Last night the cabin was very warm, and the fan we had didnt help much. Sometime late in the night it cooled down and I had to shut off the fan. Still, I guess we got an okay nights sleep and were on our way to Crater Lake by 7:30am or so. Crater Lake National Park is just over 50 miles from the KOA, but that is just to the entrance. We arrived at the Masama Village area by 9:30am. Masama Village is still a ways from Crater Lake, but we were ready for another hot coffee. After getting our coffee, we got back on the road to Rim Village. Here, besides another place to eat and a gift shop, there were some great views of Crater Lake. We didnt realize how lucky we were until later when the fog rolled in and the drizzling rain started. We walked down along the rim path for a while, taking numerous photos, then headed back to the main buildings. It was only eleven something at the time, but we wanted to drive the loop road around the rim, which would probably take well over an hour, so we decided to eat lunch here.
There was a bit of a line to get into the Gift Shop/Snack Bar, but we didnt have to wait long. After browsing the gifts, and me buying another pin, we went to the snack bar. Manoli ordered a bowl of soup and I got loaded French fries. After eating lunch, in our car since it was still pretty cool, we headed out to drive the rim of Crater Lake, about a 38 mile loop.
Soon after we started, the fog started rolling in, then it started to drizzle. We toughed it, not knowing if the weather would improve, and drove around the rim road, stopping at various places for more photos. Manoli put on her poncho to protect her camera and we kept going. About a third of the way around the was a split in the road, but no signs. I ended up taking the wrong road, ending up at the Northern entrance and had to turn around. Back on the right road, we reached about the halfway point and stopped at the Cleetwood Cove Trail parking area. I let Manoli convince me to hike down the VERY steep, and long trail, to the very edge of
the lake. Along the way we met a young back up, carrying a trout shed caught from the dock below. After numerous switchbacks, mostly steeply downwards, we reached the bottom. Manoli had mentioned the idea of dipping her feet into the lake, which I thought was crazy, until we saw a number of people swimming in the frigid lake and even jumping off rocks into it! After being entertained by the sillies for a while, we began the steep upward climb back to the top. Numerous rest stops afterwards, we reached the top. I was so happy to have made it there, and use the restroom too.
We continued the drive around the rim, stopping one more time for some better photos of the Phantom Ship rock, then reached our starting point at the Rim Village. Both Manoli and I wanted a hot coffee, but figured wed wait until we at least left the park. Not long after exiting the park we found a roadside cafe and bought two hot coffees. The rest of the trip back to the KOA was uneventful, stopping once to use the restroom at a gas station/grocery store. After a short break,
I drove down into Gold Hill to pick up dinner and refill the gas tank for tomorrows looong trip back to Boise. As seemed the norm, I stopped at Rays Food Place and picked up some chicken strips and cheddar bites, along with a small chocolate pie.
Tomorrow we finish our trip by driving the 475 mile, 8 hour trip back to Boise. We have to return our rental car by 5pm, so with an hour lost by time zone change, well be leaving quite early... probably by 6am.
