Weird and Wonderful
Weird and Wild #Oregon: East Lake #Explore
East Lake is located inside the Newberry caldera. When a magma chamber collapsed, the caldera was formed and slowly filled up with water. East Lake is one of two lakes. The water accumulated from snow melt, rain fall, and hot spring. The average depth is 67 feet.
It’s a tranquil and sublime spot. The geologic activity isn’t done either. The lake bubbles.
There’s boating and hiking and wildlife to discover in this wonderful place.
Weird and Wild #Oregon : Sea Lion Caves #animals
Sea lions are large and noisy creatures, but amazing to watch. A few miles north of Florence, Oregon, are the Sea Lion Caves, and definitely worth a visit.
The above statue is true to size. I was amazed at how they dwarf a grown man. What a treat to watch them and spend the day by the cool sea.
The species at the caves is the Stellar sea lion, one of the largest, and the cave is the largest in America. It’s part of a series of caverns open to the Pacific Ocean.
The sea lions can be viewed from an outlook. Even over 200 feet above, the sea lions can be heard (also the hella wind).
An elevator can be taken down to the largest cavern. It was a remarkable place to view wildlife in their natural habitat.
Weird and Wild #Oregon: Flat Iron Trail #Explore
The Flat Iron Trail is part of the Badlands Wilderness. A few miles south of Bend, Oregon, off Highway 20, it’s an easy drive. The trail is relatively flat, but be warned, it gets very hot and there isn’t much shade.
There are great views of the Cascades, and in the spring, the desert comes alive with wildflowers. The ancient juniper forest i-s unique, and the entire network of trails is a true taste of the Central Oregon high desert.
A plus to the pleasant scenery is the peace and quiet. The trails aren’t heavily used, and you rarely see another person. It’s nice to spend some time alone with nature.
A Spring Trip to Sand Spring: Wonderful and Weird #Oregon #Explore
What’s great about 4-wheel drive? When I see a sign to an offbeat place on a dirt road, I can go see what’s there. That was the case when we saw the sign for Sand Spring.
“Well, let’s go see what’s there,” we said.
Not everything is as it’s advertised, but there was actually a spring there.
An unseen spring trickles water to the fenced pond. Sagebrush shrubland borders the pond, and dry forest surrounds the shrubland. It’s a long way to the next drink, so this site draws wildlife like a magnet.
We saw some wildlife that wasn’t so spry.
There was some interesting landscape around it. The ground was pebbly and white, which is different than the usually sandy dirt in the high desert.
Close up, it was even cooler.
Weird and Wild Oregon: Paulina Peak #Explore #Oregon
Paulina Peak is located in the Newberry National Volcano Monument. Newberry Volcano is a large active shield volcano, and Paulina Peak is the highest point of the Newberry Volcano.
From the top, I can see forever, or so it seems.
The rest of the caldera can be seen from the top: the two lakes, the center cone, and the gray patch is the obsidian flow.
And sunrise from the peak is transcending.
