Trip Report
We left Eugene with a very full bus at 8:00 a.m. and drove south on I-5, planning to travel the Umpqua Hwy. instead of the Willamette Hwy. because of road construction. We stopped for a short rest stop and then took the Winston cut-off to Glide, where we connected to the Umpqua Hwy. (138). There were many outstanding views of the river on this beautiful summer day. We stopped at Watson Falls for our refreshment break and it was very shady and cool but the trail to the falls was closed. We entered Crater Lake Park through the North Junction and were now at 7000 ft. elevation, and had out first view of this very blue, almost 2000 ft. deep lake. We drove to the lodge, which was built in 1909, shut down and remodeled and re-opened in 1995. There was little time for sightseeing and stretching before our 1:00 scheduled lunch.
We all gathered at the dining room entrance at 1:00, but apparently there is a lack of communication between White City personnel and the dining room or it was because another tour group was late, but there was a delay. However, we got through this and finally were seated. They offer four choices for tour groups and ours had been chosen on the way and the order phoned in, so we were served right away. At 2:30 we boarded the bus and our driver found the entrance to the rim drive. Ewart was our guide for this drive. He pointed out the highlights of this 33-mile-long sightseeing drive with many turnouts. He had once climbed to the top of Mt. Scott, where there is a hiking trail. There were many views of Mt. Thielsen, another favorite hiking and climbing spot. We stopped at two turnouts, the last one being to see the Phantom Ship and as Ewart explained, it is a tiny, rocky island which does resemble a ship. We left at 4:00 and drove home via the Willamette Hwy. and encountered only one construction delay, arriving home at 7:15.
Gary Tohl was our driver and brought us back safely after a truck carrying onions got in our passing lane. Many thanks to the hospitality committee and to Ewart, who added much to our knowledge of Crater Lake. Thanks also to Marian, who handled the sign-ups. Riders were: Ethel Allen, Barbara & Paula Beard, Helen Barnard, Ewart Baldwin, Marian Borchardt, Wendy Clark, Ingrid Carmichael, Rosemary Etter, Mary Lee Cheadle, Margaret Fea, Dora Harris, Margaret Huston, Jean Jensen, Marjorie Jackson, Marcia Jordan, Mary & Jesse Lemons, Grace Lockhart, Gloria Layden, Ben Kirk, Mary Millman, Frances Newsom, Hal & Joyce Owen, Virginia Prouty, Liz Reanier, Nola Shurtleff, June Smith, Myrtle Sagen, Dick & Janet Speelman, Nancy & John Schreiner, Cristy White, Doris White, Connie & Floyd Wilson, Ellen Zigler and Bette Hack, leader.
