Geography and Geology

Saturday, 29 August 2009

Road Trip Day 10

First things first, last night's motel in Medford was lovely. It had old school charm on the outside with clean, comfortable and smart interiors. With the helpful staff too made this one of my favourite stays so far.

Phone Blues

OK, this is my second pass at this paragraph. The first was way too long so here's the short version...

I have a new handset. I have kept the same number. Brenda at Radio Shack and the staff at Mobile Madness of Medford rock and saved my ass and all my saved numbers. Also, the Old Farmhouse Dinner on the corner of Court and Riverside make delicious Potato Cakes, but the service is slow.

Quick Stop

By the time my phone issue was sorted and breakfast eaten it was midday so I put the pedal to the metal and drove towards Crater Lake National Park. I made one quick stop on the way at Rogue River Gorge, an area where the river cuts down through ancient lava flows in a very beautiful, deep little gorge. The water is crystal clear and so cool you can feel the air chill as you get closer.

Straight Out of the Text Book

I didn't have anyone to lead me to the edge blindfolded, so I did my best to barely glimpse at the lake until I was parked. Then I carefully picked my spot, walked to the low wall staring at the ground before looking up to take my first look down at Crater Lake.

Until today Crater Lake was a diagram from my school and college days studying Geography and Geology. It was a cross section of a volcano which a solidified plug and a blue hashed area indicating water in the resulting bowl shaped section.

Today I was confronted with the reality and it is very, very different. For a start it's not a cross section. The lake itself is the most extraordinary shade of blue and it's just so huge, being 6 miles wide at the widest point. The rim stands high above the lake with lookouts all around. I was left breathless and just a bit teary.

This first view was brief though as I had enquired about hikes and drives and the ever-helpful information desk attendant had let me know there was a Ranger lead hike to a viewpoint for sunset. I left the park and drove down to my motel at tiny Fort Klamath.

Off the Grid

Fort Klamath is the first settlement south of the park and consists of half a dozen houses, a general store and two motels. I'm at the Aspen Motel and it's very pretty indeed and very remote from everything. There's no phone signal, no WiFi and only 1 channel on the TV. In a way, it'll be nice to be off the grid for a couple of days, especially in these stunning surroundings.

Sunset

I drove back into the park in good time for the start of the walk. There was a group of about 20 and our cordial Ranger arrived to lead the way and regale us with Native American stories of the origins of the lake and the surrounding mountain ranges. She was very sweet and a great story teller, though I confess I became mildly distracted when I realised that the person she reminded me strongly of was Michael J. Fox... but in the good way.

The sunset was beautiful with pretty cloud formations for the light to bounce off. I'll add this memory to those of sunsets in Monument Valley, Grand Canyon and the South Downs.

On the way back down from our vantage point high up on the rim I got chatting with one of the group. We exchanged stories of sights seen and of travelling solo. Thanks Remy, (apologies if spelt wrong) it was a pleasure to meet you.

Now, after a dinner which is best forgotten it's time for me to turn the one TV channel off and hit the hay.

Goodnight.

View Driving Day 10 in a larger map

Stats - Day Thirty-Six

Distance travelled - 105 Miles - Medford to Fort Klamath via Rogue River Gorge and Crater Lake.

State count - 17 + DC

Room numbers stayed in - 203, 1, 148, 212, 205, 210, 246, 118, 3