July 2018, Oregon, Day 7

Today we started with a drive to see the deepest lake in America, Crater Lake! After my morning car nap, I awoke to a milky hue on my view. Mr. Bullington and I were both confounded until we learned that Oregon is experiencing a bit of a fire situation in her lower parts which is where we are situated. As memory serves, Smokey the bear used to tell us that, “only YOU can prevent forest fires”. That is a bit misleading. Sometimes the lightning strikes in lots of places and fires result. Fortunately, these fires were in a remote area away from people and houses, but the smoke wafted everywhere.  The Park Ranger in me understands that fires are part of the process and are needed to nourish future forests. But, if that process could process another time, preferably when I am not on vacation, that would be great. 

We stopped the car. This is rear view. 

This is in front of us. Conditions change in a minute.

Since the roads were open, I urged Mr. Bullington forward because we came  all this way to see Crater Lake in all her glory and we have reserved seats on the 11:00 trolley tour!   We pushed forward and arrived smelling like a S’more. When we pulled up to Crater Lake, the smoke was dense, you couldn’t even see from one side of the Lake to the other. Fortunately, the wind picked up and shooed the smoke out of the way for most of the time we were there. We secured our seats on the trolley to drive around the rim of the crater. Better to leave that driving to the professionals when driving on a steep cliff on a skinny little road. We learned we weren’t the only passengers for the tour as the “Silver Sneakers” travel club shuffled aboard. Then we were joined by Stephanie, our National Park Ranger. Stephanie was what the Disney Imagineers would come up with if they added a Woodsy Princess to their fleet. She was smart and pretty and bedecked in her standard issue olive pants and scratchy NPS shirt. The Imagineers are gonna need to bedazzle that.  I wanted to touch her long braid and have my picture taken with her while she talked to me about wilderness preservation.  In my next life, I want to be Stephanie. She started working at Yellowstone, then went to Olympic, and now she is preaching the gospel at Crater Lake. Perhaps this exposure to the National Parks will inspire one of the little Bullingtons to be a park ranger because it might be a little late for mama.  

At this waterline, 2 million gallons of water exits every hour, but they don't know where it goes and the lake's level never changes!  Mysterious!

That little guy is over 30 feet tall!

Sweet-T also must’ve been captivated by Stephanie the Park Ranger because he asked her 1000 questions. Each time, raising his sweet little hand until she noticed him.

Is this park haunted?

Do they have Geodes in the gift shop?

What kind of fish are there in that big lake?

Do you know any Greek Mythology stories?

Bless. Between the questions from Thomas and the equally inquisitive Silver Sneakers, Stephanie had her hands full!

Rollin' with my homies!

Ima just gonna sit right here. Next to Stephanie. 

When you ask Jan from Boca Raton to take your picture.

The kids had been itching to know about our nightly accommodations.  We wanted to keep it a secret because we are staying in a TREEHOUSE!  A Treesort to be more specific! Out ‘n About Treesort is home to about 15 actual tree houses that you can rent. They are connected by a system of overhead swinging bridges and they tower over a wonderland of rope swings, tire swings, and West Coast helicopter parents. Fragile sensibilities were rocked by the prospect of little boys playing king of the swing because sometimes the big strong kid wins (not my kid, obviously)

Big Boy, Big Swing

Little Boy, Little Swing

Cool in the pool

The sisters in an apple tree

Home Sweet Home

Tree Hugger!

Can you see the deer?

Dining Tent. Who wants sandwiches for the hundredth time??

Simple Machines are my jam! 

Rope and Pulley for the heavy lifting!

…..The property also featured a pretty little natural pool, fruit trees, games and such. Our treehouse was not connected to others and was located up in the woods a bit on an adjacent property. Our host for the night was Sandy. She showed us around the bathhouse, kitchen tent, and our tree house. The property was dotted with little wooden sculptures. That we had to leap over and curve around during our pick up game of cut throat dodge ball. 

Don't trip over toad!

Don't impale yourself with a happy little mushroom!

Then we ended the night with Peanut Butter and Jelly. The card game, not the food. Charlotte learned this game on a church youth retreat and forces us to play all.the.time. Our family strategy has become to make me her partner so she loses and doesn't want to play anymore. Daddy and Mae for the win!