HFF from Lava Butte Peak at Newberry Volcanic National Monument! (+2 insets)

(+2 insets!)

Covid Trip #2: We're Having a Great Time at LaPine State Park!
Hello everyone! It's been six days since we arrived at our first state park stay and everything is just fabulous! :D Last year we stayed here for just three days because it was totally booked-up, but this year we were able to reserve eight days, hooray!

We've really been enjoying ourselves! There are lots of lovely trails for walking and bike riding which go along the Deschutes River, opportunities for fishing, boating and even metal detecting! We've taking Pumpkin on walks around the three campground loops here and yesterday she joined us for a 7.5-mile hike, our longest of the year (Covid trail/park closures and injuries kept us immobile)! It's been awesome!

My Foot's Healed Enough for Hiking!!!
I will admit that I've been very worried about my sore foot. It stopped hurting after I'd rested it for a week after we got back from our last trip, but there is now a lump under the ball of my foot. It doesn't hurt and it's slowly getting smaller I think, but I was concerned that I would have issues if I tried to walk. Still, I needed to try it out, so when we arrived at LaPine, I tried walking around a single campground loop and to my delight, I had no issue. The next day I went around two loops and then later, Steve, Pumpkin and I went around both loops together. No problem! The next day we walked all three loops and went on a short hike. Again, no soreness! Since then I've been careful of my foot and though I feel a lump under my foot, it's not hurting me so I'm crossing my fingers that in time that lump will diminish and go away. Here's hoping!!

Today's Pictures
A couple of days ago we drove 30 minutes to Newberry Volcanic National Monument and walked up to the top of Lava Butte, where there is a fire-lookout tower to go along with the amazing view. (There have been four different fire look-outs built there since 1931.l What a sight to see so far in all directions. I also have an inset of the brick-colored road that spiraled up to the top of the cinder cone. Although it used to be open to vehicular traffic, it's been closed since Covid and that suited us just fine! We did marvel at the crazy cyclists who huffed and puffed up the hill and then whizzed past us at a million miles an hour as a reward! One guy actually went up and down twice!

My Other Inset: Bun, George and Stormy Relaxing in my Hammock!
My dear ipernity friend, Jenny McIntyre, made me a trio of plush animals some months ago and I simply adore them with all my heart. I cuddle with them every night and every day they keep an eye on my bedroom from their place on my bureau. When Steve and I went on our first Covid trip, I had the trio ready to go with us and still managed to forget to bring them! This trip I made sure to pack them and I'm so happy that they are here with us! The picture I'm sharing shows them hanging out in my hammock outside our trailer! They look pretty happy to be here, don't you think?! THANK YOU FOR MY SQUIDGY GANG, JENNY!!! I LOVE THEM!! :)

Here's hoping that everyone is safe and sound--keep away from cootie monsters and have a fabulous weekend! :)

Explored on 8/15/20; highest placement #1.