Spotted this Golden – Mantled Ground Squirrel sitting and looking into the blue.
I decided to do the same – but with coffee, naturally.
Category / USA
Deep blue lake
The first sight of Crater a Lake was almost overwhelming.
7,700 years ago Mount Mazama, a 12,000 foot volcano in the Cascade Mountain Range, erupted and collapsed in on itself. A caldera ( large crater ) nearly 2,000 feet deep was formed. Over time the 6 mile by 4 mile wide caldera filled with snow melt. It is one of the world’s clearest lakes, it’s purity rendering it deep blue in colour.
It is a beautiful sight that creates a stillness in the soul.
Do trees feel?
Walked through forest at the High Desert Museum, just south of Bend and began to recognise some of the trees we had been seeing since we arrived in Oregon. The Ponderosa Pine is a favourite. It grows a thick bark which withstands the natural fires that wipe out much of the flora including other trees.
In the car heading south we found ourselves discussing how a living organism like a tree might feel!
Elk Lake
Took the road W-SW of Bend down to the Cascade Lakes. We would have loved to paddle the wilder Sparks Lake but as you needed your own canoe, and we didn’t pack ours, we drove on to Elk Lake and rented one there. At almost 4,900 feet the lake affords a wonderful view of Mount Bachelor.
In our element!
High desert
Sheer cliffs of tuff and basalt cut through by Crooked River make this area of Smith Rocks a mountain climbers paradise.
We walked.
Mount Hood
We saw snow capped Mount Hood (11,235 feet) in the distance as we crossed the High Desert on the way to Warm Springs Indian Reserve.
The Molala Indian name for Mount Hood meaning Great Mountain is nífti yáηint.
Trinity
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Portland.
Music superb, particularly John Tavener’s ‘The Lamb’; liturgy thoughtful; sermon deep, honest, supportive and challenging.
Cleats
Yesterday we went to buy one of the boys their first pair of football cleats. Today we watched his inaugural match. Great defending!
Plein Air Painter
It was a joy to watch Brooks Hinkerson paint at the Farmer’s Market and then share this afternoon with him painting in the garden.
Farmer’s market
Freshly cooked food for lunch and a lovely atmosphere with artists painting and musicians playing in the university area of SW Portland.
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