July 23rd, while still camped at Diamond Lake, it rained all day. As dry as it has been this year, it was really needed. It did clear up enough for us to have a campfire. We like camping in the woods once in a while to get back to the idea of really camping. We were surprised that they allowed fires. I bought a bundle and then a neighbor left some wood behind and told us to help ourselves. So we did! When in the woods, it just calls for a campfire! It got cold and down to 37 degrees that night! This is July and that cold?!?
Then on Thursday, we woke up to a clear blue sky and took our bike ride around Diamond Lake. We picked up the bike path just across the street from the campground. What a great view of Diamond Lake!
It was nice and cool at 57 degrees, with blue sky, and cool breeze. What a fantastic day for a bike ride! The path was paved the entire distance around the lake. The first half of the path took us through the woods and around the mountain. It was so pretty back under the trees. We met a couple of other great couples and would talk when we caught up with each other. This part of the ride was up and down right many hills. Not having ridden in a while, we both got off and walked our bikes going UP!! I like the spots where you coast down!
This little guy was NOT happy and fussed at us as we rode by HIS tree and log.
The 2nd half of the path took us down by the water and followed it all the way back to the campground. Along the way was an open area for fishing accessible by the road that goes around the lake. It was a nice spot for a break with new biking friends and gave us views of Mt. Theilson from across the lake. We took a nice LONG break! This is also where a stranger asked which direction we came from. When I told him, he said we did good because the entire path is 11 miles! And we thought we were just going for a 3-4 mile ride! Well, we were already just beyond half way, so no choice but to peddle on! Of course, we took more and more breaks! The cloud cover moved in so we are coming back by truck later to see if we can get a nice shot of Mt. Theilson. The same stop gave us still more pretty views of Diamond Lake in the 3rd picture. What a spot to go fishing!
We made it! We couldn’t believe we had ridden 11 miles! We were proud of ourselves for 2 ole folks our age! We were sore and tired and needed to refuel so we figured pizza and ice cream at the little place at the end of the path on the water would do the trick! It did! Yes, we were bad, but the pizza was some of the best we have ever had, and the ice cream was delicious. We then dragged our bikes up the hill on the path through the woods to the campground as a short cut rather than go all the way to the entrance and up more inclines. We then got in the truck and drove back a few miles to the fishing spot to get a better shot of Mt. Theilson, which you can also see in the distance from Crater Lake. I was able to get a nice shot.
Alright, day 3 and I just know my little friends are waiting for more peanuts! I was right and the little one in the pictures had her nest on our site and by now was tame enough to eat right on my lap. What fun I had with her! So between her and the other squirrels and chipmunks, I went through 3 bags of peanuts in 3 days! I let her help herself to the bag while we hooked up the next morning to leave! I am going to miss her!
We had another campfire our last night and roasted hot dogs for dinner. A fire just demands the obligatory roasted hot dog! Umm… Always good! Reminds us of early camping days as kids. Another RVing couple pulled in next to us and were really nice. Funny, they live in Sutherlin, just 2 miles from our next RV park. But we leave on Monday and they return on Monday. We invited them to share our campfire and enjoyed talking with them, a great way to end our Crater Lake visit.
11 miles!!! Wow - how sore were you? You did get some gorgeous pictures. And I love your peanut friend. You are going to be missed.
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