Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest

[QB93Z]

From the top of the mountain looking west, we could clearly see two major forest fires burning:




We watched a hawk circling over the lake. Lyndi got this beautiful photo of hawk's wings:




We took some glamor shots of the PurpleZ with the blue water behind it in the morning sun:




We climbed the trail to the top of Watchman Peak for the high-level view of the lake:




Then I took a picture looking down at the parking lot:




We drove around the rim road, and stopped at the Crater Lake Lodge area. With the sun higher in the sky, the views of the lake were even more stunning:




to be continued...

[QB93Z]

We left Crater Lake NP and headed south west on OR-62 and the air was showing the effects of the forest fires we saw and a larger fire near Prospect, OR:



After all of the driving up and down the mountain at Crater Lake, I was in need of a fill up. There are not very many gas stations in this part of Oregon, so we were glad to see a station. However,




A little later we found another gas station. The didn't have premium, but they did have an ice cream bar:




The haze continued. We found out later that were had been about 15 miles from the Prospect fire:




By the time we got to Grants Pass, OR, we drove out of the haze for the evening.


Jim

[QB93Z]

On Friday, We left Grants Pass and headed southwest to the coast of Northern California:




We entered the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. We stopped to make a quick stop at the Visitor Center, but it was closed. It seems we have gotten used to traveling too earlier in the day. We drove to Crescent City, CA on the Howland Hills Drive through the Grove of Titans:




We stopped in Crescent City to get a picture of Battery Point Lighthouse:



We continued south on US-101 and enjoyed seeing all of the giant redwood trees. We even drove thru a Redwood:




We drove through the Del Norte Redwood State Park and more giant trees:





to be continued.....

[QB93Z]

Another big tree picture:



We stopped for lunch and get some gas. Once again, the options were limited. The big tank behind the old pump holds the gas:




We stopped in Trinidad, CA and enjoyed the unusual harbor:





The forest fires that are burning in north central California have caused us to change our plans. Instead of driving from the Pacific coast inland to Lassen Volcanic National Park. We have decided to stay on the coast and drive south on CA-1, the Shoreline Highway. Will still get to San Francisco on schedule and avoid the potential delays and bad air quality.

Jim