Umpqua goodness
Posted on | August 8, 2012 | 2 Comments
We just got back from spending a couple of days camping on the North Umpqua River. Let me tell you about this river - it is magical and just gorgeous. So so so blue, and the highway that follows it is called 'the highway of waterfalls' ... I've posted many photos on here in the past of waterfalls just from that river alone. B loves it for the fly fishing even more than the hiking. It's a river that allows artificial flies and catch and release only - great conservation, something B has always found important. So naturally we took Hazel there. Six months and already on her second camping trip, what a lucky lady.
The second day we drove about a half an hour up to Crater Lake National Park. We used to live very close to this park when we lived in the high desert, but we haven't been here in years. It was indeed time to take Hazel. It was the first time we used her little backpack. She loved it at first, but got nervous after a bit & ended up in the ergo. Closer to mama's milk, I suppose?
There is only one accessible spot to swim in the entire park. It's a little over a mile hike downhill and not many people venture down there. I went about five years ago with a friend and participated in some fantastic cliff jumping - I told B we must do this (while baby watches safely from shore, of course)! B was hesitant but once he saw kids doing it I think he felt obliged. It was so rejunvinating on such a hot, sunny day. Hazel got to enjoy some of the water as well, as you can see below.
We drove back to camp later that evening and hiked watson falls (the 2nd highest waterfall in OR!). Brad did a bit of fly fishing and caught a beautiful steelhead as well. It was pure bliss. We went home the next day (after some relaxing beach and swimming time) and Hazel slept soooo good. She always sleeps through the night after an outing like that.
I feel so grateful that despite our crazy schedules we're able to get out as a family every once in a while. I love our day to day life but trips like these fill up our souls even more!
What kind soul filling family outings do you like to do?
Comments
- April
- I am a RN & natural momma in the Pacific Northwest, married to a beautiful man I adore. Nature is my niche, animals get me. I read and I write, I hike and I love photography. Welcomed our daughter Hazel Annan earthside in February 2012 after three years of infertility & our second miracle daughter Juniper Louise in April 2014.
August 8, 2012 at 9:26 AM
Looks like so much fun!
I am inspired to swim in Crater Lake now. Someday! :)
Love, Taryn
August 8, 2012 at 11:35 PM
Amazing! I really need to make time for this kind of thing!