Happy 71, Tom! (August 9, 2022--Part 2)

On our way back to Mt. Shasta City from Umpqua Hot Springs, we stopped at Crater Lake National Park. Crater Lake, at 1,943 feet, is the deepest lake in the United States. Located in Oregon's "Ring of Fire," known for its volcanic activity, the lake and surrounding area were created when Mount Mazama collapsed into itself during a massive eruption in 5700 BCE.

To preserve the lake's pristine condition, no boating or swimming is allowed. See the boat far below? Perhaps it's a patrol boat? Marine biologists?

Here's the boat again, magnified 10X with my phone camera.

I'm always amazed by how life forms can adapt.

Believe it or not, these pinnacles are dozens of feet high. The formations rise up in the ravine below, formed of conglomerate-type rocks - compressed pumice and ash from long ago volcanic eruptions. Once when these rocks formed a thick, unbroken layer, hot gases escaping from below created long, narrow holes (fumaroles) surrounded by a heat-hardened lining, now left exposed as the softer deposits have eroded away.

Happy 71, Tom! (August 9, 2022, part I)

We started out staying in Mt. Shasta City but of course had to visit Weed, about 8 miles up the I-5, on our way to southern Oregon. Weed is named for 1800s lumber baron Alfred Weed, by the way. I'm guessing he'd be pretty surprised at the souvenirs from his town: a clay pot labeled "a little pot from Weed," for instance.

We visited the Living Memorial Sculpture Garden just outside Weed. A local sculpture has created the memorial to those who have served. The Garden is kept up by local Marines veterans.

We hiked up a steep hill to cliff-side hot springs pools in the Umpqua National Forest in southern Oregon. Thanks for the tip, Ramzi!

Some people hiked down to the freezing cold river after soaking in the hot springs. Below, Tom crosses the creek on the way up the mountain.
 

First stop: the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose (August 8, 2022)

The Winchester Mystery House is a 160-room Victorian Mansion built by Sarah Winchester, widow of rifle manufacturer William Winchester. Sarah and William had one child, Annie, who died about a month after birth in 1866. William died in1881, after which Mrs. Winchester, upset at the deaths of her husband and daughter, reportedly consulted a spiritualist. The medium informed Mrs. Winchester that the victims killed by Winchester rifles were seeking revenge by taking the lives of her family. The spiritualist said the spirits had placed a curse on Sarah and that if she wished to live, she must appease them by constantly, without ceasing, building a house for them night and day. Construction was ongoing from 1884 until 1922, when Sarah died at the age of 85.

This unique building includes dead end staircases, doors to nowhere, and a secret passageway through the seance room closet. The top three stories of the 7-story house were destroyed in the nearby 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The house is now 4 stories tall.

Sarah paid these workers double the going wage to work around-the-clock. Supposedly the sounds of sawing and hammering frightened evil spirts away. Many people claim to have seen the ghost of the man on the right, pushing a wheelbarrow in the coach house.

Here is a narrow staircase to nowhere. See how the mirror reflects the stairs around the turn?

The chandelier arrived with 12 globes. Mrs. Winchester added a 13th globe in keeping with the "13" theme throughout the house.

The house has so many beautiful stained glass doors. Mrs. Winchester designed the center door.  How many circles?  Thirteen, her favorite number. Thirteen is my favorite number too.

Mrs. Winchester had the bell toll at midnight and 2 a.m. nightly, to mark the arrival and departure of spirits in the seance room. 
 

Off to California (August 8-17, 2022)

On our flight from Austin to San Jose, California, I couldn't see out the window, so Tom used his phone to show me what we were flying over. Thanks, Tom!
 

Otis with his hero Trail Blazer Damian Lillard (July 2022)

 At the end of July, Otis attended Dame Lillard's Basketball Camp and got to meet his #1 hero.

The usual suspect (July 24, 2022)

Hmm. I wonder which of the three kitty cats unrolled the paper?

Our first clue that TC had been there.

Mr. Innocent

 

Cars in Portland and Austin: keeping both cities weird (July 2022)

Around the corner from Micah's house. I don't think this is art. This looks like someone's actual moving truck with the dolly loaded last. The pickup was gone the next day. 

This car near Micah's is an attention grabber for a business of some sort, I think. Rev. Bill's Vacation Bible Camp?

Who wants to sign up?

Parked outside Amon's place. Yes, Austin's weird too.

 

Micah's rings (July 11, 2022)

 Micah fashioned these rings from cherry wood in his workshop.

Micah's house (July 10, 2022)

Micah's front and side yards.

Washtub bass to accompany ukulele group get togethers.

The uke group didn't meet while I was there but I can imagine music around the fire pit.

Very healthy blackberry bushes on Micah's fence.  Or, as he calls them after years of chopping through them under power lines, "demon weeds."

The Texas blackberries were ripe in May. These are still green in mid-July.
 

Lavender festival (July 10, 2022)

Nestled in the hills overlooking the Willamette Valley a short drive from Portland, Helvetia Lavender Farm demonstrates the versatility of lavender with 60 different varieties in landscaping and cutting fields. I caught their annual festival on July 10th.

Great gas mileage, I'm sure.

Called "Rabbit Ear Lavender."  Do you see why?

I used a push mower as a kid. I can hear the sound of the blades rolling through the grass. 

 

Sunset at Vista Point overlooking the Columbia River gorge (July 9, 2022)

Otis and I took a drive to the Vista House, perched 693 feet above the Columbia River. 

The Vista House was built in 1917 at Crown Point in Multnomah County, just outside Portland, on what is now the Historic Columbia River Highway since Interstate 84 opened.

The Columbia River from the Vista House

 

Pittock Mansion (July 7, 2022)

Pittock Mansion overlooks downtown Portland

Pittock Mansion was completed in 1914 by The Oregonian newspaper owner Henry Pittock and his wife Georgia. In 1853, at age 19, Henry Pittock headed west on the Oregon trail to seek his fortune.  He started out as a typesetter and, in 1860, was given ownership of The Oregonian in exchange for back wages. Competition was fierce, with about 30 newspapers vying to lead the market.The Oregonian is still printed today.

Everything grows in Portland.  Here, a clematis vine winds up a rose bush.

The mansion has built-in window boxes with watering systems because, again, everything grows here.
 

Hydrangeas and Moto (July 6, 2022)

Micah has an incredible hydrangea bush. I wish I could have been there when it's in full bloom.

If you look closely in the top photo, you'll see this fountain hidden at the center of the bush.

Most blooms were green, but some were turning blue.

Moto standing guard at his cat door.  The neighbor's cat sometimes sneaks in when Moto isn't looking.
 

Portland's International Rose Test Garden (July 6, 2022)

After dropping Otis off at Leaping into 9th Grade, and checking on Renee, I had time to visit the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park. So beautiful!  Surprisingly, not that fragrant. 

I love these. I missed the annual Portland Rose Festival, held each June. Nevertheless, the moniker "City of Roses" is well deserved.  There are even blooming rose bushes along the highways!

Rows and rows of roses.

These remind me of peppermint sticks.

Surrounded by roses.