We wanted to see another Bald Eagle or two and hoped to photograph one close enough to be recognizable in the picture. So, according to the tour books, we needed to drive to Klamath Falls, a town about 60 miles east of our campground. So after a leisurely morning, and a quiet walk with Bert Jr, we packed our lunch and off we went.
This drive was through ranch land with a lot of cattle and horses. Now I am starting to feel better about eating beef. The ranches were some of the largest we have seen. Lush green pastures and cool shade with plenty of water for the stock. It also is good for elk according to the roadside signs. That would be a thrill having one of those animals run across the road in front of the van!
The drive was pleasant and then, of course, came the mountains. It is hard to go anywhere around here without driving up and down a mountain. But this one had some surprises. We came upon a beautiful lake near the top and decided to pull in to stretch our legs.
While we were walking around the lake, a pickup truck marked "Pilot Car" came to a screeching halt outside the bathroom. A few minutes later, the driver jumped back in the truck and left. When we got back on the road, we saw the dreaded Road Work Ahead Be Prepared To Stop signs. And stop we did. We waited and waited and finally saw a line of traffic coming from the other direction - LEAD BY THE PILOT CAR!!! Then it was our turn to follow the pilot through the construction. This procedure is a new experience and we can't imagine being the pilot for a full shift. B-O-R-I-N-G... almost as bad as those truck drivers in the copper mine.
We came into the Klamath Valley and discovered Upper Klamath Lake right beside the road. The highway departments out here don't believe in using guard rails so one false move and... We drove into the town of Klamath Falls and found the Tourist Information Office. We were looking for the birding trail maps advertised in tourist brochures. The office is located in the Favell Museum and we had been told this was a worthwhile stop. So we decided to check out the museum, which has a fantastic collection of Indian artifacts and art. They also have a collection of working miniature guns. These are interesting but apparently do work and can inflict damage.
After the museum we tried one of the birding trails and only saw sparrows. It was hot (upper 80's) and we decided to check out another trail where Eagles were often seen. Well, no eagles today but we did see some Western grebes, an unidentified duck, and a pelican that was flying overhead. We started back to the RV park and as we passed Upper Klamath Lake - there were the pelicans!
And going up the mountain - an eagle's nest on top of one of the spruce trees. No eagles but that's ok. It was a pleasant day and beautiful weather (again). Tomorrow we're off to Florence, along the Oregon coast. Lighthouses, seals and beaches, here we come!
No comments:
Post a Comment