CROOKED RIVER RANCH, OR Day 2.  This morning we attended a church service.  We had debated where to go, having found no PCA or OPC church nearby, and we were averse to one more rambunctious event that so many non-denominational churches provide.  We decided to gamble on a local church that appeared to have no denominational affiliation, Community Presbyterian Church.  Turned out to be a snapshot of early 20th century liberal Protestantism.  A young man preaching to old folk, since the young members apparently attend the earlier contemporary service.

At the door we saw someone dressed in a red outfit that I later was informed was a woman with a shaved head who is a Buddist but likes to synchronize her faith with Christianity.  The sermon was from Genesis 12 where Abram was called to become a blessing.  What followed was a charge for us all to be a blessing, according to the preacher's definition of a blessing, which was to be nice and give to others in need.  The duration and detail of his examples were exhausting, including II Cor 9:6-15.  The Christ being preached was not the Savior and Redeemer of Scripture.  These people would be appalled to know that Scripture calls us all sinners.  Original sin is foreign to this teaching, so everyone is good and can be a blessing to others in some way.  One dare not suggest that the God who called Abram, apart from grace, sends sinners into hell.  The very existence of hell is likely never mentioned.  Thus, all the lengthy opining made no connection with Galatians 2:8-10, which explains that by grace one is saved from his sins through faith in order to do good works.  Preaching good works to sinners who have not been saved from their sins is a waste of one's breath.  There was no joy of salvation apparent among those around us, only the collective upscale gathering of folk of like mind.

Many songs were sung that, in proper context, convey Biblical truth; but words were re-defined as assurance that we are all just wonderful as we are.  I noted that there were hymnals that cite affiliation with the PCUSA and had unisex language, though they had two large screens upon which the words were projected.  They closed with The Church's One Foundation, which the liberal Methodist church of my boyhood loved so much.  The presumed meaning is that whatever ecumenical synchronized group you belong to, you are a Christian because you are in a church and all churches have Christ as their foundation.  Pearl Buck would have been right at home. The mental gymnastics performed during that sermon were something to behold -- at a distance, and distance we put between that and us as quickly as we could find the exit door after the service ended.

As we drove back to the RV park, we noticed that the smokey haze had returned.  After doing laundry and other chores, we ventured out to see if any images of value can be captured.

We walked a desert trail leading to Crooked River Gorge.

A Lot of Large Sage Brush Bushes Along the Way

 

Crooked River Gorge

We then went to the observation deck behind the RV park to take some photos.

Crooked River Gorge from Observation Deck

CROOKED RIVER RANCH, OR.  We drove today to an RV park that was one of the stops on the tour.  I had made reservations for here months ago assuming that any stop on the tour would be at a quality RV park.  Returning here a week later reminds me of how poor a place to stay this is.  Strangely laid out, one can get lost just trying to leave here to go shopping, since it has a maze-like layout.  The sites are not level and the grounds are poorly maintained.

We shall stay through Sunday to afford us the chance to attend a church service, which we were unable to do on the tour since we always either traveled on or had an event scheduled for Sunday mornings.

This afternoon as we drove away to run some errands, we could see that the smoke/haze had cleared up quite a bit in the last week.  Perhaps we can get some nice photos tomorrow afternoon.

ALBANY, OR.  Today we drove to Blue Ox RV Park.  As we drove north on I-5 the smoke haze became more intense, likely from a fire near I-90 in Washington.  We shall head to the east tomorrow, then trend south away from I-90 as we position ourselves to drive I-80 eastward across the country.

It seemed odd driving off from North Bend alone.  Two fellow tour participants were still at the RV park there.  One of them waved out her window as we passed.  As we pulled into this park in Albany, there were no tour participants to greet us.  Nevertheless, it is nice to launch into the next phase of our time on the road, now with more independence.

There is an indoor heated pool here which we shall sample shortly.

Blue Ox RV Park

NORTH BEND, OR Day 2.  Drove as a group to the sand dunes of Oregon.  This is an amazing place, where the wind blows in pure sand around evergreen forests creating tall mounds of sand.  We rode in huge dune buggies, then were let out to walk and climb on the dunes.

On the way back we stopped at a shop where a man makes products out of myrtlewood, a wood named in the Bible; thus, many crosses, etc were carved out of it.  After that we ate at a very good restaurant in Reedsport.

As we headed home we stopped at a Walmart to do some shopping.  By the time we got back to the RV park, we had to unload groceries quickly and change clothes for our 5:00 pm farewell supper at the hotel.  This was a pleasant departure for the tour, since there would be no final breakfast the next morning.  The wagonmaster would depart at 6:00 am the following morning bound for Maine where he would lead a fall foliage tour in late September.

Sand Dunes Surrounding Evergreen Forest

One Buggy Driver Addresses Riders of Both Buggies

Riders Out Walking on Dunes

Wood Carving Outside Schooner Restaurant

 

Two Harbor Seals Outside Restaurant

NORTH BEND, OR.  Today we drove to the Pacific coast, through the coastal town of Coos Bay and into North Bend.  This afternoon we drove in our cars to Seal Island to view a large group of seals.  Two problems interfered with seeing very much:  dense fog/smog and the location of the viewing platform vs the location of the seals.  All the seals were at least 100 yards from us.  We could hear them but see only poorly.  It was damp and overcast, but a joy to have a cool breeze without being covered in dust.  We are at last away from the desert-like conditions east of the Cascades.

After that our fearless leader led us to Shore Acres State Park.  A ranger told a long involved story of the founder of North Bend, an eccentric millionaire invested in many businesses whose two wives eventually led him to plant many flowering plants at what is now a state park.  We took photos of some very pretty flowers.

We then returned to the RV park for a fried chicken dinner, with the chicken provided by the local Walmart.

DIAMOND LAKE, OR.  Sunday the 2nd.  After I delivered my final Sunday morning devotional, we drove to the Diamond Lake RV Park near Crater Lake National Park.  Of all times to be going to a popular national park, we traveled here on Labor Day weekend.  This afternoon we drove as well as we could the very crowded west rim of the crater.  Every parking slot was taken, with overflow vehicles illegally parked along shoulders about 18 inches wide that dropped off hundreds of feet.  We did manage a few amazing photos of the lake before the smog got too thick.  We then tried the east rim and took a few shots in the even thicker smog.  The smoke from forest fires continues to frustrate us.

Betty on West Rim of Crater Lake

Crater Lake from West Rim

Crater Lake from East Rim

Deer Along East Rim

Hazy View from East Rim of Phantom Ship Island

Pumice Castle from East Rim

 Monday the 3rd (Labor Day).  Today we visited five of the many falls in the area.  We were pleasantly surprised to find very few people in the area of the falls, even though it was a popular holiday.

Warm Springs Falls was hard to locate, mostly due to inaccurate directions in the brochure about the area falls.  When we finally found the trail head, after driving many miles along back roads, we came upon an opening with a tree around which was wrapped white duct tape upon which was written by hand with a black marker, "WARM SPRINGS FALLS."  The effort was worth it, since the trail led through what seemed like an enchanted forest of magnificent trees, with sunlight streaming down through the branches.  The trail ended at an overlook high above the falls.  The brochure said that there was no way to get closer.  We searched around for any way down but found nothing.  We took photos from the overlook.

Walk Through Enchanted Woods to Warm Springs Falls

Hard to Capture the Enchantment of That Forest

Warm Springs Falls

Clear Water Falls was the next falls we visited.  The trail was short and simple but led to the close presence of the falls.  This falls must be magnificent in the spring when the water flow is full.  In September the flow was not as impressive but the segmented pattern is complex and interesting even in late summer.  There was a second trail over a bridge that led up behind the falls to allow another angle of view.

Betty On Trail to Clear Water Falls

Clear Water Falls

Downstream from Clear Water Falls

Watson Falls is the highest falls in Southwest Oregon, plunging 293 feet altogether.  It actually has two levels in late summer, with an easily reached lower falls and a thinner falls at the top which can be reached after a serious climb to the top.

Watson Falls Trail Had Many Long Demanding Stretches

With a Few Log Jams Along the Way

Finally the Lower Falls

If You Continue Up to the Top: the Upper Falls

 Susan Creek Falls flows over moss-covered rocks into a pool below.

Susan Creek Falls

The fifth falls, Deadline Falls, is virtually a farce this time of year.  Even though the brochure says that Steelhead and Salmon can be seen jumping the dam into October, there were no fish to be seen, and the trail leading to view the falls never affords a good view.

Tuesday the 4th.  Today we got up early to drive into the park to hike down a very long and steep switch-back trail from the rim of the caldera to Crater Lake below for a boat ride and interpretive talk by a park ranger.  It was two hours of interesting educational instruction as well as a joy to photograph, since the smoke was thin inside the caldera.  After the boat ride, we had to hike back up the switch-back trail to the rim and the parking lot.  Quite an exercise.  The ranger said the trail is one mile down and ten miles up.  It took less than half an hour down and less than an hour coming up.  That included stopping to take some breath-taking photos.  After that we drove to the Crater Lake Lodge for lunch, then drove to the west rim to see if it was any clearer.  Since school started back up today, the crowds were greatly thinned out but the smoke was worse.  No more photos would be possible.

One of the Rest Benches Along Trail Down to Crater Lake

View Down to Lake

Long Trail Down

... And Down ...

... And Soon You Can See Boats

Lava Dykes from Past Volcanic Eruptions

"Old Man of the Lake" Vertical Floating Log

Phantom Ship Island

Phantom Ship Island Foundation Drop-off

Pumice Castle Viewed from Lake

Betty Warms Herself at Crater Lake Lodge Hearth

Betty Seated in Lodge Restaurant Beside Tree Pillar

CROOKED RIVER RANCH, OR.  Friday the 31st.  Drove a long day to Crooked River Ranch RV Park.  We walked a wood chip trail around the park, which afforded a partial view of the Crooked River Gorge.  Seems this area has many rivers that lie in gorges, particularly the Columbia River Gorge which we passed, then crossed, as we left Washington to enter Oregon.

Saturday the 1st of September.  Today we did laundry and worked on the blog, then drove over to Smith Rock State Park, a very nice park.  We had also wanted to visit The Three Sisters mountain range, but there is too much haze to see the mountains clearly.  It appears to be smoke from the California fires.

Panorama of Smith Rock State Park in Oregon

On the way back we stopped to get gas for the Jeep and witnessed the peculiarity of Oregon law that does not allow self-service at gas stations.  A man stands in a booth waiting for customers, then steps out when one pulls in.  He asks what you want and whether it will be cash or charge.  Then he pumps the gas and gives you the receipt.  He does NOT check your oil or wash your windows the way it was done years ago when gas stations were service stations.  It appears the sole purpose of this law is to support full employment in the state.

Tonight there is another group supper.