering near my trailer. They are an invasive species in Oregon, so I had no qualms about taking him on as a pet. I am happy to report he is healthy and has been a constant companion on our journey, though it can be challenging taking care of an aquatic turtle on the road. Luckily he is very small, only a couple inches across, but will grow much much larger as he matures.
Crescent City, CA
From Medford we dipped down into Crescent City, California. Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of our campsite there. I was a beautiful spot with a grass field behind us. It even had a couple trees I could hang my hammock from and enjoy some afternoon naps.
Trees Of Mystery
Of course no trip to Northern California would be complete without seeing the Trees Of Mystery.
Paul Bunion and Babe the Ox at the entrance-- It's probably the most photographed spot in the area.
The Canopy Trail, my wife was not a fan.
The 'Sky Trail', which is an aerial tram system through the tree tops. It was fun but freaky at times.
Battery Point Lighthouse
The lighthouse was built in 1856 and is one of the oldest lighthouses on the West Coast.
Coos Bay
Onward to Coos Bay on the Oregon Coast. This was one of my favorite campsites in terms of beauty. The downside is there were no sewer connects, so I had to use a dump station. Luckily I had a tote tank so I didn't have to move the trailer every time I had to dump.
The Lair, nestled among the trees.
My back deck extended. It's hard to tell but it was fairly high off the ground.
Sealion Caves
According to Venice.ai:
The Sea Lion Caves are a popular tourist attraction located on the Oregon coast, near the town of Florence. The caves are a series of large, natural caverns that have been carved out of the rocky coastline by the pounding surf. The Sea Lion Caves are home to a large colony of Steller sea lions, also known as Oregon sea lions. These marine mammals can be seen lounging on the rocks, swimming in the waters, and playing in the waves. The caves also provide a habitat for a variety of other marine life, including seals, sea otters, and puffins.
Here is the path we have taken up to this point. This brings us up to July. More to come.
