10.9.13 : back to the coast.

Sorry again for the delay between posts. Today was my recovery day from a 2500 mile drive over the course of 3 1/2 days from Arkansas back to Oregon. Unfortunately, little time is left for editing and blogging when you're driving 10+ hours a day.

I suppose it wasn't the worst time to take a break, seeing as Crater Lake was the end of the first portion of my trip up the coast. 

So, after a brief hiatus, we begin Leg Two of my trip up the coast. 

In an attempt to stay true to my goal of completing the entire coast, I headed back to Coos Bay, Oregon, where I'd left off during the first part. I was mildly concerned that my break in between the legs of the trip would somehow change the vibe of the second half, but the moment I saw the Pacific Ocean stretched out before me again, I knew I had nothing to worry about.

9.11.13 : crater lake.

 What can I say about Crater Lake that wouldn’t be better expressed through photos? Not much. If I hadn’t spent the first part of the day chasing waterfalls on the way up, I still wouldn’t have left Crater Lake until after dark. There were so many different things to see and explore along the shore and I would’ve loved to have planned ahead to camp there for a night, but you need a permit and the spots are only hike-in, which I wasn’t prepared for.

I got there right at lunchtime, so I found a shady nook with a great view and enjoyed my packed lunch while basking in the immensity of the lake before slowly making my way around it. It really is an impressive sight, and even with the wide-angle lens my uncle lent me for the day, I still feel I was barely able to do it justice.

9.11.13 : chasing waterfalls.

Sorry for the delay folks. I've unexpectedly found myself in Arkansas for a few days, so the last minute traveling and prep threw me off my schedule a bit.  

On the morning of September 11th, I headed towards Crater Lake for the day. Unbeknownst to me, there are several trails leading to waterfalls on the way, so I began pulling off to hike them each time I saw one. After consulting with my uncle, I was informed that there were so many along the way that I'd likely never make it if I took the time to stop and hike to each one. So I stopped at three and forced myself to drive to the lake only a few hours behind schedule.