Couple of months old travelogue. A day at Crater lake and a day at Florence was planned to perfection. We started our trip in two cars on Friday night. One of my friends came down from SFO, we picked him up from airport and accelerated the rented Camry. We had doubt in couple of places on which turns to take, followed our instincts and it worked to perfection. At around 3 O'clock we noticed that the fuel level has dropped considerably. We started looking for the next available gas station. To our shock we didn't find one single gas station on OR-58 E. Our worries started creeping as we have to travel quite a lot. The reserve indicator started blinking, we still didn't find any gas station. We had to travel past Crater lake to the lodge where we booked our rooms. My tank got full, i wanted to have a leak immediately. The whole route was isolated and it was darkness at it best. I tried hard to be a socially responsible person but i wasn't the winner against nature's call. ஒரு ஓராம வண்டிய போட்டுட்டு matter-அ ஏறக்குன அப்புறம் தான் நிம்மதி. இதுல இருந்து fuel கண்டுபிடுச்சா என்னனு அப்ப தான் ஒரு super idea தோணுச்சு. Patent-kku apply பண்ணனும். We drove,drove and drove. Finally found the lodge. We thought one other car might have arrived there before us, as they started early. We didn't find the car. We knew that room no.3 and no.5 has been alloted to us and the key will be available near the window. All rooms were individual cottages. We were so happy that for 50 dollars we got such a good place to stay. Went near room no.5 and knocked. Got a response from an American. We suspected that its not the place that we are supposed to stay. No signals, so were not able to get in touch with the other group. After couple of rounds in the same area found that the lodge is in the back of a gift shop. Went to room no.5, no response, no keys. Checked out room no.3, thank god it was open. It was 5:30 in the morning, we badly needed a sleep. Stopped worrying about other car and went for a nap. Around 6:30, the other car came. They started couple of hours early than. We thought they might have took some wrong exit. “If you get couple of tickets on the way, for sure you'll also be late,” is the angry answer we got. 260 USD for one and 90 for one. :-( It was a bad night for them,they don't hv the keys for the room. Few slept in our room and few others in the car. When they checked with the receptionist later in the morning she said the room was booked for Saturday/Sunday night and not for Friday/Saturday night. Few apologises settled that matter. The first task after we got up was to find a gas station. Found one near by. Started around 11 O'clock and reached the lake in one hour. Roamed around, took snaps, went for a trial to the bottom of the lake. Spent the whole day, enjoying the color and silence around the place. Saw smokes from the forest fire happening nearby. One group didn't like the place and left for rafting. This just baffles me, who the hell on earth will not like this place? Even this guy, who said we have a generation gap, loved it. There was small moment of tension as the other group didn't return till late night. They returned safe. Pictures here...

Day two was more exciting than day one. Started early morning from the lodge and left for Florence. Had breakfast at Elkton. Typical American town and a good restaurant. The activity planned at Florence was Sand duning – Riding an ATV, in the dunes. Few of friends had said that it will be excellent. Its the first time for everyone, all were nervous. The vehicle was odd for us - no gears, four big tyres, for accelerating you should use your thumb. From the vehicle rental place, we have to take a turn and reach the dunes. If we didn't make good in the turn, they'll disqualify. Couple of my friends were disqualified, as they went too far to take the turn. I barely made it to the dunes, the instructor was not satisfied. He showed us the path that we should use to drive and the return way. We were asked to stay in group, for every one minute, we delay the return of the vehicles we will charged a dollar. If we caught in trouble, they'll charge us to rescue. All these instructions got me pissed off. விதி வலியதுன்னு சொல்லிகிட்டே start பண்ணினேன். Within first few minutes three of our ATV's got stuck in the sand. Thank god, we had a muscle man in our group who lifted the vehicles. If you look at his stature you'll not believe that he would lift a vehicle which is about 150+ pounds. I got stuck thrice and the other guys started loosing their patience. I was too nervous and said that we'll go to the return path. No one agreed. பழி வாங்கறதுக்குன்னே இருக்காணுங்கய்யா. Somehow found the touch and started climbing small dunes and i felt contended with my accomplishments.(இதுக்கு ஒன்னும் குறைச்சல் இல்லை). One guy in the group, had some weird thoughts. There was a steep dune, from the look you could understand that it needs expertise to climb that. When all others were busy in their own small drives he went up in that dune. When we saw him, he was standing the the middle of the steep dune, holding the ATV. F**k, the vehicle's two wheels is in air and the other two in the dune. He some how jumped down and got hold of it to prevent further damage. I couldn't imagine what would be his status if he had fallen down. Nothing happened of such sort. Luckily one of the rescuer saw this and volunteered to get him out of this mess. The way he went near him suggested that you have to been an expert to climb that. Our idiot did this without even knowing how to ride the vehicle. One of the most stupidest things i have ever witnessed. Everything was fine and we did ride for few more minutes and returned the vehicle on time. Driving in the dunes is the exciting thing i have done in my life so far. It was one excellent hour in my life. Returned back to Seattle around 2 in the night, dropped my friend in airport and thus ended the trip on safe and lovely note. Pictures here...