Blogs from Bend, Oregon, United States, North America - page 2

We're making our way up OR Hwy 97, Ruth finds a mention of Collier Memorial Park logging museum. I have been curious about differentiating Douglas Fir from Ponderosa Pine, etc. We were pleasantly pleased to find an amazing assemblage of actual logging equipment. They were not open yet, but the self-guided walk and accompanying visual displays did a good job of explaining the logging process. http://www.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=165 Our next stop was Klamath Marsh NWR. Another great birding area in the Klamath Basin. I was again surprised by all of the grassy plains and cattle operations. Upon starting the drive, the forest was quite dry, but we cam across a little area of grass where it seemed many little bird would disappear in the grass, then reappear as they... read more

Yesterday we drove the 33 mile Rim Drive around Crater Lake. The road is aptly named, as we did indeed travel on the edge of the rim of the crater. Many of the pullouts were perched on steep cliffs, offering panoramic views - - as well as causing a bit of vertigo. The lake rests inside a caldera formed about 7700 years ago when Mt. Mazama erupted and its summit collapsed. The lake is fed by rain and snowmelt, and at 1900 feet deep, is the deepest lake in the U.S. The depth accounts for its intensely blue color. The lake is also considered to be the cleanest large body of water in the world. There is an island in the lake, Wizard Island, named for its resemblance to a sorcerer’s hat. It is a cinder ... read more

After a break to "rest up" for all the activity with the grandchildren Dwain hooked up the RV again and we set off for Oregon only this time we were headed to the high desert near Bend, OR. We drove down I-5 to Everett and then across Steven's Pass to Wenatchee. There is a beautiful State Park here at the confluence of the Columbia and Wenatchee rivers. Next day we drove down Hwy 97 as far as Maryhill State Park on the bank of the Columbia River. This is an area very popular for Wind Surfing as it is usually quite windy up the gorge. Wednesday, Aug. 22 we met up with Richard and his girls at the State Park in La Pine. Another beautiful place to camp.... read more

As my road trip comes to a close I feel like I should have written more. A million thoughts passed through my mind as I took in nature's moments of serenity; later I am unable to recall most of them. One thing stands out though; sunsets attract the broadest audiences. Whether watching from the Western Michigan shores of Lake Michigan, the stone wall in Mallory Square on Key West, or anywhere along the Pacific coastline, if you take a moment to look around to see who else is watching you may be surprised. My last Pacific coast sunset drew in children playing on the beach, photographers perched on low dunes, couples walking hand in hand on the bridge, sea gulls, sea lions, and crows. The sunset even draws the surfers from their waves to plant their ... read more

I keep trying to close out this travel blog, but as there are still some subscribers to the blog, I thought it pertinent to give an update on Andy's book. Andy has put together an absolutely beautiful photography book, called "Southern Exposures". It highlights our family volunteer experience in Ecuador and Peru and is an excellent companion to my upcoming book: "An Egg and A Cigarette: Tales of a Family's Volunteering in Ecuador and Peru". He's barely marked up the book above his costs -- it's not cheap to put out a quality photography book. You can preview several pages of the book -- and if you're interested in making a purchase, the website will guide you through the purchase process. I've included a few of the photographs you'll find in the book. Enjoy!! http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2331946 (sorry, ... read more