We Got Evicted

But so did everyone else in our loop.  LaPine is closing all but one loop for the winter and so as of October 1, we were persona non grata (I don’t have any idea what the plural is for that so we’ll just leave it alone!!)  I wondered why I couldn’t make a reservation beyond October 1, and now I know.  It was time to mosey on down the road anyway, so it’s all good.

Just a hint for those who may visit LaPine State Park in the future.  If you don’t have a way to connect to internet in the State Park, we found a couple of alternatives.  One is that old standby, McDonald’s, in the town of LaPine.  That worked well but our favorite was the Fort Rock Park in Sunriver.  There are several free hotspots in Sunriver and this one was great.  We sat at a covered picnic table, plugged into an electrical outlet, and away we went.  Fast, strong signal, beautiful surroundings, bathrooms a few steps away, and grass for Poppy.  It was great.  Here’s Russ at his workstation!


When we left LaPine, we went south on Hwy.97 to the Diamond Lake cutoff, then on south on Hwy 62 to Prospect, OR where we are resting at the Crater Lake RV Park.


When we first pulled in and got settled, we thought we might stay a week or more but I think we will move on after only three nights.  The office said they were having problems with the internet and it would be fixed that evening…tomorrow at the latest.  Now they tell us it just doesn’t  reach and we have to come to the office and sit outside at a picnic table.  We thought they had cable TV.  Now we are told it is Direct TV and they will rent us a receiver.  I don’t mind paying to stay in a park with hook-ups but I feel a little disenchanted with this park.  It is nice enough and fairly quiet if you are not on the highway side, but I do think they have used that line about the internet being fixed “later today” a few too many times.  Oh well, lots of other places to see.  I would rate this facility about a 6 out of 10, higher if you don’t care about internet or TV.  UPDATE-I finally have internet right here in my motorhome.  I have a signal booster and if I hang it out the window, I can connect...now I'm happier!!  Funny how we get so dependent on our electronic communications.  Maybe I can catch up on some blogs now.


After setting up, we took a drive to see some of the local sights.  The lady in the office provided a map and told us of a nearby falls that was a must see.  Just a short, easy walk from the parking area she said.  We found the parking area and started down the trail.  By the time we got to the fork in the trail, we had had enough.  It was all downhill so you know what that means!!  We went back UP the trail to the car and studied the map that was at the trailhead.  We saw that we had only gone about 1/3 of the way or less.  So I guess short, easy walk is a relative term.  Didn’t get to see those falls but there are others.

Heading south on Hwy. 62, we visited Stewart State Park.  There is both a campground, with water and electric, and a day use area.  The campground had large paved sites, some on the lake, and lots of grass.


At the day use area, we encountered several deer out for their evening meal.  This doe was extra attentive to something right across the road.  She was flicking her tail and stomping a hoof.  Look at the size of those ears.


I think this was the cause of her concern.  Junior was wandering a little farther than she wanted him too.  He took off right after I snapped this picture and hightailed it back to mom.


Poppy, of course, was enjoying all the new smells.  I walked her around at the day use area…or rather, she walked me!  I like to let her take the lead when I can so that she has an enjoyable time as well.  She was hot on the trail of something and we finally found it.
   
She had her hind legs on the curb and her front legs in the gutter and her nose glued to the grate.  I can only imagine what she was smelling, but she was intense in her interest. Guess she was “grateful” for the walk!

We drove all the way to Shady Cove, about 26 miles from the park.  This is where you go to get groceries.  There is a small store in Prospect but there is not much in it.  It’s a beautiful drive though and I got what I needed at the market.

Tomorrow we are driving the opposite direction on the highway to visit Crater Lake.  We have been several times but you can never get too much Crater Lake.  I promise not to post too many pictures but somehow, it’s hard not to snap the shutter when viewing Crater Lake.