PCA Trail Guide to the West

CA - Parks 08-2011

2011-10-27T18:13:00.030-05:00

Duty called me to attend a bankruptcy seminar in Anaheim, CA, and as providence would have it, my friend and veteran soaker, Matt Parks, inquired if I was heading West any time soon and that he was available. We got our travel plans all ironed out and caught the early flight out of the Pine Belt. After a stop in Memphis, we had a direct flight to LAX. I picked up the rental, a Tahoe, courtesy of my Hertz points. First stop was the Beverly Hot Springs, an oasis in the middle of LA.

The Beverly Hot Springs is Los Angeles's only 100% Natural Hot Springs Spa. Originally discovered by an unknown oil wildcatter around the turn of the century and "rediscovered" in 1931, the well's contents sold for drinking water at 10 cents a gallon. Now, many years later, the area boasts a beautiful facility where the public can relax and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of this natural mineral thermal spa in Los Angeles. The balmy waters of the Beverly Hot Springs gush from a natural artesian well 2,200 feet beneath the earth's surface.

The water issuing from the hot spring is heated by geothermal heat, essentially heat from the Earth's interior. Hot springs contain various minerals and elements such as alkaline, radium, sulfur, sodium and alkaline sodium chloride, which have healing properties and health benefits. Medical prescriptions are given by doctors throughout the world for the treatment of a wide range of conditions, and utilizing mineral waters as a part of preventative medicine is widely recognized and encouraged.

Balneotherapy is the practical study and application of the health benefits of water. It is believed that Hot Springs water help stimulate circulation, relax muscles, combat fatigue, alleviate skin disease and cure arthritis, anemia, neuralgia (painful nerve disorder), high blood pressure and certain gastrointestinal diseases.

This is a Korean establishment, complete with Korean showers, which are certainly a different experience than the standard, stand up ones we have here in the States. Those toad stools are to sit on while you shower and scrub.

In Korea, they don't have the bathtub/shower combos that we have, typically, and they don't even have bathtubs. Or shower stalls. The whole bathroom is like a big (or small) wetroom. The shower tap/head is on the wall, only about 4 feet off the floor. No shower door, no curtain. It's pretty interesting. For those not so adventurous, they have standard American style showers too.

One of the best parts of a good hot soak is a contrasting Cold Plunge. This Cold Plunge is kept in the high 50s, a great temperature to cool down from a hot soak. Also, the Beverly has a steam room and a dry sauna. All in all, it was a great way to relax and renew following a hectic travel day. With the trail dust washed off, we do some touristy stuff: UCLA, Hollywood Blvd, Grumman's Chinese Theater, and of course, The HOLLYWOOD sign.

I'm not sure, but I think I should be embarrassed by this. We head to the Pacific Coast Highway and dine at an old, funky Malibu eatery, The Reel Inn,

then it was up a canyon road and finding a hotel room. Was quite taxing and took numerous stops and several towns, but we finally found a spot and crashed. The next day found us worshiping at the Church in the Canyons (PCA) in Calabasas. Next stop was the Reagan Library in Simi Valley.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Center for Public Affairs is the presidential library and final resting place of Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th President of the United States.

Following his death, Reagan's casket was driven by hearse to the Reagan Library on June 7, 2004. There, a memorial service was held in the library lobby with Nancy Reagan, Reagan's children, close relatives, and friends. The Reverend Dr. Michael Wenning officiated the service. From June 7 to 9, Reagan's casket lay in repose in the library lobby, where approximately 105,000 people viewed the casket to pay their respects. After flying the body to Washington, D.C., lying in state in the Capitol rotunda, and a national funeral service in the Washington National Cathedral, Reagan's casket was brought back to the library in California for a last memorial service and interment.

Built in 1961, the Berlin Wall became known as a symbol of communism. In the 1963 "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech, U.S. President John F. Kennedy stated the support of the United States for democratic West Germany shortly after the Soviet-supported Communist state of East Germany erected the Berlin Wall as a barrier to prevent movement from East to West. President Reagan's 1987 visit was his second within five years. It came at a time of heightened East-West tensions, caused in particular by the debate over the stationing of short range American missiles in Europe and the United States' record peacetime defense buildup. Reagan was scheduled to attend the 1987 G-7 summit meeting in Venice, Italy, and later made a brief stop in Berlin. The Brandenburg Gate site was chosen to highlight the President's conviction that Western democracy offered the best hope to open the Berlin Wall. His speech focused on a series of political initiatives to achieve this end. The famous "tear down this wall" phrase was intended as the logical conclusion of the President's proposals. As the speech was being drafted, inclusion of the words became a source of considerable controversy within the Reagan administration. Several senior staffers and aides advised against the phrase, saying anything which might cause further East-West tensions or potential embarrassment to Gorbachev, with whom President Reagan had built a good relationship, should be omitted. American officials in West Germany and presidential speechwriters, including Peter Robinson, thought otherwise. Robinson traveled to West Germany to inspect potential speech venues, and gained an overall sense that the majority of West Berliners opposed the wall. Despite getting little support for suggesting Reagan demand the wall's removal, Robinson kept the phrase in the speech text. On May 18, 1987, President Reagan met with his speechwriters and responded to the speech by saying, "I thought it was a good, solid draft." Chief of Staff Howard Baker objected, saying it sounded "extreme" and "unpresidential," and Deputy National Security Advisor Colin Powell agreed. Nevertheless, Reagan liked the passage, saying, "I think we'll leave it in."

The stark contrast between the east facing and west facing portions of The Berlin Wall is very telling of those times.

A 90,000-square-foot exhibit hangar serves as the setting for the permanent display of the Boeing 707 aircraft utilized as Air Force One during Reagan's administration. The aircraft, SAM 27000, was also used by six other presidents in its active service life from 1973–2001, including Richard Nixon during his second term, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. In 1990, it became a backup aircraft after the Boeing 747s entered into service and was retired in 2001. The aircraft was flown to San Bernardino International Airport in September 2001, where it was presented to the Reagan Foundation. In what was known as Operation Homeward Bound, Boeing, the plane's manufacturer, disassembled the plane and transported it to the library in pieces. After the construction of the foundation of the pavilion itself, the plane was reassembled and restored to museum quality, as well as raised onto pedestals 25 ft above ground.

SAM 27000 is part of a comprehensive display about presidential travel that also includes a Johnson-era Sikorsky VH-3 Sea King, call sign Marine One.

Here's Matt in the Oval Office. Well, that's enough touristy stuff, it's time for some hot water, and we are on our way to one of the premier hot springs in the US.

Our quest begins with a hike of a couple miles through some really neat California desert.

Deep Creek Hot Springs, DCHS, are natural hot springs located in the northern Mojave Desert section of the San Bernardino National Forest, near Hesperia in San Bernardino County, Southern California.

The hike ends at this beach. A wade across Deep Creek and you have arrived! The pools, which in a rock out cropping that overlooks Deep Creek, were built by volunteers over a period of years and are largely maintained by volunteers in the pristine state you see them in today. The beautiful and unique landscape, the soothing hot spring waters mixing with the cool mountain stream, local custom and tradition make for a wonderful setting to be enjoyed by all. Since the time Native Americans inhabited the area, people from all over the world have come to the Springs to get away, soak, sunbathe, relax, and enjoy the natural environment all year long.

This pool is called the Womb.

It is well over 6 feet deep in parts.

This pool is the Wizard.

We leave the desert and head back to LA, Matt to catch a flight home and me to attend the seminar. One of the touristy places that I've always wanted to visit, probably from the days of my youth spent watching the Flintstones carton, is the La Brea Tar Pits.

The La Brea Tar Pits (or Rancho La Brea Tar Pits) are a cluster of tar pits, in the urban heart of Los Angeles. Asphaltum or tar (brea in Spanish) has seeped up from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years. The tar is often covered with water. This seepage has been happening for tens of thousands of years. From time to time, the asphalt would form a deposit thick enough to trap animals, and the surface would be covered with layers of water, dust, and leaves. Animals would wander in to drink, become trapped, and eventually die. Predators would also enter to eat the trapped animals and become stuck. This exhibit recreates those events.

The George C. Page Museum is dedicated to researching the tar pits and displaying specimens from the animals that died there.

Among the prehistoric species associated with the La Brea Tar Pits are mammoths, dire wolves, short-faced bears, ground sloths, and the state fossil of California, the saber-toothed cat,
Smilodon fatalis.

Only one human has ever been found, a partial skeleton of a woman dated to approximately 10,000 calendar years, who was 17 to 25 years old at death and found associated with remains of a domestic dog, and so interpreted to have been ceremonially interred.

Of more than a hundred pits, only Pit 91 is still regularly excavated by researchers, and can be seen at the Pit 91 viewing station, which is outside the museum, and free to enter.

Next stop was the nearby Petersen Auto Museum. The Petersen Automotive Museum is one of the world's largest automotive museums. It is a non profit organization specializing in the education and history of the automobile. Founded on June 11, 1994 by Robert E. Petersen (who founded Hot Rod and Motor Trend magazines) and his wife, Margie, the $40 million dollar Petersen Automotive Museum is owned and operated by the Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation.

The museum can display over 100 vehicles and owns over twice that. The ground floor displays a virtual history of the automobile in Los Angeles, complete with vintage vehicles and buildings. The second floor houses both permanent and special exhibits.

The evening found us at an Angels game. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles, as in "the city of ...." The Angels have been based in Angel Stadium of Anaheim since 1966, but the baseball team name originated in Los Angeles since 1892 in the California and Pacific Coast League before the MLB expansion to the west coast in 1958. The Angels franchise of today was established in the MLB in 1961 through former owner Gene Autry, the team’s first Major League owner who bought the rights to continue the franchise name from Walter O'Malley, the former Los Angeles Dodgers owner who acquired the franchise from Phil Wrigley the owner of the Chicago Cubs at the time. The MLB considers the current Los Angeles Angels franchise to be an expansion team due to the fact that the team did not exist in the major league until 1961.

Next day, I drop Matt off at LAX for the flight home, and I head back to the Beverly Hot Springs. Relaxed and renewed, I head back to Anaheim and my seminar. I'm proud to be able to say that our hotel was just a couple of blocks from the entrance to Disney Land and that I was able to resist any temptation to pay the daily admission fee of about $100. We did have a free afternoon, and I visited the nearby Nixon Library in Yorba Linda.

The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum is the presidential library and final resting place of Richard Milhous Nixon, the 37th President of the United States. Located in Yorba Linda, California, the library is one of twelve administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. From its original dedication in 1990 until becoming a federal facility on July 11, 2007, the library and museum was operated by the private Richard Nixon Foundation and was known as the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace. The 9-acre campus is located at 18001 Yorba Linda Boulevard in Yorba Linda, California and incorporates the National Historic Landmarked Richard Nixon Birthplace where Nixon was born in 1913 and spent his childhood.

Nixon began his autobiography by saying something like: I was born in a house that my father built. It was built in 1913 in the California style with "Bungaloid elements" by his father, Francis A. Nixon from a home building kit purchased through Sears Catalog Home. It is oddly situated on the property, but is in its original condition and position. When the Library was being built, the house had to have a new foundation and Nixon was asked if he wanted the house turned around so that it would face the Museum and blend in better: He said to leave the way his father had built it. Nixon's 80 something year old brother often visits to make sure things are still in order. The house was preserved because Nixon's father sold the land to school system in the 1920s, who built a school on the property and kept the house for use by the caretaker.

Lieutenant Colonel Gene Boyer, President Nixon's Chief Helicopter Pilot, secured the President's VH-3A "Sea King" helicopter, tail number 150617, to be on permanent display on the library grounds. The helicopter was in the presidential fleet from 1961 to 1976, transporting Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford, and many foreign heads of state and government. Boyer flew President Nixon on his final flight from the White House to Andrews Air Force Base on August 9, 1974 in this aircraft.

The graves of President Richard Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon located on the library grounds.

Several interesting tidbits about the Nixon Library: 1) the contrast between the video/graphic, visitor friendly displays of the Reagan Library and the black & white photos/not so visitor friendly exhibits of the Nixon Library was very telling; 2) A new Archives-curated exhibit on the Watergate scandal, due to have opened July 1, 2010, was postponed when the Nixon Foundation filed a written objection to the new exhibit. NARA stated a committee would review the objection but gave no timeline for when that process would be concluded. The exhibit opened on March 31, 2011. It was very well done, much in the same style and displays found in the Reagan Library. Also, I liked Nixon and thought the Watergate treatment was fair and balanced; and 3) Approximately 46 million pages of official White House records from the Nixon Administration are stored at NARA's Archives II facility in College Park, Maryland in accordance with the Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act of 1974. This was because Congress did not trust the recently resigned President with his own stuff. These documents, etc was transferred to the newly-federal Yorba Linda facility from 2007-2009. The Nixon Presidential Materials Staff (nicknamed the "Nixon Project") had no previous affiliation with the Nixon Library, but lent materials to the Library & Birthplace in the past. Upon completion of the transfer of Nixon papers, gifts of state and memorabilia, the Nixon Materials Project will be discontinued. Once the transfer from the Nixon Presidential Materials project is complete, it will hold all of Nixon's presidential as well as his pre- and post-presidential papers. In spring 2010, under legislation passed in January 2004, the Nixon Presidential Materials were moved from the National Archives facilities in College Park, Maryland to the Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California. As of July 1, 2010, all processed Nixon Presidential Materials are available for research use at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, California. The National Archives in College Park maintains a small number of reference copies of Nixon White House Tapes and White House Communications Agency (WHCA) videotapes.

Being as I was at a bankruptcy seminar, just a couple blocks down the street from the Crystal Cathedral, which is in a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, I had to drop by.

The Crystal Cathedral is a Protestant Christian church in Orange County, California, United States founded by Robert H. Schuller. The prominent architect Philip Johnson designed the main sanctuary building which seats 2,736. It was constructed using over 10,000 rectangular panes of glass. The name "Crystal Cathedral" is merely an alliterative colloquialism and does not mean that the church is a cathedral in the sense of being a church where there is a bishop's official seat; the Reformed Church in America is governed by elders - not a bishop or cardinal. Nor is the church made of crystal. Nevertheless, it is a Southern California architectural landmark. On October 18, 2010, the board of the Crystal Cathedral filed for bankruptcy in Santa Ana, California. The church has received offers for the building from a real estate investment group and from Chapman University, both with the provision of being leased back to the church. On July 3, 2011, local newspapers and other outlets reported that Robert H. Schuller had been voted off the church's board of trustees by the other board members. Shuller's daughter is now the pastor.

On July 7, 2011, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange announced that it was "potentially interested in buying" the building "to meet the needs of the 1.2 million Catholics in Orange County". Two weeks later, the diocese followed up with a cash offer of $53.6 million which included a lease-back provision at below market rates for a period of time.

Long Road Home (12/2009) - Part III

2011-07-10T06:41:00.007-05:00

Our last stop in California was The General George S. Patton Memorial Museum, not to be confused with The General George Patton Museum of Leadership in Fort Knox, Kentucky. General Patton was charged with setting up a training camp at this remote desert location, just prior to his deployment to North Africa and his battles with General Erwin Rommel, The Desert Fox.

The General George S. Patton Memorial Museum, in Chiriaco Summit, California, is a museum erected in tribute to General George S. Patton on the site of the entrance of Camp Young, part of the Desert Training Center of World War II. Exhibits include a large collection of tanks used in World War II and the Korean War, as well as memorabilia from Patton's life and career — especially in regards to his service at the Desert Training Center — and from soldiers who trained there. Development of the Colorado River Aqueduct and natural-science exhibits are displayed as well. In addition, a 26-minute video is shown, detailing Patton's military service and the creation of the Desert Training Center. Though Patton spent less than four months at the Desert Training Center, his establishment of the training grounds directly impacted more than one million troops.

The Sherman Tank and what I believe is a Patton Tank.

As we make our way across Arizona, an opportunity arises for a soak.

El Dorado Hot Springs is located above a subterranean hot springs of pure, odorless, tasteless mineral water. Tonopah translates to "hot water under the bush" in the local native American language. Among the most ancient forms of natural therapy, hot spring soaking has been enjoyed worldwide. The water is naturally heated to an average of 107 degrees, with a ph of 8.2. Some say that it's like bathing in liquid silk.

The Corral has a shade cloth, shower, lounges, and a cold tub.

On the way home, we stopped in California, Arizona, and Texas for Ricky to try out the local Disc Golf.

Disc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target.

According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc." Of the more than 3000 established disc golf courses as of 2010, approximately 87% are free.

The early history of disc golf is closely tied to the somewhat mysterious history of the recreational flying disc (especially as popularized by Wham-O Inc.'s trademarked Frisbees) and may have been invented in the early 1900s, but it is not known for sure.

Modern disc golf started in the early 1960s, when it seems to have been invented in many places and by many people independently.

Students at Rice University in Houston, Texas, for example, held tournaments with trees as targets as early as 1964. Another story is in the early 1960s a few friends would get together in Augusta, GA, at Pendleton King park to toss Frisbees in 50-gallon barrel trash cans designated as targets.

The golf discs used today are much smaller and heavier than traditional flying discs, typically about 8 or 9 inches in diameter and weighing between 150 and 180 grams. The PDGA prohibits any disc to be heavier than 200 grams. Discs used for disc golf are designed and shaped for control, speed, and accuracy while general-purpose flying discs, such as those used for playing guts or ultimate, have a more traditional shape, similar to what you would see on a catch disc. There is a wide variety of discs used in disc golf and they are generally divided into three categories: putters, all-purpose mid-range discs, and drivers.

Score!

Well, we book it on home and arrive a few days before Christmas.

Long Road Home (12/2009) - Part II

2011-05-24T05:03:00.007-05:00

The morning gives us a nice view of the Eastern Sierras. Next stop, the Bridgeport/Bishop area and some more hot water. First, we make a stop at Travertine Hot Springs.

This is the source of the pool near the parking area.

The largest, hottest spring flows into a volunteer-built concrete pool that will comfortably hold four or more adults. An hike through some deep snow is necessary to get to the next soaking area.

Why is this spring called "travertine?" Travertine is a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, especially hot springs. Travertine often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan and cream-colored varieties. It is formed by a process of rapid precipitation of calcium carbonate, often at the mouth of a hot spring or in a limestone cave.
Hot water from the source travels along this crack on top a ridge of ancient travertine ridge, flowing along it until cascading into several handmade pools of varying temperatures.

A panoramic view completes the experience.
Really neat!

Time for a soak?

We make our way south to the Hot Creek area and check out the Hot Tub.

That's good hot water!

Next, we check out Shepherd's Hot Springs. This was the first time I qualified here and really enjoyed it.

And the Crab Cooker.

Who is this breaded man?

And finally as the light fades, we check out Crowleys Hot Springs.

Long Road Home (12/2009) - Part I

2011-05-23T16:46:00.009-05:00

My summer and fall out west comes to a sad end. Ricky and I say goodbye to the Parkers and head the Jeep over the mountains toward Mississippi.

First stop was Summer Lake Hot Springs. Summer Lake is a most remarkable site, were people come together to merge with nature in ways not found many places around the world. It is a place of extreme beauty and silence, a place where body and mind rediscover a connection and common ground between the Water, Earth and Sky.

We get checked in to the Ranch House and begin to check out the grounds.

We soon find some hot water.

The timber frame and corrugated metal structure was built in 1928 surrounding the large hot mineral pool, providing year round comfort for soaking and healing. The 106 - 113 degree spring fills the pool through a 4-inch pipe,

which many find therapeutic to stand underneath, allowing the hot mineral water to fall upon necks and shoulders, melting away tension for a deep therapeutic healing.

Traveling from an aquifer nearly one mile below the surface, fresh water is heated by volcanic conditions and through pressure the now hot water is forced upward along the Slide Mountain fault line. On its journey the water absorbs various minerals before it comes out of the ground at 106 to 113 degrees. This water is then channeled to the large soaking pool, various outdoor rock pools and geothermal floor heating. It is high in silica and you will notice a silky and soft feeling on your skin soon upon entering in the water.

We head south,leaving Oregon for northern California. We run into quite a bit of snow. Sierraville Hot Springs was out next stop. Sierra Hot Springs is a non-profit retreat and workshop center located at the cusp of an enchanted forest and a beautiful alpine valley. Here, it is impossible to resist the overwhelming sense of tranquility. The natural spring water is as smooth as silk, and the pools are a true experience. For centuries, Native Americans have regarded this land as a sacred healing place.

The historic Main Lodge houses five comfortable shared bath private rooms, as well as a five-bed dormitory. The Lodge, originally built in the 1870's, also includes an airy wood-paneled lounge with comfortable couches and a wood burning stove, a communal kitchen, the main office and a small store. There is also a massage room, a TV room, and located downstairs is our restaurant, the Philosophy Café. The Lodge is within walking distance of all the pools and also has a large lawn and front porch, perfect for lounging.

We enjoyed the funky lobby and our colorful room.

What an interesting door!

For almost 150 years, this land has hosted popular hot springs resorts. The spring water here is as smooth as silk and the pools, which are open 24 hours a day, are a true experience. Within the last several years, two of the springs have been beautifully redeveloped.

The Temple Dome Area is the main pool area and consists of The Hot Pool, which has a sand bottom, with mosaic tile sides and is enclosed in a large geodesic dome,

featuring stained glass and skylights

and a chubby friend

and complimented by two cold plunges.

Outside the dome, the large Warm Pool is complimented by a large sundeck.

There is also a new and improved dry sauna at the Temple Dome Pool area.
Soaking time done, it's time to hit the road and continue south through California on the eastern side of the Sierra Mountains.

XC 07/2009 KAM - Part V

2011-01-31T17:53:00.021-06:00

After a long day, driving across Idaho and eastern Oregon, we find a no-tell motel and crash, very late of an evening. Next morning, it was on to Crater Lake National Park. It was the first of July, and the north rim road was opened on the day that we arrived.

This snow shows why the road was just opened, and you know what happens when you mix two teens and snow...

Asa, don't jump!

Looks like they made up.

Alas, it did not last long.

Crater Lake always takes my breath away!

Words just don't do it justice.

K&M

S&A

These pictures were taken on the hike down from the north rim to the water, where some interesting events transpired.

Crater Lake from the bottom. That's pollen on the surface.

The water is really clear.

And the boys couldn't seem to resist the urge to try it out, even though it was no doubt going to be chilly. Matthew is just getting in the water, and Asa is trying to decide if he is up for it.

Asa: Matthew, quite acting like the water is cold, man up, and take the plunge (while I watch and decide if I'm going in)

Asa is about to take the plunge.

Asa: see Matthew it's not so cold, come on in.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pixs, but the boys found an elevated place to jump in, and they developed quite a following, as everyone gathered around and watched these two boys in boxers show off their jumping abilities.

Do you think Asa and Matthew are still a little blue?

As we continue on the north rim road, we come on some more snow and another snow ball fight breaks out. Matthew, you need to work on your form.

Down goes Asa!

Not many things better for Mississippi boys than playing in the snow in July.

Glad to see they have made up.

Lesson learned: Asa, don't sit on the hood of my Jeep! Yep, there is still a dent on the hood, and it exactly matches Asa's butt!

Enough of that, how about this shot?

Crater Lake Lodge.

The guys on the rim, with Wizard Island in the background.

We make our way back toward Bend and stop here for fuel and a little super hero time. We overnite in Bend, enjoy good food (and the big boys had some tasty adult beverages) at the Deschutes Public House. Next day, we head east and stop at the Metolius River.

The source of the Metolius River is a spring right here, with a view of Mount Jefferson.

Such a road weary crew...

The Metolius River near Camp Sherman.

We cross over the pass, and notice how the trees change from ponderosa pine to douglas fir.

We stop here at Shallie Falls, on the McKenzie River.

This is the McKenzie River, which begins at a spring feed lake, just up the road from here.

Next stop will be the Blue Hole, with a nice hike up the McKenzie River.

We arrive at the Blue Hole. The McKenzie River drops into lava tubes (basically a long cave) and travels underground until it returns to the surface here.

The water is clear, deep, and very, very cold.

The water temp here is in the high 30s and makes the water temp at Crater Lake seem warm.

We take the plunge off of this neat rock out cropping. It's about 40-50 feet deep off the edge of these rocks. One might ask what does a man look like when he jumps into 30+ degree water...

This pretty well captures the feeling.

Jumping in at water level, seemingly not sufficient, the boys head off to check out a place to jump in from some height.

Well, they find a spot and climbing up the rock face to get high enough to get enough adrenaline flowing to overcome the water temp.

Jump Asa!

Jump Matthew!

The boys exploring on the hike back to the Jeep.

Now, it was time to warm up a little at the Hot Springs.

The springs have just had $40,000 in rock work done, and they were looking pretty good.

That's good hot water!

The water fall and lagoon by the hot springs.

We arrive at the Parkers in Eugene, 10 days and almost 4000 miles after leaving home.

It was a great trip.

Next day, we hit the Burrito Boy and then take Asa for a little trim at the Red Rooster.

Here is Asa about to get those locks cut. Remember, up until this time his hair has always been on the longish side.

Asa, you can't negotiate your way out of this one.

Can't tell if this is painful or pleasureful.

The deed is done, and by that smile, it looks like our man likes the end product.

Next day, we head to Portland to pick up the First Pres folk at the airport and begin doulos '09.

XC 07/2009 KAM - Part IV

2011-01-01T09:04:00.018-06:00

We book it up the road and make our way to Jackson, WY.

The tourist just love the elk horn arches found at the entrances to the city square. Not sure what the boys did, but the adults enjoyed a taste at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. The trail dust cleared out of our throats, we head on into the Grand Teton National Park.

Grand Teton National Park is a United States National Park located in northwestern Wyoming, south of Yellowstone National Park. The park is named after the Grand Teton, which, at 13,770 feet (4,197 m), is the tallest mountain in the Teton Range.

The origin of the name "Teton" is not definitive. One possible origin is that it was the name given by French trappers in the area. ("Tetons" means nipples in French.) Another possible source is that the mountains derive their name from the names of one of tribes in the Sioux Nation.

Grand Teton National Park was established on February 26, 1929. The park covers 484 square miles (1,250 km2) of land and water. There are nearly 200 miles (320 km) of trails for hikers to enjoy in Grand Teton National Park.

Part of the Rocky Mountains, the north-south-trending Teton Range rises from the floor of Jackson Hole without any foothills along a 40 miles long by 7 to 9 miles wide active fault-block mountain front system. In addition to 13,770 ft high Grand Teton, another eight peaks are over 12,000 ft above sea level. Seven of these peaks between Avalanche and Cascade canyons make up the often-photographed Cathedral Group. Jackson Hole is a 55 miles (89 km) long by 6 to 13 miles (9.7 to 21 km) wide graben valley that has an average elevation of 6,800 ft (2,100 m) with its lowest point near the south park boundary at 6,350 ft (1,940 m). The valley sits east of the Teton Range and is vertically displaced downward 30,000 ft (9,100 m) from corresponding rock layers in it, making the Teton Fault and its parallel twin on the east side of the valley normal faults with the Jackson Hole block being the hanging wall and the Teton Mountain block being the footwall. Grand Teton National Park contains the major part of both blocks. A great deal of erosion of the range and sediment filling the graben, however, yields a topographic relief of only up to 7,700 ft (2,300 m). The glaciated range is composed of a series of horns and arêtes separated by U-shaped valleys headed by cirques and ended by moraines, making the Tetons a textbook example of alpine topography. Rubble piles left by ice age alpine glaciers impounded a series of interconnected lakes at the foot of the range (Jackson, Leigh, String, Jenny, Bradley, Taggart, and Phelps). The largest lake in the valley, Jackson Lake, was impounded by a recessional moraine left by a very large valley glacier as it retreated north out of Jackson Hole. Jackson Lake covers 25,540 acres (103.4 km2) and has a maximum depth of 438 feet (134 m). There are also over 100 alpine and backcountry lakes. Map of Wyoming National Parks and landmarks, showing Grand-Teton south of Yellowstone (upper left), across the state from Cheyenne. Just to the south is Burned Ridge, the same glacier's terminal or end moraine, which runs down the center of Jackson Hole roughly perpendicular to the range and cut in two by the Snake River. After exiting its dammed outlet at the southeast corner of Jackson Lake, the Snake runs down the valley and through the 10 miles (16 km) long glacial outwash plain south of Burned Ridge. The river's headwaters are in a part of the Teton Wilderness a short distance north in Yellowstone National Park and its destination is the Columbia River far to the west, which in turn empties into the Pacific Ocean. Terraces have been cut by the river into the moraines and outwash plain in the valley. About 50 miles (80 km) of the 1,056-mile (1,699 km) long Snake River winds through the park where it is fed by three major tributaries; Pacific Creek, Buffalo Fork, and the Gros Ventre River.

We begin our hike up to Inspiration Point, and stop here to enjoy the cool air by these falls.

The boys can't resist a little rock scrambling.

Now, where do we go?

Jenny Lake, as we hike up to Inspiration Point.

The brave rock scramblers

Wonder if anyone notices that Blackwater shirt?

Even the old fat guy made it up to Inspiration Point.

We opted for the boat ride back.

Our quick stop in the Grand Tetons ends, and we head up to Yellowstone National Park.

Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is America's first national park. Located in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, it is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Preserved within Yellowstone National Park are Old Faithful and a collection of the world's most extraordinary geysers and hot springs, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Gesyer by Old Faithful Lodge. If only this hot water was soakable, but at about 180 degrees....

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, though it also extends into Montana and Idaho. Yellowstone was the first national park in the world, and is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features,

especially Old Faithful Geyser, one of the most popular features in the park.

It has many types of ecosystems, but the subalpine forest is dominant. Native Americans have lived in the Yellowstone region for at least 11,000 years. The region was bypassed during the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the early 19th century. Aside from visits by mountain men during the early-to-mid-19th century, organized exploration did not begin until the late 1860s. The U.S. Army was commissioned to oversee the park just after its establishment. In 1917, administration of the park was transferred to the National Park Service, which had been created the previous year. Hundreds of structures have been built and are protected for their architectural and historical significance, and researchers have examined more than 1,000 archaeological sites. Yellowstone National Park spans an area of 3,468 square miles (8,980 km2), comprising lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges.

Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in North America and is centered over the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest supervolcano on the continent. The caldera is considered an active volcano; it has erupted with tremendous force several times in the last two million years. Half of the world's geothermal features are in Yellowstone, fueled by this ongoing volcanism.

Lava flows and rocks from volcanic eruptions cover most of the land area of Yellowstone. The park is the centerpiece of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest remaining, nearly intact ecosystem in the Earth's northern temperate zone.

Hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles have been documented, including several that are either endangered or threatened.

The vast forests and grasslands also include unique species of plants. Grizzly Bears, wolves, and free-ranging herds of bison and elk live in the park.

Forest fires occur in the park each year; in the large forest fires of 1988, nearly one third of the park burned. Yellowstone has numerous recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping, boating, fishing and sightseeing. Paved roads provide close access to the major geothermal areas as well as some of the lakes and waterfalls. During the winter, visitors often access the park by way of guided tours that use either snow coaches or snowmobile.

Old Faithful Inn, a really big log cabin!

On the trail of hot water

and mud pots

Mammoth Hot Springs

and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

starts with the Yellowstone River

then falls into the canyon

the Lower Falls

the falls, the guys, and the canyon

Our guys in coon skin hats

XC 07/2009 KAM - Part III

2010-12-24T08:32:00.014-06:00

As became our custom, we got off to a late start. We stock up on supplies at Alamosa, CO and head north toward some more hot water. On a whim, we took a side trip to the Great Sand Dunes National Park.

The park contains the tallest sand dunes in North America, rising about 750 feet (230 m) from the floor of the San Luis Valley on the western base of the Sangre de Cristo Range, covering about 19,000 acres. They are perhaps 12,000 years old. The dunes were formed from sand and soil deposits of the Rio Grande and its tributaries, flowing through the San Luis Valley. Over the ages, westerly winds picked up sand particles from the river flood plain. As the wind lost power before crossing the Sangre de Cristo Range, the sand was deposited on the east edge of the valley. This process continues, and the dunes are slowly growing. The wind changes the shape of the dunes daily.

There are several streams flowing on the perimeter of the dunes. The streams erode the edge of the dune field, and sand is carried downstream. The water disappears into the ground, depositing sand on the surface. Winds pick up the deposits of sand, and blow them up onto the dune field once again. Digging a few inches into the dunes even at their peaks reveals wet sand. Part of the motivation of turning the Monument into a National Park was the extra protection of the water, which Colorado's cities and agriculture covet. It is very easy to experience the dune-building process. This is a very windy region, as hikers on the Sand Dunes will attest, as on many days they will be pelted by sand and even small rocks when hiking on the dunes. The wind carries sand and rocks from many miles away.

The guys running the dunes.

After a very enjoyable (and unexpected) stop here, we head on up the road a little ways to the hot springs at the Orient Land Trust.

We arrive and after a little excitement (we had squatters in our accommodations - folks who liked our cabin better than the one they had reserved), we get settled into our digs.

After the morning spent in the sand, it was literally time to wash off the trail dust (and sand).

First stop was here at the Waterfall Pool.

This is the hottest pool on the property, heated to about 105 with electricity generated from the runoff from the springs. We are completely off the electrical grid, as all electricity is generated by this runoff turning a pelsor wheel.

This pool is about 85 degrees, a good temp for the summer.

This is the sauna, which has a neat cool plunge down below.

This is the view from the top springs, which requires a little hike up the mountain.

This is the large natural soaking pool.

We begin our hike up to the cave in at the old Orient Mine. The Orient Mine was an iron mine that began operation in the mid 1800’s and was abandoned by 1938. These are some of the old mine talilings

For the last thirty years or more it has been the summer home for a colony (estimated between 100,000 to 250,000) of Mexican free-tail bats - Tadarida Brasiliensis. It is the northernmost and largest bachelor colony known in North America. This colony of bats has been a very popular educational tool for two decades. This includes a master’s degree earned by a student who lived at the mine and studied the bats for two summers. On summer evenings, many visitors hike to the mine (about an hour walk over fairly steep terrain) to witness the out-flight. In 2002, work was completed to improve safety and access to the “glory hole” where the bats emerge.

Colorado was exceptionally green for this time of year. Much more rain than usual for this area, and we experienced a little rain on the hike up the mountain to see the bats and even got to see a really beautiful rain bow.

Our Bobcats on the hike up the mountain to see the bats.

One of the neat geological features on the hike, as well as a view of the San Luis Valley. We didn't get to see the bats come out, as a severe thunder storm forced us down the mountain before they made their appearance. Hate to depart, but it was time to hit the road again, taking the back roads, of course.

Our next stop will be the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

We enjoyed a nice lunch stop here.

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison's unique and spectacular landscape was formed slowly by the action of water and rock scouring down through hard Proterozoic crystalline rock.

No other canyon in North America combines the narrow opening, sheer walls, and startling depths offered by the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

The guys on the rim.

The Black Canyon is so named on account of its steepness which makes it difficult for sunlight to penetrate very far down the canyon. As a result, the canyon walls are most often in shadow, causing the rocky walls to appear black. At its narrowest point the canyon is only 40 feet (12 m) across at the river.

The canyon has been a mighty barrier to humans. Only its rims, never the gorge, show evidence of human occupation – not even by Ute Indians living in the area since written history began.

As we leave the Black Canyon, a decision must be made: do we continue with our plans (to head across Nevada and into southern Oregon to do some camping in the Cascades) or have a mid-course change (head north to Grand Teton and Yellowstone).

Well, we decide to head north, see some neat things

and overnight in Vernal, Utah.

XC 07/2009 KAM - Part II

2010-12-23T16:15:00.010-06:00

We wake up in Carlsbad, New Mexico pretty late (for me that is) tired and road weary from the previous day's exertions. But after a little food and showers, we are ready for out next stop, which will be Carlsbad Caverns.

Will not provide a running commentary, just a few pics of what we saw in the caves.

Well, we make it safely back to the surface. New Mexico looks kinda grim.

Next stop will be Roswell, but I think I was more excited about it than the boys, who had visions of hot springs dancing in their minds.

Couldn't believe the guys didn't want to hang around and visit with the locals.

We press on in search of hot water and find it Ojo Caliente. I had visited this place years ago, when it was a funky, new agey, run down oasis with lots and lots of hot water. since then some folks from Texas have purchased the place and it is all very upscale now.

Steeped in myth and legend, these ancient springs have been a gathering place and source of healing for hundreds, even thousands of years. The use of the waters can be traced back to the earliest human settlements in the region. Ancient people, believed to be the ancestors of today’s Native American Tewa tribes, built large pueblos and terraced gardens overlooking the springs. Posi or Poseuinge, “village at the place of the green bubbling hot springs” was home to thousands of people.

In the 1500’s the Spaniards, in their quest for gold and the Fountain of Youth, also discovered the Springs. One explorer’s record cites, “The greatest treasure that I found these strange people to possess, are hot springs which burst out at the foot of a mountain… so powerful are the chemicals contained in this water that the inhabitants have a belief that they were given to them by their gods. These springs I have named Ojo Caliente” (literally translated means “warm eye”, but more commonly known as “hot spring”).

In 1868, Mr. Joseph, now responsible for managing the family business, was also named the first Territorial Representative. It is at this time as well, that Mr. Joseph moved to Ojo Caliente, New Mexico, where he opened Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs as the first natural health spa in the country. Joseph’s Ojo became a hub of activity by providing overnight lodging, a Post Office, and a general store where historical ledgers show Kit Carson frequently purchased supplies.

At Ojo, Mr. Joseph built a sanitarium, which soon became known throughout the country as a place where thousands of invalids were annually cured. Many structures have been built since throughout the decades. The oldest building on record is the Co-ed Bathhouse built in the 1860s; later followed by the Historic Hotel, built in 1916, and the Adobe Round Barn in 1924. All three buildings have been lovingly restored and are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

The famous and the infamous have taken these waters. Volumes of testimonials filled with declarations of miracle cures abound. Whether unproven folklore or not, generations of the faithful continually make the pilgrimage back to these special waters. This remarkable combination of four different types of mineral waters: lithium, iron, soda and arsenic, over 100,000 gallons a day, still come steaming to the surface, revitalizing those who soak in these legendary waters. Pretty nice place now.

Ojo Caliente is the only hot springs in the world with a remarkable combination of four different types of mineral water: lithium, iron, soda and arsenic. Our ten pools are filled with different types and combinations of waters with temperatures ranging from 80-109 degrees.

The Lithia Spring is located at the heart of the springs. The historic pump has been dispensing this unique water since the nineteenth century. Lithium is believed to relieve depression and aid digestion. We took some of this water with us, adults only though!

The Iron Spring: A Native American legend tells that the giant rock in the iron pool guards the place where the ancient people of the mesa once received food and water during times of famine. The warm, iron-rich water bubbles up from the natural pebble floor, providing hot spots to discover in this mystical outdoor cliffside pool. Iron is considered to be beneficial to the blood and immune system.

The Soda Spring: The rock walls in the enclosed Soda ?..steam?.? pool create a soft echo providing a sense of calm and relaxation. Water from the Soda Spring is said to have been used to relieve digestive problems.

The Arsenic Spring: The arsenic water is believed to be beneficial for relief from arthritis, stomach ulcers and to heal a variety of skin conditions. Water from the iron and arsenic springs is blended in various pools throughout the property.

We sampled one of the private soaking areas. Ojo Caliente has created the perfect environment for those yearning to bathe under big blue skies by day, or on a stunning starlit night. The secluded Private Outdoor Pools come complete with kiva fireplaces so you can create your own Ojo experience. The boys became full members of the Confederation of Reformed and Presbyterian Soakers.

Can you say, aaaaaahhhhhh!

The boys burning off some energy doing a little climbing.

We took our evening meal here. It was very good. Well, time to hit the road again. We make it to Alamosa, Colorado late of an evening.

XC 07/2009 KAM - Part I

2010-12-22T19:12:00.012-06:00

Ken, Asa, and Matthew gear up to head cross country for doulos '09 in Eugene, OR.

I wanted to get an early start, but couldn't seem to get it all together and ended up leaving Hattiesburg at about 9 am. Our goal for the day was to visit with Diane and Gary Hitzfeld in Cuero, TX . Cuero is a city in DeWitt County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,571 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of DeWitt County. It is also unofficially known as the "turkey capital of the world" (this is reflected in the school mascot, the Gobblers). In 2010, Cuero was named one of the 'Coolest Small Towns in America,' by Budget Travel Magazine.

We stopped for lunch at Prejean's in Lafayette, LA. Located in the heart of French Louisiana, Prejean's Restaurant captures the hearts of all who visit. A delight to all “six” senses, Prejean’s Restaurant satisfies diners with some of the best cuisine available in the south. In a culture famous for delicious flavors, Prejean’s leads the way.

The staff serves up, not only the fine hospitality expected in the south, but also serves up the succulent seafood dishes which have made Prejean's so famous. Juicy steaks, wild game dishes and world famous gumbos twist from the ordinary into memorable. Traditional music fills the air with the sounds of live Cajun bands entertaining nightly. Prejean ’s showcases the rich culture of our Cajun French heritage. Antique relics grace the walls and rafters.

"Big Al," the fourteen foot alligator once a native of the Louisiana’s Grand Chenier swamp, sits in the middle of the dining room guarding the culinary medals, earned by Prejean's chefs in various culinary competitions held locally, nationally and internationally.

We make it to the Hitzfeld's Three Oaks Ranch, just as the sun was setting.

This is the horse barn.

The guys got to bunk in the ole Hitzfeld Bunk House.

First activity of the day was a little horsing around.

Diane is giving some equine instruction to Matthew.

Seems to have worked.

Hi Yo Chessie

Wonder what Gary is trying to do here?

When the riding is done, the pony gets a massage.

Asa, you are going to help, aren't you?

Our hosts with the mostest!

We head into town to take on some foods, then we search out the Chupacabra. The chupacabras (Spanish pronunciation: [tʃupaˈkaβɾas], from chupar "to suck" and cabra "goat", literally "goat sucker"), is a legendary cryptid rumored to inhabit parts of the Americas. It is associated more recently with sightings of an allegedly unknown animal in Puerto Rico (where these sightings were first reported), Mexico, and the United States (Cuero, Texas), especially in the latter's Latin American communities. The name comes from the animal's reported habit of attacking and drinking the blood of livestock, especially goats.

Phylis Canion, resident of Cuero, Texas, and a former hunter with African experience, along with some neighbors found roadkills near her farm in August 2007 that she believed was mythical, bloodsucking chupacabra. She kept the head of the animal in her freezer. On September 1, 2007 she showed the head to journalists and said that, "It is one ugly creature." The putative Texan chupacabra whose head she had exhibited had big ears, large fanged teeth and grayish-blue, and mostly hairless skin. Earlier Canion said that she had lost some chickens to wild animals recently. Canion based her premise that the animal that killed her chickens was not a coyote, but perhaps the vampire-like beast, because, according to her, chickens weren't eaten or carried off, but, blood was sucked off from them. The alleged sighting had triggered off an international and countrywide craze. Canion started selling $5 T-shirts that read: "2007, The Summer of the Chupacabra, Cuero, Texas." both locally and to foreign countries. The animal found by Phylis Canion was possibly the Mexican Hairless Dog, a rare breed found in Mexico and not the mythical Chupacabra. However, the Texas animal had a much longer snout, shorter front legs, tall ears, and longer tail; the television series Paranatural said that DNA testing indicated that the Texas animal was a hybrid wolf /coyote.

On August 8, 2008, a Dewitt County deputy, Corporal Brandon Riedel, filmed an unidentifiable animal along back roads near Cuero, Texas on his dashboard camera. The animal was about the size of a coyote but was hairless with a long snout, short front legs and long back legs. The footage was clear and in daylight, however the animal was running in front of and away from the police cruiser so it is difficult to discern most of its features; however at one point it briefly looks over its shoulder, revealing what seems to be a very elongated snout. Riedel commented that it didn't seem to be running like a dog or coyote, which run in a more smooth motion, and instead in the footage it is running in a galloping motion. However, Reiter's boss, Sherrif Jode Zavesky, believes it may be a coyote similar to the one identified by Texas State University–San Marcos researchers in November 2007.

Next, we were due to visit the Spoetzl Brewery, which is a small brewery located in nearby Shiner, Texas, USA. Also known as the "little brewery in Shiner", the brewery produces Shiner Bock, a dark beer that is now distributed in 41 states. Our goal was to sample their Shiner 100, which was intended to conclude its centennial beer production in 2009. Unfortunately, we missed the tour and were forced to press on to San Antonio and the Alamo. The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836) was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar (modern-day San Antonio, Texas).

All but two of the Texian defenders were killed. Santa Anna's perceived cruelty during the battle inspired many Texians—both Texas settlers and adventurers from the United States—to join the Texian Army. Buoyed by a desire for revenge, the Texians defeated the Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto, on April 21, 1836, ending the revolution. Several months prior, Texians had driven all Mexican troops out of Mexican Texas. Approximately 100 Texians were then garrisoned at the Alamo. The Texian force grew slightly with the arrival of reinforcements led by eventual Alamo co-commanders James Bowie and William B. Travis. On February 23, approximately 1,500 Mexican troops marched into San Antonio de Béxar as the first step in a campaign to re-take Texas. For the next 12 days the two armies engaged in several skirmishes with minimal casualties. Aware that his garrison could not withstand an attack by such a large force, Travis wrote multiple letters pleading for more men and supplies, but fewer than 100 reinforcements arrived.

In the early morning hours of March 6, the Mexican Army advanced on the Alamo. After repulsing two attacks, Texians were unable to fend off a third attack. As Mexican soldiers scaled the walls, most of the Texian soldiers withdrew into interior buildings. Defenders unable to reach these points were slain by the Mexican cavalry as they attempted to escape. Between five and seven Texians may have surrendered; if so, they were quickly executed. Most eyewitness accounts reported between 182 and 257 Texians dead, while most historians of the Alamo agree that 400–600 Mexicans were killed or wounded. Several noncombatants were sent to Gonzales to spread word of the Texian defeat. The news sparked a panic and the Texian army, most settlers, and the new Republic of Texas government fled from the advancing Mexican Army. Within Mexico, the battle has often been overshadowed by events from the Mexican–American War of 1846–48. In 19th-century Texas, the Alamo complex gradually became known as a battle site rather than a former mission. The Texas Legislature purchased the land and buildings in the early part of the 20th century and designated the Alamo chapel as an official Texas State Shrine. The Alamo is now "the most popular tourist site in Texas". The Alamo has been the subject of numerous non-fiction works beginning in 1843. Most Americans, however, are more familiar with the myths spread by many of the movie and television adaptations, including the 1950s Disney miniseries Davy Crockett and John Wayne's 1960 film The Alamo.

We leave San Antonio and head toward our next destination: Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, but not without some unplanned excitement. Ken was driving in west Texas, when the gas gauge started telling us it was time for fuel. Unfortunately, there were no gas stations. On fumes, I called a halt to our travels and parked the Jeep under an overpass for a little shade.

Here's a plug for AAA Plus. They brought us 6 gallons of gas, with a round trip of 60 miles, all for $3. I sent the boys up ahead to see if there was any gas or anything at the next exit which was about half a mile ahead. The met a native american, who worked at the wind turbine farm, who agreed to bring us some gas. The boys returned triumphantly with the news that help was on the way and that I could cancel the AAA rescue. I thought it best to keep both options open, and it was a good thing too, as the boys new friend never showed. Anyway, AAA showed up with the gas, and we were able to continue on our way.

While we waited, the boys found something to occupy their time, getting 18 wheelers to blow the air horns. Matthew got the bright idea that it would be good to make signals as if we were in immediate need of help, and see if anyone would stop. Despite my telling him not to, he flagged down a good hearted soul. I had to tell our good samaritan that we had help on the way and that Matthew was in big trouble for flagging him down.

Not sure what Matthew is on, but I would like some of it. Well, maybe not.

Tired, and late of an evening, we make it to Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Oregon 07/2008 KAJ - Part IV

2010-12-22T06:54:00.009-06:00

We depart Eugene and the Parkers and begin our round about trek back to Portland.

We stop and take the waters at Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs.

And take a cooling dip in the Cougar Lagoon.

Next stop was Deer Creek Hot Springs. We didn't qualify here.

But Asa did make a new friend, say hello to Floyd!

Next stop was a hike to the Blue Hole.

See why they call it the Blue Hole.

We take a dip here, and it is really, really cold!

We check out some of the nearby lava fields.

One of the Sisters

Somehow, we make our way to Breitenbush Hot Springs.

Our cabin

Good news!

HOT WATER!

Next stop was Bagby Hot Springs.

Asa in the big log.

Bagby's old ranger station.

Asa eliminating all those free radicals.

One of the soaking logs in the Bagby Bath House.

Shower Falls at a camp ground just down the trail from Bagby.

We make our way to Mt. Hood, and the Timberline Lodge.

A WPA project that was completed in 1936.

Mt. Hood

We are scheduled to catch the red-eye flight out of Portland, so in order to freshen up from the days exertions, we kinda steal a shower from the spa at the Timberline and cleaned up very nicely.

Oregon 07/2008 KAJ - Part III

2010-12-22T05:54:00.010-06:00

We said our "good byes" to Ken and Jordan and pitch in to help with some yard work at the Parkers.

The old grass and dirt removed, then new dirt and a sophisticated drainage system goes in.

Eugene has an ordinance that prohibits any rain that falls on new structures (the Parkers new den) from draining off of the roof and into the street and storm drains (as the rain did before the structure was erected).

The end result is that all rain from new structures must be trapped in an underground tank, then pumped into the back yard so that the rain is not allowed to enter the city's storm drains. Go figure.

Well, enough of that, Parker scores 4 (very good) tickets to the Olympic trials, courtesy of the parents of some of his parishioners, who came up from California for the trials. The tickets for the trials had been sold out 24 hours after they went on sale some 2 years before. These folk take their track very seriously. Our tickets were for hurdles and some relays.

Much like the Kentucky Derby, the athletes march into the stadium.

and then came the guys

Even got to see an Ole Miss Rebel participate.

The hurdles are prepared

On your mark

GO

GO

The runners approach the hurdles

As you can tell, we had very good seats at the first hurdle

Up and over

Asa, what up?

The relays had some excitement.

Those guys could really run

Tyson Gay, a sure bet for a gold medal at the Olympics, tumbled to the ground at the start of his 200-meter quarterfinal heat. Running in the seventh lane, Gay was speeding to the lead in the first turn, but on his 14th stride, something went wrong. He went airborne, fell, then laid on the ground in pain, grabbing his left thigh and grimacing. He is down on the track near the race official with the flag.

Tyson had to be carted off the track – this eliminated him for the 200m. He qualified for the 100m the week before so he will compete in that event at the Olympics, but not the 200.

Asa, are you really wearing a Cal t-shirt to an Oregon track meet?

Oregon 07/2008 KAJ - Part II

2010-12-21T19:42:00.011-06:00

We head out of Eugene and up to the mountains to do some exploring.

This is Cougar Reservoir in rare form - full!

We checked out Cougar Hot Springs and did some climbing. The boys got stuck up here and had to be rescued.

The Cougar Lagoon and water fall.

Next stop was Hidden Lake, where all the guys took the plunge.

It is July, but this water used to be snow and ice, just a little while before this.

Found a great camp site and some wonderful burgers.

An old Ranger Cabin at Box Canyon.

Covered Bridge at Wesfir. As we make our way toward Crater Lake through the back country,

we come upon some snow - in July, and a snow ball fight broke out.

That's pretty good form Asa, but I hope you took Jordan out with that snowball.

Asa, I hope you have a plan B.

We arrive at Crater Lake National Park. We were fortunate, the North gate had just opened.

The guys first look at the lake.

Came across a lot more snow (The rim of Crater Lake is at about 7,000 feet)

Another snow ball fight breaks out,

And it looks like Asa is getting the worse of it.

Back to a few pixs of the lake, but with the sun not out, the photos are not up to par with some that I have taken.

Don't back up any guys.

Crater Lake Lodge

The guys on the South Rim.

Upon leaving Crater Lake, we try to make our way through some of the back country.

But snow stopped us at every bend.

We made camp along the bank of this creek.

It was a terrible experience as the mosquitoes ate us alive.

We make it back to Eugene, and the 2008 Olympic Trials are going full steam.

Here we are in downtown Tracktown USA

Us folk who did not have tickets to the track meet were able to watch from this area right next to the track at Hayward Field. Well, Ken and Jordan had to head back to Mississippi, so this part of the trip comes to a happy end.

Oregon 07/2008 KAJ - Part I

2010-12-21T18:46:00.011-06:00

The summer of 2008 finds Ken, Asa, and Jordan making their first trip to Oregon.

If Jordan looks a little nervous, I think this was his first time in an airplane, and in a puddle jumper out of Pine Belt Airport.

Asa, our little punk. Hard to believe he looked this young just 2 1/2 years ago. Well, we arrive in Portland with no incidents, pick up the rental, and head over to the coast.

The Cape Meares Lighthouse

Built in 1890, the Cape Meares Lighthouse served as the light station for Tillamook Bay. When it was built, the lighthouse complex included two keeper's houses, two oil houses, and two cisterns, and was connected to the light by a 1,000 feet (300 m) boardwalk. Later additions included an attached workroom in 1895 and a garage in 1934. The light itself was iron-plated, and due to its exposure to the elements, required frequent repainting over the years. No foghorn was ever installed at Cape Meares. In 1934, the light received electricity. Now unnecessary, the oil houses were removed.

If it looks like a scene out of the movie: The Goonies, it is.

Hey guys, this means: Don't climb over that fence, you might just fall in to the Pacific Ocean.

The Devil's Punch Bowl

The Devil's Punch Bowl is a large bowl naturally carved in a rock headland which is partially open to the Pacific Ocean. Waves enter the bowl and often violently churn, swirl, and foam.

Outside the bowl, ocean conditions are attractive to surfers. The bowl is thought to have been created when two caves carved by the ocean collapsed.

Asa looking for who knows what.

Jordan and Asa checking out the surf or are there some gals sunning down there?

Smile!

We are about to loose our daylight, but we make a quick trip to the Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

Built from 1871 to 1873 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Yaquina Head Lighthouse was automated in 1966 and is currently an active aid to navigation. A two-story keepers' dwelling was built at the time the lighthouse tower and its adjoining oil house were constructed. In 1923, a one-story keepers' house was added a short distance to the east. In 1938, a one-story building replaced the original two-story dwelling. Both dwellings and all outbuildings (a shed, a garage, etc.) were then demolished in 1984. The space is now a grassy area. Yaquina Head typically had three lighthouse keepers under the U.S. Lighthouse Service; a Head Keeper, and First and Second Assistant. The Head Keeper as well as the First Assistant usually stayed in the two-story keepers' dwelling with their families and the Second Assistant was usually a bachelor. In 1939 the U.S. Coast Guard took over the management. During WWII 17 Servicemen were stationed at Yaquina Head keeping a lookout for enemy ships. The lighthouse still uses its original 1868 French-made Fixed Fresnel lens. When darkness overtakes us, we head to the Chowder Bowl and fill up, before heading on in to Eugene and the Parker house.

Next day, we do the usual, starting out at the Burrito Boy.

Then the UofO

One of the athletic department's outdoor practice field.

The indoor football practice facility

The are checking out all the track memorabilia that is left at Pre's Rock.

We spend some time with Parkter at the church.

Oregon 08/2009 Jason - Part III

2010-12-20T21:01:00.013-06:00

On the way to Bend, we make a detour and stop by the Paulina Lakes and take in The Big Obsidian Flow.

The Big Obsidian Flow, created 1,300 years ago, covers 700 acres (2.8 km2). The black, shiny obsidian field is easily accessible from good roads within the caldera, or a trail that traverses the flow.

Obsidian was prized by native americans who used the rock for implements, such as arrowheads and axes.

We get refreshed in Bend.

Then head to Three Fingered Jack.

It is named for its distinctive shape, is a Pleistocene volcano in the Cascade Range of Oregon. The trail is very nice.

Jason on the trail, with our destination in front of us.

It is a deeply glaciated shield volcano and consists mainly of basaltic andesite lava. Compared with other heavily glaciated volcanic peaks such as Mount Washington and Mount Thielsen, which display eroded volcanic necks as their cores, Three Fingered Jack's present summit is a narrow ridge of loose tephra supported by a dike only 10 feet (3.0 m) thick on a generally north-south axis. Radiating dikes and plugs from a series of overlapping cinder and composite cones that support this summit have been exposed by glaciation. The sole glacier is the unofficially-named Jack glacier, located in a shaded cirque on the northeast side at an unusually low altitude for the Oregon Cascades.

The last cone-building eruptions were more explosive in nature than earlier shield-building eruptions, producing mostly unconsolidated strata. Cone-building eruptions ceased before the Pleistocene glacial period, allowing the expanded glacial cover to remove most of the cone.

Sources disagree about who first reached the summit, It was either six boys from Bend, Oregon or members of The Mazamas. Sources agree that the ascent occurred in 1923.

Jason headed down this step scree covered slope and had to really scramble to get out.

This is the glacier.

Three Fingered Jack is located in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness and is not accessible by paved road, but can be approached by the Pacific Crest Trail. It is regarded as extinct and has not been assessed for volcanic hazards.

This is a view of Mt. Jefferson, as we are hiking out. Our next destination, Breitenbush Hot Springs is just on the other side of Jefferson.

The Lodge at Breitenbush. There is also a library and a large room for seminars. This is were we take our vegetarian meals, which are delivered from the Kitchen in this food cart.

This is the Forest Shelter, which is used for classes.

This is the Sanctuary. I believe is is used mostly for yoga and new agey doings.

Our cosy cabins.

Oh, the things one sees while on a walk about:

and

Now, how about some hot water!

The Spiral Tubs

The Cold Plunge

The Sauna

One of the Meadow Pools

Another Meadow Pool

An old hot water source

Well, all good things must come to an end, and we depart for Portland and the airport, but first a little good food.

Oregon 08/2009 Jason - Part II

2010-12-20T19:17:00.011-06:00

Our time in Eugene done, it's time to head up to the mountains and do some camping and hot springing.

Our first stop was at Cougar Hot Springs, officially known as Terwilliger Hot Springs, which are geothermal pools located in the Willamette National Forest in the U.S. state of Oregon, 53 miles east of Eugene. The springs drain into Rider Creek, which in turn drains into Cougar Reservoir. They are located about a quarter mile in from Forest Service Road 19, also known as Aufderheide Memorial Drive. They are managed by Hoodoo Recreation Services. Visitors over the years built up four pools out of river stones. The pools' size ranged from three to twelve feet across and two to three feet deep, that cascade down a hillside. The source is above the topmost pool, where the spring flows out of a rock face at approximately 112 degrees Fahrenheit. Although the pool floors are mostly bedrock, some gravel, sand and debris are at the bottom if the pools haven't been cleaned recently. The springs are often frequented by the residents of nearby Eugene and Bend. The pools were renovated in 2009. A group of volunteers, led by a Eugene-based stonemason, removed concrete and built pools using a natural mortar. The new walls will be more stable and easier for volunteers to clean. The renovated pools, the construction of which cost an estimated $40,000, are expected to last for generations.
Jason qualified as a full member of the Confederation of Reformed and Presbyterian Soakers (CoRPS).

The 2nd and 3rd pools.

Next stop, we cooled off at Hidden Lake.

We did some swimming and sunning here. This log is a neat feature, as it allows you to enjoy the water without having to navigate the muddy banks.

Next stop was to find a camp site and set up for the night. Jason got very adept and unloading and setting up our camp.

Home for the night.

Next day, we break camp and head on over to Crater Lake National Park.

Crater Lake is a caldera lake located in the south-central region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the main feature of Crater Lake National Park and famous for its deep blue color and water clarity. The lake partly fills a nearly 2,148 foot (655 m) deep caldera that was formed around 7,700 (± 150) years ago by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama.

On June 12, 1853, John Wesley Hillman was reportedly the first White to see what he named "Deep Blue Lake" in Oregon. The lake was renamed at least three times, as Blue Lake, Lake Majesty, and finally Crater Lake. While having no indigenous fish population, the lake was stocked from 1888 to 1941 with a variety of fish. Several species have formed self sustaining populations.

Since 2002, one of the state's regular-issue license plate designs has featured Crater Lake. The commemorative Oregon State Quarter, which was released by the United States Mint in 2005, features an image of Crater Lake on its reverse.

The lake is 5 by 6 miles (8 by 10 km) across with an average depth of 1,148 feet (350 m). Its maximum depth has been measured at 1,949 feet (594 m), which fluctuates slightly as the weather changes. This makes Crater Lake the deepest lake that is completely in the United States, the second deepest lake in North America, and the ninth deepest lake in the world.

Being a fan of mountain lodges, this is high on my list. Crater Lake Lodge was built in 1915 to provide overnight accommodations for visitors to Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon, USA. The lodge is located on the southwest rim of the Crater Lake caldera overlooking the lake 1,000 feet (300 m) below. The lodge is owned by the National Park Service, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1909, Steel finally convinced a Portland developer, Alfred Parkhurst, to build a lodge on the rim above Crater Lake. The average winter snowfall at Crater Lake is 533 inches (13.5 m). As a result, the lodge structure was required to carry an extremely heavy snow load for up to eight months every year. Neither Parkhurst or the project’s architects R. L. Hockenberry & Company had experience building structures in a demanding environment like the Crater Lake rim site. In addition, building materials had to be trucked to the site over very poor park roads, and the construction season was limited to only three summer months. These factors combined to slow construction and drive up project costs. To compensate, Parkhurst kept the structure very simple. For example, the exterior was covered in tar-paper and the interior walls were finished with a thin cardboard-like wallboard called “beaver board.” The lodge had no private bathrooms and the only electricity came from a small generator.

In 1967, the National Park Service acquired the Crater Lake Lodge. The lodge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. However, the building continued to deteriorate due to lack of funds. Despite being listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the National Park Service felt restoring the old building was too costly so it was scheduled to be demolished. The decision was later reversed due to public opposition. In 1988, the National Park Service approved a plan to rebuild the lodge as part of the comprehensive Rim Village redevelopment program. In the spring of 1989, just before the lodge was to open for its summer season, structural engineers advised the National Park Service that the Great Hall was unsafe. It was so unstable they feared it might collapse from its own weight, bringing down the rest of the lodge with it. This forced the National Park Service to close the lodge pending renovation. After two years of planning, construction began in 1991. Some original materials were salvaged for reuse, but most of the original building had deteriorated to the point it could not be saved or reused. However, the Great Hall was carefully dismantled. The rest of the building was gutted and a steel support structure, modern utilities and fire suppression system were installed, and guest rooms were upgraded to modern hotel standards.

The renovation was completed in the fall of 1994 at a cost of $15 million. On 20 May 1995, Crater Lake Lodge reopened to the public. Today, visitors to Crater Lake Lodge enjoy modern accommodations in a rustic atmosphere reminiscent of the original 1920 era lodge. The lodge has 71 rooms. Each room provides modern comfort and privacy. The Great Hall has been completely restored. The dining room overlooks the lake and serves northwest regional cuisine. An exhibit room just off the lobby provides information about the history of the lodge, Crater Lake, and the park. The lodge is open from late-May to mid-October.

Of the many colorful volcanic formations in the walls surrounding Crater Lake, The Pumice Castle, on the east wall, attracts the attention of all visitors making the launch trip around the lake, and of many visitors viewing the crater walls from the rim, particularly when the afternoon sunlight emphasizes the pattern of color on the east wall.

Our explorations of Crater Lake come to an end, and it time for a little hot water and a camp site.

Our camp site, located on the bank of the Umpqua River.
It wasn't funny at the time, but after grilling some steaks, we cracked up the camp fire. Shortly after that we were paid a visit by the local Sheriff who informed us of the fire ban and the $5,000 fine, if we didn't get that fire out fast. We got that fire extinguished in a flash.
Several years ago, the bridge across the Umpqua River was determined by the Forest Service as being unsafe, so it was taken down. Before the new bridge was installed in late summer 2010, this log bridge is how you got across the river to the hot springs. Situated on a clifftop perch, Umpqua Hot Springs' view of the North Umpqua River below is one of Oregon hot springs' most memorable. It certainly adds to the soothing pleasure of soaking in this spring.

The Umpqua Hot Springs are geothermal pools located along the Umpqua River in the U.S. state of Oregon at 2,640 feet (800 m) elevation. The main pool is five by eight feet and 110 °F (43 °C), and is covered by a wooden enclosure.

This the covered pool, as it refills.

There are two to three oval pools for soaking above and behind the main, covered pool. The larger pool is tub-like due to the minerals from the spring creating a travertine mound over the centuries that caps the cliffside. The main pool exists sunken into this travertine stone with the view opening like an amphitheater to soakers. The upper, smaller pool is 4 by 5 feet and 112 degrees F; the lower, larger pool is 5 by 8 feet and 110 degrees F. Both pools are 2-3 feet deep and floored with coarse sand.

There are a series of cascading pools that are fed through canals in the travertine.

Use caution when walking around the pools in this area as the wet travertine can be incredibly slippery.

Jason is a very talented soaker.

Our camping done, we break camp and head toward Bend to regroup and plan our next adventure.

Oregon 08/2009 Jason - Part I

2010-12-20T18:51:00.002-06:00

On the eve of Jason having to return to high school for the start of his Junior year (Aug., 2009), he makes an unplanned solo trip across the country. The plan was for his Dad to drop him off at the Memphis airport, where I would arrive on my flight from Hattiesburg, and we would be on the same flight to Portland. We would arrive in Portland, then make our way over to the train station and take the 9 pm Amtrak down to Eugene. Well, my flight was late, and I missed the connection. Jason was a trooper and made the solo flight just fine. I was re-booked through Los Angeles on in to Portland, but I would not arrive until after 10 pm, at which time we would miss our train. Well, Jason's Dad got us a hotel, and to my great surprise, they let a 16 year old check in without an adult. I made it in, late of an evening, and crashed. We could sleep in, as the 1st train to Eugene did not leave until just after noon. So we hop the airport train into town and explore. We stumbled unto the Portland Farmers Market.

The Portland Farmers Market was established in 1992 by three founders – Craig Mosbaek, Ted Snider and Richard Hagan. These three local activists worked with local farmers who wanted to supply fresh produce, meats, and prepared goods to the people of Portland. Marketing costs for classified ads, posters and flyers were a mere $30 that first year. The original market – held in a parking lot at Albers Mill – had 13 vendors on opening day, then grew to 22 that first year. Soon thereafter, the main Saturday market moved to the PSU campus, and a second market was added on Wednesdays in 1997.

The Portland area has the strongest regional food system in the world — a place where: Local food growers and producers prosper by finding local marketplaces for their products.

Every resident has access to high quality, nutritious, locally grown food. Residents understand the value of strengthening the local economy by purchasing locally grown food.

Sustainable farming and local food production expand as more people choose to enter these professions. Farmers markets grow, nourish and inspire community. Portland Farmers Market is playing a central role in creating this food system and in fostering an economically, ecologically and socially sustainable community. We enjoyed a nice Farmers Market lunch here.

We do a little shopping and looking around, very little buying, before heading back to the train station. Did I mention the Pacific Northwest and Portland were in the throws of a heat wave - 100+ temps? Well, it was hot, but if you could stay out of the sun and not move around too much, it was not too bad.

We get our bags checked and start waiting: the train was late due to the heat, seems the excessive heat was feared to cause the tracks to warp if the trains traveled to fast, so all trains were literally moving at a snails pace.

We make the best of it as we wait for our train, and begin asking if we will ever get to Eugene. Lesson learned: don't book the train in advance, so you can use the Greyhound bus as an alternative. As I came to better appreciate the bus service too and from Eugene, I really became a fan of Greyhound.

The Observation Car was pretty neat though.

As we were going through Salem, we saw this strange sight, really can't figure it out.

We finally arrive in Eugene, exhausted. Parker picks us up at the train station and the Jeep has her new lift and new tires. She really looks good.

We crash at the Parkers, and the next day, do the tour of Eugene thing.

The UofO is a stop, where we hit the remaining Animal House venues.

No Eugene tour is complete without a stop at the track at Hayward Field.

And no Oregon Track experience is complete without a stop at Pre's Rock. It is named for Steve Roland "Pre" Prefontaine (b. January 25, 1951 Coos Bay, Oregon – May 30, 1975), who was an American middle and long-distance runner at the UofO. Prefontaine once held the American record in the seven distance track events from the 2,000 meters to the 10,000 meters. Prefontaine died at the age of 24 in a car accident. This rock is the location of that accident. Prefontaine, Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers generated considerable media coverage which helped inspire the 1970's "running boom".
Here is Parker, doing what he does.

Jack and I clowning for the camera.

You always see some out of the ordinary things:

Bumper stickers

Advertisements for local agricultural products.

Strange things for sale, and of course, the Duck Shop, where you pick up your Duck Gear.

CA - Parks - 04/2009 (Part IV)

2010-10-06T20:50:00.006-05:00

After dropping Matthew off in San Diego, I head back north and make my way toward Deep Creek Hot Springs. Most natural hot springs in the state are tucked away in remote canyons or deep forests and call for some serious back country orienting and hiking to uncover. Deep Creek Hot Springs is no exception. It's wedged in a canyon in the arid foothills of Round Mountain, about 10 miles south of Apple Valley. It is a series of outdoor hot spring pools located in a high desert canyon, nestled on the banks of Deep Creek in the Bernardino National Forest.

Hot springs flow directly from fissures in the rocks that line Deep Creek. The 108º mineral water is captured in several volunteer built, rock-lined pools that vary in size and temperature. The main hot pool is right below the source, and several other pools offer bathing opportunities closer to the creek. This area offers a fresh breath of pristine wilderness, and visitors continue to do a great job of keeping it clean.

These natural hot springs are located in the San Bernardino National Forest. The pools were built by volunteers over a period of years and are largely maintained by volunteers in the pristine state you see them in today. The beautiful and unique landscape, the soothing hot spring waters mixing with the cool mountain stream, local custom and tradition make for a wonderful setting to be enjoyed by all. Since the time Native Americans inhabited the area, people from all over the world have come to the Springs to get away, soak, sunbathe, relax, and enjoy the natural environment all year long.

I believe this pool is called The Womb. It is over 6 feet deep and very nice!!!

The next pool is the Wizard Pool.

It's a bout 3 feet deep and just about perrrrrfect. That's me in shadow.

The name of this pool, which is down by the river, escapes me.

My trip is about done, and I head back to LAX for the flight home. Happy trails, I mean soaks.

CA - Parks - 04/2009 (Part III)

2010-10-06T12:17:00.008-05:00

From Death Valley, we make our way up to Bishop, a neat community at the foot of the Eastern Sierra Range, with lots of hot water in the area. The Eastern Sierra is the remote east side of the Sierra Nevada region of California. The desert-like yearly rainfalls compete with small streams draining down from the snow-covered mountains to create a barren land with regions of verdant green. The largest industry in the Eastern Sierra is tourism. Lodging and campsites are plentiful.

Bishop (formerly, Bishop Creek) is a city in Inyo County. Though Bishop is the largest city in Inyo County, the county seat is in Independence. It is located near the northern end of the Owens Valley, at an elevation of 4147 feet (1264 m). The population was 3,575 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Bishop Creek, flowing out of the Sierra Nevada: the creek was named after Samuel Addison Bishop, a settler in the Owens Valley.

The local hot water comes from the Long Valley Caldera, which hosts an active hydrothermal system that includes hot springs, fumaroles (steam vents), and mineral deposits. Hot springs exist primarily in the eastern half of the caldera where land-surface elevations are relatively low; fumaroles exist primarily in the western half where elevations are higher. Mineral deposits from thermal activity are found on an uplifted area called the resurgent dome, at Little Hot Creek springs, Hot Creek Gorge, and other locations in the south and east moats of the caldera.

The Long Valley Caldera is a depression in eastern California that is adjacent to Mammoth Mountain. The valley is one of the largest calderas on earth, measuring about 20 miles (32 km) long (east-west) and 11 miles (18 km) wide (north-south). The elevation of the floor of the caldera is 6,500 feet (2,000 m) in the east and 8,500 feet (2,600 m) in the west. The elevation of the caldera walls reach 9,800-11,500 feet (3,000-3,500 m) except in the east where the wall rises only 500 feet (150 m) to an elevation of 7,550 feet (2,300 m).

The primary thermal area in the Caldera is known as Hot Creek, which has cut into the floor of the caldera and passes through hot springs. The warm water of Hot Creek supports many trout, and is used at the Hot Creek Fish Hatchery. Hot Creek is part of a stream that follows part of a fault line and is well-known for its hydrothermal pools and for the contrast swimmers experience between the cold stream water and either the occasional plume of very hot water (which can scald swimmers' feet and can on rare occasions cause more serious injury) or even long and very strong upwellings of hot water when enough water is in the hydrothermal system. This area has been closed for several years due to increased thermal activity, i.e. people not exercising good sense getting themselves burned in the hot water.

Our first stop is called The Hot Tub. It is a beautiful stone hot tub fed by natural hot springs, located in the Inyo National Forest.

The view from The Hot Tub is really something.

Hot water is carried through PVC piping, from its source to a lovely stone soaking tub. The 5’ x 10’ x 2-foot deep pool is large enough for several friends to share together. The water measured 105º during our visit on a windy day. There is a small area next to the tub that has was smoothed with cement, who ever built this tub even set a tile chess board into the cement as it hardened, although no longer intact. The Hot Tub is a great place to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Next stop is The Crab Cooker. A near boiling source of hot mineral water is used to feed this rock and cement soaking pool, near the edge of Little Alkali Lake. Natural hot water is visible at its source about 50 yards from the tub. A concrete enclosure keeps kids and cows from scalding themselves, from here the water is piped underground to the hot tub. The tub itself measures 8’ x 14’ x 2-feet deep, with stone benches on two ends. The inlet pipe has a valve so bathers can turn it off when the tub is hot enough. It’s always a good idea to turn it off when you leave, otherwise the pool will reach 120º or more, making it hard to reach into the water to adjust the valves. There is also a drain at the opposite end, so bathers can pull the plug and easily clean the pool. Be sure to leave it empty to deter the cows!

As you can tell the tub was in need of a cleaning, which is precisely what I did.

As The Crab Cooker refills, it sure looks much more inviting, but the water temp is over 120, not exactly good for soaking. There is no source of cool water, so you fill it up, then wait for it to cool down. Next stop is Little Hot Creek. Hot springs flow into a hot creek where the water is piped into a concrete soaking tub, probably the least known soaking spot in this area, and the only one fenced off from local cows.

A wide flow of hot water streams with orange algae, as it flows down a gentle grade into pastures. The water is piped through PVC into a concrete soaking tub measuring about 10’ x 14’ and 2-3-feet deep, with tiered benches around the sides. The ingenious folks who made this tub even pressed beer cans into the drying cement to serve as cup holders while you soak. The inflow pipe brings water ranging from 106º – 115º into the tub, and is controllable by closing off the inflow so the water can cool to a comfortable temperature. There is also a drainpipe in the bottom of the tub, so bathers can easily clean it out.

These springs were in need of a cleaning too, so after a good soak, we drained the water and scrubbed it down. While we were here, some folks dropped by who had just visited The Crab Cooker and reported that it was still too hot for soaking.

Our soaking done, we pack up and head back to San Diego to get Matthew back before he is AWOL.

CA - Parks - 04/2009 (Part II)

2010-10-03T08:35:00.021-05:00

With the desert in my rear view, I head to the city to pick up Matthew at the Marine Recruiting Depot, San Diego.

The Marine Corps Recruit Depot (commonly referred to as MCRD) San Diego is a United States Marine Corps military installation. It lies between San Diego Bay and Interstate 5, adjacent to the San Diego International Airport and the former Naval Training Center San Diego. MCRD San Diego's main mission is the initial training of enlisted male recruits living west of the Mississippi River. Over 21,000 recruits are trained each year. The Depot also is the home to the Marine Corps' Recruiter School and Western Recruiting Region's Drill Instructors School.

The buildings are mostly this yellow Spanish style, most dating back to the 30s. Pretty nice duty.

This is Matthew's duty station. He played the trombone in the band.

This is one of my favorites. These are the actual Quonset huts used in the filming of that classic 60s tv show: Gomer Pyle, USMC.

Life on the post seemed good. This is the barracks that Matthew called home.

Yep, barracks life seemed tough: private room and bath. Can't image why he would leave all of this! We depart the city and head out toward Death Valley.

First stop was Tecopa Hot Springs to wash off the trail dust. The springs are a public bathhouse in Tecopa, operated by California Land Management (CLM). Located in the dry desert near the southeastern boundary to Death Valley National Park. Natural hot springs emerge at 118º before being piped into the separate men and women’s bathing areas.

The men’s section has two large cement tubs, both equipped with railings and stairs leading down into the water.

Water temperatures range from 100º – 105º and the pools operate on a flow through basis so no chemicals are needed.

One of the pools is nice and hot, while the other is cooler, relatively speaking that is.

Forgot to mention, Matthew became a member of the Confederation of Reformed and Presbyterian Soakers (CoRPS). Next stop: Death Valley National Park.

Death Valley is the hottest and driest of the national parks in the United States.

The second-lowest point in the Western Hemisphere is in Badwater Basin, which is 282 feet (86 m) below sea level.

Mount Whitney, only 85 miles (137 km) to the west, rises to 14,505 feet (4,421 m). This topographic relief is the greatest elevation gradient in the contiguous United States and is the terminus point of the Great Basin's southwestern drainage. Although the extreme lack of water in the Great Basin makes this distinction of little current practical use, it does mean that in wetter times the lake that once filled Death Valley (Lake Manly) was the last stop for water flowing in the region, meaning the water there was saturated in dissolved materials. Thus the salt pans in Death Valley are among the largest in the world and are rich in minerals, such as borax and various salts and hydrates. The largest salt pan in the park extends 40 miles (64 km) from the Ashford Mill Site to the Salt Creek Hills, covering some 200 square miles (520 km2) of the valley floor.

The park is home to many species of plants and animals that have adapted to this harsh desert environment. Some examples include creosote bush, Bighorn Sheep, Coyote, and the Death Valley Pupfish, a survivor of much wetter times.

Approximately 95% of the park is designated as wilderness. Its wilderness area covers 4,774 square miles (12,360 km2), making it the largest in the Lower 48 states, and the sixth largest in the United States overall.

There are two major valleys in the park, Death Valley and Panamint Valley. Both of these valleys were formed within the last few million years and both are bounded by north–south-trending mountain ranges.

These and adjacent valleys follow the general trend of Basin and Range topography with one modification: there are parallel strike-slip faults that perpendicularly bound the central extent of Death Valley. The result of this shearing action is additional extension in the central part of Death Valley which causes a slight widening and more subsidence there.

Death Valley National Park is visited annually by more than 770,000 visitors who come to see its diverse geologic features, desert wildlife, historic sites, scenery, and clear night skies. Furnace Creek Ranch was originally built as crew headquarters for the Pacific Coast Borax Company. Now, Furnace Creek Ranch is tourist central, providing motel accommodations, eateries, t-shirts, and related tourist stuff. There is a large spring fed (warm) swimming pool here.

Mining was the primary activity in the area before it was protected. The first documented non-Native Americans to enter Death Valley did so in the winter of 1849, thinking they would save time by taking a shortcut to the gold fields of California. They were stuck for weeks and in the process gave the valley its name, even though only one of their group died there. Several short-lived boom towns sprang up during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to exploit minor local bonanzas of gold.

The only long-term profitable ore to be mined, however, was borax, a mineral used to make soap and an important industrial compound. Today, borax is an essential component of high-temperature resistant boro-silicate glass products, for example Pyrex cookware.

Twenty-mule teams were used to transport ore out of the valley; helping to make it famous and the subject of books, radio programs, television series, and movies. Now, seems like a little off roading is in order.

Chloride City is an unincorporated community in Death Valley at an elevation of 4770 feet (1454 m). A fun 4x4 road from the valley floor takes you up to Chloride City and some pretty neat views.

The settlement is a ghost town.

The town was established in 1905 when the Bullfrog, Nevada, gold discovery brought people into the area. Matthew is checking out an abandoned gold mine.

The ghost town contains numerous adits, dumps and the grave of James McKay, of whom nothing is known.

The town also holds the remains of three stamp mills.

One of the abandoned buildings in downtown Chloride.

The entrance to an old mine.

Hard to believe some of these buildings have been here for about a hundred years.

Well, its down the mountain and on to Rhyolite City, which is "one of the most photographed ghost towns in the West."

The town began in early 1905 as one of several mining camps that sprang up after a prospecting discovery in the surrounding hills. During an ensuing gold rush, thousands of gold-seekers, developers, miners, and service providers flocked to the Bullfrog Mining District. Many settled in Rhyolite, which lay in a sheltered desert basin near the region's biggest producer, the Montgomery Shoshone Mine. Industrialist Charles M. Schwab bought the Montgomery Shoshone Mine in 1906 and invested heavily in infrastructure including piped water, electric lines, and railroad transportation that served the town as well as the mine. By 1907, Rhyolite had electric lights, water mains, telephones, newspapers, a hospital, a school, an opera house, and a stock exchange. Published estimates of the town's peak population vary widely, but scholarly sources generally place it in a range between 3,500 and 5,000 in 1907–08. Rhyolite declined almost as rapidly as it rose. After the richest ore was exhausted, production fell. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the financial panic of 1907 made it more difficult to raise development capital. In 1908, investors in the Montgomery Shoshone Mine, concerned that it was overvalued, ordered an independent study. When the study's findings proved unfavorable, the company's stock value crashed, further restricting funding. All three banks in the town closed by March 1910. The newspapers, including the Rhyolite Herald, the last to go, all shut down by June 1912. The post office closed in November 1913; the last train left Rhyolite Station in July 1914, and the Nevada-California Power Company turned off the electricity and removed its lines in 1916. Within a year the town was "all but abandoned",and the 1920 census reported a population of only 14. A 1922 motor tour by the Los Angeles Times found only one remaining resident, a 92-year-old man who died in 1924. After 1920, Rhyolite and its ruins became a tourist attraction and a setting for motion pictures. Most of its buildings crumbled, were scavenged for building materials, or were moved to nearby Beatty or other towns, although the railway depot and a house made chiefly of empty bottles were repaired and preserved.

The Bank. Once most prominent was the three-story John S. Cook and Co. Bank on Golden Street.

The School.

The Bottle House, now that's a good use of old beer bottles! A miner named Tom T. Kelly built the Bottle House in February 1906 from 50,000 discarded beer and liquor bottles.

The Brothel. Hey, it's Nevada after all. Rhyolite had 50 saloons, 35 gambling tables, cribs for prostitution, 19 lodging houses, 16 restaurants, half a dozen barbers, a public bath house, and a weekly newspaper, the Rhyolite Herald. Four daily stage coaches connected Goldfield, 60 miles (97 km) to the north, and Rhyolite.

The sun setting on the mountains, as we leave Death Valley.

CA - Parks - 04/2009 (Part I)

2010-10-01T20:21:00.014-05:00

Well, it has been some time since I have posted any travel news here. Truth is, I haven't been traveling at my usual pace of late, due to some illness. All seem to be on the mend now, and I've just gotten a new computer, so no more excuses.

This trip goes back a while, to a time when my friend, Matthew Parks, was serving in the Marine Corp at the San Diego Recruiting Station. He had a weekend off, and I had a ticket that I had to rebook, for some reason that escapes me now. So it was off to Southern California. Flew in to LAX and picked up my rental - a Jeep Wrangler. I was most pleased to see that it was a Rubicon, so I planned to put it to the test out in the desert.

Matthew has since completed his service and is now enrolled at the University of Southern Mississippi.

First stop was the Beverly Hot Springs, which is not too far from LAX, in order to take the waters and wash off the trail dust.

Originally discovered by an unknown oil wildcatter around the turn of the century and "rediscovered" in 1931, the well's contents sold for drinking water at 10 cents a gallon. Now, many years later, the area boasts a beautiful facility where the public can relax and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of the only natural mineral thermal spa in Los Angeles. The balmy waters of the Beverly Hot Springs gush from a natural artesian well 2,200 feet beneath the earth's surface. The water issuing from the hot spring is heated by geothermal heat, essentially heat from the Earth's interior. Hot springs contain various minerals and elements such as alkaline, radium, sulfur, sodium and alkaline sodium chloride, which have healing properties and health benefits.

There are separate men and women’s facilities that include hot and cold pools, steam and dry herbal saunas, and shower rooms. Natural mineral water is used in all the pools, which operate on a flow through basis so chlorine is never added to the water. Water temperature ranges from 97º – 106º in the hot soaking pools.

My attitude adjusted in a very natural way, the Rubicon and I head for the desert. I really like the desert, when the temps are bearable, i.e. in the winter and early spring. First stop is an interesting springs known as the Slab City Warm Shower, for what will soon be obvious reasons.

Upon arrival, you are greeted with the inviting sign. Wonder what you are being asked to stay away from?

Interesting, but I did not qualify here.

Slab City was once Camp Dunlap, a WWII military barracks. After the war, the camp was dismantled, leaving the concrete foundations or "slabs." It appears there are more or less 3 groups of people that inhabit the Slabs from time to time. There are snow birds, usually retired people that live in places with cold winters (and flee them for warmer climates-hence the name), have higher-end RVs, and have some sort of pension or retirement income. Some snow birds come to the slabs year after year for the free camping. Then there are the free-spirited traveler types. These are people that are attracted to the culture and freedom of the slabs, but like the gypsy lifestyle, and will come and go on a whim, possibly visiting year after year, but not necessarily becoming lifers. Lastly, but most importantly there are the residents. They call Slab City home. It's their primary residence. They have carved out for themselves a life there. They don't like going into town. Slab City is their world and they aren't going back. Some live there year round, braving the high temps, but most of them do stay somewhere else for the hot summer months. Quite a few people are know by clever nicknames: Builder Bill built the Range, Solar Mike has a solar panel business, Beatles Mike, etc.

Just down the road, I found the Slab City Hot Springs. That's my ruby behind some of the abandoned drilling equipment. Seems they must have been drilling for oil and hit hot water. A memory was jogged here, and it took me awhile to connect the dots. Also, there's something odd in the top right of the photo. More later.

This is the rather muddy (and that is an understatement) hot springs. Hey, it's in the desert and it is water.

I qualified here, and it was a better soak than it looked like at first. Not a great soak, but it is deep and just the right temp. Now, back to that strange memory. After my soak, it hit me that this area was used in the filming of the movie "Into the Wild." It was used to depict the "Oh My God" hot springs that is described in the book. They could not use the real OMG springs because the State or the Feds had bulldozed the place after filling up the springs with concrete. Now, if you saw the movie, you might have an idea of what is off in the distance: Salvation Mountain.

Salvation Mountain is a colorful art installation covering much of a small hill near Slab City and just several miles from the Salton Sea. It is made from adobe, straw, and thousands of gallons of paint. It was created by Leonard Knight to convey the message that "God Loves Everyone." Knight refused substantial donations of money and labor from supporters who wished to modify his message of universal love to favor or disfavor particular groups.

There are all sorts of relics on the grounds, most defy explanation or comments, so I will just share the photos.

Knight lives full-time at the site in a small cabin mounted on the rear of a 1930s-vintage Chevrolet two-ton truck. Like Salvation Mountain, Knight's "Salvation Truck" and a collection of other vehicles and machinery are entirely covered with paint and Biblical quotes. Enjoy the slide show.

And here it is: Salvation Mountain

Steps cut into the side of the hill lead to the summit, which is topped by a cross.

Salvation Mountain also features many large straw bale and adobe walls supported by a matrix of logs enclosing several cave-like spaces.

Here are the birds that were seen in the movie.

He estimates that more than 100,000 gallons of paint have gone into the creation of the mountain and that every California-based paint manufacturer has donated paint to the project.

Friendly and accessible, Leonard welcomes visitors to Slab City and Salvation Mountain and gladly accepts donations of both labor and arcylic paint. I wish I had taken him up on his offer to have breakfast in Niland. Once labeled an environmental hazard, the hill was threatened with removal by Imperial County. In recent years, the furor seems to have died down and the project has been likened to an epic work of folk art comparable to the Watts Towers. Although the project is an unauthorized one on state land, Salvation Mountain was placed under protection in 2002 when Senator Boxer entered it into the Congressional Record as a national treasure.

Next stop was Five Palms Hot Springs. Wonder how they came up with that name? The springs are under the palms.

The water makes it way to the surface through the pipe in the middle of the pool. Really good soak here. Nice, clear hot (really just warm) water and shade in the desert, aaaahhhhh!

Oh well, all good things must come to an end, and so it was with this soak.

Now, it's back to the city to pick up Matthew.

OR - Spring Break Tour - 03/2010

2010-04-20T19:41:00.013-05:00

Jason, Asa, and I fly out on Saturday, got to Eugene - late of an evening, made it to Services at Cascade Presbyterian, then it was to the mountains for some hot water at Terwilliger/Cougar Hot Springs.

Next day, we got fuel for the body at Burrito Boy, then it was on the road to Breitenbush Hot Springs. First stop was Clear Lake, where we hiked to the spring (cold) that is the source of the McKenzie River.

We made it to Breitenbush and promptly wash away the trail dust at the Spiral Tubs, where each tub is a different temperture - from warm, to warmer, to hot, to very hot.

After getting one's core body temp up, it's time to cool off in the cold plunge. This is where all those free radicals are eliminated.

We had a great soak in one of the Meadow Pools.

Also, we took a steam in one of the all time most awesome saunas.

I told the boys they could trim my beard however they wanted to, and this is what they (mostly Asa) did to me.

I'm not sure this is a good look for me.

We head back to Eugene and take in the Oregon Duck athletic training facilities.

The Treatment Area.

The Taping Area.

The Weight Room.

A tourist moment. We were due to pick up Jason's Dad in Portland, but he wasn't able to join us, as he only reserved an itinerary and forget to go ahead and buy his ticket. As a result, we got extra shopping.

We headed back to the mountains and stop for a quickie soak at Umpqua Hot Springs.

These springs are perched on a bluff overlooking the Umpqua River.

Jason is enjoying the waters at Umpqua.

Next stop was Fort Rock.

Asa couldn't resist doing a little climbing.

Next stop was The Crack in the Ground.

Asa did some more climbing.

Asa and Jason managed to climb out of the Crack.

And we were ready for some more hot water.

Summer Lake Hot Springs was our destination.

We enjoyed the soaking at the bath house.

And the outside soaking pool. The boys tried their hand, unsuccessfully, at cow tipping. All soaked out, we start making our way back to Portland for our flight home.

We stopped in Bend for elk burgers and an adult beverage (at least I had one).

Then we stopped at Smith Rock and watched some real climbers.

Asa didn't try any climbing here.

Well, here we are.

Right down the road, we stop at the Crooked River Gorge.

Pretty neat.

It was hard to get the guys to give a good pose for pics, but they did ok here.

We made it on in to Portland, got checked in to our hotel, turned the truck back in, took the train downtown for Chinese food. We stopped at The China Republic Cafe, which has been in business for a very long time and was very good (and I don't like Chinese food), then it was on to VooDoo Donuts. We got to see some strange sights, as it was past 10 pm, and the secret, you know, is in the hole! Asa's flight has a 2 and 1/2 hour delay in Salt Lake City, so we missed our flight to Gulfport and had to spend the night in Atlanta. The next day, all seats to Gulfport, Hattiesburg and Jackson were full, but we got seats to Meridian, where Momma and Bettye picked us up.

OR - Outback Tour - 08/2009

2010-03-01T14:34:00.012-06:00

Headed out of Eugene on an extended camping trip to the Oregon Outback.

Most trips begin and end with a stop by Cougar (Terwilliger) Hot Springs. They are geothermal pools located in the Williamette National Forest, located about 53 miles east of Eugene. The springs drain into Rider Creek, which in turn drains into Cougar Reservoir They are located about a quarter mile in from Forest Service Road 19, also known as Aufderheide Memorial Drive. Visitors over the years built up four pools out of river stones. The pools' size ranged from three to twelve feet across and two to three feet deep, that cascade down a hillside. The source is above the topmost pool, where the spring flows out of a rock face at approximately 112 degrees Fahrenheit. Although the pool floors are mostly bedrock, some gravel, sand and debris are at the bottom if the pools haven't been cleaned recently.

Next stop was Crack in the Ground

Crack in the the Ground is a volcanic fissure over two miles long and up to 70 feet deep in central Oregon. The eruptions from the Four Craters Lava Field were accompanied by a slight sinking of the older rock surface. This shallow, graben-like sink is about 3 kilometers wide and extends to the south into an old lake basin. Crack-in-the-Ground marks the western edge of this small, volcano-tectonic depression. The crack is the result of a tension fracture along a hingeline produced by the draping of Green Mountain lava flows over the edge of upthrown side of the concealed fault zone.

Next stop was Summer Lake Hot Springs.

Summer Lake Hot Springs is found in one of the most unique, picturesque landscapes in the Pacific Northwest, Lake County, Oregon, which is among the few truly unspoiled places on earth. Part of the Great Basin region of the United States, Lake County is home to numerous large alkali lakes. At the south end of one of these, Summer Lake, lies ancient artesian hot mineral springs.

The timber frame and corrugated metal structure was built in 1928 surrounding the large hot mineral pool, providing year round comfort for soaking and healing. The 106 - 113 degree spring fills the pool through a 4-inch pipe, which many find therapeutic to stand underneath, allowing the hot mineral water to fall upon necks and shoulders, melting away tension for a deep therapeutic healing.

The Outback Tour continues on to Hart Mountain Hot Springs.

Hart Mountain (s/k/a Antelope) are natural hot springs located in southeastern Oregon, northeast of the community of Plush. The springs emerge at 104 °F in a semi-improved, accessible location suitable for camping within the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. The pool is about 5 feet deep and 9 by 12 across. The pool can accommodate six people. Reportedly a rancher noticed some water bubbling from a rock and blasted it with dynamite resulting in a hot spring pool.

Well soaked, I'm off to the Steens Mountain, which is a large fault-block mountain in the southeastern part of Oregon. Located in Harney County, it stretches some 50 miles (80 km) and rises from an elevation of about 4,200 feet above the Alvord Desert to its peak at 9,733 feet. It is sometimes confused with a mountain range, but is properly a single mountian. The east face of the Steens Mountain is almost entirely comprised of basalts stacked one upon another. Staggering amounts of magma, with several flows hundreds of feet deep, inundated the region.

The Alvord Desert from the top of the Steens Mountain.

Now on to Fields and Borax Hot Springs. Borax Lake and the nearby string of hot springs are one of the most unusual geothermal areas in Oregon This spring is not suitable for soaking as it is about 160 degrees but is a Yellowstone quality hot spring.

A string of more than a dozen hot springs that march north along a fault line in the Oregon desert. The thermal water from the southernmost hot springs creates a five-acre warm-water lake. The hot pools march single file along an imaginary line that follows a geologic fault beneath the desert’s surface.

Borax Lake has superheated, 196-degree F water that gushes up through vents in the bottom of Middle Borax Lake, cooling as it disperses, to a temperature in the mid-80s that varies in different parts of the lake and times of year. It’s a modest lake, only about 300 feet across, and only a foot or so deep until you’re well out from shore. The center is quite deep and very pleasant swimming on a warm day.

Now it was on to Three Forks Hot Springs.

Without a doubt, Three Forks in southeastern Oregon is one of the finest hot spring I have ever visited.

It is not close to anywhere, so it isn't a trip to take on a whim. Three forks of the Owyhee River flow together about 40 miles south of the nearest pavement. Even without the presence of the hot springs, this area is worth a trip. It's simply beautiful!

I was there in August--a good time, since the river was low and it's necessary to ford the river to get to the best springs.

Next, it was on to Whitehorse Hot Springs.

Whitehorse or Willow Creek Hot Springs is a muddy bottomed, 4 ft deep pool that's about 9 feet wide. There are some natural rock steps and concrete/rock divider that creates two pool with slightly different temperatures.

Use of Alvord Hot Springs is free and open to the public year round, though they are on private property. Maintenance is volunteered by local residents and all visitors are encouraged to help keep the springs clean.

Those are washing machine tubs, which are used to sit on to enjoy the waters.

Crossing back over the Cascades at McKenzie Pass, gives one a view of the Sisters and the lave field.

OR - Ricky/Dan - 05/2009 - Day 6

2009-10-25T08:15:00.009-05:00

We have a day left to explore before we make our way to the airport.

Silver Falls State Park is a state park, located near Silverton, about 20 miles east-southeast of Salem. It is the largest state park in Oregon with an area of more than 9,000 acres, and it includes more than 24 miles of walking trails, 14 miles of horse trails, and a 4-mile bike path. Its 8.7-mile Canyon Trail/Trail of Ten Falls runs along the banks of Silver Creek and by ten waterfalls, from which the park received its name. Four of the ten falls have an amphitheater-like surrounding that allows the trail to pass behind the flow of the falls.

The park's most visited waterfall is South Falls, a 177-foot cascade.

Next stop was Mount Hood.

We make it up to the Timberline Lodge at 6,000 fee and get a great view of Mount Jefferson.

The grand ole Timberline Lodge.

The front portico, with that ugly (and temporary) quonset hut to keep the snow off of the front door. A new one is planned but has not been put into service yet. After snow melt, this thing is removed.

Our room, before we get moved in.

The lobby.

Some artwork.

The Blue Ox Bar.

Horse Tail Falls.

Multnomah Falls.

Loutrell Falls.

The Columbia River Gorge.

Vista House.

OR - Ricky/Dan - 05/2009 - Day 5

2009-10-05T08:03:00.012-05:00

Enough of that lava, we have places to go,

beer to drink, and hot water to enjoy.

We make our way to Breitenbush Hot Springs.

The Breitenbush River

The Lodge and Dinning Room

The Buffet

(all vegetarian, with accommodation for vegans)

The food cart

It was Memorial Day weekend, and there were no cabins available

So we had to take a tent

The Sanctuary

Mary

?

Even Republican are welcome!

The Spiral Tubs (f/k/a the Medicine Wheel tubs)

Hot

Cold

An old hot water source

and another

One of the Meadow pools

Another Meadow pool

The Sauna

Composing

Some neat hiking trail bridges

and another one

This is what they cross over

OR - Ricky/Dan - 05/2009 - Day 4

2009-10-05T07:38:00.006-05:00

We head out and are in search of lava.

Dan getting ready to enter the Lava Tube

A lava tube opening

Don't look back!

We're in

Despite this confident look, Ricky is really quite afraid of being underground

How about a little ice for your drink?

Next it was on to the Lava Lands.

This is the Lava Butte

Dan the Lava Man

Next stop was the Lava Forest.

Yep, a tree was in this hole

OR - Ricky/Dan - 05/2009 - Day 3

2009-10-05T07:09:00.007-05:00

We begin our second day on the Coast and continue our trek southward.

The mouth of the Devil's Churn.

Dan practicing his benediction.

Ricky on the edge of the Devil's Churn.

A few elk in the Coastal Mountains.

Crater Lake

Cloud reflection day at Crater Lake

Dan and Ricky on the rim.

Wizard Island

Mount Thielson

More deep thoughts

OR - Ricky/Dan - 05/2009 - Day 2

2009-10-04T08:28:00.007-05:00

We make our way from the mountains to the coast and start the day at the Sleepy Monk, a place of comfort to seminarians.

Then it was on to Cannon Beach

and Haystack Rock.

We head down the 101 and stop for a little hike on the clifs.

Really nice views.

A close up shot.

Was time for fuel, so we stopped here for chowder.

The food was great, and the show was even better.

This man could shuck an oyster so fast, your eyes tricked you into thinking it was video on fast forward.

We also made the obligatory stop at Tillamook Cheese factory and ran into Lisa and Paul Barnett from Cascade Presbyterian in Eugene.

Our next stop was the Cape Mears Lighthouse.

The top of the lens.

The lighthouse flags.

I think this pic is near Depoe Bay.

The Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

The Devil's Punch Bowl.

Time for supper at Local Ocean. MMMMMmmmmmm Gooood.

This is what you feel like doing after supper.

One of the Oregon Coast's really neat bridges.

OR - Ricky/Dan - 05/2009 - Day 1

2009-06-13T21:08:00.007-05:00

Dan graduates from Reformed Theological Seminary, and Ricky completes his campus course work. In recognition, we head for Oregon.

Mount Hood from our plane, as we approach Portland. We land, collect our belongings, try to find some Chowder (a failure), and head into the mountains and some hot water.

We make our way toward Estacada and Bagby Hot Springs.

This is the main soaking area at Bagby, with the source to the left and the bath house on the right.

We got in a nice soak at the communal tubs.

We filled one log up with cold water for a cold plunge.

We spent some time with Bullet here, listening to his tales of being shot numerous times - hence the name.

The back side of the soaking area.

Dan and the big tree.

Ricky thinking depth thoughts.

Bullet is telling me about his most recent mission. Bullet is explaining how he is a "Sickle Sell, Single Soldier, Black Ops Agent.

You meet the most interesting people in Oregon!

Hog Kill! - Warning Graphic Photos

2009-06-10T16:57:00.008-05:00

I'm fairly new to hunting hogs. Started in January, helping a friend eliminate the pests from his timberland.

At dusk on Sunday (June 7, 2009), I killed my first pig in Jones County, Mississippi. This 225 lb sow was heavy with piglets. I used my Benelli M4 shotgun (3 in mag. 00 buckshot), with a little help from my .44 mag. S&W Mountain Gun.

I first became aware of the problem with wild hogs this past winter, while deer hunting on a friend's farm in Jones County, Mississippi. In short, the pigs were interfering with the deer and their rooting was damaging the land. The landowner wanted them eliminated, and this began my education in hog hunting.

At first, our efforts were haphazard at best. Asa, my cohort in crime, took a 150 lb sow in February with a head shot from about 10 feet, but nothing since and very few live sightings, despite our best efforts and a lot of evidence that the pigs were there and active. By the way, this pig provided some very tasty meat.

With the end of deer season in February, we contacted our Game and Fish folks and obtained a special permit to hunt hogs at any time, with or without lights, and with any weapon.

We discovered early on that we needed good intelligence, but the game cameras were spent after a hard deer season. The cams were returned to Cuddeback and were replaced with new ones. With the new cams, we started trying to figure the pigs out. With good intelligence, we started learning about our hogs.

We were able to identify two different groups. One group consisted of 3 medium sized sows with about 8 almost yearling piglets. The second group was a couple of medium sized sows. We only have a couple pics of our boar, but he is a nice one, probably about 300 lbs. We started charting our pigs and what times and where there came out. With this good information, we prepared a couple of areas to hunt, a ground blind and a tree stand.

After determining that our hogs were coming out at dusk, we got to our stands about an hour and a half before sunset this past Sunday (June 7, 2009). There was not much activity other than bugs and frogs. By the way, those ThermaCELL units really work. At about 8:40 pm, the light was almost gone, and the almost full moon was not out yet. Out of the shadows, I saw a dark shape moving toward my tree stand. I could tell it was a big pig, but not much else. We have a couple of bait spots here, and I was hoping that the hog would take a turn and head for one of them, which would give me an easy shot. My pig passed up both opportunities, and I had just a few seconds to take my shot. I decided not to use my light, as I was not able to get off a shot using it the week before. I could just make out the solitary shape moving to my left at about 50 feet and let go with four (4) quick rounds from my Benelli M4 Shotgun (3 in mag. 00 buck shot). Immediately, after my shots, I heard this blood curdling squealing. I turned my light on, and I had a pig on the ground. And it was a big one. With all the squealing, it was obvious that my hog was trying to get up and run. I put two (2) more rounds of buck shot into her and this seemed to stop her efforts to get up. I climbed down from the stand and went over to check on my hog. She was immobile, but still very alive. Looked like her back was broken and left shoulder was out of commission. I finished her off with my .44 mag S&W Mountain Gun. We hauled her back to to the barn to weigh and dress her. She weighed out at 225 lbs and was probably a week or so away from producing another litter of piglets. Asa took on the cleaning duties, his first pig to dress out. He soon learned that the buck shot had done its work on the pig, leaving little usable meat. Since eliminating the hogs was our primary goal, not meat, we decided to pass on further dressing. At almost 11 pm, with no supper and the heat, we were pretty spent too.

Dead pig on the ground!

Asa and I get the sow weighed.

She has some tusks starting to grow.

Sam and his pig.

Asa taking a shoulder off.

Asa doing a little skinning.

Asa did this to me, while I was getting the word out.

This is the hog after the buzzards had worked their magic on her.

Colorado - 04/2009 Valley View

2009-05-29T05:46:00.006-05:00

Planned a long weekend in Colorado and had dinner in Denver with Jeannie and Max Taylor, their boys, and Jamie Smith, before racing out of Denver to avoid a snow storm and head down to Valley View.

Got settled in the Oak House

and took note of some of the other housing options.

Enjoyed taking the waters.

at the Waterfall Pool,

the Party Pool,

the Swimming Pool,

and the hot pool.

Sweated out all those toxins in the Sauna.

and cooled off in the unique cool plunge below and eliminated all those free radicals.

Orcas Island - 02/2009 Doe Bay

2009-05-29T05:03:00.010-05:00

Enjoyed a nice long weekend on Orcas Island. Access is by the Washington State Ferry, with some relatively rare snow.

Arrived at Doe Bay in due time.

And got checked in.

This is the Office, General Store, and Cafe, from the front and rear.

Doe Bay Resort and Retreat is a unique alternative to the traditional destination resort. On over thirty-three acres of pristine waterfront property,

they have a variety of accommodations in a rustic, down-to-earth environment.

You can start the day with yoga practice in the studio and a trip to the soaking tubs and sauna,

take a guided kayak trip in the afternoon and have a delicious meal in the waterfront café,

hike in nearby Moran State Park and then read about the things you've seen in the Otter Lodge, our guest lounge and library,

or surf with free Wi-Fi.

Oregon 12/2008 Clif - Day 10

2009-05-20T06:17:00.006-05:00

Our flight home gets canceled due to the snow storm in the Portland area, so we get an extra day with the Parkers. We decide to head to the mountains and try to make it to Cougar Hot Springs to take the waters, but first, we take on fuel at the Burrito Boy.

Jack gets invited to go with the guys on the condition that he keep quiet and not ask a lot of questions. That's pretty hard for him.

We make it to Cougar Reservoir, and there is lots and lots of snow.

The road past the Dam is not plowed, and the road was not passable.

We met a man who was trying to get his dump truck out. Besides this 4x4 truck with some good lift, he had a backhoe to try to clear the way.

We had to turn back, as it was too much for the Hummer. I don't think the man was able to get his dump truck out either.

Traveling in the mountains in the snow, one always comes across trees across the road.

We came across this neat rig.

And spent some time visiting with him.

Jack gets to play in the snow.

We stop at Belknap Hot Springs and look around.

And get a good view of the McKenzie River.

We make it back to Eugene and make a stop for supplies to take home with us.

We make it to Portland for our rescheduled flights, via Alaska Airlines. Clif and I were not on the same flight. Clif went home via Los Angeles, and I went home via Las Vegas.

Oregon 12/2008 Clif - Days 8 & 9

2009-05-20T05:09:00.008-05:00

Hayward Field at the University of Oregon is one of the best-known historic track and field stadiums in the United States. It was the home of Oregon's football team from 1919-67, and has been the home to the Ducks' Track and Field teams since 1921. Hayward Field was named after the Oregon Ducks first track coach, Bill Hayward, who ran the Ducks' program from 1904 to 1947.

In 1970, the track was widened to eight lanes and converted to an all-weather surface. The track converted to the metric system in 1988, its length changing from 440 yards (402.336m) to 400 meters. One of the most modern scoreboards of the time was added in 1991, which gave unofficial times and places of competitors seconds after they finished.

After a donation by Bill Bowerman, UO's longtime track coach and co-founder of Nike, the 15,000-square-foot Bowerman Building was added to the northwest of the track, housing locker rooms, U of O track memorabilia and the university's International Institute for Sport and Human Performance.

A major renovation began in 2004, adding a new entrance named Powell Plaza, moving the practice track and expanding it to 400 meters, and replacing the aging fencing bordering the complex, among other improvements. With news that Eugene would host the US Olympic Trials in 2008, Hayward Field underwent more renovation in 2007. Eight light poles were installed, allowing for televised night events. The crowned infield was removed and reconfigured, and a walkway behind the west grandstand was added. A new scoreboard was installed thanks to a generous donation by Phil Knight and Nike. See Asa's July, 2008 adventures for more on the 2008 Olympic Trials.

Hayward Field played itself in a fictionalized staging of the Olympic trials for the 1982 film, Personal Best and in the 1998 biography of Steve Prefontaine, Without Limits.

We reward ourselves at Prince Pückler's Ice Cream. My tummy was assuaged with homemade ice cream from local creamery Prince Pückler's. Because of the umlaut over the first "u" it's amusingly pronounced kinda like "puke-lers". But puke you will not, because that was some fine ice cream.

Pückler's has been making homemade ice cream in Eugene since 1975. They have a much more enticing and interesting lineup of flavors than your typical 31 Flavors or Coldstone, from the old standards Vanilla, Chocolate, and Mint Chip to Pumpkin, Oregon Bing Cherry, Eggnog, and an incredible-sounding concoction called "Velvet Hammer" that I think involved caramel, chocolate, and local espresso. I wish they were open for breakfast. That's how I'd like to start my day.

It's a good thing I don't live in Eugene, because the desire to sample most of the other flavors would overcome my good sense and do severe damage to my sugar.

The President likes Pückler's too.

Worship at Cascade is next on our agenda. Cascade Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and a member of the Pacific Northwest Presbytery which is the collection of PCA churches in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska.

All are welcome regardless of personal or religious background. Cascade is here for the unconvinced, the lost, the found, the burned, bored, cynical, spiritual. We invite you, no matter where you are in the process, to explore, grow with and experience Cascade.

This Communion Table was dedicated to Elder John de Bruin. It is a beautiful table and always gives me pause to remember my friend, elder, and Churchman.

Davina and the new piano.

Kyle leading God's people in Worship.

Cascade is reaching out to the students at the University of Oregon.

Kyle, Molly, and Clif fueling up at City Brewery after Worship.

A rare photo of Gretchen at City Brewery.

Clif and Jack.

Molly, doing what she does.

Scary Sam and Jack.

Oregon 12/2008 Clif - Day 7

2009-05-16T19:43:00.006-05:00

We make our way through the mountains to Eugene and meet up with the Cascade Presbyterian guys for Pub Night at City Brewery.

Eugene City Brewery is an artisan varietal brewery founded in October of 2004. Previously known as the West Brothers BBQ and then the Dive Bar & Grill, the location has its roots in the original historic Eugene City Brewery, established in 1866. Outside seating, pizza and 35 beers on tap including Rogue Ales, Track Town Honey Orange Wheat, 100 Meter, 200 Meter, and Triple Jump.

Bryce, Kyle (the larger), Kyle (the smaller), and Clif

Did I mention that the sell good beer here?

The Kobe burgers are just about the best. Kobe refers to beef from the black Tajima-ushi breed of Wagyu cattle, raised according to strict tradition in, Japan. Kobe beef is renowned for its flavour, tenderness, and fatty well-marbled texture. Kobe beef can be prepared as steak, ground hamburger patties and more.

Next morning, Clif and I head to the Coast, but stop for a little breakfast nourishment at Burrito Boy.

We make it to the Coast and check out some of the sand dunes. This is about the most northern part of the Oregon dunes. America's answer to the grand Sahara nestled between the Oregon's Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

Next stop was the Sea Lion Caves. Very touristy.

The caves were full of sea lions and there was a view of Heceta Head Lighthouse.

Next stop, the Heceta Head Lighthouse.

Coming down from the 101, Clif and I got to get close to the Pacific.

We were able to do some rock scrambling because the tide was out.

Clif on the rocks. It was a cold and rainy day on the Oregon Coast.

On the west side of 1,000-foot-high Heceta Head, 205 feet above the ocean, the lighthouse is one of the most photographed on the coast. The light at top of 56-foot tower was illuminated in 1894; the automated beacon, seen 21 miles from land, is rated as the strongest light on the Oregon coast.

The historic assistant lighthouse keeper's house (Heceta House; built 1893) offers bed and breakfast rentals and facilities for group events.

We continued on up the Coast to Cape Perpetura.

Situated between Newport and Florence along Highway 101, Cape Perpetua is a typical Pacific Northwest headland, forming a high steep bluff above the ocean. At its highest point, Cape Perpetua rises to over 800 feet (240 m) above sea level. From its crest, an observer can see 70 miles (110 km) of Oregon coastline and as far as 37 miles (60 km) out to sea on a clear day. It continually draws visitors with incredible views, magnificent forests, and all-out beauty in many forms. Encompassing approximately 2700 acres of land, the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area boasts twice the botanical mass, per square acre, as the Amazon jungle in South America.

A day of touring about done, we stop for fuel and beer. Clif is working on that bread bowl of Clam Chowder. I remember when I could enjoy one of those.

I got the Slumgullion, which is Clam Chowder with bay shrimp, mmmm good.