We woke up in Roseburg. I must admit the motel was not the best. Ok the room was clean and serviceable but it was right on the interstate and some of the other customers were not my type. We had double locked the door !!

Amyway,we weren't murdered in our beds and we slept well. The day was overcats but sun was shining ahead. Jill drove us out of the town and on to the 138 east headed for Crater Lake. I hadn't realiased how much in the 'bible belt' we were, but as you drove out there were more churches than trees!!! The deluded god squad are alive and well here.

The drive was great. After a while it began to shower. The overnight mist was lifting so the hills were shrouded....very atmospheric. WE stopped after a while to take some pics. You could do this every 10 minutes as the view as the view and the light changes.

Anyway we had a tea and a coffee in the cup holders and the road was stretching ahead of us.

We knew it was going to be a long day on the road...just hoped it was going to be worth it.

After driving through wooded mountain roads with canyons below and hills above we saw the sign for Diamond lake cafe. Now bear in mind we've seen sod all for an hour so we weren't sure what toexpect.

We pulled off the highway, no phone signal, aghhhhh 'are you local'. No worries it was a wilderness activity centre. Log cabins a massive lake and a restaurant. We went in ordered a 'sack lunch' and drinks to go. I know , but if you ask for a sarnie and a rosie lea they call the police !!!

Wish we had known this place was there, we would have stayed last night instead of Roseburg.

Amyway onwards and upwards. We had ummmmed and arrred about whether to go to Crater Lake.........we never should have.

The drive wa fab. We crossed the 'pummice dessert'. A wasteland of pummice stone created by the last eruption of the volcano.

Suddenly there is a viewpoint. A short climb and take a deep breath as you see the view. Unbelivable. Our phots can not do it justice.

Crater lake is the deepest lake in the USA. It was formed when the volcano erupted. The summit collapsed back in to the crater and basically put a stopper in it. The the hole was sealed and filled with water creating the lake.

When we arrived it was just above freezing, the rain had stopped and the cloud was swirling across the lake. I could have stared all day.

We had lunch overlooking the lake.

There is a rim road which circumnavigates the crater. Its 30 miles long. After driving around it we headed for Grants Pass. Should we stay there or head back to the 101. We decide to push on.

We arrived in Crescent City which is just in California.....on a dark desert highway etc etc.

We booked into a Travelodge and went looking for a bar.

We thought the whole town was shut but eventually found a cafe, come bar come restaurant, come souveneir shop. A couple of pints later the band arrived so we settled down ordered a bottle red and some food and listened to a guitar duo...cool.

Now we are back in our motel....tomorrow we are off into the redwood forest....remember the bit in Star Wars where they flew through the forest and Jurassic Park......both filmed here. Excited we are.......strong is the force.

Night night