More Adventures in Oregon

This month we completed our tour of Oregon with a camping trip to Crater Lake and then returning up the Southern coast. Daniel's Mom, aunt, cousins and friend, came out for the trip he named "Women of the Woods" since it was 6 women and one man! Well, we atleast like to think we're that tough! We spent three nights camping at Crater Lake, which, at 1,943 feet, is the deepest lake in the United States. The weather was perfect and we had a great time hiking, driving the rim of the lake, and taking a 2 hour boat tour around the lake. Daniel and his cousin Samantha were the only brave souls to jump into the 53 degree water. They can proudly say they've jumped into a volcano now, since that is what Crater Lake originally was before it erupted and left a giant hole that has now filled with rain and snow. Personally I think this is one of the most beautiful places Oregon has to offer. Even though we roughed it camping, we all dressed up one night and had a delicious dinner at the Crater Lake Lodge. With a porch overlooking the lake and rockingchairs next to the fireplaces, this would be an ideal spot to stay another time.

A little rain came our way the morning we packed up to leave Crater Lake, but this didn't stop us too much. We packed up quickly and continued further southeast. We toured the Oregon Caves and then cut into northern California for a quick drive through the Redwood National Forest before heading back north along the Oregon coast. We saw several lighthouses and miles of beautiful rocky coastline. One of my favorite stops along the coast before heading home was the Sea Lion Caves. Not only did we see a host of sea lions playing and sleeping in these caves, but we even saw a few whales playing out in the water.

Daniel and I have now driven Highway 101 along the entire Oregon coast, and feel like we've been able to absorb as much of Oregon history, culture, and scenery as physically possible in a little over a year. We have been busy this summer with lots of visitors, but so glad our friends and family want to come out and visit us.

We have also had a ton of fun this summer hanging out with friends, especially our "little" friends. Daniel is the bicycle repairman for the neighborhood and enjoys hanging out in the

garage with our neighbor's children fixing his bikes and theirs. I usually go to the pool with them about once a week and often Daniel is able to join. This month we also kept our friend's daughter, Dorothy (3), for a weekend while they were away. After church we decided to take her and Karina (7) and Ruth (4) to the state fair in Salem. I think Daniel is reconsidering whether he wants to have little girls, because all he heard in the car was girly giggles and squeals! But we had fun!

We are about to celebrate our first anniversary on Monday and can hardly believe a year has gone by so quickly. We feel so blessed to have spent this first year in Oregon, for Daniel to go to school, and for all the new friends we've made. We have one finale trip in a couple weeks to Canada and then it will be back to the grind of school. Daniel has made great progress on his summer project and will be starting up his last term at OSU in late September. Our latest news is that Daniel got orders to go back to Virginia Beach next summer! We will be leaving Oregon in December, stopping in Texas around Christmastime, and then on to Panama City, Florida, for 6 months. Daniel will graduate from Navy dive school in July and we'll head back up the east coast to Virginia. We are so thrilled to go back there, be able to attend New Covenant again, and reconnect with friends. It will be another eventful year, but I don't think the Lutzs are capable of anything otherwise!