After a visit with Paula in Roseburg we turned into everyday tourists taking HW-138 to the top of the Cascade Mountains. There was a plan to take National Forest roads across, but when we added up days it would have taken too long for our reservations in Klamath Falls. We really wanted to spend some time at Four Mile before Klamath. It seemed like half the forest had burned since the last time we drove this route. It couldn't be half or since we were here last, but a lot of the country has burned. Very disturbing.

We spent a couple of hours, and a lunch break, near Tokatee Falls & Lake. It was very crowded so we didn't hike to the falls, but the pic below shows the old hydro-power pipe leaking. After lunch we started looking for a camp. There are a good number of tiny NF campgrounds in this area. Our first though was to find Cedar Springs NF campground found with Gaia. It should have been near the center of a loop of forest service roads. We drove the whole loop and found no roads leading towards Cedar Springs. Found a "camping area" on the west side of this "loop" but not where it should have been. Not real inviting so we continued looking. Checked several campground along HW-138 but none felt right, mostly for tent camping. Did see an old stove/fire pit in one of the campground, really vintage but still in use.

Ended up staying a couple of days at the large NF campground at Diamond Lake. It was winding down for the season with maybe half the sites closed. It was not busy which was great for us. It's a beautiful area, love the Cascades.

Continuing with the being tourists theme, we took the north entrance to Crater Lake. Been here more times than we can count, but it's a magnificent site each time. The picture of Shasta was taken from the rim of Crater Lake. This doesn't happen often, it was a very clear day. Good to see this old friend.

We made our way down the west side of Klamath Lake for a stop at Lake of the Woods for T-shirts. The T-shirts are for relatives who live on Lake of the Woods, Canada. That'll be a Christmas surprise. Spent 3-4 days at Four Mile Lake. Four Mile is a NF campground near the base of Mt. McLoughlin (Mt. Pitt). Best camp of the 6 week trip, almost deserted with camp on top of a knoll overlooking the lake. Chilly at night but clear beautiful weather.

Four Mile Lake is at the edge of the Sky Lakes Wilderness. One of our favorite hikes has always been north to Woodpecker and Badger Lakes. Some 4 miles round trip. Not a problem for Denise but Hugh is slowing down. It was wonderful to do this hike at least one more time. But who knows, maybe next summer also.

Ended our stay at Four Mile with wild huckleberrys and a fire. One of the only fires we had during the trip, not like us. As was said, best camp of the trip.

A final stop in the Cascades was our old home town, Klamath Falls. Stayed at a brand new RV Park just north of town. It was OK. But we did catch up with friends. A 'doodle party broke out one afternoon. Below left to right are Rhythm (Ruby's son), Tuzigoot (hanger on), Ruby, and Lilly (Ruby's granddaughter). Also the associated people left to right, Denise (Ruby), HuiYun (Rhythm), Leslie (Tuzigoot) & Kristy (Lilly). It was good to catch up with these, and other friends.

That's about the end of the Cascade Mountain leg of the trip. We headed to Weed, McCloud and on east. That put us south of Mt. Shasta which we think of as the dividing line between Cascades and Sierras. Let's call the next leg of the trip Icky Fish, which is in Nevada. Read on to find out what the heck that means.

P.S. Still looking for Waldo.