Monday, September 16, 2024
Day 14 — Unplanned Return Home Date: Monday 9/16/2024 Destination: Summit Lake Campground, Lassen Volcanic National Park Portland, Oregon (Home) Travel Time: 10h 32m Miles: 538 Notes: Last week, my mom went into the hospital for a fairly routine procedure. My brother went to Michigan to help out, as needed, and he went back home to Arizona after she returned home and everything seemed settled. This morning, while having coffee, I got a call that she’d gone back into the hospital with something that may or may not have been related to the procedure. It seemed like maybe things were ok, but maybe not. I decided the best thing to do was head home so that I was near an airport if I needed to fly out to Michigan to help out. I packed up camp and headed up US 395 toward home, via Klamath Falls. It was a pretty ride, but, once again, I found myself in rain most of the way to Klamath Falls. I was pretty beat by the time I got to Klamath Falls and figured I’d just find a hotel room, get a hot shower, and finish the ride tomorrow. But, once again, it was move-in week for the local university. Holiday Inn Express had a single room for $395. No thanks. Onward. I never hit rain again after Klamath Falls, and after turning west onto Oregon Hwy 58 and starting to lose elevation into the Willamette Valley, the temperature starting rising, which was welcome. Once I reached Eugene, there was no point in not just going all the way home, so that’s what I did. I got two pictures: one at camp before the call, and one at my last gas stop, an hour and twenty minutes from home, with the moon rising. A nice side effect of my early return home is that I was home for my birthday (tomorrow), so I had dinner with my kids and my wife, which was lovely. I did end up flying to Michigan the next day, and was there for a bit. The best part? I got to make some meals for my mom and step dad. Everything seems ok with my mom for now. Grand Teton, Lassen, and Crater Lake will be there, and now I have an excuse for another trip in the future.