Crater Lake: The Blue Jewel of Oregon
On September 20, 2011 my husband and I left Clinton, Missouri to visit a dear friend living in Prineville, Oregon. Oliver was from the Ozarks in northern Arkansas. He and his parents had moved to Oregon when Oliver was twelve years of age.
He lived many years in the state of Oregon, working on ranches and the forest cutting timber. He developed the trade of setting up sawmills and was skilled at his trade.
Oliver and his wife, Irene, were musicians in their spare time and played music for a radio station in their younger years.
They had moved to Clinton, Missouri in their later years. Irene grew up in Clinton and had attended Warrensburg College.
After Irene passed away, Oliver wanted to return to Prineville, Oregon to finish out his life.
He wanted Lee and I to visit him there and to see some of Oregon. One of the planned trips while there was Crater Lake.
Crater Lake is the result of a volcano that blew the top off a great mountain named Mazana, 7,700 years ago leaving behind a depression that is now a 1,943 feet deep lake.
After the lava cooled and sealed the bottom of the crater, rain and snow melted, filling the huge bowl with fresh water whose depth and clarity creates and reflects colors of visible light except the azure blue sky which it reflects back. The blue is so unique it’s attribute is known as Crater Lake blue. The most beautiful blue, it almost casts a spell over one’s mind.
There is a small mountain standing up from the water. It was formed during a later eruption. A cinder cone. The little mountain is called Wizard Island. This is the remains of the volcano which created Crater Lake and in time nature produced a display of beautiful wildflowers and pine trees.
Among the scenic treasures is a volcanic ash known as pumice, a useful abrasion used in polishing, clean or smooth.
I had read about this national park just off 230 scenic, as one drives from 97 highway, south toward the California border.
The trip was educational and enjoyable. Especially after our experience on our second day out which was September 21, 2011.
The shock of that terrible day was vivid in our mind. We had watched the news report from our motel that morning. We first thought it was a movie until I asked someone if what I was watching was real.
Other travelers were standing in shock not believing what they saw coming across the screen.
I wanted to turn around and go home. My husband said, “No, we’ve come this far so we will go on.”
It was a strange day. Not an airplane in the sky. Traffic scarce and any people we saw, not knowing what to say. What I saw that day, September 21, 2011 is a memory to last me as long as I live. It made our time spent with Oliver more special. We had been with him a few days, and we were thankful for this special visit.
Lee and I left Prineville and traveled to the Oregon Coast to see more of the state.
We spent one night in a lovely motel, looking out at the Pacific Ocean.
I watched a fishing boat riding the waves of the ocean most of the night, thinking there is men in that little boat fishing with no fear of the big waves.
I fell asleep thinking how big God is compared to all that we had seen and the tragedy in New York, also how far we were from home in Missouri.
The wonderful time we were with Oliver. We never got to see Oliver again. He moved on to see greater scenery on a higher mountain where he and Irene joined the angel band.
We will keep saying our prayers to the mighty God to set us free from the evil stalking our great country, and singing, “God Bless America” as we raise the Stars and Stripes higher in thankfulness for freedom.
