Sunday, August 10, 2008

Alaska Sunday XVII

Trip Log - Part II
May 31 - June 12


The second installment of the trip log of 'The Drive from Texas to Alaska and Back'.

As mentioned previously, this log does not contain too much commentary. It is mainly sequential locations, dates, mileage traveled, photographs showing the trip progress, and how the landscape changed. The Alaska Trip Log is divided into two week intervals (parts) and I am posting it on consecutive Sundays. Past and future posts of Alaska Sunday (apart from the trip log) will have more detailed information, and more photos of each specific area. A small number of the photographs were previously posted when describing specific locations. Most are new photos not previously seen.


We resume our trip after staying 4 nights camped at the mouth of the beautiful Klamath River. We had originally planned to stay here just 1 night, but plans change. Our only goal for this trip was 'to wade in the Arctic Ocean' and tentatively 'to return home by Sept 1st'. As you can see from the Part I trip log last Sunday, this was a magical area with the color of the Pacific and the beautiful drives through the giant Coastal Redwoods and drives along the cliffs on one lane dirt "roads?" overlooking the Pacific with it's wildlife, ocean views, and a profusion of wild flowers.

So, we'll finish May and on to the month of June.........

Be sure to click on the photographs for full screen views.

One last photo before we leave California. After we returned home, I was lamenting the fact that I did not have a photo of a Douglas Iris from the trip. Martha informed me that she had found one on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean and photographed it. Sure enough, buried in the 18,000 photos was this beauty. Thank you Martha.


Douglas Iris
Also known as:
'Thompson's Iris' on the CA-OR Border

Click here for more information on this rare and interesting plant.


5/31 Klamath, CA to Union Creek, OR 219 mi


Crater Lake - Early Summer
Not your typical photo of Crater Lake


The road to the visitor's center had just been opened by snowplows through snow 10 feet deep in places. As you can see from the photo, some of the lake's surface was frozen. The lake has only been frozen over completely twice. Click here to see an article on its history of freezing. Most of the campgrounds and RV parks in the Cascade Range were not open for camping this 'early' in the year due to the deep snow. WOW, all that snow and to think it was 105oF when we crossed the desert just a week ago.


6/1 Union Creek, OR to Fairview (Portland), OR 272 mi


Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Oregon
Abstract Beauty in a Stark, Harsh Environment

Click here for info on Newberry NM.


6/2 through 6/4 Day Trips out of Fairview, OR 488 mi


Columbia River Gorge
Martha held the umbrella while I made the shot. Team Photo.


Mount Rainier, Washington


Just in time for the Portland Rose Festival
Washington Park, Portland, Oregon


6/5 Fairview (Portland),Oregon to Hammond (Astoria),Oregon 75 mi


Ft. Clatsop National Monument, Oregon
Where Lewis & Clark spent the winter of 1805-1806

Near the mouth of the Columbia River at the Pacific Ocean
Martha is pointing to the Pacific
Click here for information on the site.
I know it's not a beautiful scenic photo, but it had always been a dream of mine since I was a child to see where they found their goal and where they camped during this hard winter.


6/6 Day Trips 60 mi
Columbia River, Pacific Beach, Lewis and Clark sites.


Cape Disappointment, WA
Lighthouse

The lighthouse is visible on a small headland, just inside the mouth of the Columbia River which makes a sharp right hand turn, after entering the mouth of the river. This small spit of land juts out into the Columbia from McKenzie Head. It is part of Ft. Canby State Park. There is a lighthouse (North Head Lighthouse) across McKenzie Head on the Pacific side (no photo).

Looking back across the Columbia River toward Clatsop Spit in Oregon.
Click here for information.


Map of the Entrance to the Columbia River



6/7 Hammond, OR to Port Angeles, WA 550 mi (long day)


Oyster Shells

Now I know where those sacks of oyster shells, at the Farm Store, come from.
This was one of many 25' high mountains of shells near Aberdeen, WA.


6/8 Day Trip to Hoh Rain Forest 160 mi round trip

This is where Martha found her big tree.

Sitka Spruce
Rain Forest Monarch


6/9 Port Angeles, Washington by Ferry to Victoria, Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada
25 car miles, 30 miles by Ferry (MV Coho) to 'Ft. Victoria RV Park'
Looking back to Washington in the Rain
Ferry Crossing - On the Strait of Juan de Fuca


6/9 Day trip to the beautiful Butchart Gardens 25 mi

6/10 Day trip to Witty's Lagoon Regional Park, Vancouver Island 25 mi

We had a great day at Witty's Lagoon and walked down to the beach. We could see across the Strait, with cruise ships navigating the strait, and the majestic Olympic Range rising above the clouds. Lots more about Vancouver Island can be seen at the excellent site of Island Rambles. Click here.


View Across the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Olympic Range


6/11 Toured the beautiful city of Victoria and visited Sidney to pick up Ferry tickets. 50 mi.

6/12 Rest Day. Martha did laundry, cooked a nice lunch at the camper, and took a nap.
I organized photos, burned DVD's, answered e-mails, and also took a nap.
It was a beautiful RV Park and nice to have a rest day. For dinner, there was a five star restaurant just down the road.

That's all for Part II of the log.
5173 miles to date.

Part I of the Trip Log is here.

If you are enjoying the log and/or the photographs, leave a comment.

Also, please let me know your favorite photo.

Next Sunday, back to the Mainland.

Thanks to Martha for keeping such good records.

Photography by Troy and Martha

23 comments:

kjpweb said...

Wonderful again! Thanks to the both of you!
This rounds fav for me is probably Mt. Rainier, though it's really tough to choose!
Cheers, Klaus

Louise said...

Lovely post. I especailly love Cape Disappointment (definitely was NOT disappointing to see it) and the Olympic range!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Troy: What a nice set of travel photos. I have been to Mount Rainier and I really like your capture of a great place.

Pat - Arkansas said...

Wonderful, again! You're making it very hard to choose a favorite, T & M. After thoughtful consideration, and looking at them several times, I'll pick the photo of Cape Disappointment as my first choice, followed closely by the photo of Martha and the Sitka Spruce. Love that tree!

Rune Eide said...

Thank you for taking us along on such a long an interesting journey - a post also filled with historic and other information. It must have taken forever just to make this post.

It is not easy to pick a favoourite. I do not know what the Crater lake is supposed to look like, but I liked the way you had framed it. Of the others - the Olympic Range.

pkay said...

Oh, yes I remember Crater lake. I drove the Alaska Highway three times in the period of 12 months. down and back. Some very beautiful country. I love the pictures. Good job!

pkayfit

http://physiquealicious.com

Doug Taron said...

This is such a good entry. Your travels took you through one of my favorite pats of the world. L and I got married in Victoria at a park overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The spot looked much like your photo, with the Olympics looming across the water. We have property on the Olympic Peninsula and hope to retire there eventually. Thanks for a post that evoked a lot of good memories.

Tink *~*~* said...

Love that shot of the Columbia River Gorge - beautiful country, and you captured it well.

Tink *~*~*
My Mobile Adventures *~*~*

Anonymous said...

Great photos, Troy. I especially like the one of the Columbia River Gorge, wow!

Our Missouri landscapes aren't so grand, but there is still beauty in it's smaller scale. Thanks for stopping by my site and leaving such nice comments.

Daryl said...

Wonderful post .. chock full of fun facts .. I felt as if I was looking back into the past with some of the photos ... the land looks so untouched .. as if no one before you two had ever been there .. and I LOVE seeing the tree hugger in you, Martha!

:-Daryl

Gretchen said...

Absolutely gorgeous photos! Crater Lake is one thing I would like to see before I'm done with this life.

Michele said...

Your photos are brilliant... stunning.. amazing. It's because of you that gives me the incentive to better myself at photography!
I am so happy that Martha found her big tree... I can totally understand how something like that can easily get misplaced... hehe... (darn young kids must be transplanting them while we sleep at night, eh?) =D

Aisha said...

These are really beautiful places! Amazing shots! I enjoyed reading your post. :)

AphotoAday said...

Thanks Martha for the Douglas Iris shot -- those are my favorites, and you found a couple beauties...
Also enjoyed the other shots -- especially the snaggy log at Newberry Volcanic Monument...   Makes me want to go traveling.

judi/Gmj said...

Still following along, great shots. My favorite is Cape Disappointment.

Its Time to Live said...

You are still living my life, don't you feel guilty? Thanks for your great posts and images.

Cicero Sings said...

Lovely pictures all but my favourite is Cape Disappointment ... no disappointment at all!!

Oman said...

Wow. That is the kind of place that seems to give off a magnetic force, transforming your readers to ask the existential question, "Why can't I go there and just be there for he rest of my life?".

Have a great week. I love the photo of a huge tree.

Shelley said...

I loved crater lake - but I also enjoyed seeing where Lewis & Clark camped out - they always fascinated me.

Lew said...

I have enjoyed your posts of your trip north to Alaska. You two have taken some great photos of some of the most beautiful scenery in our continent! Thanks for sharing with us out here in blog land.

Unknown said...

the Douglas iris is very pretty, it reminds me of an orchid, it's
strange to read that some consider it as a weed....

all that snow at CraterLake.... just saying the word 'snow' cools me down, it's been hot hot here .... we're looking for more moderate temps soon.....

i love the Abstract Beauty.... i find these kind of strange wood
creatures a lot at Point Pelee.... and i usually post them to my Poetry & me site....

a great Team Photo Troy & Martha.... the Columbia River Gorge is quite impressive.... as is Mt. Rainier... wow...

that Rose is such a pretty color, imagine a dozen of those in a vase?
it would be stunning, i'm sure!

the Ft. Clatsop monument ..... that must have been quite the moment for you Troy, it's great that you got the chance to visit.....

Cape Disappointment is one of my favorite photos of the many
that you've posted.... you know, in the forefront if looks almost prehistoric.... but then you notice this wee lighthouse off in the distance.... it's neat....

a mountain of oyster shells? did i read that right?..... lol .... see, i always learn something new from visiting your site....

Sitka Spruce..... it is HUMUNGOUS! ..... it's the 1st time i've seen a Rain Forest Monarch too.... very very pretty! :)

thankyou for taking me along, what fantastic travels you both have,
i enjoyed every moment.

Kirstin said...

What beautiful pictures. I love the Olympic mountain picture. But that's because I love teh Olympic mountain range. I grew up east of Seattle and now live in SW Washington very close to teh Oregon border. Back in May I drove up to Lynden Washington which is close to bellingham and hoped to get some amazing pictures. Unfortunatly it rained the entire weekend and I couldn't see a thing. I was so sad.

bryan said...

"Columbia River Gorge" is awesome. Nice team work!