Day 19-21: Crater Lake and heading home

It's finally THE LAST POST about this road trip, completed 4 months after we came home.  The last few days were spent driving back through Oregon and California, but we stopped by Crater Lake National Park in Oregon before heading home.  We went at sunset so the crater was highlighted even though the lake was a bit dark.  I would love to go again on a bright sunny mid morning.  It's supposed to be one of the clearest and bluest lakes because it's formed from rainfall and snowmelt, not from an underground water source (basically it's one big bucket).  

And this was our last morning in the RV.  Not a great picture but just wanted to capture the moment.

And we're home!  Ellie was so exhausted from the whole ordeal of sleeping in an RV and truck.

Last couple of thoughts about the trip:

-This trip was amazing and probably one of the best trips of my life (and I've been to Asia, Europe, and Australia), and I think that's because I started to get to know my own country better.  The vast scale and beauty of the nature out there is astounding.  

-And I want to do this again asap, but next time we're getting a better tow vehicle and I want to go further east

Day 16-18: Portland, Oregon

I'm almost done here guys!  Ok, so in Portland we basically ate and shopped through the 2 full days we were there.  It was our first time in Portland and even though it rained the whole time I loved it (but man, that rain does not let up!).

First stop when we got in that night, a nice hot bowl of ramen.  We just picked a neighborhood close to our RV park and picked a restaurant through yelp.  It was awesome.  Good food and no wait.  A place like this in SF would require at least a half an hour wait.

Then we stopped by Salt and Straw for some local ice cream.  I remember it being good, but I can't remember what I ordered...

The next morning we had Pine State Biscuits.  So yummy and again, no wait!

Stopped by the local Whole Foods Market where they had a refrigerated beer room.  A whole room for just chilled beer!  Amazing!!!!!

Another lunch at Laurelhurst Market (I think...I can't seem to remember since there were so many good places to eat in Portland).

This is a good reminder of the calories before you start drinking!  Only in Portland?

And then DOOONNUUUTTS!!

At Blue Star Bakery-they're so good! (p.s. Voodoo donuts are over-rated)

Creme Brûlée donut

And then dinner at our last night in Portland.  Super cute outdoor market/eating area complete with airstreams!

We then ate at PokPok which is just down the street.  Again, no wait!  Portland was by far my favorite big city on the trip and I can't wait to go back.  Even with 2 days there I feel like we missed so much!