2022 Grand Adventure, Part 4: Loradona time!

Silver Falls was just a quick stop on the way to see Loradona, in her own home! We'd never seen her place in Roseburg, so it was particularly fun to get the chance to spend some time with her.

Our first adventure was to Crater Lake National Park. My original plan was to do the full rim road, stopping at tons of turnouts and view points along the way. However, just like in Glacier, spring snows meant that the rim road wasn't fully open yet. That's okay. I can be flexible. At least we still got to go!

It was such a beautiful day, 

we couldn't believe how warm and sunny. 

You could see all the way around the rim!

Caleb insisted on carrying our guide from Glacier with us, in case we got lost and needed the map.

I told him if we needed that map, we were quite lost indeed...

We did a couple of hikes with tons and tons of beautiful views. 

No matter where you looked, it was beautiful!

The kiddos hypothesized that it is called "Wizard Island" because there are, indeed, wizards there. 

In fact, according to them, it's actually the secret, muggle-proof entrance to an American school of witchcraft and wizardry. 

Such goofy, awesome kids!

The hike near the rim was a lot of fun, even if, yet again, they got tired and started complaining.

And yet again, Kyler went back to the car and drove ahead to meet us so we didn't have to turn back.

I think we need to make them do harder, tougher things!

We got some rest, food, and shade for them and happened to be at the right place and the right time for a Ranger talk.

Caleb especially loved it and was desperate to ask the ranger a question,

although he forgot what his question was he wanted to ask by the end of the talk. Oh well.
All three kiddos worked on the Junior Ranger book, although only Caleb and Calista got sworn in as junior rangers.

Craig did not want to join in or talk to the ranger.

After ranger talk, we headed on another hike, this one away from the rim

in the forest!

It was a fun little hike mostly in the shade

With lots of rocks and things to take rests on.

The kids were especially excited to get up close and personal with some snow. They were confused when I told them ahead of time there would probably be some still at the park.

Because it's July! And it is snow's job to be melted in July!

It was a long and fun day. And we all survived. 

"Do you know how I survived many years? Just by being wise. And having plenty of air." And sleeping on car rides.

Loradona also took us to the Wildlife Safari. She borrowed a pass from her friend so we even got in for free! Thanks, Loradona and Loradona's friend!

(I don't remember her name and never thanked her properly. Whoops...!)

We went as early in the morning as we could so we wouldn't get too hot, but it also meant the animals were so active! 

We saw baby bison, 

hippos out of the water, 

startled a rhino a little, 

watched the cheetahs get fed, 

and fed a few crazy deer ourselves.

Loradona generously paid for us each to get a cup of feed.

We dropped a little on the floor of the car, but most of it went directly into these guys' mouths.

Craig and Caleb sometimes got a little freaked out by how close they were getting and threw the food pellets away from the car. 

Also acceptable! 

Maybe less acceptable:

Get your head back in the car, kiddo!

After doing the full car loop, we headed to the village and looked around. 

There was more feeding and also petting of animals.

Calista liked to give the food to the goats and sheep that were not pushing the other animals out of the way.

We got quite close to the ducks and the koi fish,

But kept on our side of the moat from the lemurs.

It was a fantastic experience, even if it's difficult to stand on one leg like a flamingo. Thanks again for taking us, Loradona!

After attending church with Loradona on Sunday, she took us to a couple of parks, including Stewart Park, which has a locomotive you can climb on and play in!

It was a big hit with all the kiddos!

They got to be their default state: silly.

We had lots of fun just hanging out with Loradona. 

She had a back room that we slept in which had a single step down to it, so the kiddos started calling it both the downstairs as well as the basement. Go figure. 

The kiddos enjoyed reading her books (I think Loradona read Caleb the Princess In Black, like, 6 times) and playing with her toys.

Especially the dominos!

We watched The Burbs and came up with a new list of insults to call each other:

• Meatball
• Chucklehead
• Tuna neck
• Slotted pig

Always good to have silly insults.

We really appreciated my sister letting us stay with her and showing us around her area a bit. 

She's the best sister/aunt! And we were glad she was joining us for our next leg of the adventure: to the beach!