Wednesday August 13-16, 2008 Diamond Lake, OR

Wednesday August 13-Saturday August 16, 2008 Diamond Lake, Oregon

Diamond Lake sits just to the north of Crater Lake at an altitude of about 5200 feet. Again, the surroundings are evergreens…Ponderosa, Lodge Pole, White Pine, Douglas Fir, Larch (Tamarack) and Junipers to name a few.

We arrived shortly after noon. There are four campgrounds around the lake and one tiny market which sells ice cream cones as well. A small marina is at the Diamond Lake Lodge. A filling station offers the only gasoline in the area for $5.26 a gallon!...what a deal!??

We will be here for four nights. Bruce has been talking with other campers and is anxious to launch the inflatable tomorrow to enhance his fishing experience. Our campground is not “on” the lake, but a short walk. He will be able to tie the boat to shore which will make it easy to launch whenever he wishes. Fish are biting, so we’ll see what he comes up with.

Bruce did indeed provide some gorgeous lake trout for dinner last night. They were so big that one fish was more than enough for the two of us to share.

This morning I hiked down to the lake with Maizy planning to beach comb for a while and enjoy the warmth and beauty of the area. As I picked my spot on the beach, Bruce was preparing for his morning fishing trip. Maizy (dog) was busy chasing bugs. No one else was around, just the sounds of the lake waking up.

The activity along the shore was absolutely bursting with new life. I began to notice blue dragon flies sitting atop wild flowers, boulders and fallen trees. Butterflies were flitting in every direction. My eye caught movement in the morning shadows of the lake's wet beach. Upon closer inspection I realized that baby frogs were hopping out of the tall grasses at the water edge...migrating into the cool water! The sounds, smells and sights of new life were nearly hypnotic...I marveled at the activities of creation and the abundance that completely circled me. It was like a miniature dance celebrating the lives of forest creatures.

Summer heat seemed to draw people to the lake. Bruce and I enjoyed a long bike ride along the water. I had packed a picnic lunch, which we enjoyed while sitting on the lawn of the Lodge. Such a beautiful setting!