Oregon Road Trip
2025 Jun 27I have wanted to see Oregon’s Crater Lake for some time. I signed up to do an organized bike ride on the rim road in September. However, Melanie will not be able to go because she will be back working at school in those busy first weeks. So, spur of the moment, we did a road trip to see it and added some other stops of interest.
Our first stop was the Maryhill Museum on a bluff over the Columbia River. It is in a beautiful setting and has an unusual combination of artifacts. Very interesting.

On the way, we saw many, many wind turbines. I had not realized how many had been installed.
When the boys were young, we visited the Oregon Caves. The way in is a long, winding road, and Melanie got very car sick. At the caves, there were serious warnings about not attempting the tour if you have certain health issues. Melanie was feeling compromised, so she elected not to go and regretted that ever since.
Next day we went first to the caves and Melanie felt fine this time. There was only one tour spot available, so she did that, and I went on a hike. Her tour was great, and so was my hike.
My view from the top of Mt. Elijah with Mt. Shasta far at the left.

We got to Crater Lake in the early evening of that day and took in the view from the rim for a while. How impressive! Then it was on to our second hotel location.

On our final day, we continued driving along the Columbia - such interesting views and geology.
I saw a sign for the The Palouse to Cascades Trail which follows an old train route. (I biked a western part of this trail.) It was on an old railroad bridge over the river. I had brought a folding bike and so we stopped so I could do a quick ride across the bridge. The wind kept up a continuous howl, and Melanie said it made me ride wobbly.

We stopped at the Ginkgo Petrified Forest. Ginkgos are an interesting tree for their fan-shaped leaves. Growing up in Japan, I had a friend with one in his front yard. Other than that one, I had not noticed any. There was one ginkgo tree at the park, so I picked a leaf to dry at home.