lava cave, oregon

No service at camp, so I was a lazy monkey. I am in a laundramat in Bend Oregon watching my people clean clothes. I will try to catch up now. Yesterday we continued a bad habit. We started the morning at Dairy Queen. Then up 97 to The Lava Butte visitor center. We took the bus to the top of the Butte. After I made friends with the driver, he let me drive part of the way. Donna and I walked around the rim. 365* view. Then up to the lookout tower and a talk with the ranger. Then we went on to the Lava Cave. We had flashlights but because we had used them in the Subway cave, we had to rent a lantern light. The fear of whitenose bat desease has made things very difficult. Couldn't use the same shoes, clothes, camera or lights from other caves. I guess a lot of caves have closed because of fear of spreading the disease. It was incredibly dark in there. Aboutt 150 steps down. It was huge. Mother Nature made a Broadway tunnel all by herself. Absolutely no light. Very rough rock strewn floor. Parts of the ceiling where water was seeping through was bright green when Don shined the light on it. When Donna complained ( I mean mentioned) that waterr was dripping on her, Don's immediate answer was "covea the camera". It was comfortably cool (42*) inside. Not lots of people. 

Don picked a great campground. La Pine State Park. He is getting so good at finding places that I might let him take over that job.  We ended the night with a few games of Rummicubes and I played with Chip and Dale and kept them out of Cmor.

Looking back, I see my keyboard occasionally leaves out a letter, or adds one. I am not going to correct this but I will try to make sure the word is what I meantt tto say. Be patient.

Oh, something else. My people keep talking about how being Mature is often financially beneficial. They keep talking about Senior discounts and The Golden Card. 

Today we got up earrly and walked along tthe Deschutes River. Very quiet. Most campers still asleep. Went though camp to see "TThe Big Tree." Largst pnderosa Pine in Oregon. Have to writte to DJ to see how much that wood would cost at Ashbey lumberr. Drrove to 12 mile lookout and when we got back in Cmor, tthe song playing was "Happy Heartt". Donna said thatt was vry apprropriate, since she had a ery happy heartt. On tto Paulina Falls and a great hike down to tthe base. Donna keeps finding these hikes and tells Don he can waitt in Cmor but he says he needs the exercise. I think he  worries tthat she will fall down and I won't be able to pick her up. He takees good care of her. He tthinks we all should have bought Fitt bracelets.  Went to The Newberry Caldera (Crater) and saw Paulina Lake, lodge and store. Then saw East lake. Two lakes in this volcanic Crater. It would be larger than Craterr Lake except the waterfall keeps draainingg it. After leaving wee had to return to Lava Caves to get the flashlights we forgot. Ate lunch there and left for our next stop.. High Desert Museum. My people    talked aboutt great senior discounts again. We spent a few hours there. Great live animals, incredible Indian exhibits and pioneer stories.  Did lots of playingg again. Wentt to Safeway and just finished laundry. Will send this but forr some reason the photos are very, very slow to load so don't expect them right away, especially if camp has no service. Hugs from Junior.