An impromtu stop.....

We got up this morning and headed towards Spokane Washington.  It was just suppose to be a 7 hour driving day.  But along the way we kept seeing signs for Newberry National Volcanic Monument so we decided to stop.  The boys worked on a junior ranger book and got a badge.  This turned out to be another National Forest Service place and not a National Park.  We also stopped by one of the lave tube caves and went inside.  It was really dark and I am not a cave person so David and I stopped about half way and went back out while the boys walked on a little more.  It isn't like Mammoth or Carlsbad....it didn't have any lighting only a flashlight that we rented.  The boys loved it however :) 

Crater Lake

We left the ocean today....I was sad to say goodbye.  We drove 4 hours to Crater Lake National Park.  I have wanted to see this place for a long time.  Unfortunately when we got there we were told the visibility was bad.   We stopped at the first viewing area and climbed the hill.  We could see a little but my ideas of a grand view were dashed.  It was still pretty cool but you other picture people out there understand my sadness.  But I really can't complain, this is the first time we have had conditions that made taking pictures a problem in all the trips we have taken!  We drove on down to a visitor center and got Junior Ranger books.  The overlook behind the building was kind of clear so I took a few more pictures.  It didn't last long though, soon the whole lake was covered in fog.  They had just had fires there recently but the weather was cold and misty, I am pretty sure this was fog and not smoke.

Our hotel for the night was interesting.  It was actually a motel (Eagle Crater Lake Motel) with two king size beds.  They had some interesting carvings of eagles.  I was going to take pictures but it was rainy when we left.  Oddly enough this has been one of my favorite places we have stayed! 

Hwy 101 between Brookings and Yachats.

Thor's Well was the catalyst that started our trip west this time.  It was a little disappointing, mainly because we didn't get there at high tide.  But the boys enjoyed climbing on the rocks.  And the ocean was very active.  We found a National Forest visitors center (Cape Perpetua) and the boys did a Junior Ranger program with them. 

The hotel was awesome...our back yard was the ocean.  We could walk out to it right from our room!

 

Trees of Mystery and Brookings Oregon

Today we stopped by Trees of Mystery before heading to Brookings to visit Michaels sister Madison.  There we some very interesting trees.  The most interesting were the 'family' trees.   These trees have other trees growing straight up off of their branches! 

We got to Brookings and met Holly and the kids at a park.  Madison didn't know that we were coming :)  WE took a little hike and the kids climbed trees and played with sticks.  Madison was covered in sap from one of the trees.  Her younger siblings are pretty cute too :)  Junior is a handsome little guy with a huge dimple on one of his checks and has a personality to match!   And Gracie is just adorable, one of the happiest babies I have met.  We went to have pizza and play games then we went back to the hotel to swim and after that we had ice cream!  It was a really great day and I don't think anyone wanted it to end.   We will definitely need to plan a longer visit with them! 

 

 

 

                                                           They have the same toes!!!!