“If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still life has some possibility left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back, that sometimes something happened better than all the riches or power in the world. It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb. (Don't Hesitate)”
― Mary Oliver, Swan: Poems and Prose Poems
Today is the day we get to ride without 50 pounds of gear! Our plan is to ride up to Crater Lake, a 21-mile ride with 3,000 feet of gentle climbing.
We had another beautiful day of weather. Not a drop of rain yet. We started early to beat the heat and slowly made our way up the road. About 10 miles in we got to the Pumice Desert. From the Crater Lake Institute:
The Pumice Desert is a broad flat in the northern section of the park. This desert was covered with pumice and ash more than 200 feet deep in some places by the explosion of Mount Mazama. It has only started to be invaded by scattered lodgepole pines. Due to its scarcity of organic matter, few plants have taken hold to further enrich the soil.
Everyone we have talked to about Oregon told us we MUST see Crater Lake. So, our expectations were high. As we edged up to the rim, we were overwhelmed with the sight. Here are some views as we rode along:
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| It's a loooong way down! |
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Wizard Island
It was a lovely leisurely day that allowed us to just take in the beauty with no stress. We sat in the rocking chairs in front of the lodge and relaxed among all the tourists. Up there, in the face of that beauty, everyone had a different vibe. People drove more slowly. People smiled more. One of my favorite experiences was to stand at the first lookout and simple listen to people's reactions as they first saw the lake: "Ooooooh!" "Oh my goodness!" "Wow." What a great thing to witness.
When we got back to our campsite we discovered new residents -- a French couple who were traveling for a year on their recumbent bikes. They loved, loved, loved Oregon and had explored it North-South, East-West and everything in between. They would be traveling on to Latin America later in the year. The man was so ebullient, so full of joy and excitement for his adventures. Here is their blog: http://www.partirlespiedsdevant.com (Click on the UK/American flag to translate!)
We took some nice hot showers, ate a great salad at the Diamond Lake Resort and slept well.
I remember going there in late May with over 10 ft of snow. Glad you made the side trip.
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