Manic drives and quiet camping moments.

We crossed the border and entered Oregon, found a map with non-existent campsite on and drove much further than we wanted to but eventually found a lovely campsite by a lake – showers and everything!!! Dr Fred was knackered but he done well so we cracked a couple of beers and watched the sun go down over the lake.  There was grass!! No dusty cinders or rocky outcrops for us that night – it was like lying on a feather bed.  there was a lovely sunset across the lake, it was sooo peaceful after such a manic week...

We had moved a time zone so were an hour out which meant we went to bed early and got up early and were out on the road again before the heat set in.  We have seen massive variation in temperatures on this trip from below zero and ice on the tent in Yellowstone, to the heady heights of 40 degrees plus even up the mountains.  Trouble is there’s not much you can do in such heat apart from find a nice café and drink smoothies for a great part of the day.   

When we finally found a shady – empty - free – by babbling brook campsite we had to lie on the picnic table until it was cool enough to put up the tent and consider eating!! It made for a well earned lazy day and apart from being a little bit anxious about a forest fire in the next valley – helicopters and aeroplanes flying over trailing buckets of water we just relaxed and chilled in the forest.  Dr Fred even went to explore a rocky outcrop he had spotted but it was in the distance and too far away! 

The next day was slightly more manic... A huge drive through a lot of forest fires, lot of delays and fire trucks everywhere, and loads of helicopters flying overhead with water to douse the fires...

We were lucky finding a campsite,which was smoke free on the other side of the mountains.  We got a lovely spot right by the river, the trees are stupendous huge old things we think the biggest might be a sequoia it’s so big.  

A lot of the trees are covered in lichen giving them a sort of furry look and the overall impression is of a magic wood where you would expect unicorns and elves to come out and play.  The creek running through is crystal clear – the opposite bank goes straight up with trees and bushes towering over, it’s very peaceful and lovely.

We passed through a few little towns on the route here and in one of them there was the smallest city hall and smallest library I’ve ever seen.  They were both the size of a large garden shed – wooden and tiny but they must serve the purpose.  In the same hamlet there were loads of old derelict wooden houses which had obviously been very grand in their day, two stories with big roofs, bay windows  and verandas.  There were at least 5 littered along the roadside but they were all falling down and empty looking very sad. 

we also passed through some interesting weather making dust devils..

not the best picture but we were in traffic and couldn't stop!