Crater Lake - Oregon

Crater lake is just unreal. the kind of perfection you see in postcards. We drove up along the mountain, knowing that on the other side there is a giant crater which is filled up by water from the melting snow. But the moment we caught our first glimpse, we were both speechless. The sheer brilliance of "blue" is unbelievable. The clarity of water that is so deep (and stagnant) even more spectacular. There is no inlet to or outlet from the lake, and yet it is pure and perfect.the water sparkles and you can see the velvety ripples created by the one boat that operates in the lake. We hiked up two trails. one to the top and one to the bottom (Cleetwood cove). Both were equally spectacular.those who can swim can actually jump off a rock into the clear water (but it's apparently freezing)Overall - it's one of those places you'd never want to leave......


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I hope to publish a more detailed blog soon!

Burney Falls & Lassen Volcanic Park

Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic Park are just 40 miles apart. We went here and camped at Manzanita in Lassen, on our way back from Crater Lake in Oregon. The Drive down CA 89 was beautiful. For the most part we were inside the Lassen National Forest region, there was minimal traffic and it was scenic.Burney Falls was on our way to the Manzanita campground. It's like any other fall, but the nice bit was in that water was flowing out of all levels on the rocks through hundreds of crevices. We didnt really see anybody swimming in the pool of water, but we did get close enough to get sprayed completely by the mist. It was , however, amazing that around just a waterfall, there was a hugely popular state park teeming with campers!Lassen Volcanic park was brilliant. we missed one very important trail that taks one through the devastated area caused by the volcanic peak, but we did hike to Bumpass Hell - a very active volcanic zone, with boiling lakes, steam rising from holes, boiling molten rock and sulphur fumes from the core of the earth. The pictures do no justice. one has to actually visit to just "hear" bubbling molten rock and the fumes. Have seen nothing like this before and dont know if there are any other such places where one can experience a volcanic zone from inches away.


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Santa Cruz Beaches

There are so many great beaches in Santa Cruz : New Brighton, Natural Bridges, Manresa, Sunset, Sea Cliff etc. They are all great places to camp in and have wonderful hikes and activities nearby. One of the best places to make a great weekend of, if you're staying in the Bay Area. Of course, it's proximity to big cities makes the whole area crowded and a parking nightmare.

Nevertheless, it's worth a visit - considering how close it is!

I've got some pictures of New Brighton and Natural Bridges here. Also included are pictures from Point Lobos which is closer to Carmel.

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I'll write a more detailed account very soon - perhaps one for each beach!

Kirk Creek

The Big Sur coastline is , without doubt, the most spectacular in this world. Through it’s entire stretch, The rugged ridges of land stand confidentially facing the mighty pacific.  There is so much to see and do near Big Sur – hikes, whale watching, surfing etc. Even the sheer drive down is exhilarating. The winding roads are so much fun to negotiate and the views are splendid. But my personal favorite – camping.

<The first image is the view of Hwy 1 from the campground!>

There is nothing better than spending the weekend away from the city on a top of a steep ridge with the sound of waves crashing on the rocks right below you. The feeling of being out in the open, experiencing a perfect sunset, lighting a campfire and going to sleep under the stars is precious.  Which is why we keep visiting Kirk Creek over and over again.

Why is Kirk Creek so special to us:

1.      It’s the only campground on the Ocean side of Hwy 1

2.      The campsites are large and open ( with our favorite being Site #19 )

3.      It’s only 2.5 hours away from our home

4.      The drive on Hwy 1 with the Ocean on one side is an experience worth repeating a 100 times

The actual "creek" is this little stream with a few drops of water trickling down. You have you follow a trail head that starts near the bluff and hike down to the rocks below to see what remains of the creek. It really is an excuse. The spot just need a name - That's all. I am tempted to say "it's OK to skip the part where you actually go look at the creek". But i cannot. Beyond the creek, down below is a group of rocks and caves which are simply magnificent. It's actually a bit scary to be there during high tide because the ocean can get quite rough. 

Usually what we do is leave on a Friday evening and set up our tent. The squirrels always welcome us! They really are pleasant companions - we're glad they let us use their home :). We heat and eat some packaged food by the campfire and have a nice evening out with friends under the stars.

The frisky squirrels wake us up in the morning. It’s time for some tea and Breakfast. There is nothing quite as fun as cooking together in the open.

Up till about lunchtime, everyone is just relaxing. The books come out. So do the paints, the canvas boards & easels. It’s the time you always dream about. Time to yourself – to do what you love. To do it facing the ocean, with the light ocean breeze, the sound of waves and chirping birds. It’s just perfect.

After lunch we head out to places nearby –

1.      Pfeiffer Bif Sur

2.      Julia Pferffer Burns State Park

3.      Sand Dollar Beach

-        These are just to name a few.

< These pictures are from Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park>

Come Evening, it’s time again to kick back and enjoy the sunset!

A wonderful BBQ dinner with friends and it’s night time again. Time for the raccoons to come out and scrounge for food!

After a last cup of tea in the morning, we start packing and are on our way out again.

On our way back, we usually stop by at Carmel by the Sea.