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We returned home whereupon Jeff and Dave headed up to Tahoe to repeat the Death Ride.  For those who don’t remember, this is a 132 mile bicycle ride in the Sierras over five mountain passes for a total of 16,000 feet of climbing.  And you do it in one day.  The rest of us followed Bennett to such fun activities as playing in the water at the Fountains, having yogurt with friends from the neighborhood, meeting new dogs to love, and playing on the local playground.

 A trip to the fire station increased Bennett’s fire hat collection.  He let Uncle Jeff try one on.

Cheryl took time to reunite with Carmichael friends from her youth while Bennett flirted with a friend’s daughter.

Bennett and Jeff led us for a hot day at the California State Fair.

Bennett played “upside” (outside) chasing bubbles and trying out his new scooter, a gift from Karen, Anna Lee’s friend and writing mentor.

Inside he enjoyed Nelope, aka Penelope,  a large stuffed penguin Jerry had brought home for Anna Lee several years ago.

He also led a march to the music from Cookie Monster, a toy he borrowed from Kyle, a neighbor’s grandson.

On Saturday evening the guys returned from their ride.  Dave again completed the course and Jeff more than doubled his 2013 efforts.  Talk of doing it again in 2015 was overheard.  Here the men all pose for a photograph.

On Monday, the planes took our family back East.  Now the house is clean.  Everything is put back in its place.  And there is silence.  We count the days until we can return to the chaos that is delight of a family together.

Crater Lake

Crater Lake Resort in Fort Klamath was our destination for the next few days.  Cheryl, Dave and Bennett were in a one-room cabin while Jeff bunked on the sofa bed in the motor home.  Outside the RV was our dining room and Bennett’s play room, where he could swing, slide, throw rocks in the pond, run through the hose and play in the sand and gravel. 

An aside: This campground had the most diverse travelers we have been privileged to see.  There were persons of Indian, Chinese, African-American and Hispanic cultures and it is wonderful that camping is becoming an activity enjoyed by a broader population.

It's also tantalizing to enjoy the many food aromas wafting around us.

Our lunch at Annie Creek Restaurant was made more enjoyable by our server, a travel guide from Turkey who was spending his summer at the lake.  Jerry and Anna Lee enjoyed sharing memories of their trip to Turkey and hearing his observations on travel.

Castle Crest Trail still had some flowers and the stream trickled through the path. 

The hundred-foot drop of Vidae Falls provided a small pool for Bennett to cool his feet.

 There was a calf roping competition down the road from the campground.  Bennett had a chance to pet a horse.

The last time Jeff, Jerry and Anna Lee were here the beauty of the lake was lost in the haze of nearby wildfires.  This time, looking down from Discovery Point Trail, the lake was clear and blue and azure and teal and aquamarine and beautiful.

 This “knot a bird” attracted Anna Lee’s attention.

Dave is a birder and took Jerry, Jeff and Cheryl off to observe a real bird, an osprey nesting in a power pole. 


 


Bennett spent a day with Zaidy and Bubbie while his parents and uncle went to Bend.  He enjoyed peeking over the wall at the Phantom Ship in the lake. 

Next he was supposed to do a two mile hike along the trail to Plaikni Falls but became engaged in collecting lichen, deer hair and sticks.  Jerry reached the falls and asked a family if they had seen a young child with his grandmother.  Their response was “Yes, way, way back.”  It seems that they had only walked about two hundred feet along the trail.

The falls were small but beautiful.

Because of the steep drop, Bennett did not see this view of Pinnacles.

Like the hoodoos of the Southwest, these formations are fascinating and reminiscent of the Catalonian Modernista architect Antoni Gaudi.

On our way home, we stopped near Redding for lunch and conversation with Bob, Louise, Robyn and Levi. 

Ashland and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival

We got off to a slow start because the threat of tornadoes kept Jeff in NY until Tuesday.  We picked him up at Sacramento Airport and headed to Ashland to meet Cheryl, Dave and Bennett.  We are in the motor home in Phoenix, OR and the rest of the family is in a small rental cottage in Ashland.  The cottage has a lovely yard for hanging out in or napping.

Jeff and Bennett have a special relationship which they renewed in Ashland.

After a hasty dinner at the cottage, Jeff, Cheryl and Dave went to see Family Album while we took a walk with Bennett.  Then we returned to the cottage to await their return which turned out to be  pre-mature.  See the review below for why they were early.

Family Album review:
Jeff: Worth sleeping through.
Dave: Needed a lead who could sing.
Cheryl willingly left with the men at intermission.

Wednesday was more theater, Richard III with a preview lecture that explained the genealogy of the British royals.  We got a lesson on where Richard stood in his family line and who he had to kill to become king.  The lecturer was excellent and gave us great information to help us enjoy the play.  The surprise reveal was that Geoffrey Chaucer was at the top side of the Tudor Family tree. The play was outstanding and led by one of the best Richard’s we have seen.  He was both evil and charming.  He even manipulated the audience into almost believing he could be a good person.

Thursday brought an excellent Tempest with a good post show talk.  Steve and Rita, friends from home, joined us for dinner.  After dinner, we again enjoyed Bennett alone for the evening, the second generation went to Into the Woods which they all enjoyed.

If anyone is interested in property in OR, here is a lovely lot and the door awaits your key.

Ashland knows how to celebrate the Fourth of July.  It started with a parade with Bennett waving at all the marchers though the horses were his favorite.

Dogs are ok too.

 After the parade he got to test drive a fire engine.  A local NBC reporter took his picture with his fire helmet and flag and he starred on the six o’clock news. 

Just click on this link and click on the picture.  You will have to wait till the end to see our star.

http://kobi5.com/news/local-news/item/fighting-4th-of-july-fires.html 

Our next stop will be Crater Lake.  Stay tuned.