Mt. Thielsen

Diamond Lake, Oregon

N: 43.16670  / W: 122.16760

Mt. Thielsen Lookout Campground space A-11

          I left the hot springs resort outside of Detroit Lake and did not feel like driving for miles on end to find a camping space for the night so after talking to my Mom at the gas station where I had successfully filled my propane tank, I drove East on Highway 22 until I passed the lake and saw a sign to four different campgrounds.

          I turned off the road and drove along for a few miles, passing three different campgrounds; all of them full so I turned around and went back down by the lake where I had passed up the first campground on assumption it would be full. 

          As we all know what assume means, I found three different choices of camp spots in the Santiam Flats campground and took number 12, right between the women’s night out group and the twenty-something family group with small children, because I am amazingly adventurous. (Or something like that…)

          I set up my rug and chair, cleaned up Herbette’s cage and ate dinner of canned chili over flour tortillas. While eating, a peregrine falcon dove over the lake looking for food and it was beautiful. I went to bed before the crying children settled down, all with the promise to leave very early the next day.

          I did get out of that noisy spot next to the highway and continued eastbound where I cross over the mountain ranges engulfed in smoke from the fires north of where I was.  As I looked south I could not even see the three Sisters that stand ten thousand feet in the air.

          I made up my mind at that point I would not be taking the Cascade Lakes drive that promised nothing but beauty in my mind and now presented itself with hazy views that were not worth stopping for.  I continued into Bend, Oregon where I proceeded to take care of numerous tasks that needed to be accomplished.

          I passed a major mall where I was able to find a Pet Smart store and buy the much needed veggie and fruit mix I need for Herbette as well as a stop across the parking lot at the Home Depot where I finally bought a curtain rod that I have been searching for, for over a month, as well as gorilla tape and magnets for the screens I want to hang over each of the door front door windows.

          Unfortunately, they did not have a solution to my canopy clips that broke and I was hoping to replace with metal ones.  I am still in a dilemma about that whole situation as to what should I do with this heavy frame and all the canvas to go with it.  If I dump it, I dump an investment of over three hundred dollars and yet hauling around an extra 80 pounds of unneeded equipment does come out in the gas tank somewhere.  I still will work on this problem.

          I was able to find a Goodwill thanks to a friendly woman at the Albertsons store who directed me impeccable to the parking lot of the Goodwill where I turned in a feather pillow and some clothes that became too big, and purchased a new pair of capris and a fleece pair of pants for the early morning cold that has continued to follow me.

          I filled up with gas, called my Mom and told her I was heading to Diamond Lake and drove Highway 97 south until I arrived at Highway 138 where I turned west towards Crater Lake.

          Climbing up to five thousand feet elevation and then leveling out, the smoke from the north was ever prominent and I decided then that after tonight I will be heading due southwest into Medford where I will again do a couple of errands and then head west towards Cave Junction and the Oregon Caves.  I can only hope the smoke is not lingering on that side of the state, as it is like constantly having a camp fire going, twenty-four/seven.

          Once I arrived at the camp ground I decided to not even bother putting up any décor or take out my chair once I was here, knowing I will be leaving early in the morning, I could not see the hassle worth it and the mosquitoes are horrible here as I was instantly eaten five times, one of them on my forearm that swelled to the size of a small egg and is still hot and inflamed.  It makes me nervous to get bitten so badly with the West Nile Virus flowing through the state.  I put on deet and turned on the “Off” repellent machine I truly believe in and tried to avoid additional bites.  I believe I was successful but will not truly know until further inspection in the daylight.

          I did put Herbette in her cage onto the back of my bike and we rode around the park and I was able to take a picture or two of the odd shaped Mount Thielsen.  It reminded me of a Dr. Seuss mountain the funny way it sticks up into the air.

I hid in my van from the bugs and cooked a fantastic meal of Brussels sprouts, pea pods, mushrooms, and green onions over Chinese noodles with a touch of sesame oil and seeds sprinkled on top.  It was a wonderful meal.

          Well, the end of another day’s journey on the road, Herbette, Matilda and I, as we continue south. 

Until my next writings…

~peace~