Fancying Ferns and Lakes and Other Splendid Things

"I remember being shocked when I came out from under the focusing cloth after a minute or two being submerged within that, at the startling green color of those ferns." 

-John Sexton

It seems kind of silly, me sitting here talking about our summer vacation, now that school has started. But I must talk about our final day before I start talking about homework and other dull things.

It was time to head home, but we were determined to walk the Fern Canyon trail before moving inland.

We inhaled our last breaths of clean, moist, coastal air as we made our way along the trail. It was a little disturbing to come across tsunami warning signs as we began this hike, considering we couldn't see the ocean. Mom and I began to question where exactly we would run if there was a tsunami. We concluded that we would most likely just be crushed against the wooded canyon and probably be impaled or something. It was a lovely thought as we enjoyed the lush greenery surrounding us.

It was a short walk, but it required climbing some fallen logs. A bit of an adventure, but as Sabrina kept reminding us YOLO.

And then there it was, a literal canyon covered in ferns. It was quite a sight. I don't know how many places there are like this, but there can't be many. 

We stopped and enjoyed the foliage while the morning light was still good.

As I type, Jessica is playing the piano. She is playing the music I love so much from Pride and Prejudice, and it goes so well with these photos. I am taken back to a beautiful morning in a breath-taking place on the northern tip of California.

Now she's playing Moonlight Sonata. If only you could hear her music while viewing these photos. If only you could have seen this place!

And now she's playing Fur Elise. She's killing me! Beethoven goes so well with fern photos.

It was now time to head to Crater Lake. Another beautiful drive! We got there just as the light was getting low. 

The very largeness of that lake sitting within a volcano is difficult to describe. 

My only disappointment was that serious fires had been going on in the area so the view was not as crystal clear as in the pictures, but still worth seeing. This was the final of many instances on this trip where I was poignantly reminded of my very smallness.

We took a few family photos just to say that we were here, and to force everyone to stare into the setting sun.

Then we said good-bye to Crater Lake then made a bee-line for Klamath Falls where we enjoyed some good Mexican food before hitting the sack.

The next morning, we got up and drove home. As we neared Winnemucca, I felt a little like Adam and Eve. It was as though we had been kicked out of the Garden of Eden and into the lone and dreary wilderness. It is a shame that we have to drive through so much ugly in order to get home. If it weren't for a crazy rainstorm, complete with too-close-for-comfort lightning, I would have considered the drive a complete waste.

We got home only to embark on the zenith of our whirlwind of a summer that I shall tell you about at a later time. Let's just say that I'm exhausted and displaced, and that this Eden-like experience with my family is the thing that kept me going this summer. I will look back upon it with fondness, and look forward to the time we can repeat such an adventure. But until then, the school system calls, and I'm wondering if I can't just ignore him for a little bit longer. I'm really not ready to allow him back into my life. I'd like to enjoy my kids a little longer, thank you very much.