Interlude for Crater Lake

I uploaded a couple panoramas of Crater Lake that we took.  Enjoy.  

There are a few places I've neglected to mention.  In Las Vegas we had breakfast at LoLo's Chicken and Waffles.  It's a small chain w/ stores in Vegas, Phoenix, Scotsdale and a couple other places.  I'd been looking for this classic breakfast all across the South, unsuccessfully, until now.  Great chicken.  The waffle was flavorful but somewhat thin.  One warning.  The Banana Pecan Stack w/ the banana sauce is delicious, BUT, order it with a friend.  It's way too much for one.  

In Sparks, we stayed at the Victoria Inn, downtown near the Nugget.  It was not the least expensive but a great place to stay.  Definitely 4 clowns.  We didn't try the wifi since we were too busy w/ the 4th at my nieces.  Peg's Outstanding Eggs on the east side was a good breakfast.  Again, beware of portion size. Good food at a reasonable price.  Peg's is one of a couple places that brag about their breakfasts are the best in town.  Another 4 clowns.

Wizard Island

Cinder cone island extended out of the caldera.

Wizard Island crater

The 300' by 90' deep crater is the reason the caldera was called Crater Lake.  Original discoverers and geological explorations did not realize the lake was a crater itself.

Relaxing on the Lodge patio

Bozo w/ the Mount Stuart Margaritas

Blue berries and curacao give it the same tint as the lake.

Mount Lau

Two pyroclastic flows occured on both sides of the peak about 200 years before the final eruption when the magma chamber emptied rapidly and the entire top of the mountain collapsed into the chamber, creating the caldera.  Snow melt and rain filled the depression creating the lake.

Lichen

Extremely sensitive to higher temperatures it's studied as an indicator of climate change.

SnowBozo

Bozo & Bill

Bill was our trolley driver.  Road closures due to winter damage and downed trees make paying for the trolley a good deal.

A lazy day at the lake.  Two years ago we tried to get a room but you need to plan at least a year in advance.  Rooms are expensive anyway.  We stay in Klamath Falls at the Maverick.  Clean and inexpensive.  .  

Breakfast a few blocks south at the Klamath Grill.  Reasonable and good.  Definitely a local place w/ all the regulars dissing on each other.  I already mentioned the Basin Martini Bar.  Good, imaginative cocktails.  The food's good but could use the same level of imagination and quality.  3.5 Clowns.

For dinner we went across the street to the Rodeo Pizza and Saladaria.  Local, fresh, quality ingredients with home made dough.  Great place with good pies.  Do the "build your own" menu.  We could have done an arugula and prosciutto but we had already ordered salads.  the thin crust was cooked perfectly.  4 clowns for the pie.  They need some good wines to go with their large selection of brews and sodas.