I was in the mood to give my little ones a great weekend, but I had no idea what to do.  After a little contemplating while doing yard work, I thought, since we rushed through Wildlife Safari last time, we could plan a return trip.  Now, the thought of driving all day simply did not appeal to me and I also wanted to live "on the cheap" and refused the "roach motel's" $65.00 price.  I laughed at the livable motel's $165.00 price tag.  After all, we only needed a place to rest our heads for the night.  After glancing through maps, I found a little known spot that sported a couple sites along Williams Creek, a tributary to the North Umpqua River.  Not only was it free, private, and close to Wildlife Safari, it provided a quick, 50 minute trip tomorrow to Crater Lake, the high-point of our trip.

After packing the SUV up, we drove to Winston and had our tour thought the park.  I had my "better" camera with me and took some closer shots than I could the last time.  Johnny stuck his body out the truck window, his version of an optical zoom.

The kids were in heaven as Amber jumped from seat to seat.  I rather enjoyed the Mr. Griz' sector as I don't think I am quite ready to camp in his back yard, but enjoyed seeing him anyway.  During our last trip, the bears were all still in hibernation.

Using my zoom lens, I was able to get a little closer and wondered what it would be like to confront one of these monsters in the wild.  A few of my friends in the hiking community have and tell of very little drama from the encounter.

Of course the giraffes were out, towering over the humming vehicles, giving the show they always seem to.

Some of the animals I did not remember from the last trip, like this one.  I forgot what it was called and don't really care.  I was more entertained watching the two jumping monkeys that were in the back of the truck.

I did enjoy one encounter by a curious black-tailed deer who seemed to have fed from people before and took a pose resembling a Portland pan handler.

The camera clicked away as the kids frolicked for position in the back seats.  There were no cars behind us as the place was rather desolate, for now.

I pulled up and chatted with a park volunteer that told me something interesting.  When I first visited the park, I was about Amber's age and remember seeing a cougar up on the hood of someone's car.  Now, I have long since thrown that mental image away, convincing myself that somehow time had warped my memories.  the volunteer quickly assured me my recollections were accurate as the park used to let all but the most dangerous roam free, that is, until the San Francisco tiger incident.

The drive-through was over so we took to the interior of the park.  I practiced my crappy photography skills, praying my camera would make me look more experienced than I was.

On the last tour, we failed to see anything open, like rides or exhibits.  This time, they had camels.  Although not as dramatic as an Asian elephant, it was fun anyway.

At first, Johnny jumped for joy at the thought of riding a camel like an Arabian desert wanderer.  But after he saw the large creature, we quickly turned face and refused to ride on it.  I did what any caring, smart, loving dad would do and picked him up anyway, setting him on the camel's back.  It took the little man about thirty seconds to extinguish his fears, settle in and enjoy the ride.

Of all the sights offered by the park, Johnny remembered one in particular.  No trip, no matter how special, would be complete without playing on something that is only one minute from their house.

While Amber and Johnny played, I scouted around for something cute to shoot.  That would sound like an oxymoron, but I don't own a gun.

We wandered around looking like tourists as we noticed a show that had just started.  The kids were able to pet a small rodent of some kind before checking out the birds-of-prey close-up.

After the show, we ran over to the grill for some grub before deciding to head out and try our luck and finding a spot for the night.  A little over an hour saw us at a small dirt track that led to the trailhead of our future camp site.  Williams Creek was an adorable, slow running creek that was nearly seasonal, but held a lot of wildlife that came up from the North Umpqua.  The children quickly scrambled down to search for creepy-crawlies.

I pitched the tent before gathering wood for the night's fire.  On the way in, I noticed that on the next day Williams Creek Camp was closed until August due to a Native American PIT project.  I thought the luck rather rare.

I mean, I even forgot matches and nearly got a fire going with two sticks.  But after a lot of smoke and a lot of sweat, gave up and headed to the truck to try and find something that could spark.  As soon as I found an emergency kit, a nice, older couple drove up asking about the camp.  They did not have a tent and thought it may have been a drive-in camp.   Although I was sorry to tell them there was nothing more than a primitive spot of hard dirt, they had matches and gave me a whole book with some fire starter.  I am forever in their debt and pray they had a fantastic weekend.

The fire crackled.  The smores' were cooked and ate.  The kids were wiped out and ready for bed.  I was pretty tired also, but thought it a perfect time to take a couple swigs of whiskey while watching the fire and occasionally glancing at the stars.  So far, the trip was as good as it could get.

I woke up at my typical 6:00am and loaded up the SUV with everything except what the kids needed and what they were sleeping in.  After waking Amber, she started to tear up asking if we could return someday.  A very beautiful 45 minute trip saw us at Crater Lake where we checked in and got our tickets before heading to the boat dock, right on time.

It was barely past nine and already the day was getting hot.  I asked the kids if they wanted to shed any clothing.  I simply assumed the running away meant no.  I was feeling rather foolish for carrying a backpack full of water, Gatorade, snacks, and warm clothes on such a perfectly clear, warm day.  Experience told me otherwise.  I finally caught up with Johnny and hoisted him on my shoulders for the rest of the decsent. 

At the boat dock, it was downright hot.  We shed everything as my backpack resembled an overstuffed pig.  Loading into the boat, we took to the front as it had the best views and they were the only seats left.  Johnny got to sit in the captains chair once we left port and the tour got on its way.  The wind coming off of the lake cooled us considerably as I felt better for bringing all I did.

Amber even got a moment in the tall chair.  She felt like the star of the show as she towered above all the tourists.

The Devil's Backbone came into view as cameras clicked away.  There was an incredible amount of attractions within the crater walls that I would have never thought possible.  Just ending my St. Helen's circumambulation a couple weeks prior, I thought there was simply no comparison to the geological spectacles between the two.  Crater Lake had to be five times the size of Helens and did a heck of a lot more damage outside of the crater itself.  It also had a lot of smaller volcanoes erupting before and after it blew, making it an even more interesting, informative tour.

Wizard Island came into sight as I could not believe its size.  What was once seen as a smallish bump within a Google searched image, was now looming 755 feet above the lake and a lofty 6,993' above sea level.  Surrounding this giant cinder cone was the most pristine, blue water I have ever witnessed, constantly measuring over 100 feet deep on the Secchi disk, making it the clearest lake water in the world.

The plan was to take the tour in two parts.  After the tour's first part, they would dump us off unattended on the island for six hours before picking us back up for the second portion of the boat ride.  After departing the vessel, poles were assembled, baited, and snacks were consumed.

The lake had some pretty stiff winds, forcing us to don some warmer clothes before Amber stumbled over the lava to do some fishing of her own.  After teaching her a trick I learned as a kid, she must have caught over 30 crawdads with her bare hands, not once getting pinched.

Johnny pulled on me and said how much he loved fishing with me.  After all, he has been asking me for a year to go fishing.  What better place than Crater Lake?

We ventured away from shore, but not for long.  The kids were simply having a blast as I watched the weather roll in and over, soon reveling clear skies once again without a drop of precipitation.

I wanted some prints for our house's walls and had the kids do what they do.

Amber's face says it all.  Even the captain moaned after he asked how long we would be on the island.  Apparently, my kids are different than the norm.  I knew that three hours in such a magnificent place would simply not be enough time for them, me, or us.

Six hours would allow us to burn more memories and for Johnny to possibly remember a couple mental pictures that he could grow up with.  Of course they would distort with time, but they would be there nonetheless.

A chipmunk came to keep me company while the children played.  I spoke chipmunk talk to him while he munched on the flowers near my resting spot.

Amber wondered if this guy would pass for a zipper decoration, but I made her put it back in the lake.  I have no idea how all these living things came to be in the lake and on the island, but nature always seems to find a way.

I was rested and tired of fishing, although, Johnny was getting in some great twenty-foot casts from his SpongeBob pole.  I decided I could use a little more exercise and hoisted Johnny up on my shoulders again for the slog to the top of the island.  It was a workout with fifty pounds on me, walking up loose, sandy, steep slopes, but one can simply not come to Wizard Island without hiking to it's peak.

A summit photo was taken as I felt it was mandatory.  We had to rush it though as the boat would be there in forty minutes. 

The children huddled together in the stiff wind while I packed up the backpack.  We got down just minutes before the boat arrived.  Apparently, people (5) have been stranded on the island this year alone and I was not going to be one of them.

The ride back was brutally cold.  Even The Shipwreck was not enough to keep the adrenaline up for warmth.  The winds were hard enough to drench everyone one board without a tarp.  The boat rocked side to side while waves crashed up against it, constantly splashing us with it's chilly waters.  After arriving at the dock, one last slog with a tired, wet little three-year old on my shoulders before a long drive home.  45 minutes home saw us in a full-on storm, the perfect ending to a perfect weekend.

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