In the Land of Volcanoes - Part 2
After a last good deed in Hillsboro (we have Baloo thoroughly checked again at Landcruiser Specialties in Oregon City), we continue with a laughing and a crying eye. We enjoyed the time with and at Brandt's very much and are sad to have to say goodbye. On the other hand we are looking forward to new adventures and leave the coastal region behind for a while.
Packed with provisions for half an army (thank you, thank you, thank you) we head east through Portland and into the Columbia River Gorge. At the Multnomah Falls we make a photo stop and notice only when we drive on that the just shot picture also adorns the title page of our USA Roadatlas'. We were already surprised about the many people who suddenly showed up at these supposedly unknown waterfalls. Obviously they are not so unknown ...
We drive further and further into the heart of Oregon and take a last look back at the volcanoes of the cascade chain, which are skilfully lined up in the evening light.
We approach the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, a national sanctuary consisting of three parts. The whole area is important because it is made up of different geological strata that cover almost 50 million years of the earth's history. The oldest rock formations are 54 million years old, the most recent 6 million. For this reason, various fossils have been found here - a paradise for geologists and paleontologists. We start in the Clarno Unit and admire petrified leaves and tree trunks. At the Painted Hills Unit we are amazed by the colourful hills. Embedded minerals are responsible for the different colours of the rock layers. Last but not least, we stop at the Sheep Rock Unit, where we only roam through the Paleontology Center and have fun with really strange animals of prehistoric times.
We would have liked to say goodbye to Oregon with a visit to the Oregon Trail Museum in Baker City. Unfortunately we are standing in front of closed doors when we arrive - "Closed for maintenance" is written on the white A4 note, fluttering in the wind at the improvised barrier.
The needle of our compass points to the east and so we soon cross the border to Idaho. Once again we determine our route in the USA by following the parks of the National Park Service, which can be really winding a wreath. Be it the national parks, monuments, preserves or recreation areas, we always attach great importance to good infrastructure, beautiful design and informative visitor centers. Therefore we make a detour to the Craters of the Moon NM & Pres. …
... The local attraction are three lava fields that were created when the huge North American magma hotspot, which is now bubbling under the Yellowstone, was located a little further west. In Idaho ... and that was about 10 million years ago.
On a 7-mile loop we pass various lava formations (streams, cones, craters), many sage bushes and the highlight - for us at least - the Indian Tunnel. This is a cave or lava tube that was formed when liquid lava flowed under already solidified rock and thus formed a cavity.
Over a staircase we descend into the depths of the volcanic ground and have to find our way underground to the next exit by climbing, crawling and crawling. About 250 meters further we see a cone of light in the black around us and we are spat out again by the tunnel.