Lava Beds National Monument

We left Klamath Falls in the late afternoon on route to cross into California for a night’s camp in the national forest just outside of Lava Beds National Monument. Less than a two-hour drive, we arrived shortly before sunset and found the spot we researched to be too small for the trailer. Luckily, just down the dirt road was another spot – one that would easily fit us in. Being miles from anyone, the dogs really enjoyed the freedom to run around and burn off some of the built up energy from the past weeks of rain and snow.

The following morning we woke to the threat of a sunny day. Even though I had to run the generator in the morning to help the battery catch up after another night of furnace use, I found myself packing it up soon after and thinking the sun may do the trick while we are in the National Park. It was a brilliant plan, but one that Mother Nature did not permit to happen. By the time Kerri and I were in the truck and driving the few short miles into the National Park, the clouds had returned and the rain began to hit our windshield. By the time we got to the visitors center it was properly coming down – Oregon style – and did not let up for the rest of the day.

Lucky for us, Lava Beds National Monument (my 77th National Park) consists of many caves and lava-tubes which can be self-toured. We had thought ahead to being our rain jackets, and stayed dry during the short walks from the truck to each cave. However I forgot our flashlights (I take full responsibility as Kerri did not know we would be cave-touring) and had to use only her iPhone for light in the deeper caves. Some of these caves were quite large and a phone light just can not light up enough space to fully embrace it all. We toured the caves anyway, as best we can, and I picked up yet another lapel-pin to add to my collection.

We returned to the trailer, to hitch up in he rain, and got on our way for another few hours of driving to get to the next destination where we would spend the final work week before arriving at Kerri’s family in Grass Valley, CA.