So Monday we left Burney Falls for an amazing drive through to Mount Shasta. Here we stop at Black bear diner. Excellent coffee and bear claw pastries ...mmm yum. We get told to drive along the side road as far as you can to see the most snow and great pictures of the mount. Well it was white so bright sun glasses never came off. Even now with start of spring it still take 3 days to hike to the top and you have to be experienced snow hiker. It's 7000 ft high !!
We met a family on holidays from SF..nice chat. Temperature was about 2c...just a bit chilly.
Next stop the breath taking Crater Lake. The national park is one of the snowiest inhabited places in America. Annual average of 13 metres of snow per winter! Yep and it was still deep in snow now. The three main rim entrances where closed due to snow but the visitors centre had an access point to still give us wonderful views. As you can see by the pics the snow ploughs do a great job of clearing and was still about 20 ft deep near cars and up to near roof high still.
Crater lake is a collapsed volcano and the eruption was about 7700 years ago...so much to take in the area is massive and so spectacular.

After playing and slogging through some snow which we never get to do was fun...we point the all wheel drive monster SUV Dodge to Union Creek for a night in a cabin in the woods!!!. First we see some deers as we pull in! So we now expecting to see big foot lol ...nope only see the deer but hear weird noises throughout the night. We had a great dinner at Beckies diner across from the cabins. The resort and cabins where built in 1922 of course have been upgraded but exterior still original and historic. All furniture rustic hand made logs. After a restless sleep we went for a hike in the morning along one of the trails to see some of the Rogue River. Again it is brilliant and refreshing.

After getting that fresh mountain air we are off on a long drive. About 6 hours with stops. We finally get to Columbia River Gorge. If you never wants to see as many waterfalls and hikes then this place has loads. We see the huge Maltnomah Falls and another couple small ones. The drive on the old historic hwy 30 is hairy...two cars can just fit on the old narrow road. This eventually takes us to our last stop which is the historic Vista House which was closes..dam ! Built in 1911 what a great place to see over the whole gorge area. Finally we stop for the day inTroutdale and have dinner and keylime pie and marionberry pie...yep we shared and was yummo.

Today is retail therapy day !!!! Outlet mall only minutes from hotel. Spend few hours wandering around and chatting to staff. Then around the corner was a place called Mcmenamins Edgefield. This place is massive over 70 acres. Was originally built as a dormitory for the poor people down on their luck populating the poor farm. Had about 700 people there. Eventually closed and left then in 1987 two brothers purchased it from the county and made it into what it is now. Look it up and you will see how much stuff is there now.

Well we are now in Portland for the night and most of tomorrow. Portland is home to Grim the TV show...and can see why. I have never seen so many people with piercings and tatts on their faces...even the homeless can obviously afford to get it done. Everyone we have met along the way have been open, helpful and friendly especially the younger ones. Well it's late here and pictures can wait. Till next time cheers from the travelling cruises ! X.