Crater Lake to Klamath Falls, OR


Well, I found out that the road to Crater Lake only opened up two weeks ago! Lucky me, as this is a very short summer season up here. They do open for winter, however you better have your snow mobile ready.

I have been camping alone in really rural forests for many days. Today I am on a 2200 acre train museum/park, called Train Mountain, near Chinoquin, (OR). I am in the woods, by myself, behind a safe security gate. Jo Jo and I took a walk tonight, and I saw what I thought was a small dog. It's tail was similar to that of a chihuahua. I kept calling for it, but strangely, it didn't respond. I got closer and closer, until it raised its head. It was a badger. Ok, now I am creeped out!!! Well, in the end, it was really awesome to see this animal in the wild.

The next morning I took a miniature train ride, with tour guide, Dave, who lives here during the summer. He has yet to witness a badger here, so I guess I am that lucky. I learned about this complex,  a 501C, and members who have a passion for miniature trains that can be riden on a 7 inch track. Who knew!? I took an hour and a half tour around the semingless miles of track cared for by a dedicated team, volunteers, and members who come to support this massive complex. Members build miniature farms, homes, and replicate villages to detailed perfection inbetween the tracks. All of the buildings pictured here are miniature. They keep trailers loaded with their miniture trains, then place them on the tracks to ride around. I guess its like a hobby, where others may play golf.

You couldn't help but appreciate the committment, mechanics, and passion that goes into a place that dedicates itself to the culture and preservation of the railway system on this minnie scale. It was a fun ride, and beautiful morning in the ponderosa pine forest.

I wish I could say that I spent the rest of the day doing fun things. I seriously have been put off doing laundry for a rainy day, but my time on the east side of the cascades have been nothing but sun, sun, sun. Ok! Today was the day to catch up on that laundry, and get an rv wash, verizon visit, and grocery shopping in Klamath Falls. That all took way too long.

In the meantime my overnight option could be to spend the night at Walmart, a casino, or a county park with sketchy reviews. Nah, I would would rather drive 30 minutes to the upper Klamath Lake, and find a remote site next to the lake. It only meant another washboard dirt road, but worth the effort.




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