Advertisement
Published: September 2nd 2015
Edit Blog Post
This is lichen that grows between the boards on the picnic table.
This stuff grows EVERYWHERE. When it is dry it is brittle and breaks, when it gets wet it's very flexible. blog 09-01-15 New Month and a New Direction
The weather reflected my mood. It was raining and overcast, foggy, the kind of day you would envision for the North West.
My mood wasn't all that glum, I do have mixed feelings though. I'm starting the return trip today and I'm looking forward to seeing relatives along the way and going to the cousin reunion in Indiana will be a hoot. But it's so exciting heading west, in my mind anyway, I hate to see the adventure come to an end.
I took a little different route to Portland than I have been using as I would be involved in rush hours that are notoriously bad. There was enough fun for me in Portland the last time I was there so I went south on 101 along the coast for a while and headed east on 22 through Willamette National Forest on the Santiam Pass Scenic By-way. It was a beautiful ride through lush, mature forests and over mountains and down the other side. Every now and then I would catch a glimpse of a snow peaked mountain but never long enough to get a picture. It
must have been Olallie Butte with an elevation of 7, 215 ft. new one to me. Then I wound down the mountain and came to the little town of Sisters. Pat and I were here some years back and we both fell in love with the town. It is very charming but I didn't stop today. Picture
Between Sisters and Bend the terrain changed from green mountains to dried up grass and sage brush with an occasional cedar tree. What a contrast. Then I looked in my rear view and saw the mountains. Hate it when they're in the rear view. The town of Sisters is named that because of 2 mountains that are close together, they look like sister. Picture.
I picked up rt 20 east in Sisters and followed it through Bend and on to Burns, but not before passing, you guessed it, Brothers. Yes, the little town of Brothers is along the road and has a bar and an old gas station that doesn't even have pumps anymore. The brothers didn't do to well with it.
The road straightened out with not much change in elevation and was just a ribbon to follow. You
did have to watch out for elk, deer and antelope because this is where they play. Then the dreaded sign, open range. That means that cattle have the right of way and if you hit one and live to tell about it, you also bought it. There are no fences and the cattle go where they want.
I did see a large herd of antelope eating from a well irrigated hay field. That green field was a stark contrast to the dead grass and sage brush.
I filled up with gas just before Burns so I don't have to stop in the morning. There is an attendant at all the gas stations here in WA and OR and they pump it for you and wash the windshield!! How's that for a treat!
I found the rv park I had called earlier and find it very nice. There are lots of trees, cottonwoods, and everyone seems friendly. It was almost 7 by the time I settled into my spot and was happy for a little walk with Oscar. I have been on the road since 10 am and drove 412 miles so the sack is going to feel
good tonight.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.069s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 16; qc: 34; dbt: 0.0444s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb