I Must Be Nuts

I remember now, after the first night, why I don't like tent camping. It probably didn't help that I forgot our pillows. Hubby seemed to think that was fine and dandy but not me. The next day consisted of a mad dash to the store to get some pillows, cases and a few other things we may have forgotten. Our van was full to the brim when we left on Thurs. and we still had to pick up our oldest daughter and her stuff. It's funny how even after they've moved out they expect the parents to provide for them; sleeping bag, chair, etc. Needless to say we were not of the same mind-set but did have an extra sleeping bag for her to use. The highlight of our trip was meeting our second daughter and son-in-law when we went to pick up the oldest and headed off together from there. With a bathroom break and then a stop for ice cream, Yummy!, we got to the campground before dark with time to meet and greet before the mad rush to set up tents. We have a tent a cousin gave us so we hadn't used it until this trip. It was easy to put up and fairly roomy though I don't get how they expect 7 people to fit in it. Other than a few light showers the first day or two the weather was beautiful.

Mini-golf hazard

We enjoyed some sight-seeing as well as visiting with relatives from, Idaho, Massachusetts, Mississippi and formerly Texas and Missouri along with us locals. Of course most of the visiting involved eating as well.

Lava Cave

A few of us went to a Lava Cave which was rather cool. I mean literally. It was about 40* in there. It felt good after coming from 80+*. The tube cave went for about a mile.
It wasn't a bad hike except you have to have a light, which you can bring your own or rent there, and there were some treacherous spots of rocks and stairs. One of our group stopped early on because of those areas. It took us about an hour and was well worth it.




We then went to Lava Cast Forest which is an area where there are holes where the trees burnt when the lava flowed around them and left holes where the trees had been. Even though this occurred more than a hundred years ago there is not much vegetation growing where the lava field is. Some of the spots were so hot it made obsidian in the cast like this one.

Lava cast of a fallen tree.

On our final day we stopped by the headwaters of the Metolius River and Wizard Falls.

Headwaters of the Metolius River

Wizard Falls

It was a great trip but was glad to get home and sleep in my own bed.