The Day I Ran Away from Home

Friday The Artistic One and I ran away from home while The Gracious One stayed with husband. We ran up, into the mountains, high above the valley where the sun shone brightly, the air was crisply fresh and there was nary a sharp tone to be heard.

We went to Crater Lake to walk, to talk, to breathe deeply. This was originally the site of Mount Mazama, until 7700 years ago when the volcano erupted and blew off the mountain top, subsequently forming a deep caldera. Eventually the caldera filled with water and became Crater Lake – at 1949 feet deep, the deepest lake in the U.S.

We started with a non-healthy lunch – although I think there was some protein in there.

We wandered about the gift shop where there were many things calling my name. I resisted – most of them. I did buy a bag/purse made in Nepal because it was different, it was brightly colored, it needed a home. And I’m feeling a need for color and something different.

Then outside – where my finger compulsively clicked on the shutter button of the camera, where we walked – occasionally strolled, but The Artistic One is a serious walker – chattered sometimes, enjoyed the silence sometimes. Tried, repeatedly, to capture a photo of the Clark’s Nutcracker birds that are plentiful by the lake, but they are little devils, they are. As soon as I’m focused in on them, they fly off into the dense green where they cannot be seen. The Ravens were fewer, but just as elusive.

We saw none of the Golden Mantle ground squirrels that are usually waiting for treats around every corner. Perhaps they’ve started their winter hibernation. Sometimes that seems like a really good idea – that winter hibernation thing.

In the distance a snowless mountain – perhaps Hillman Peak or The Watchman? Or maybe Mount McLaughlin? We wished for an “app for that”, so when you pointed the phone or the iPad on a mountain, its name would show up, much like Starwalk that tells you the name of the constellations when pointed towards the sky. It’s that now-insatiable need to know the answer to any questions RIGHT NOW that our technology has introduced into our lives. I confess to being an addict.

Around the rim there are many tortured trees like this one, where I also captured The Artistic One taking a photo of something besides the tree. Those trees are a testament to the toll the winter weather takes on the mountain top.

A tortured branch showing a little bit of life.

A bit of a tortured branch showing a little bark.

Today’s puppy. You do know, do you not, that one must always find a puppy to photograph wherever one goes? This one had recently been adopted by its new family and appeared to be settling in quite nicely.

There was haze on the horizon, but still we were able to see the mountain ranges off in the distance.

A lichen-covered tree. We walked and walked. We walked down slopes – which meant we had to walk back up those slopes. I learned how out of shape I am. I need to introduce more walking into my days.

I think we’ll stop here for now. As I told you, my finger is quite compulsive about clicking when I am in places that have so much beauty to share, so I have more pictures. I think those will wait for another day, however. Time for you to have a break, perhaps a cup of coffee or tea or a glass of wine, depending on your proclivities and the time of the day where you are.

Whatever you choose, please enjoy it. Enough. As with everything, I hope there will be enough.