tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190010732024-03-17T21:02:55.758-06:00Damn Near Perfect CoupleThis is the travel diary of Keith and Brenda Krejci, who since November 2005 have lived in their motorhome and traveled the country. When first married, Brenda would ask Keith a question, and if he didn't know the answer, would tell him "I married you because I thought you were perfect", to which Keith would reply "I never said I was perfect, just damn near" And so, after 53+ years together they've become, at least for each other, the Damn Near Perfect Couple.DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.comBlogger309125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-10005795672183462152024-03-16T14:20:00.003-06:002024-03-16T14:25:09.186-06:00Taking A Break<span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We're taking a break from the blog since we've covered this area before. Stay tuned, we'll be back to traveling soon!</span>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-72959769372030250832023-10-25T13:22:00.000-06:002024-03-16T14:13:25.995-06:00An Unexpected Summer In Idaho<p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: helvetica;">We're back on the Oregon Coast after an interesting summer back at Farragut State Park in Idaho - an unexpected trip that we hadn't expected to make. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We were sitting around, enjoying the park in our favorite Oregon Coast town of Bandon when I saw a Facebook post for Farragut asking for volunteers, that two couples (that we knew) had cancelled at the last minute. We called Errin, the volunteer coordinator that we worked for from 2017 to 2020, who sounded a bit desperate for help. Since we didn't have any plans for summer, we agreed to help out and planned to be there by the end of May. About 20 minutes after hanging up, I received an email from Dawn, our US F&W volunteer coordinator. The couple slated to volunteer at Harris Beach SP in Brookings, OR (where we volunteered last year) had a terrible accident - their motor home caught on fire on their way to Harris Beach and was completely destroyed - could we fill that slot? We called her explained that she was 20 minutes too late but after chatting for a while we agreed to take the slot for 2024. So in just a short time we had finalized our plans for the next two years! </span></span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnT8y5IBHmePCLdBNO0Ib7DJR5C3DA1PjxlSneYuwcdAHDIyCFHRlx2HvCnzZJyng5EnRJx3F88Rt35oQqRQv3PRz5qnuoj0HRIn88p08M0E5OLiPu3RBWcZ8rsSUcNjEgRLb6exW2OgKbO_IvVWIT3H4FOZGyuw4fiOxOC6jw_kbVSkPKg/s1958/Farragut%20Site.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnT8y5IBHmePCLdBNO0Ib7DJR5C3DA1PjxlSneYuwcdAHDIyCFHRlx2HvCnzZJyng5EnRJx3F88Rt35oQqRQv3PRz5qnuoj0HRIn88p08M0E5OLiPu3RBWcZ8rsSUcNjEgRLb6exW2OgKbO_IvVWIT3H4FOZGyuw4fiOxOC6jw_kbVSkPKg/w400-h300/Farragut%20Site.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So off to Farragut we went, along our usual route of Springfield, over the pass to Redmond, then north on US97 to I84. Then north again through the Tri Cities up to Spokane, then I-90 to Coeur d'alene and north on US95 to Athol and Farragut. We've driven this route and shown pictures many times and nothing much has changed. Arriving at Farragut, we were given a site in the new area of "volunteer lane", which was expanded since our last time here. Our site was huge, with a large grassy area separating us from our neighbor. The only problem was the lack of shade. Fortunately, the temperature at the park was always lower than the surrounding area due to the proximity of Lake Pend Oreille. At our end of the lake, the depth is well over 1000', and the water stays cold year around.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For the three years we were here before, we were the "program hosts", conducting evening programs in the amphitheater and "Junior Ranger" programs on the weekend. This year there were no program hosts, but because of the shortage of campground hosts, we were asked if we would like to be "relief hosts". As relief hosts, we worked three days a week filling in for the normal campground hosts at one of the four campgrounds. We started around 9:30-10:00 by preparing sites vacated that morning. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5-_UDma8s8zOiQnbd8zfygGoRx_297wWp8MtwCRTR_TJf4YKvbFP4P7EwDAaUom0McJrazTjMvwsFTizcsSaHikAgOUj6VWBupVQLzr5Ifj5LfdqH_13f9JQulTMxSJCkJ0LGDNuxD3k-9N-2ORE7YpHjccyhbOX2IW6Z219Sgt3szfMIA/s1200/On%20the%20job.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5-_UDma8s8zOiQnbd8zfygGoRx_297wWp8MtwCRTR_TJf4YKvbFP4P7EwDAaUom0McJrazTjMvwsFTizcsSaHikAgOUj6VWBupVQLzr5Ifj5LfdqH_13f9JQulTMxSJCkJ0LGDNuxD3k-9N-2ORE7YpHjccyhbOX2IW6Z219Sgt3szfMIA/w400-h266/On%20the%20job.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We cleaned fire pits, scrubbed the metal picnic tables, picked up any litter, and raked the sites. Each site took 10-15 minutes to prepare for the next camper. The workload varied each day, but normally we were done by 1:00, the checkout time for campers. We had our own electric cart with supplies which made things easier. The nice part is that when we were done, we were done for the day - no campers knocking on the door for firewood or dealing with late night quiet time offenders. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We were fine with this for June and most of July, but then the hot weather arrived. Cleaning sites in the sun with 90 degree temps, and being hindered by my AFIB and a bad back eventually became too much. The volunteer coordinator (Errin - an amazing person) offered us the chance to go back to being the program hosts or "interpretive hosts" for the remainder of our stay. We gladly accepted, and once again conducted evening programs and held Junior Ranger programs. Our first love has always been working with children, and we truly enjoyed teaching them the hand movements of "leave no trace" or how to make an "owl bag" or "bat hat". As the kids worked on the project, we'd talk about the subject, including teaching them the Barred Owl's hoot that sounds like "<a href="https://notification-sounds.com/1598-barred-owl-call.html">who cooks for you</a>?". </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnoSL5CwWQkDyByUOJMd5-WB4RgT9RwJs1_bvVZv86OKaJwsjGXG-Ew5fT79Q0q_WI9SmOLMzhLdBjSBiQMTg52KHdOVaArO7DmgqzdR88rXv68-IKu7XipYrblr1XMkRqkSB-c9ftQnCGiaKI8t9nEKi0_v3C8BndqDEnvQp61uPT4wCpA/s1958/Jr%20at%20the%20Brig%20-%20Owl%20Bags.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnoSL5CwWQkDyByUOJMd5-WB4RgT9RwJs1_bvVZv86OKaJwsjGXG-Ew5fT79Q0q_WI9SmOLMzhLdBjSBiQMTg52KHdOVaArO7DmgqzdR88rXv68-IKu7XipYrblr1XMkRqkSB-c9ftQnCGiaKI8t9nEKi0_v3C8BndqDEnvQp61uPT4wCpA/w640-h480/Jr%20at%20the%20Brig%20-%20Owl%20Bags.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQsjtjMvbijS4AMt8Q2fTXqqCyIbQfA4ZRUubnqU4Ws6VBSRwe1aT8irNvfNQAH1ysHFdD5zWzT1oojJXGp9PbcxeiF2MSMjhsx3YKK2EN0ShyMc40BWroM-o77tFf1RURMpFkTrY-vDsJedX9XktlAYk4uyC_P2l82jBTswl7PWhXvJOTg/s1958/Kid%20with%20their%20Owl%20Bags.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQsjtjMvbijS4AMt8Q2fTXqqCyIbQfA4ZRUubnqU4Ws6VBSRwe1aT8irNvfNQAH1ysHFdD5zWzT1oojJXGp9PbcxeiF2MSMjhsx3YKK2EN0ShyMc40BWroM-o77tFf1RURMpFkTrY-vDsJedX9XktlAYk4uyC_P2l82jBTswl7PWhXvJOTg/w640-h480/Kid%20with%20their%20Owl%20Bags.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEhpxDLM2riKU5xnXSCn18z0aZDoFl3Qd42_xa25SBUFmfwzb-Q2lBII3JVwajXM1H3MOvnPudFyjzFt3Px1_5L8AoUTaHcarL2bGGj8P-neR4Cr3R-A9XhL-QhydEWdhq9NNRqx_6AQZLLeA1V9hMKmj9SvIH7wTimalLc0ZWSKIYCyZyg/s1958/Kids%20Go%20Batty.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEhpxDLM2riKU5xnXSCn18z0aZDoFl3Qd42_xa25SBUFmfwzb-Q2lBII3JVwajXM1H3MOvnPudFyjzFt3Px1_5L8AoUTaHcarL2bGGj8P-neR4Cr3R-A9XhL-QhydEWdhq9NNRqx_6AQZLLeA1V9hMKmj9SvIH7wTimalLc0ZWSKIYCyZyg/w640-h480/Kids%20Go%20Batty.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Farragut is a great place for kids to camp. There's a Junior Ranger "station" that's staffed by volunteers with teaching experience, a swimming area and beach with a concession stand, a kid's disk golf course, the "<a href="https://treetotreeidaho.com/" target="_blank">Tree to Tree Adventure</a>", and of course, <a href="https://www.silverwoodthemepark.com/">Silverwood Theme Park</a> down the road. But most of all, there's marshmallows to roast, trails to hike and ride, and family memories to be made.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Although wildfires raged all over the northwest, we were relatively fire free. We had a few smoky days from the Canadian fires, and one large fire southeast of us that never got too close thanks to hundreds of firefighters who were housed on Farragut in a "fire camp", a large area of tents, temporary buildings, and vehicles that shuttled men and equipment to the fire. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNEfrs4FRCumh76sXgQFNiFT2e5xJ7w1a-kYKsMxuhfpPujcPfsG_YfTmo7A-T7lyoGfarh3uJq_Mc8m02ESlI2OSMS-rhm3hJPCdPtAv7x0EUxjN6B-6DQEpeHlDPni4YJJieZn53_y0_4ysIIjzXPHlnJ9Z8GmQREhHymg6By9jnXRAFQ/s1008/Fire%20Camp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="1008" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNEfrs4FRCumh76sXgQFNiFT2e5xJ7w1a-kYKsMxuhfpPujcPfsG_YfTmo7A-T7lyoGfarh3uJq_Mc8m02ESlI2OSMS-rhm3hJPCdPtAv7x0EUxjN6B-6DQEpeHlDPni4YJJieZn53_y0_4ysIIjzXPHlnJ9Z8GmQREhHymg6By9jnXRAFQ/w640-h414/Fire%20Camp.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX63CBowxhKv4C8WZPGRYBkvvSlzEoDpBY7irZA0Q-GifZkuI88-qIDWDJ-GCBqvtwYympulUA1YTbyRGINpLq69nb4UeJ3eitCOc2G9mLFKPK8RfnzQm4-yWqR8pc6cDpt4RFaZBi4iRmv3g7DPZIRnhuxq9P-EAqbpz2vAZJ7uE87hGPcw/s1958/Fire%20Camp%20Entrancy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX63CBowxhKv4C8WZPGRYBkvvSlzEoDpBY7irZA0Q-GifZkuI88-qIDWDJ-GCBqvtwYympulUA1YTbyRGINpLq69nb4UeJ3eitCOc2G9mLFKPK8RfnzQm4-yWqR8pc6cDpt4RFaZBi4iRmv3g7DPZIRnhuxq9P-EAqbpz2vAZJ7uE87hGPcw/w640-h480/Fire%20Camp%20Entrancy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We'll miss the the volunteer community here at Farragut. It is one of the largest of any state park with the number fluctuating between 50 and 60. Most volunteers stay the entire year, and many return each year. One volunteer has been coming back for over 19 years! But like most parks, volunteers are getting a bit harder to recruit as many grow older (like us). If you're interested, there are many different volunteer positions; besides traditional camp hosts and relief hosts, there are</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLlu7C14_nIGC8R8JZA8oe9qAX0ahzlXsJDR1SkVSMz3JtWorSkU8MI7rtGpPLvRikCnN6O-vaV7rtMgdiJHG1F2Y8czKhaM7f_zVPqKaQ7jCHqn9KdiDug4PMhIyI-yUdL19c7il8BVXaoNB2CpSRo8NVbzYZn2Qeh6-JHC6kjzQriwCkA/s1838/Entry%20Kiosk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1298" data-original-width="1838" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLlu7C14_nIGC8R8JZA8oe9qAX0ahzlXsJDR1SkVSMz3JtWorSkU8MI7rtGpPLvRikCnN6O-vaV7rtMgdiJHG1F2Y8czKhaM7f_zVPqKaQ7jCHqn9KdiDug4PMhIyI-yUdL19c7il8BVXaoNB2CpSRo8NVbzYZn2Qeh6-JHC6kjzQriwCkA/w400-h283/Entry%20Kiosk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>"kiosk hosts" that staff</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> the two entry points, shop (maintenance) hosts, cabin hosts, trail hosts, and interpretive hosts. Hours vary depending on position, but all are reasonable. The host RV sites are all superior - paved with full hookups. The volunteer coordinator is a ranger who works hard to make everyone welcome and happy. And ah, the potlucks! With volunteers and staff, four or five banquet tables are filled with everyone's specialty. If interested, contact ranger Errin Bair (errin.bair@idpr.idaho.gov)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">We left Farragut in early October and had an uneventful trip back to the coast, where we once again settled into a lakefront spot at Osprey Point RV Point. We'll be here until late November when we head south once again for Arizona.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">This November will mark our 18th year on the road! When we started back in 2005 we had no end date in sight, but at the time spending 18+ years would have seemed outrageous. And yet it doesn't seem to be so many years until we start reliving the memories -memories of places and experiences, but mostly people. When we started back in 2005 I began writing campground reviews on rvparkreviews.com. (now campgrounds.rvlife.com). This year I passed the 500 reviews milestone. This graphic of our reviews is descriptive: </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8ay7QnVwuIKfcXiCS0BcINDKu8kdIG51D8nvI7SVOTPSenN0U44RGQ-pQpO-liEpI0jgu51QFv5RYCtrD7uJEkXS0xkT1h5TOOIWGsWduG3i-UmwGv5QARG-UyGKYpj2bQbdrQaL189JYHLMT0bUXXqXzI-l0mIoF2fOjvfVMPGdpl_MWQ/s490/Meanderman's%20Profile%20-%20RV%20LIFE%20Campground%20Reviews.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="490" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8ay7QnVwuIKfcXiCS0BcINDKu8kdIG51D8nvI7SVOTPSenN0U44RGQ-pQpO-liEpI0jgu51QFv5RYCtrD7uJEkXS0xkT1h5TOOIWGsWduG3i-UmwGv5QARG-UyGKYpj2bQbdrQaL189JYHLMT0bUXXqXzI-l0mIoF2fOjvfVMPGdpl_MWQ/w640-h324/Meanderman's%20Profile%20-%20RV%20LIFE%20Campground%20Reviews.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>You'll notice that reviews in the Southeast are visibly absent. Having lived in that part of the country during our Air Force days we have no desire to again visit that area again.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /> Every year our medicine cabinet grows more crowded with pills, every morning reveals a new ache, but every morning holds the promise of a new adventure. In spite of our age, we're not ready to quit the road yet, and we're already looking forward to next summer as we again volunteer for US Fish & Wildlife. So check back every once in a while and see how year19 is going!</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-72486826219330809932023-04-27T21:13:00.009-06:002024-03-16T14:13:29.479-06:00Spring Travels<p> <span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Leaving Mohave Valley, we headed for Lake Havasu for some motor home work, then down to Tucson for a stay at <a href="https://the-rvpark.com/" target="_blank">Pima County Fairgrounds</a>. We've stayed here before; it isn't the fanciest RV park in the area, but for our stay it was the most convenient base to visit friends and medical facilities. We've spent a lot of time in this area over the years, starting in 1971 when Brenda and I bought our first home here while stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB. Tucson has lost some of the charm over the years as the area exploded in population, but they and the National Park Service have managed to protect a some of the most beautiful places in the area. Sabino Canyon, the historic downtown area, Xavier Del Bac Mission, and always our favorite, <a href="http://www.saguaronationalpark.com/" target="_blank">Saguaro National Park</a>. Unique in location, the park has two sections, one east of town and one west, each within 10 miles of downtown. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuMvCyBHfK_-n2jMR2byJ2hlvuawXYHLj_2FysfEv5eOYKo2X8z5oO8l2sa6h8US9n85bl7lTzphi7M9_IQmoKT0vSHv6KuwEZ73ls1XnZbZiHhcv5jqFXy7BEWR-zUbpkcMF6VbPBIlf5anpvD7VnmE4Jgl3oUL_Vqi6tmA_M5QQgtc/s4896/Brenda%20at%20Viewpoint.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuMvCyBHfK_-n2jMR2byJ2hlvuawXYHLj_2FysfEv5eOYKo2X8z5oO8l2sa6h8US9n85bl7lTzphi7M9_IQmoKT0vSHv6KuwEZ73ls1XnZbZiHhcv5jqFXy7BEWR-zUbpkcMF6VbPBIlf5anpvD7VnmE4Jgl3oUL_Vqi6tmA_M5QQgtc/s320/Brenda%20at%20Viewpoint.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We spent one afternoon on the east, and larger section with 67,000 acres, a visitor center and loop drive. Along the eight-mile drive are areas to park and read the interpretive panels or take a short hike on trails. It was a gorgeous day with warm temperatures and sunny skies - a rare exception to the cold temperatures and wind we'd been experiencing. At each stop along the drive, we were treated to amazing scenery and the myriad shapes of hundreds of Saguaro cactus, including a rare <a href="https://www.nps.gov/sagu/learn/nature/upload/Cristate-Saguaros-Final.pdf">cristate</a> or "crested" one:</span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkhwm2qyV8Ccqmxe2ss_huEHnQo3YT98KY77DXVij6xJ7GDxwfnywoBNfOoczSiebD9hrIuTedQvLY1HCTfTwLu4TIlxYGP76tr16v9FrrI5rY6gEfqAgHx_wfVLPkcYMo7dVehyX-FIIVVtmCjEjgbwA8tlnhXUspcKl_5HL8l26GEQ/s1441/Sahuaro%20Panorama.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="1441" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkhwm2qyV8Ccqmxe2ss_huEHnQo3YT98KY77DXVij6xJ7GDxwfnywoBNfOoczSiebD9hrIuTedQvLY1HCTfTwLu4TIlxYGP76tr16v9FrrI5rY6gEfqAgHx_wfVLPkcYMo7dVehyX-FIIVVtmCjEjgbwA8tlnhXUspcKl_5HL8l26GEQ/w640-h250/Sahuaro%20Panorama.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdH5LAEwi7IUmmfZ9prC6zBsMIDSkONYumN2hdugviMHzTD-xZocvE8p6WF1pvURBIXsR3DoCy81tbjFMaOBhdqBfHHh6R8EbrBe7lWXklH7lS7db1qs8-QcKrDND8VHc02i4jx0kpg6QkJZAyrgBTB7VEBcLwsGCoft3CuQ0tPEIVZeY/s576/Sahuaro%20Scene%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="576" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdH5LAEwi7IUmmfZ9prC6zBsMIDSkONYumN2hdugviMHzTD-xZocvE8p6WF1pvURBIXsR3DoCy81tbjFMaOBhdqBfHHh6R8EbrBe7lWXklH7lS7db1qs8-QcKrDND8VHc02i4jx0kpg6QkJZAyrgBTB7VEBcLwsGCoft3CuQ0tPEIVZeY/w640-h480/Sahuaro%20Scene%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcNHh-ntQStoPBzQZt3AhOysjkNOrcrZY9APzHb-j5xmyFqQRbYyBayihNYfmT1giLpFE3RCa8rg1MpGe3xXkW3S7w_XD4K8TvWizkqKMuqMqHF7AQ4fPCbd3mQINBqKJYOePFMmJKfWdFtbAL73lPBVXhFaZX3CdadlJKZ4o-OmpmMM/s576/Sahuaro%20Scene%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="576" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcNHh-ntQStoPBzQZt3AhOysjkNOrcrZY9APzHb-j5xmyFqQRbYyBayihNYfmT1giLpFE3RCa8rg1MpGe3xXkW3S7w_XD4K8TvWizkqKMuqMqHF7AQ4fPCbd3mQINBqKJYOePFMmJKfWdFtbAL73lPBVXhFaZX3CdadlJKZ4o-OmpmMM/w640-h480/Sahuaro%20Scene%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZFJmmVn-iF58f2HOcN7Eeo6uZo2D-80iqjctTtZp91GLuK0E6o4uOAp7oc4DDS65U0iPtlfq-ezhMmBDdcXOTbA5PiGUl_m0c_jhip0KtWQFZa-USgGaZM1M1n8ek5yEiwRL2PipTnYysCJwa027S_eDUFwYNVoITh3AoBvJqTOK1mY/s576/Three%20Amigos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="576" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZFJmmVn-iF58f2HOcN7Eeo6uZo2D-80iqjctTtZp91GLuK0E6o4uOAp7oc4DDS65U0iPtlfq-ezhMmBDdcXOTbA5PiGUl_m0c_jhip0KtWQFZa-USgGaZM1M1n8ek5yEiwRL2PipTnYysCJwa027S_eDUFwYNVoITh3AoBvJqTOK1mY/w640-h480/Three%20Amigos.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUM-YAJxogXzMxXJdn-nK6R-wc2PyJUFHs1mkMCCtQ_3gs4FE2fmLaXdk30knapkMEu6rSeoysabzFfd6EcFxeZl_nPMWCPIIKrdK0prpgr4W3DZhx4ScsjY4YoNFmRzn8RY_SIp61pflFtfFYawewRdKcScwOYsrtnqemessVmnaR8ow/s576/Crested%20Sahuaro.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="576" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUM-YAJxogXzMxXJdn-nK6R-wc2PyJUFHs1mkMCCtQ_3gs4FE2fmLaXdk30knapkMEu6rSeoysabzFfd6EcFxeZl_nPMWCPIIKrdK0prpgr4W3DZhx4ScsjY4YoNFmRzn8RY_SIp61pflFtfFYawewRdKcScwOYsrtnqemessVmnaR8ow/w640-h480/Crested%20Sahuaro.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Crested Saguaro</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Although we enjoy the Tucson area, we were anxious to visit one of our favorite places in the Southwest, the eastern side of the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/beauty/Sky_Islands/Coronado_NF/ChiricahuaMountains/index.shtml" target="_blank">Chiricahua Mountains.</a> We always stay at <a href="https://rustysrvranch.com/" target="_blank">Rusty's RV Ranch</a>, a unique park that has 1/4 acre sites and great views of the night sky and mountains. </span></div></span></div><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhms4s5nrypxMfvx2nK2azOIHuAk3GnZ4wf5wF2h3lCom_tIi1-g1umYDMhnJmJ3xO57Rxin7zeFG_234Eo0_qDRzb2e8fghFjCRvpYw0fkKux9Zp5dxIADi-j2faSdx0hsLV9fHKqT0qcikfkrHV1tDsnpROt-Ch2sKktUEbjFEibjNGc/s1440/Chiricauhua%20View.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhms4s5nrypxMfvx2nK2azOIHuAk3GnZ4wf5wF2h3lCom_tIi1-g1umYDMhnJmJ3xO57Rxin7zeFG_234Eo0_qDRzb2e8fghFjCRvpYw0fkKux9Zp5dxIADi-j2faSdx0hsLV9fHKqT0qcikfkrHV1tDsnpROt-Ch2sKktUEbjFEibjNGc/w640-h480/Chiricauhua%20View.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">The east side and the little town of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal,_Arizona" target="_blank">Portal</a> are well off the interstate and lightly populated. Our first stop in Portal is the small store and cafe, where my #1 rated green-chili cheeseburger is served. Around the store and in the nearby canyon the birding is world class, and the area where we saw our first Elegant Trogon, a tropical bird that makes a rare summer appearance in a small section of Southern Arizona and New Mexico. It has a weird non-bird sounding call that we could hear well before seeing - you can hear it on <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Elegant_Trogon/sounds" target="_blank">this site</a> (press the sound link to hear).</span><p></p></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Famous among birders, <a href="Cave Creek Canyon" target="_blank">Cave Creek Canyon</a> and the surrounding areas is not only a great area for bird watching, but also a place to enjoy the magnificent scenery. The road through the canyon winds its way through through the trees with the high colored rock walls of the canyon towering on each side. Some of our views: </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeh06x8yv1geFlWf8Fi7OVResCuBn6vcMIG29lIpjnol34QR6HJt657WvCd4bZQe0h07XXWWkxLu6d78I02ADiKcrKNhXsgvtdsjWejKxvK7qe5ax1uPApxn89R4P_THRVKgqxIuDbLEK33UVW7US2EUfIwSg12rF4I4BDombGRhod38/s1440/Cave%20Creek%20Canyon%20Entrance.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeh06x8yv1geFlWf8Fi7OVResCuBn6vcMIG29lIpjnol34QR6HJt657WvCd4bZQe0h07XXWWkxLu6d78I02ADiKcrKNhXsgvtdsjWejKxvK7qe5ax1uPApxn89R4P_THRVKgqxIuDbLEK33UVW7US2EUfIwSg12rF4I4BDombGRhod38/w640-h480/Cave%20Creek%20Canyon%20Entrance.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Canyon Entrance</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqZ5NrZafMp1TjbEgS9i_op6zAdOsfasbi1iUQ5ApNAWFSVaSGi3cpDQwEAyyZWymIb-khim13hblCVpBhSpbQL5D3fdANyjdEettKU3vM3inrPgKkk8tgc6Uo_EbjY6K_SvzKeT3q8hoOyDJMOGUQsfPLM02Cs5yoHBW4pFVl9ZCIts/s864/Cave%20Creek%20Canyon%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqZ5NrZafMp1TjbEgS9i_op6zAdOsfasbi1iUQ5ApNAWFSVaSGi3cpDQwEAyyZWymIb-khim13hblCVpBhSpbQL5D3fdANyjdEettKU3vM3inrPgKkk8tgc6Uo_EbjY6K_SvzKeT3q8hoOyDJMOGUQsfPLM02Cs5yoHBW4pFVl9ZCIts/w640-h480/Cave%20Creek%20Canyon%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPoi0d4EL1PLJfKKJ3uHL3ib3-Wd4EYW9G23qoPzfDZ6WMSdLx5IuggWwEq2qH4_KtHsusrz-LmuNKkA0yY0G4fmYrmuddHiDFAJZDnUthH8fbKjSz-FhNCZWC_IyLlwBPgD_qkA2adKpX7H68ffqnZGYk9laQbNEPnllpAW4iPxOgro/s864/Cave%20Creek%20Canyon%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPoi0d4EL1PLJfKKJ3uHL3ib3-Wd4EYW9G23qoPzfDZ6WMSdLx5IuggWwEq2qH4_KtHsusrz-LmuNKkA0yY0G4fmYrmuddHiDFAJZDnUthH8fbKjSz-FhNCZWC_IyLlwBPgD_qkA2adKpX7H68ffqnZGYk9laQbNEPnllpAW4iPxOgro/w640-h480/Cave%20Creek%20Canyon%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimY2-obWSWX3NfGLgoEwp4cFHby5xEalKew4ZcN8YSqeLPinA0zoMq_sFfMgInit-YLmnv0cjO0bg9LycZuJE7wwrqSItqkmwZ-g8cHpFf00o7DsPJ6OnqhiobY_f0J0i7dvgJ8OgYM0hPc3n2NZfdfmAd-9Zi0l2GXdt1w_m5g6b5ba8/s852/Cave%20Creek%20Canyon%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="852" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimY2-obWSWX3NfGLgoEwp4cFHby5xEalKew4ZcN8YSqeLPinA0zoMq_sFfMgInit-YLmnv0cjO0bg9LycZuJE7wwrqSItqkmwZ-g8cHpFf00o7DsPJ6OnqhiobY_f0J0i7dvgJ8OgYM0hPc3n2NZfdfmAd-9Zi0l2GXdt1w_m5g6b5ba8/w640-h480/Cave%20Creek%20Canyon%205.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">We enjoy the trails along the canyon; they're mostly level, well marked, and scenic:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtct2ME4Zh9wBF4Xjo7XD9S_F25B_O1KwySPxKsGgxDyZwog21Tc3ezKPGOxweqxGBQVZlF8BnAkzzyFiwFOFz3PxMLVxqnK7drndmNyPGG7-Zfl1Zr1YgChSSSliLZEpdNSJ6ATaAH4qffP276LIjd9H_3F_BmVmA-yzd1TH9oYnRQyk/s864/Cave%20Creek%20Trail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtct2ME4Zh9wBF4Xjo7XD9S_F25B_O1KwySPxKsGgxDyZwog21Tc3ezKPGOxweqxGBQVZlF8BnAkzzyFiwFOFz3PxMLVxqnK7drndmNyPGG7-Zfl1Zr1YgChSSSliLZEpdNSJ6ATaAH4qffP276LIjd9H_3F_BmVmA-yzd1TH9oYnRQyk/w640-h480/Cave%20Creek%20Trail.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">We didn't have to go far to see and hear birds - this Eurasian Collared-Dove pair had a nest in the tree next to our RV:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIn6tX4I6Rkq7zLDadYnoG9R2Gz4hYFNjsQ9r8ys-4BzvjPn3me8Dw9aoqHs_1Ig6RgOuBORca8B0zNyM7sZmqYV2MjqbSDae0gTMKamsWt2JrcH05hC602P2YsZI4SPXGyGwI74R8HWVQltuLCdAmBDjcs4As4pvcKlEoBFwZVaeZ-Q/s1440/Dove%20on%20Nest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIn6tX4I6Rkq7zLDadYnoG9R2Gz4hYFNjsQ9r8ys-4BzvjPn3me8Dw9aoqHs_1Ig6RgOuBORca8B0zNyM7sZmqYV2MjqbSDae0gTMKamsWt2JrcH05hC602P2YsZI4SPXGyGwI74R8HWVQltuLCdAmBDjcs4As4pvcKlEoBFwZVaeZ-Q/w640-h480/Dove%20on%20Nest.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Our visit here always includes a trip up into the mountains to visit the ghost town of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise,_Arizona" target="_blank">Paradise</a>. Founded in 1901 when a vein of ore was discovered, the town gradually disappeared over the years and currently has a population of around 5 full-time residents. Two of them are people we try to visit - Winston and Jackie who operate the <a href="http://www.thegeorgewalkerhouse.com/" target="_blank">George Walker House,</a> a "bed and no breakfast" cabin here, and at their home adjacent to the cabin maintain an area of feeders that attract an amazing variety of birds. Gracious hosts, they invite visitors to join them on their porch where Jackie will describe the different birds that visit. We were early this year, but were still treated to the antics of Acorn Woodpeckers and watched Bridled Titmouse and Scott's Orioles. We truly appreciate their hospitality and hope it continues into our next visit. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03MO6F1do3_xJVWcDXS-vCl2DALw3GeWJHBG627yrow5kHfRnt4ejW3DR0v7OE9JYuBsd-_tndr4QrCSvgKfKlhB8-yZNRitN9Oy24ipdCWDbkBx_kIoDg2ljeKPe20F0VtFMbhgzljZsMPiKSKbAqxSRnsMiquEH8vxlAFs8m1R-Nw8/s864/Walker%20House.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03MO6F1do3_xJVWcDXS-vCl2DALw3GeWJHBG627yrow5kHfRnt4ejW3DR0v7OE9JYuBsd-_tndr4QrCSvgKfKlhB8-yZNRitN9Oy24ipdCWDbkBx_kIoDg2ljeKPe20F0VtFMbhgzljZsMPiKSKbAqxSRnsMiquEH8vxlAFs8m1R-Nw8/w640-h480/Walker%20House.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">George Walker House</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaHCqCSbi-blOFQiR1agEfNyKoz6WTX9-IhMv1dhT9L6cUiXSutblNiXA0QW-dM5V7Q38E_nCADfDdih2FA8XtEmojg_ZxSCu2ddJdGNjse3kmjRm4vgkGOAZpn_nwUmeQvVERlEEoWX5diEVAeO2ce-C5MKMs8a0cFXR3X7I2TS8G20/s864/Walker%20House%20Birding.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaHCqCSbi-blOFQiR1agEfNyKoz6WTX9-IhMv1dhT9L6cUiXSutblNiXA0QW-dM5V7Q38E_nCADfDdih2FA8XtEmojg_ZxSCu2ddJdGNjse3kmjRm4vgkGOAZpn_nwUmeQvVERlEEoWX5diEVAeO2ce-C5MKMs8a0cFXR3X7I2TS8G20/w640-h480/Walker%20House%20Birding.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">BIrding Area<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Driving around Paradise, there are still a few structures and remnants to remind us of the past. Still in use, the Paradise Cemetery provides a glimpse of life spans of early settlers and their families.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiGhkOqSm-P8ej3DNG5J0ee5Qp2iZp7YRoHuRB-odGcrnLtJO-NpxmskQW3n7hsmhCeYQimF0oyNh6Uwr_zv2CIlWtHtbfUd1CPsxIo0FhDqWlixEF4NxkMFAIsGh3_N7rXeMsz0gBprT-JOOeiY5uDOLc9qCMXHu0uKWLwmo4Arfk3Y/s1958/Paradise%20Cabin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiGhkOqSm-P8ej3DNG5J0ee5Qp2iZp7YRoHuRB-odGcrnLtJO-NpxmskQW3n7hsmhCeYQimF0oyNh6Uwr_zv2CIlWtHtbfUd1CPsxIo0FhDqWlixEF4NxkMFAIsGh3_N7rXeMsz0gBprT-JOOeiY5uDOLc9qCMXHu0uKWLwmo4Arfk3Y/w640-h480/Paradise%20Cabin.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3-8od-pvChAVxerWPdmS1_49yvZzfefH1_ekteWXvm_xMbsY1omdRvOFifRtlhb4iqK5mcysvqnwCkijAFDEsfKXqKTxvli1nRoUtcaN435nnHY1-Xo1qcw5yFm1SXcS4CK28lzQ_bMGf-AXM0n8FBzhfoPGHK4RrLyNl3CbED8Loc4/s864/Paradise%20Truck.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3-8od-pvChAVxerWPdmS1_49yvZzfefH1_ekteWXvm_xMbsY1omdRvOFifRtlhb4iqK5mcysvqnwCkijAFDEsfKXqKTxvli1nRoUtcaN435nnHY1-Xo1qcw5yFm1SXcS4CK28lzQ_bMGf-AXM0n8FBzhfoPGHK4RrLyNl3CbED8Loc4/w640-h480/Paradise%20Truck.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGz992wuroV-MoEUBN29k8pnIsL8JxYXtRYF9nOc_GwPH7jkKF2qxZKVqcjVTb3xnid7Amx2Anx0OuORtw5-5npY9_q3vsg5pruhLPgCtwM7YD3T6zYJezQtEB7c3lXAmQ-p91o6JVL6vHmyOu2BBgekog5kKveC-0k0Ph7hLAkLGrt70/s1440/Paradise%20Cemetary.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGz992wuroV-MoEUBN29k8pnIsL8JxYXtRYF9nOc_GwPH7jkKF2qxZKVqcjVTb3xnid7Amx2Anx0OuORtw5-5npY9_q3vsg5pruhLPgCtwM7YD3T6zYJezQtEB7c3lXAmQ-p91o6JVL6vHmyOu2BBgekog5kKveC-0k0Ph7hLAkLGrt70/w640-h480/Paradise%20Cemetary.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJIFV5suy7PJ0yetCpEcyZdOf-_RdYKdHr0-jv6VvGUUCLUcNkJ1-9nhlfrvv4mlwPCcQPWFvXLjxtegYhLfCnqiqVm4oMK5WkWsdig3zpbISwHzb0v7aZ-jnrMOmTPo5qKf5UL392t-xAjxHJ4_5TZoVEniwftlvOytA9Q5J2ZAOTbg/s1920/Paradise%20Cemetary2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJIFV5suy7PJ0yetCpEcyZdOf-_RdYKdHr0-jv6VvGUUCLUcNkJ1-9nhlfrvv4mlwPCcQPWFvXLjxtegYhLfCnqiqVm4oMK5WkWsdig3zpbISwHzb0v7aZ-jnrMOmTPo5qKf5UL392t-xAjxHJ4_5TZoVEniwftlvOytA9Q5J2ZAOTbg/w640-h480/Paradise%20Cemetary2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">From Rusty's, we headed down I-10 to Las Cruces and a short visit to <a href="https://www.lapostademesilla.com/" target="_blank">La Posta de Mesilla</a> restaurant and a short trip to Hatch and <a href="https://sparkysburgers.com/" target="_blank">Sparky's</a> for my #2 ranked green-chili cheeseburger. Alas, the line to get into Sparky's was around the block and with temperatures hovering in the low 40s, we decided to pass this time. Then it was back on the road over Organ Pass, through Alamogordo with a stop at Tularosa and a visit to <a href="https://innofthemountaingods.com/" target="_blank">Inn of the Mountain Gods.</a> Driving North, we were surprised and happy to see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Blanca_(New_Mexico)" target="_blank">Sierra Blanca</a> covered in snow, a sight we haven't seen for a few years. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlovB_9ieMxVVSUIu2rJUWG2mJdD2T5XDVVDLBJ7qiA9s9nkYmRO5tpzN0KBekLzZK06IJ7K95mkbcoIpyrWs71_Ux48swAlFcFJQbMpfmpOgIWzSWfTZ74-rK8YkthqrcBIhd75_JYMzDDybbaDNYjk38rRWAZV79IF4M5grm3nINJFU/s864/Sierra%20Blanca.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlovB_9ieMxVVSUIu2rJUWG2mJdD2T5XDVVDLBJ7qiA9s9nkYmRO5tpzN0KBekLzZK06IJ7K95mkbcoIpyrWs71_Ux48swAlFcFJQbMpfmpOgIWzSWfTZ74-rK8YkthqrcBIhd75_JYMzDDybbaDNYjk38rRWAZV79IF4M5grm3nINJFU/w640-h480/Sierra%20Blanca.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Our next stop was to visit the <a href="https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bosque-del-apache" target="_blank">Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge</a>, a huge refuge south of the small town of San Antonio. We had a nice talk with the folks at the visitor center, but the refuge itself was very quiet this time of year; only a hundred or so Snow Geese and a small assortment of birds. Then it was off to the famed <a href="https://sanantonioowl.com/" target="_blank">Owl Cafe</a>, which prides itself on it's "World Famous" green-chili cheeseburger:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtAH2sfCkrfK7JWCBZg-A50m3xiBTUbp3v3M1DgoV76n7Z0aMBJ7q38yWx0KjliYGzChBXSdxlrhKGFmjshYSNNx1RaiNesMEirQkSKIVVA6hoNrQoqaAq4pFv6JmOdUsO9_88TMvAEW6t_vNcBTUHCSC3KQaPplfqmv_sr-bNaG7Gbo/s2667/Owl%20Green%20Chili%20Cheeseburger.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2667" data-original-width="2000" height="559" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtAH2sfCkrfK7JWCBZg-A50m3xiBTUbp3v3M1DgoV76n7Z0aMBJ7q38yWx0KjliYGzChBXSdxlrhKGFmjshYSNNx1RaiNesMEirQkSKIVVA6hoNrQoqaAq4pFv6JmOdUsO9_88TMvAEW6t_vNcBTUHCSC3KQaPplfqmv_sr-bNaG7Gbo/w480-h559/Owl%20Green%20Chili%20Cheeseburger.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">My #3 Ranked Green-Chili Cheeseburger<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;">We spent a few nights at the Socorro Fairgrounds RV Park, our base for visiting one of the most intriguing sites that we've seen in our travels. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6bUxs1zNncvllsGST-T4ZIR-d0CTp8UWj6ryp_Du5dSo9FlxtoOb-pykufJ3GaOyqe2Zz5Q6u2W-YD7WMu1a9w2GNEvHUxYexkVruWILr6uimsN-jNIvI7TOBgb_4QKsf1u0mH4z4Ko3i25ZFyVwwtbYiNmEDjIPvZh7aIWgXDgBuCQ/s864/VLA%20Poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6bUxs1zNncvllsGST-T4ZIR-d0CTp8UWj6ryp_Du5dSo9FlxtoOb-pykufJ3GaOyqe2Zz5Q6u2W-YD7WMu1a9w2GNEvHUxYexkVruWILr6uimsN-jNIvI7TOBgb_4QKsf1u0mH4z4Ko3i25ZFyVwwtbYiNmEDjIPvZh7aIWgXDgBuCQ/w640-h480/VLA%20Poster.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Very Large Array (VLA) is located on the Plains of San Agustin far from any populated area and at an altitude of 7000'. It's difficult to describe the sight of 28 huge radio telescopes that look like huge satellite dishes. Each one is 82' in diameter, weighs 232 tons, and is mounted on tracks which allow it to be moved into different Y-shaped configurations. The "Y" when superimposed onto a map of Washington DC actually extends beyond the beltway! At the maximum alignment, the data from the antennas is combined electronically to give the resolution of an antenna 22 miles across with the sensitivity of a dish 422 feet in diameter. To give you an idea of the size of a dish, here's Brenda standing next to the spare on display.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2-ucPDb1iizD27r0nHUMiukfq6IB4J5SKLVXud0BOvV3EwDZAV6FQD3alnNTTYuTq3fccLw0IIWPRlIVVKLiK_fEiYe-j5Pmbzta-VohIOZHFnVYL-z4PHZoOkH5Poijr19tDjsHTJdSYZRk4nHRYCA3PlKx1GU-wLf4RqNdJkGZwYs/s960/Slide1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2-ucPDb1iizD27r0nHUMiukfq6IB4J5SKLVXud0BOvV3EwDZAV6FQD3alnNTTYuTq3fccLw0IIWPRlIVVKLiK_fEiYe-j5Pmbzta-VohIOZHFnVYL-z4PHZoOkH5Poijr19tDjsHTJdSYZRk4nHRYCA3PlKx1GU-wLf4RqNdJkGZwYs/w640-h480/Slide1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">What exactly the VLA sees is complicated; for an explanation, read <a href="https://newmexiconomad.com/vla/" target="_blank">this</a>. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">One of the amazing aspects of the VLA is how they move these huge dishes into different configurations. To find out how it works, watch this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyLfQjxrYYk&ab_channel=SkylerF" target="_blank">video</a>.<span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">It's impossible to describe the view of these huge disks as they stretch into the distance - you have to see them in person to understand. It is truly a magical place:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cZt-trB9wYp5FtLUAAImYg4FWKm9lA4InItBbwQ-A2HNA3HRG9HyAPbenbe2fb13zUepreS1LljcIlgsgTRTbOkt1Y5QlIoK3KKeDcjhygSBdnf6_C8ZeEG73XpD5IW7rFHwyyQNGqJxuiTmISII__cYdLQeNLio_ALZzVMlAIIkpJI/s864/VLA%20Row.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cZt-trB9wYp5FtLUAAImYg4FWKm9lA4InItBbwQ-A2HNA3HRG9HyAPbenbe2fb13zUepreS1LljcIlgsgTRTbOkt1Y5QlIoK3KKeDcjhygSBdnf6_C8ZeEG73XpD5IW7rFHwyyQNGqJxuiTmISII__cYdLQeNLio_ALZzVMlAIIkpJI/w640-h480/VLA%20Row.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOkqSspVtkckhnUd5wEpNGHnrhpzyTMUQnFQeXD7SIU8IT0rPSJ3bPyDucok_Iva8fy_9p_HjHPnSUnRv_LeEihUty9zWu8bd4iyq1t4lOL2pmy8TdrwEoWPqS36-4Si4Y5lF05YiZhkJCdw8bZDc8Is8dyCtq34WFRYN1YMnXzkTaiM/s864/VLA%20Row%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOkqSspVtkckhnUd5wEpNGHnrhpzyTMUQnFQeXD7SIU8IT0rPSJ3bPyDucok_Iva8fy_9p_HjHPnSUnRv_LeEihUty9zWu8bd4iyq1t4lOL2pmy8TdrwEoWPqS36-4Si4Y5lF05YiZhkJCdw8bZDc8Is8dyCtq34WFRYN1YMnXzkTaiM/w640-h480/VLA%20Row%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcdvBCsb8XM87hMWncxnOQyEtgBpVenZW_smA-ToivSo2TozWQAZ7Gvw_FKCn6kinwQp9cdPPyH9OwSbtLVv2WY3rOIXBYHMDqgtnOl1ckRv80ZNjI8ywY6vEhOLFvG9hOIBYgnOXJ0XWu4IhLtstcy4NWggcoM4wek36UJosBUWBE-8/s864/VLA%20Panorama.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="864" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcdvBCsb8XM87hMWncxnOQyEtgBpVenZW_smA-ToivSo2TozWQAZ7Gvw_FKCn6kinwQp9cdPPyH9OwSbtLVv2WY3rOIXBYHMDqgtnOl1ckRv80ZNjI8ywY6vEhOLFvG9hOIBYgnOXJ0XWu4IhLtstcy4NWggcoM4wek36UJosBUWBE-8/w640-h150/VLA%20Panorama.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Traveling North from Socorro, we hit I-40 for a stay at the Dancing Eagle Casino RV Park, which gave us a good base to explore the area. This is a land of native Americans, with numerous tribes mixed in the various pueblos. Our first visit was to <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/travelspanishmissions/mission-san-jose-de-laguna.htm" target="_blank">Laguna Pueblo</a>, a historic community dating back to 1400s. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AMnJLGtRrt0Dj_VGVPHlgy1HpDfh5v_zPdfwL4msJDg7D9CdDTuGzrAOilaPoNzpNSdAB5HCQAzhYP-Ulz21HdoeN3f0amGOiPW6xfhslSFzGRhYdwgNxFWM_UHw8282BG9DXrE1LOnkaynKQmkoaBGIK3Xwrjq7WVH-s2FeD2i-i4U/s1986/Laguna%20Pueblo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1489" data-original-width="1986" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AMnJLGtRrt0Dj_VGVPHlgy1HpDfh5v_zPdfwL4msJDg7D9CdDTuGzrAOilaPoNzpNSdAB5HCQAzhYP-Ulz21HdoeN3f0amGOiPW6xfhslSFzGRhYdwgNxFWM_UHw8282BG9DXrE1LOnkaynKQmkoaBGIK3Xwrjq7WVH-s2FeD2i-i4U/w640-h480/Laguna%20Pueblo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> We were anxious to visit the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/travelspanishmissions/mission-san-jose-de-laguna.htm" target="_blank">Mission San Jose de Laguna</a>. Constructed between 1699 and 1701, the mission is still well maintained and active, with mass said each Sunday. We were met by a friendly caretaker who gave us a tour and permission to take photos inside the church, a rare opportunity.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyDdK1rq4EucSUdLrQDJMWpClztSqFRqyA6fdXYucLsDO6o8c4Cu2zR3JEJaduF2AQS1yoAWr_aLOmW7XHesHvKucJFeGqbmzLdlkUK3lR62ZN4K_LifAHISmQsEONDqH41ahMSffLRwSPmTLYeeD0oWnYHVabMDO-YZTjCx8rfWA6S4/s1958/Laguna%20Pueblo%20Church.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyDdK1rq4EucSUdLrQDJMWpClztSqFRqyA6fdXYucLsDO6o8c4Cu2zR3JEJaduF2AQS1yoAWr_aLOmW7XHesHvKucJFeGqbmzLdlkUK3lR62ZN4K_LifAHISmQsEONDqH41ahMSffLRwSPmTLYeeD0oWnYHVabMDO-YZTjCx8rfWA6S4/w640-h480/Laguna%20Pueblo%20Church.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The obvious poverty of the surrounding pueblo was disappointing, but the mission, particularly the interior, was beautifully maintained. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6D_GG7p_Zyad0p2BTrCYDozOAv1g5jEfGPsAOsZbMo0bD5r6PS4UxDHfqdPvx7RswU8uORYVaCz7BpDW9V85WT-glFpcevZHainRrw8_Bwh0YfnNsBIzRN2eHBh2aF23jZk2OMmPkuokC9Fii2ToX2db7D1-O7i5gqPZA1zM6puk8V_E/s1958/Laguna%20Pueblo%20Church5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6D_GG7p_Zyad0p2BTrCYDozOAv1g5jEfGPsAOsZbMo0bD5r6PS4UxDHfqdPvx7RswU8uORYVaCz7BpDW9V85WT-glFpcevZHainRrw8_Bwh0YfnNsBIzRN2eHBh2aF23jZk2OMmPkuokC9Fii2ToX2db7D1-O7i5gqPZA1zM6puk8V_E/w640-h480/Laguna%20Pueblo%20Church5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiJ_3ekIqIuPCLs852X4FVR9JL0hadjke0ZLqALTY_wCERHVdR1oyea2sTzn7lZf-Sgr0X0ozuMVdnD27LF9hznAG6jhr1hVdlr_lKKiJyNQnMbqFCisIg01CaL-ZfAS08hTsXG5KAew6FvAHOHtN3_ejApmyY_9BE1NSYSrGGUzX5Pk/s1958/Laguna%20Pueblo%20Church2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiJ_3ekIqIuPCLs852X4FVR9JL0hadjke0ZLqALTY_wCERHVdR1oyea2sTzn7lZf-Sgr0X0ozuMVdnD27LF9hznAG6jhr1hVdlr_lKKiJyNQnMbqFCisIg01CaL-ZfAS08hTsXG5KAew6FvAHOHtN3_ejApmyY_9BE1NSYSrGGUzX5Pk/w640-h480/Laguna%20Pueblo%20Church2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">An original painting on canvas, restored and hung high on the wall to avoid vandalism:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTna448X39JbRYUCYVMFDk4M1Ls-okzBxAJXe9qKrd0NpwJJ8aKvoibzCHpsE56QneC6vgT8igGMK6Z3OIVWM96Nzc-1wV7-GwUZOAecE58QzMMRyQS1IOAHa91fa9krA4sUqBy2OLEI7-5Db65r9Bhs-nEfLHZoiLLOL_thfu8la8MI/s1958/Laguna%20Pueblo%20Church3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTna448X39JbRYUCYVMFDk4M1Ls-okzBxAJXe9qKrd0NpwJJ8aKvoibzCHpsE56QneC6vgT8igGMK6Z3OIVWM96Nzc-1wV7-GwUZOAecE58QzMMRyQS1IOAHa91fa9krA4sUqBy2OLEI7-5Db65r9Bhs-nEfLHZoiLLOL_thfu8la8MI/w640-h480/Laguna%20Pueblo%20Church3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">The ceiling shows how individual pieces of wood were placed to create the colorful pattern:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGm7-2LGlhofdmve2AB1w5QRZ8i0tMOgkSy0NmmoQvRqZRG90XbWA-QhafLRmeUatAYGNBClzR8GGfnohkwvjFWXhiTleXLvxzzrD-OcFJABCOP-z75MPisTCmGkQAhMBdxD9Kanm-rLQUexNTO_CqGjIdY20oEjtSKNLpog8xnnDIgko/s1958/Laguna%20Pueblo%20Church4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGm7-2LGlhofdmve2AB1w5QRZ8i0tMOgkSy0NmmoQvRqZRG90XbWA-QhafLRmeUatAYGNBClzR8GGfnohkwvjFWXhiTleXLvxzzrD-OcFJABCOP-z75MPisTCmGkQAhMBdxD9Kanm-rLQUexNTO_CqGjIdY20oEjtSKNLpog8xnnDIgko/w640-h480/Laguna%20Pueblo%20Church4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> Our last stop was a visit to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoma_Pueblo" target="_blank">Acoma Pueblo</a>, known as "Sky City" it is regarded as the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States. High atop a mesa, there is no water or electricity for the less than 50 tribal members who live there year around. The visitor center was closed this time of year, so we had to be content with looking at it from a distance. As we've come to expect, the pueblo mission was the most prominent building that we could see.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKeyO69IXrSNinzRJTDnbQDdXs2CanmYfnKibFJrhf-fkMYPSGLsFn1WAF2yAP7p5FY3TllCdWZZC2xG5vQKHQrTG22mArej6SSAauxwg6evOeU7JKzKHmsI4Bzv1sgkd3fPyZmYCLx7R57A5sYv8W_iMcEzwZClJGVgyX2GAmiefXwA/s1958/Sky%20City%20in%20Distance.jpg" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKeyO69IXrSNinzRJTDnbQDdXs2CanmYfnKibFJrhf-fkMYPSGLsFn1WAF2yAP7p5FY3TllCdWZZC2xG5vQKHQrTG22mArej6SSAauxwg6evOeU7JKzKHmsI4Bzv1sgkd3fPyZmYCLx7R57A5sYv8W_iMcEzwZClJGVgyX2GAmiefXwA/w640-h480/Sky%20City%20in%20Distance.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e;"><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97QxNHdUtg8-0qd8zFosCnkezG1htUPtFJ8Ip6CQXVntJH5Fx4RgBcmLhWAMfy3fqAc7ACLbQ_PCLl5TqhaOSzF2alCWMtFStlMFu3ZpLxN4k5tSXniQ9ekY4UiQBUBMo09am_MnCcak7g7USzLy7TxjH64qePArxBiS7atnRNpZaYjk/s1958/Sky%20City.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97QxNHdUtg8-0qd8zFosCnkezG1htUPtFJ8Ip6CQXVntJH5Fx4RgBcmLhWAMfy3fqAc7ACLbQ_PCLl5TqhaOSzF2alCWMtFStlMFu3ZpLxN4k5tSXniQ9ekY4UiQBUBMo09am_MnCcak7g7USzLy7TxjH64qePArxBiS7atnRNpZaYjk/w640-h480/Sky%20City.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">After a short stay in Gallup, we continued our journey back to the Oregon Coast and Bandon where we're staying for the summer. If your travels take you to the coast this summer, let us know - we'd love to see you!</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-87020178538227062222023-01-29T10:50:00.001-07:002024-03-16T14:13:32.069-06:00Winter in Arizona<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_hph3ZX4HmWQ81kNpFEC6kReYsqu2qY_BlXi_bAUSFVKNqU8MM9-pH4pZ29Xk_zfJK80X0SlHwCpA6Vnlf2nK_c-pEQUOURXsgANnl03kCYJpZbWli3cLlQt_gWFx9DZOwMsT1XGdMHh_Ecz6_P108suPOmaG9CToB_lOpRqZtVoo-0/s1958/Happy%20Together1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_hph3ZX4HmWQ81kNpFEC6kReYsqu2qY_BlXi_bAUSFVKNqU8MM9-pH4pZ29Xk_zfJK80X0SlHwCpA6Vnlf2nK_c-pEQUOURXsgANnl03kCYJpZbWli3cLlQt_gWFx9DZOwMsT1XGdMHh_Ecz6_P108suPOmaG9CToB_lOpRqZtVoo-0/w400-h300/Happy%20Together1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> Sometimes the best laid plans go awry - as has happened to us in our quest for a favorable climate for my asthma. With hope of that a warmer, dry climate would help, we opted to leave the Oregon Coast and spend the winter near Yuma, AZ. On the way we stopped in Mohave Valley, just north of Needles, CA and after spending a few days, decided that this was a better location than Yuma. Just 20 miles south of Laughlin and closer to Bullhead City, we found extensive shopping and dining opportunities and of course, a whole lot of casinos! In fact, the park we're staying is right next to a small but nice casino. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br />We're at the appropriately named "Happy Together RV Park", an exceptionally well managed park with huge sites. </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqa8gdbbkwS6v_4nvXQ7UeN94XoQvcsTIumUP1ss1d6HkLOHxfXoa4qFJJ6ACHyMRBy7IGn3ZQDB7hqvp663YA4Eshp_C6AjjX32L2HzRZejqFOpMHBkLXlbdctFHSvfMNBE5SF6sD9IVImO2fKdSgZJP-YNqUvB8b57-5eK7VLh9xkE/s1958/Happy%20Together2.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqa8gdbbkwS6v_4nvXQ7UeN94XoQvcsTIumUP1ss1d6HkLOHxfXoa4qFJJ6ACHyMRBy7IGn3ZQDB7hqvp663YA4Eshp_C6AjjX32L2HzRZejqFOpMHBkLXlbdctFHSvfMNBE5SF6sD9IVImO2fKdSgZJP-YNqUvB8b57-5eK7VLh9xkE/w640-h480/Happy%20Together2.jpg" title="Our huge site" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br />Our site is 100' long and almost as wide, and although there's no grass, there are palm trees here and there. It's a gated park and the owners provide an abundance of activities and services. We've met new people, made good friends, and enjoyed ourselves...except that the dry climate is also very windy, contains a lot of dust and pollen. and has havoc with my asthma. So after six weeks we've decided to move on to Tucson and try it there. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">But our stay in Mohave Valley was not completely without enjoyment. Each Wednesday the park hosted a pot luck, sometimes catered, which gave us a chance to meet people and make new friends. After the Oregon Coast, it was nice to visit a variety of restaurants, although we had trouble driving past Culver's without a stop for the "flavor of the day". </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We were only a few miles from the California and Nevada borders which played havoc with time on our watches and phones. Just a 10 minute drive would take us into the Pacific time zone and we often wished we had a regular old analog watch to tell us what the time really was. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Mohave Valley, Bullhead City, and Laughlin surprised us. When we last visited the area ten or so years ago, the area was rundown and depressed. Today there are new housing areas, upscale shopping, and beautiful city parks. The casino area of Laughlin is strange; it looks like a mini Las Vegas but even now during the snowbird season when it's at its busiest, the streets are almost empty no matter the time of day</span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /> But still the casinos are fairly busy - although almost everyone is grey-haired and most have walked over from the huge RV park (740 spaces) across the street. We like the fact that there was seldom a wait for any of the restaurants, including some of the most popular like "Bubba Gumps" and "Claim Jumpers". </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Our daughter and husband visited us, and looking for someplace new to them, we took a trip to Oatman. We'd been before, at least 12 years ago was our first visit, and we were interested in seeing any changes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Oatman is one of those "historic" western mining towns that has transformed itself into a tourist attraction. Many of the original buildings remain and have been transformed into souvenir shops and a few restaurants. But the big attraction is Burros. No not the kind served at Mexican restaurants, but the four-legged kind. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtSoyZrqAIJeFDgszidCrhlC8tA0FgcViSSD_Tm_sVIx0HyElyudkq7M4-CLsCBK-uPeuqGgxTf36O0bqfr_IKrUvXW7ZFhy579GrwIxmLomSlH5LNVOn-sSlmtogfG-JxWG0wQy9YOrvlbuCgxOWRgkHPstvwvLLbMBov-0gkkeWXcI/s1958/Burro%20Portrait.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtSoyZrqAIJeFDgszidCrhlC8tA0FgcViSSD_Tm_sVIx0HyElyudkq7M4-CLsCBK-uPeuqGgxTf36O0bqfr_IKrUvXW7ZFhy579GrwIxmLomSlH5LNVOn-sSlmtogfG-JxWG0wQy9YOrvlbuCgxOWRgkHPstvwvLLbMBov-0gkkeWXcI/s320/Burro%20Portrait.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Burros and donkeys are the same animal, but they're not mules or jackasses. Confused? Burros, donkeys, and jackasses are the same animal (a jackass is always male, which my wife thinks makes perfect sense) but a mule is a cross between a donkey and a horse and is larger. The burros were prized by gold miners; they could carry twice their own weight, weren't easily startled, and can live in just about any environment. When the gold ran out, miners simply released them, and as a result there are hundreds roaming the desert southwest.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">On our first visit there was no restriction posted on what to feed the burros. Tourists, including us, arrived with carrots which quickly made you a burro center of attention. On our second visit a few years later, we were stopped on the road a mile out of town by a burro standing in the middle of the road. Once we stopped, he came over to the passenger window where Brenda promptly fed him a carrot. After a few more, he wandered off and let us continue into town, where we were greeted by large signs reading "DO NOT FEED THE BURROS CARROTS!" In fact, the only food allowed, compressed blocks of hay, had to be purchased from the merchants. Obviously, the mule we ran into could read the signs, and stationed himself outside of town where he could get carrots before tourists entered town. We asked why no carrots, and were told that they contained too much sugar and the local burros were suffering from diabetes. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Our visit was on a beautiful weekend day and the town was crowded with tourists<br /> and off-road vehicles. And burros. Not as many as we've seen in the past, but small groups of three or four wandering around grudgingly accepting scratches, pets, and an occasional hay cube. They're surprisingly docile, and refuse to be intimidated by traffic - they move when they feel like it, and then slowly. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uSvhZmhsYobrCZ9DkYnIYDfI1ZTlwnT3-ZdpJB6PViW4dAx49BlMkMnPPtwDOgzqqBLlw1e0kO54ZUXgfmdA72LhO7KtNcWL4tHqMc9OJtARy4jaf2ZH_w_cW_DxuFSQdWBqyH1eGRniwlrn_mJTLeZ9vW-FbPo3ihOdUyPQdY1SqE0/s1958/Oatman%20Street1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uSvhZmhsYobrCZ9DkYnIYDfI1ZTlwnT3-ZdpJB6PViW4dAx49BlMkMnPPtwDOgzqqBLlw1e0kO54ZUXgfmdA72LhO7KtNcWL4tHqMc9OJtARy4jaf2ZH_w_cW_DxuFSQdWBqyH1eGRniwlrn_mJTLeZ9vW-FbPo3ihOdUyPQdY1SqE0/w640-h480/Oatman%20Street1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The terrain around Oatman is striking, with rugged mountains surrounding the town. Throughout the town, historic buildings and signs tell the history of the mining days.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilC4pnfGVBVRaVzIhOl38fupIJu0U-uLfTsQWgvfx_w6asABX63Zq6gWYls8iahTl07DpahKeQv0Gl-TjerDqi2J8i7WNJucm0pDs-MSgdNaZtk9hznksedHrAR_4S0G4DVQaQROBoIMsE1t6lj1deSE4PPS_Duipp6ENFbbqlJEDaMGg/s1958/Oatman%20Street2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilC4pnfGVBVRaVzIhOl38fupIJu0U-uLfTsQWgvfx_w6asABX63Zq6gWYls8iahTl07DpahKeQv0Gl-TjerDqi2J8i7WNJucm0pDs-MSgdNaZtk9hznksedHrAR_4S0G4DVQaQROBoIMsE1t6lj1deSE4PPS_Duipp6ENFbbqlJEDaMGg/w640-h480/Oatman%20Street2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKuKzwGgybwHVrOZIlTj-RgdiYJ8HDkGIkQ06S1KUd96B2KqcelsoVK_CmtduKzzbSAZYcBdPts2Oeq3bnAGUKDC-KNqoUC7vO7Y4XBsOkYUVVzIHGqd2cwzfdHgZnDGYPqUgETx7sBtW72Ppd7fm6FNg-9vnX_Zk2CFiM7Ba9dtiDddw/s1958/Oatman%20Jail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKuKzwGgybwHVrOZIlTj-RgdiYJ8HDkGIkQ06S1KUd96B2KqcelsoVK_CmtduKzzbSAZYcBdPts2Oeq3bnAGUKDC-KNqoUC7vO7Y4XBsOkYUVVzIHGqd2cwzfdHgZnDGYPqUgETx7sBtW72Ppd7fm6FNg-9vnX_Zk2CFiM7Ba9dtiDddw/w640-h480/Oatman%20Jail.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaZYyDjdVsUNBdqYjZ8lg7I3ed7q8N5MwMXHuR4_9uVs7YnXDJWajiDMh9egHCIA3ejah7j80FlFYsVN5oXNOmCIyKjsSGXTTI78ks_5u6oKL_dI7AfP5aU6Ps1t0uv149t_ZSkT8sgP_RChex8THU92R-Dsa9DJO9Qhqc__EdWzncmI/s1958/Oatman%20Sign.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaZYyDjdVsUNBdqYjZ8lg7I3ed7q8N5MwMXHuR4_9uVs7YnXDJWajiDMh9egHCIA3ejah7j80FlFYsVN5oXNOmCIyKjsSGXTTI78ks_5u6oKL_dI7AfP5aU6Ps1t0uv149t_ZSkT8sgP_RChex8THU92R-Dsa9DJO9Qhqc__EdWzncmI/w640-h480/Oatman%20Sign.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">A pleasant surprise to us was the Oatman Hotel Restaurant and Saloon, built in 1902. It was a busy weekend, and the interior was packed with patrons. The menu was extensive and reasonable for such a popular tourist stop, and the service was remarkable considering the crowd. The interior is decorated with dollar bills - on the walls, the ceilings, and every available surface. Our server wasn't sure how much money was present, but she estimated it was well over a hundred thousand dollars, with some estimates as high as a half million! </span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUeCHRHd0An9FjrUAwgDsGYWH2eyoyWVenUUiy4z1ic9evD4MUbDYaBLMShsLuWPteD6PPDQu8c0xarHFPyq8-7cTwEhWOaI3l_2qYnGRi0vPKYZyAVfH13hl2LXiTapBbhdqnevqG8GWm6Zzj3uxnWPFJx83ZHN8A24J8cEd5Nd97DM/w640-h480/Oatman%20Hotel1.jpg" width="640" /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_W9hIPZdWY8uSoYo7nLmmioTBihT-nDPBXv4sdzhvYl_-pqrMtrHRb0juy77eTpnrIPskzJWZiQwQ3E89qUeG42AbAoyUuQ6LezCB3YOrdRVlXrk5UKiLJqB-hpHtaTElc6W1zsTb_dELUSCjPqBoSNW1vbgoRhZX2g4BNzP79aatbpw/s1958/Oatman%20Hotel2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_W9hIPZdWY8uSoYo7nLmmioTBihT-nDPBXv4sdzhvYl_-pqrMtrHRb0juy77eTpnrIPskzJWZiQwQ3E89qUeG42AbAoyUuQ6LezCB3YOrdRVlXrk5UKiLJqB-hpHtaTElc6W1zsTb_dELUSCjPqBoSNW1vbgoRhZX2g4BNzP79aatbpw/w640-h480/Oatman%20Hotel2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We're back in Tucson now, a town we're very familiar with and where we have friends to visit. We'll be here for a while so check back and see what we've been doing!</span><p></p>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-90308153947478052772022-11-22T17:05:00.000-07:002024-03-16T14:18:53.593-06:00Seventeen Years on the Road<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLj67iEKo6WGPJy0GnECxpJjTCl7s-ndOkD5TKutsJwN19j0_fIglMcCZ5PvKNz1Eowb09CR3Fb6jKmtMCSICuw7ijw87JOOPXGpsbcwfz23DqL_Pf9DeXcIHbhjPYUR9luor-cTX_n7h32d0JGPS-LJ3KoY5rpbKrm0EBif02UCLRLuo/s576/Close%20up.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="576" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLj67iEKo6WGPJy0GnECxpJjTCl7s-ndOkD5TKutsJwN19j0_fIglMcCZ5PvKNz1Eowb09CR3Fb6jKmtMCSICuw7ijw87JOOPXGpsbcwfz23DqL_Pf9DeXcIHbhjPYUR9luor-cTX_n7h32d0JGPS-LJ3KoY5rpbKrm0EBif02UCLRLuo/s320/Close%20up.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Looking back, the start
of our full time RV lifestyle seems like just a few years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /> </span>We’re still surprised to look at the calendar
and see that we’re close to beginning our 18<sup>th</sup> year on the road!<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Ah, the memories!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will be a long post as we look back from
our snowy departure in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Dayton</st1:city>
<st1:state w:st="on">OH</st1:state></st1:place> to our current location.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what a journey it has been!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOe5Dj8mKofJbVDRSdtiBZGNdp-W2WBX-TEF1kdWdBtuC0XaayZ3ngZIxFGwuDXIIGmRblchSFaNhI5BVfBEg2fpVhxzamScuOiBqN6JqPBFMs6Hz7ObnN66Gww-KCzwssTBpnBTWatXwwyeeRNs3S1tmhXDlly1WtXeF6A1nOLPzIw5I/s1024/RV%20in%20Snow2%20Dec05.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOe5Dj8mKofJbVDRSdtiBZGNdp-W2WBX-TEF1kdWdBtuC0XaayZ3ngZIxFGwuDXIIGmRblchSFaNhI5BVfBEg2fpVhxzamScuOiBqN6JqPBFMs6Hz7ObnN66Gww-KCzwssTBpnBTWatXwwyeeRNs3S1tmhXDlly1WtXeF6A1nOLPzIw5I/s320/RV%20in%20Snow2%20Dec05.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">After 30 years and
eleven moves during my Air Force career (plus two more in civil service) the
thought of settling down in one place had no attraction for us. We enjoyed
traveling, exploring, and learning about nature and history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we knew that just traveling would
eventually get boring, so we began our travels looking for volunteer jobs that
were in interesting places and promised new things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And boy, did we luck out!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><span>After spending the winter traveling throughout the southwest, we headed North to Montana where had been </span></span><span>asked to be the
first “resident” volunteers at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge in </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Stevensville</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Montana</st1:state></st1:place><span>.</span><span> </span><span>We accepted without ever having been there
and on our drive down the </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Bitterroot</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place><span> to the refuge we
had our doubts. </span><span> </span><span>We settled in on a dark,
rainy day with little visibility and went to bed with concerns about the
location.</span><span> </span><span>But opening the curtains the
next morning, we discovered we were in a verdant valley surrounded by snow
covered mountains.</span><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFybBIpKWqOB7TQ63n9qoi2zpXS0LJxxSv-7wxzcBplLbCUmWAJ7NVpa4HIwZWJHQoRzHcvCDPLMBaM-ev_8YJeJJUp4Jn_Yl37KTFJKJgtVk7B6bACEp4k1hAAazr5V3QEwsPlDvm_wKLQBxfgE8uymKpM6SmML5H12aqfq6sW-BRl2M/s864/Visitor%20Center%201%20May_edited-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFybBIpKWqOB7TQ63n9qoi2zpXS0LJxxSv-7wxzcBplLbCUmWAJ7NVpa4HIwZWJHQoRzHcvCDPLMBaM-ev_8YJeJJUp4Jn_Yl37KTFJKJgtVk7B6bACEp4k1hAAazr5V3QEwsPlDvm_wKLQBxfgE8uymKpM6SmML5H12aqfq6sW-BRl2M/w640-h480/Visitor%20Center%201%20May_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pFumUGtQYASA-CfhND-Lv4e7N5Okj-KMd4ROzZkRfeMV58e4GqopViMoaKUawESafU7darrI0QmjwDY9HGu3YygI1Iwv3vrQKFQvVGvzdcMEzt9nmFeM0YncmP6PFw0bByxnRZb2SqpJr3I76h8fq07CKC19t5RAB8d7oFCPnBZ_SQc/s320/Volunteer%20Photo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="320" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pFumUGtQYASA-CfhND-Lv4e7N5Okj-KMd4ROzZkRfeMV58e4GqopViMoaKUawESafU7darrI0QmjwDY9HGu3YygI1Iwv3vrQKFQvVGvzdcMEzt9nmFeM0YncmP6PFw0bByxnRZb2SqpJr3I76h8fq07CKC19t5RAB8d7oFCPnBZ_SQc/w265-h253/Volunteer%20Photo.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>A herd of Bison was
visible in the distance and we watched a coyote trot by with a pheasant in his
mouth!</span><span> </span><span>As it turned out we had lucked
into the best possible location with a friendly, helpful, and patient staff.</span><span> </span><span>Here we learned to be “birders”, gave tours,
taught children’s school groups, and even taught a class on duck
identification.</span><span> </span><span>It was the start of our
love affair with US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and the incredibly dedicated
people that manage our wildlife refuges. That summer we hiked, fished, and explored the beautiful Bitterroot Valley.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDaW3XFM3_gFH34WPO6kB65qN75sHbTJDdnpuDiFRSm11ANNw6dZdyov0vSXo4CeGkivF0Wq9KmWjIRUc_LHb_B3RV6YVipN0Vha9RfVH-nueQ2gRAuiA86wF3-gbSzkwClnS2kl0-xYlb-iK7NRjtkdrDJ5L8qGwHlbFLLXx7OrZbXw/s1024/Lee%20Metcalf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDaW3XFM3_gFH34WPO6kB65qN75sHbTJDdnpuDiFRSm11ANNw6dZdyov0vSXo4CeGkivF0Wq9KmWjIRUc_LHb_B3RV6YVipN0Vha9RfVH-nueQ2gRAuiA86wF3-gbSzkwClnS2kl0-xYlb-iK7NRjtkdrDJ5L8qGwHlbFLLXx7OrZbXw/w640-h480/Lee%20Metcalf.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><span>This summer we again volunteered for FWS at an Oregon State Park near the California border. Once again, we had the opportunity to set up spotting scopes overlooking the water and "sea stacks" to observe wildlife. Our favorite location was Arch Rock, where helped visitors see and understand Pelagic Cormorants, Pigeon Guillemots, Black Oystercatchers, and Osprey chicks. The viewpoint that we spent the day at was simply magical - how could we not love what we do?</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Igimua8afCpHVCuWXyweGKhmxRKEkjf9cKW-Le6tSujASmej3IGAeWffhbDGH29DAFp4FFdoweOnPB6Uk__jg-cP_uro0p4KxOfdwxMCA62TLrLQL90oKruW_ermOTihuS5N8zlgZ_oLd9A_dPrQ_xIc0bje7UaIWrDyY0DVkIpQoSI/s1645/Arich%20Rock%20Pano.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1645" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Igimua8afCpHVCuWXyweGKhmxRKEkjf9cKW-Le6tSujASmej3IGAeWffhbDGH29DAFp4FFdoweOnPB6Uk__jg-cP_uro0p4KxOfdwxMCA62TLrLQL90oKruW_ermOTihuS5N8zlgZ_oLd9A_dPrQ_xIc0bje7UaIWrDyY0DVkIpQoSI/w640-h400/Arich%20Rock%20Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></p>Over the years we’ve
volunteered at seven wildlife refuges, six state parks, a BLM Natural Area, and
a Nature Conservatory Preserve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All have
been memorable and fulfilling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve
learned to be “Junior Ranger” instructors, museum guides, marine mammal and
shorebird interpreters, and I even learned how to become a “tide pool
guide”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve made friends with staff
and other volunteers that we still visit across the west today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ48YvU6fKXy5gKXEygF5q_exq5foUQJ3ATijOCPwNSXafyfloGvioYlur4UX2r7NcbDnro49LSoay3olZnJ6wXdcRQG9ZtFuZRcidB4tnE7HMNxwnYodJND-DXEiOnFACx-Dq_c_RsdJUUU3bx_q7_xFgpNn5s1RFXZbZjrSEtU8--gE/s1024/Volunteer%20Photos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ48YvU6fKXy5gKXEygF5q_exq5foUQJ3ATijOCPwNSXafyfloGvioYlur4UX2r7NcbDnro49LSoay3olZnJ6wXdcRQG9ZtFuZRcidB4tnE7HMNxwnYodJND-DXEiOnFACx-Dq_c_RsdJUUU3bx_q7_xFgpNn5s1RFXZbZjrSEtU8--gE/w640-h480/Volunteer%20Photos.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span>We’ve become part of a
community of travelers.</span><span> </span><span>We’re asked how
we can live without being in a community; we explain that we are – but our
community is spread throughout the west.</span><span>
</span><span>At our current location, the park hosts a weekly potluck, happy hour,
and other events that bring us together.</span><span>
</span><span>And we all have something in common – our homes have wheels.</span><span> </span><span>Each year we visit with old friends that have
become our “road family”.</span><span><o:p><span> </span></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><o:p><span><br /></span></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnHp3Jvbw3EX7WfGCIVIWZ0fNoNL4cAaqywz1e8_b1Zm9LrCzzj0UpOIjt2XL3jZFVaD4zrb9t6Orr6i5zaGQLFHtVD7lTCCeYzL8Es1PFDSkGFjheege9kutnYtgKdENVK_KO3xe39Ohlyg__dYEuu4QgzdsETnrNibUO8zkSAojqgU/s1024/Reunions.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnHp3Jvbw3EX7WfGCIVIWZ0fNoNL4cAaqywz1e8_b1Zm9LrCzzj0UpOIjt2XL3jZFVaD4zrb9t6Orr6i5zaGQLFHtVD7lTCCeYzL8Es1PFDSkGFjheege9kutnYtgKdENVK_KO3xe39Ohlyg__dYEuu4QgzdsETnrNibUO8zkSAojqgU/w640-h480/Reunions.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span>Volunteering has allowed
us to spend time at locations we were interested in exploring; four summers on
the Southern Oregon Coast, two summers in the Bitterroot Valley and surrounding
mountains, three in Northern Idaho, another two in the Black Hills, and winters
in Southern Arizona, Northern Washington, Las Vegas, and what has become our
favorite year-round location, the Southern Oregon Coast.</span><span> </span><span>At each location, we’ve had the time to
explore and learn about the area and wildlife.</span><span>
</span><span>And of course the restaurants and casinos!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqtxIyQWAH7m3FAJ9iSi5UBnWTFKH13uNCqvvwBCDkJffksAK4AN1EV0AMOCeU-lQ6rdV2BCiS3sYRe8rZH9CdVu9zl-X_UuRlcu8K9UhmA2rWEY5XK24EkudfqmDTHNEm4mXX8Sm8ZVNrcclHm-TDt5U7RQJJR0kA40uc2nu2DPXPjs/s591/Harris%20Beach%20RV%20Site.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="443" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqtxIyQWAH7m3FAJ9iSi5UBnWTFKH13uNCqvvwBCDkJffksAK4AN1EV0AMOCeU-lQ6rdV2BCiS3sYRe8rZH9CdVu9zl-X_UuRlcu8K9UhmA2rWEY5XK24EkudfqmDTHNEm4mXX8Sm8ZVNrcclHm-TDt5U7RQJJR0kA40uc2nu2DPXPjs/w300-h400/Harris%20Beach%20RV%20Site.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></span></div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We’ve also taken a
couple of years off and just traveled throughout the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many interesting and beautiful
things to see – we never get tired of our ability to travel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the years we’ve stayed at and reviewed
over 480 campgrounds, but one of the perks of volunteering is that we’re given
a free full-hookup site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it’s a
state park or refuge we’ve always been pleased with the quality of our site;
volunteer coordinators go out of their way to make us comfortable and to
encourage us to return.<o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Some of our highlights:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Brenda had never seen a
moose in the wild (I had that opportunity while serving in remote </span><st1:state style="font-family: helvetica;" w:st="on">Alaska</st1:state><span style="font-family: helvetica;">) and so in </span><st1:place style="font-family: helvetica;" w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Montana</st1:state></st1:place><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
on our days off we’d drive logging roads in the mountains in search of a
sighting.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It took us three months and
countless gallons of gas.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And often we’d
return home to learn that a moose had been sighted wandering around the local
supermarket parking lot.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Since then,
we’ve seen plenty of moose, especially in the mountains of </span><st1:state style="font-family: helvetica;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Wyoming</st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: helvetica;">.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKl2sgu2jbSXYUQwW5vTEHYu1LjvBn-Y9us2c8nwSdnd3uw0VJsaEuZIIOpFoCxuc6ws8M2NMgeq7c6r2tn6Uvc7jHdRKLH6HWFBqQw1qryagMoXDgiGpPhH1vhAP9TYsx_vd0rlTJwH_Vv6hzBM_ydz2FjLhPCvVKgWcESTfUSHUMBc/s1280/moose.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1280" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKl2sgu2jbSXYUQwW5vTEHYu1LjvBn-Y9us2c8nwSdnd3uw0VJsaEuZIIOpFoCxuc6ws8M2NMgeq7c6r2tn6Uvc7jHdRKLH6HWFBqQw1qryagMoXDgiGpPhH1vhAP9TYsx_vd0rlTJwH_Vv6hzBM_ydz2FjLhPCvVKgWcESTfUSHUMBc/w640-h512/moose.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODRm8br_fzBsJmzJTinFs1P9iZk4guss2htSi5LxQsTg-Qexgp9YAgdA_rAxuXAvmwl3P_ui0SQX2z-NmN0gXVR2sxAgepp5X1zGkAT7V4YeWk_ivhive-5Ds8QnR6yE8WDWR8_1yiApd1xcUmi8XFrb0tV7v6panQCPRPZtrG_5fLtA/s1958/Farragut%20RV%20Site.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODRm8br_fzBsJmzJTinFs1P9iZk4guss2htSi5LxQsTg-Qexgp9YAgdA_rAxuXAvmwl3P_ui0SQX2z-NmN0gXVR2sxAgepp5X1zGkAT7V4YeWk_ivhive-5Ds8QnR6yE8WDWR8_1yiApd1xcUmi8XFrb0tV7v6panQCPRPZtrG_5fLtA/s320/Farragut%20RV%20Site.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br />At <st1:placename w:st="on">Farragut</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">State Park</st1:placetype> in <st1:place w:st="on">Northern
Idaho</st1:place> where we spent three summers as the “program hosts”, we were
two of 54 volunteers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a great
place to work, largely due to the exceptional volunteer ranger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But best of all were the potlucks!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t unusual to see three banquet tables
set up for food….and another two for desserts! Our RV site in the forest on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Lake</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Pend
Oreille</st1:placename></st1:place> was one of the best we’ve ever had.<o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">As <st1:placename w:st="on">Artillery</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype> hosts on the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">North</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Washington</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Coast</st1:placetype></st1:place>, we had the chance
to visit Olympic National Park and Forks, the famous setting for the “Twilight”
series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throughout the small town were
signs pointing out “Bella’s” high school, supermarket, pharmacy, etc. Leaving
town and traveling to neighboring La Push, there were signs warning us that no
“vampires” were allowed past the treaty line, and coming back, no “werewolves”
were allowed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A restaurant server told
us that at the height of the “Twilight” fever, they were flooded with over 12,000
teenagers every weekend, almost exclusively girls.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6tV5blCxvXIMsnKeWLXYHvRYzr91HchOOtlaw-14NWgy-6-iiRtbIBH59nApAKHOuMxwFrCTqFQUaHR6ZB8F_qP6K0vJcbnu7Oaq-BEqyWHHSmvx_Z4_Fs1RGoufAGW4rMls92k2PWWhk9PpLWtLQQ1r02kaf6RTO3pAaQwQWjEg0BY/s1024/Twilight.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6tV5blCxvXIMsnKeWLXYHvRYzr91HchOOtlaw-14NWgy-6-iiRtbIBH59nApAKHOuMxwFrCTqFQUaHR6ZB8F_qP6K0vJcbnu7Oaq-BEqyWHHSmvx_Z4_Fs1RGoufAGW4rMls92k2PWWhk9PpLWtLQQ1r02kaf6RTO3pAaQwQWjEg0BY/w640-h480/Twilight.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">On the magical Southern
Oregon Coast, we watched thousands of seals and sea lions congregate on a reef
just offshore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The barking of the
California Sea Lions, roaring of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Steller</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Sea</st1:placetype></st1:place> lions and Elephant
Seals, combined with crashing waves and screaming gulls was a sound we’ll never
forget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve watched a Gray Whales
feeding, Orca pods cruising, and Peregrine Falcon and Osprey chicks learning to
fly and hunt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBaXdzBTyyNBFgCWJmf3A7PGyzDmaXKb6GMMKE3nP320oNuzDPJOqaMKdoPPqf7EQXQg8gB2fI9ghdoqdSqXWESyhnL20J62C3wK45dikap76qYWDcIN99C9NejLiRphRJ2PyGyZdFdp9jt0ebGminlRflRZOTCqhfin89JvyHlwPSQ0/s1024/Mammals%20and%20Birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBaXdzBTyyNBFgCWJmf3A7PGyzDmaXKb6GMMKE3nP320oNuzDPJOqaMKdoPPqf7EQXQg8gB2fI9ghdoqdSqXWESyhnL20J62C3wK45dikap76qYWDcIN99C9NejLiRphRJ2PyGyZdFdp9jt0ebGminlRflRZOTCqhfin89JvyHlwPSQ0/w640-h480/Mammals%20and%20Birds.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Our travels have
included a walk on the movie “Field of Dreams” baseball diamond, a visit to the
town setting of “Northern Exposure” (Rosyln, WA), a stop at the place where the
music died (Buddy Holly crash site near Clear Lake, IA), “Dances with Wolves”
film sites in the Black Hills, seldom visited ghost towns, historic sites, and
back roads that led to amazing views.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We bought our Leg Lamp (it's a major award, you know) at the Christmas Story House in Cleveland, and visited Lone Pine and the Alabama Hills, film sites for movies from "Gunda Din" to the "Roy Rogers show", to "Tremors".</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMClzXzckOGYh_UhrLUURi3pNthYWDiB40OPb0lIl407222PHS5IhRz5rcQofQt51sNMZFh-LKL2j8yVItke2nGINqZ0Yuwcleh9BvOz1DbEIQ9WccJjvdHN7fgqx34Pk6nirS0f-n3veBbJ9GAK0TAsulbf4Tso2dILQKnbhJ1iZyvg/s1024/Movie%20Collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMClzXzckOGYh_UhrLUURi3pNthYWDiB40OPb0lIl407222PHS5IhRz5rcQofQt51sNMZFh-LKL2j8yVItke2nGINqZ0Yuwcleh9BvOz1DbEIQ9WccJjvdHN7fgqx34Pk6nirS0f-n3veBbJ9GAK0TAsulbf4Tso2dILQKnbhJ1iZyvg/w640-h480/Movie%20Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And so many more; too
many to write about here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A full time RV lifestyle
is not all rainbows and Unicorns.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A
motor home like ours is as sophisticated as a space station, and driving the
country’s rough roads can play havoc on delicate systems.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Any part that has the words “motor home” in
front of it means the price is at least doubled, and remember, this is
essentially a big truck with a diesel engine and air and hydraulic
systems.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A single tire, replaced at least
every seven years, is $600 (and we need six).</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Living on
the road is no more inexpensive than living in a regular house; there are
upkeep costs, TV & phone bills, parking fees when traveling, and when
traveling we average 7.5 MPG – with diesel at $5 or more per gallon, moving can
be very expensive.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But the upside of
travel is worth the cost.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Over the years, we’ve
come to appreciate nature in a way we never could in our working lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Passing on our knowledge by teaching children
has become a passion; as our first volunteer boss liked to say; “we’re raising
a generation of “”flat screen children"" and if we don’t get them involved in
nature, we’ll lose our parks and refuges”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>An old friend summed up the change in our lives a few years ago when she said “my God,
you’ve become tree-huggers!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yes,
yes we have. And we're better for it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO34vdBSOHMZ09EsqFx_QWWgshvK2LM0_pBueqNnmx2NjebkAGu0kBeHmD8l0NDF05kP59LW86TB0HAWx1BM7dKHV_i6RQPbj-tcGPbWTie5pgxRWcdlKTsk18knZKB7GK9mradBFu1YBQdHk3FShVWGg7l4eltPNEvDP4P7OI4rZbGbk/s1024/Teaching%20Kids.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO34vdBSOHMZ09EsqFx_QWWgshvK2LM0_pBueqNnmx2NjebkAGu0kBeHmD8l0NDF05kP59LW86TB0HAWx1BM7dKHV_i6RQPbj-tcGPbWTie5pgxRWcdlKTsk18knZKB7GK9mradBFu1YBQdHk3FShVWGg7l4eltPNEvDP4P7OI4rZbGbk/w640-h480/Teaching%20Kids.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaddVfluiXGjNe0njMQG5qivgQ0aRY5l1EYGaomyf89qjlAg7VsNQoOMu2p7o6_lQBFDH9dI24V-fzcf3kCf-OVB7ma_Kb36fisiiUGUZpu6ab-gPGz8f19YDfBM_3ec0m8JroONMFYlXWemcl1mXBCFZZe3GRB9kuPXLn7kGTHrJQ0zY/s2272/Door%20Sign.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2210" data-original-width="2272" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaddVfluiXGjNe0njMQG5qivgQ0aRY5l1EYGaomyf89qjlAg7VsNQoOMu2p7o6_lQBFDH9dI24V-fzcf3kCf-OVB7ma_Kb36fisiiUGUZpu6ab-gPGz8f19YDfBM_3ec0m8JroONMFYlXWemcl1mXBCFZZe3GRB9kuPXLn7kGTHrJQ0zY/w200-h194/Door%20Sign.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br />I sometimes reflect that
my working career was a means to an end – the end being </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the last 17 years of
our traveling lives.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We feel
fortunate to be living our dream, and hope to continue as long as our health
allows.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This winter we’re spending time
in </span><st1:place style="font-family: helvetica;" w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Mohave Valley</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">AZ</st1:state></st1:place><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> at the “Happy Together RV Resort”.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; mso-spacerun: yes;"> If you happen through the area, please plan a visit! </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We’re not sure what next year holds for us,
but we hope you’ll continue to follow along with us on our journey! </span></span><p></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p></div></div>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0JCJ2+4J Paisley, OR, USA42.6303017 -120.598442136.221497968747947 -129.3875046 49.039105431252047 -111.8093796tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-40466681713092546672022-07-23T15:22:00.003-06:002024-03-16T14:13:48.906-06:00We're Still Here!<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> It has been a long time since I've posted on our blog, and we're still living our dream although we haven't been doing much of anything new. After a couple of months in the Coos Bay area, we moved south to Brookings, on the California border, for a summer of volunteering for US Fish & Wildlife as Marine Mammal and Bird Interpreters. We arrived on May 1st, and have settled into a routine of showing visitors the local wildlife and doing a few programs on the weekend.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2Z0Ca33VOT6t1SrfG1MVoQ0hqjW8RLYiy7xYP6Wf5G0Qko9CLyysz9JhxGxIzHtlGN3j7LXbgbl3ngFyOrSTnt98nX7Xnr4qrTDpvoWIDH87BFt7P8jwlOufcdkgyJkTC6uk0sAysc4XCiNxHoR6qbyCEurjfuSCp4RDi3E2Vyfhn8x0" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="443" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2Z0Ca33VOT6t1SrfG1MVoQ0hqjW8RLYiy7xYP6Wf5G0Qko9CLyysz9JhxGxIzHtlGN3j7LXbgbl3ngFyOrSTnt98nX7Xnr4qrTDpvoWIDH87BFt7P8jwlOufcdkgyJkTC6uk0sAysc4XCiNxHoR6qbyCEurjfuSCp4RDi3E2Vyfhn8x0=w300-h400" width="300" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We're at Harris Beach State Park, a place we've been twice before. Our last visit in 2017 was memorable; it was the year Brenda had heart surgery and later we had to evacuate due to the threat of a wildfire. So far this year all our memories are positive! Our site is surrounded by blackberry bushes, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocosmia">crocosmia</a> flowers, and wax myrtle. Hummingbirds, mostly<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna's_hummingbird"> Anna's</a>, are frequent visitors to our feeders, so much so that I have to refill our four feeders every other day. We're also visited on our seed feeder by Song Sparrows, Black-Capped and<a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chestnut-backed_Chickadee/overview"> Chesnutt-Backed Chickadees</a>, and the beautiful but noisy Steller's Jay. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The park furnished us with a beautiful full-hookup site in the trees. In exchange, we teach the "Junior Ranger" (kids 6-12) on Saturday mornings and have a nature walk and amphitheater program on Friday and Saturday nights. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsK3hp2-PlgGFe9Nf2xCyYt1qDkBdgzBO7kroZUZ7kWGgRYe37TnfdfZJyhbrDDmg1kM4IzZdSEEkUCTXONj2HVww6GAbt-2sxSQCFc6jvkF8l6MAFVZ6J49ioxc5q4kDMyh1fjj64hJ3Q_5fOfif_vl3B8LOPYPbfu6ndwfNS7Pg3Zs/s1958/Junior%20Rangers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsK3hp2-PlgGFe9Nf2xCyYt1qDkBdgzBO7kroZUZ7kWGgRYe37TnfdfZJyhbrDDmg1kM4IzZdSEEkUCTXONj2HVww6GAbt-2sxSQCFc6jvkF8l6MAFVZ6J49ioxc5q4kDMyh1fjj64hJ3Q_5fOfif_vl3B8LOPYPbfu6ndwfNS7Pg3Zs/w640-h480/Junior%20Rangers.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Junior Rangers demonstrating the size of a Blue Whale</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Harris Beach is a beautiful, tree covered park lush with plants, many of which are still flowering. All sites are paved and most have full hooks, and many have a view of the ocean. Each site is separated by hedges and other plants to provide privacy. The selling point for us is the climate - temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s, with many sunny days. It hasn't rained since mid-June and probably won't rain again until mid to late September. Everything remains green, though, thanks to the late night/early morning marine layer that brings in heavy fog. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWKz1fdMEUupwBIFH6B8tbQRWTkkNjZ3fQWZiE6ZqJDItV_Rb0PFM5ImbLjp_bA1UmLAcySmRmUkgmc9bUjGd5nzYYuuz2GDrYOGjZkKK4NlLSruVf9v46q6nugAEP5WujAQ3XkE9VWEymkxIQKtUfZqfkO13ynYwjcA6P2XYi85RdsQ/s1958/Park%20View.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWKz1fdMEUupwBIFH6B8tbQRWTkkNjZ3fQWZiE6ZqJDItV_Rb0PFM5ImbLjp_bA1UmLAcySmRmUkgmc9bUjGd5nzYYuuz2GDrYOGjZkKK4NlLSruVf9v46q6nugAEP5WujAQ3XkE9VWEymkxIQKtUfZqfkO13ynYwjcA6P2XYi85RdsQ/w640-h480/Park%20View.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This year we discovered a first - a <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Peregrine_Falcon/overview">Peregrine Falcon</a> pair had made a nearby rock their home and produced two chicks. This was the first time in years that they've been seen here, and their presence caused quite a stir among the birding community. We watched as the chicks rapidly grew; soon they were practicing flying by jumping up and letting the wind keep them aloft. The parents both brought them food - on one occasion we watched as the adult tore pieces off of a pigeon and fed the chick. It wasn't long before they fledged, and shortly after they left the area for the summer. Hopefully they'll be back again next year.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbT6TyWXIW2q1t2a3Wz5pTCi9PJQG9SHzYGAfso0VFfhRt9qZtf82hSvDZTcINjXcHcOnlCJImmnzVWl1SlzOEUGAFnLC8gSuBa07Tgj_e6p3kFh_BWH6j2ZMzHGYKvP27U8LV6INg4L-FlNDN6XBn8vQGWc4622albEw_UZcyebCK3no/s900/Peregrine%20Chick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="900" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbT6TyWXIW2q1t2a3Wz5pTCi9PJQG9SHzYGAfso0VFfhRt9qZtf82hSvDZTcINjXcHcOnlCJImmnzVWl1SlzOEUGAFnLC8gSuBa07Tgj_e6p3kFh_BWH6j2ZMzHGYKvP27U8LV6INg4L-FlNDN6XBn8vQGWc4622albEw_UZcyebCK3no/w640-h512/Peregrine%20Chick.jpg" title="Peregrine Falcon Chick" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Peregrine Falcon Chick</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaO-xoBugSM_zy1GQC31eHvtCwAb-GfHN-ud7_corNtRKZw3omVKQxOI1_zpOZl1yTGTVE1v02mhbfsrSb8Chz3v1U3aYn1JKqANsq_AAMGwizCajTdbpWLrVecrfj1gMprkd7Rd6DUrxRy6_OAk8YBGuPVMolamlfjTq83XNCv7z7mQ/s900/Peregrine%20Chick%20Being%20Fed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="900" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaO-xoBugSM_zy1GQC31eHvtCwAb-GfHN-ud7_corNtRKZw3omVKQxOI1_zpOZl1yTGTVE1v02mhbfsrSb8Chz3v1U3aYn1JKqANsq_AAMGwizCajTdbpWLrVecrfj1gMprkd7Rd6DUrxRy6_OAk8YBGuPVMolamlfjTq83XNCv7z7mQ/w640-h512/Peregrine%20Chick%20Being%20Fed.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chick Being Fed by Adult</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87lIRG6hJDBc-Iq_4i9M1zrSj27nalOJGGl5suJqlIv0MQqOjNDUqALdy6tRdG2BoIeU-aKgyhteH6oIVrElszKxE1pLAJ9TpnvX2ZhdtXSLcwMMrN7X_lH8CucFXCQxV70Z9FZKEwz0b6HgMK5eYZjwZ0RpfqM0AlF4ixEWUfPDHkKk/s376/Iris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="260" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87lIRG6hJDBc-Iq_4i9M1zrSj27nalOJGGl5suJqlIv0MQqOjNDUqALdy6tRdG2BoIeU-aKgyhteH6oIVrElszKxE1pLAJ9TpnvX2ZhdtXSLcwMMrN7X_lH8CucFXCQxV70Z9FZKEwz0b6HgMK5eYZjwZ0RpfqM0AlF4ixEWUfPDHkKk/w442-h640/Iris.jpg" width="442" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This year we've been spending time at Arch Rock Viewpoint, about 10 miles north of the park. It's a beautiful place - Arch Rock is not only interesting to look at but has a number of Pelagic Cormorants on nests. We've been watching as the chicks have hatched and been fed by the mother. They grow fast and soon will be flying. Along the trail to the viewpoint the ground is covered in wild Lilly of the Valley with an occasional wild Iris poking through the Lilly</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> leaves.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM48B1ezt_g7CMwIqA98T1ihgxhQC2-gnbptO8YH1G_nPlr3OQ5SG0mPdWrL-PCgBeGsUoS7w37J6dCywFuVUyU2Bet6PV0rI9bYKiP6FUhgCg9CN-mtAb4KfZMQajA0iVziWZJRkX44l2sghnpuOdwN-aeaGpP3gQZUN9qqsL5XZ1M5c/s410/Brenda%20at%20Sunset%20Point.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="410" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM48B1ezt_g7CMwIqA98T1ihgxhQC2-gnbptO8YH1G_nPlr3OQ5SG0mPdWrL-PCgBeGsUoS7w37J6dCywFuVUyU2Bet6PV0rI9bYKiP6FUhgCg9CN-mtAb4KfZMQajA0iVziWZJRkX44l2sghnpuOdwN-aeaGpP3gQZUN9qqsL5XZ1M5c/w400-h320/Brenda%20at%20Sunset%20Point.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We're enjoying our stay here; the weather, although cool on most days, is a wonderful alternative to the 100+ temperatures in most of the nation. As usual, we're grateful to US Fish & Wildlife for the opportunity and for the great support. We've met so many great people while showing them the wildlife along the coast. We'll be here until September 1st when we'll return to the Coos Bay area for annual medical appointments. We'll be back on our blog soon, so come back and visit!</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /> <br /></span><p></p></div></div></div></div>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-55117853435564256822022-02-15T19:00:00.000-07:002024-03-16T14:13:51.280-06:00The Year in Review - 2021<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">2021 was the year of our "Golden Anniversary Tour", a year that Brenda and I celebrated our 50th anniversary with a grand tour through the West. Even with a late start due to COVID, we managed to travel nearly 10,000 miles! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgU1i3FMANgAQYg5-u_5EVXr52-br1qoXApJQFQlPJRjZV0wp9BDx-cKJrW6E_h4bmWSuc90s7PnnaVQI2TJgnck2njcyRMNuuD_IlKOodLUxq1PBB0fQtHF64LN5PhwZL30q26S5U2scTUtQ_j7xUFFLyHM8-sJBI_ujD1oB_E_A4AdfU=s4896" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgU1i3FMANgAQYg5-u_5EVXr52-br1qoXApJQFQlPJRjZV0wp9BDx-cKJrW6E_h4bmWSuc90s7PnnaVQI2TJgnck2njcyRMNuuD_IlKOodLUxq1PBB0fQtHF64LN5PhwZL30q26S5U2scTUtQ_j7xUFFLyHM8-sJBI_ujD1oB_E_A4AdfU=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.5pt;">(If our route looks confusing, it's because while in <st1:state w:st="on">Idaho</st1:state> in early August, our large slide-out room became
disabled, and we knew it would require complete realignment at the Winnebago
factory in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Forest City</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Iowa</st1:state></st1:place>.)</span><o:p></o:p></p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Our travels started on the Oregon Coast where we spent seven months hunkered down during the pandemic and waiting for our second COVID shot to be available. Once on the road, we stopped in Medford for annual servicing on our motor home and then crossed the Cascades for a week in a park south of Bend. From there, we explored the <a href="https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/trip-ideas/scenic-drives/cascades-lakes-scenic-byway/">Cascades Lakes Scenic Byway</a> as it wound through the Eastern side of the mountains. It's a beautiful area of lakes, forests, and tall mountains. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpFQjfSh9QeP80oU8QMWKA94GXQIQt-OWicZ8VKifu1dKCPTHZJ3DBFDm6yEUTbZkaZwH9QgilwKkTav7owexBgWngXSId7otXOpNLs9aNtvqjl83Cnw8hwKiu2lkvTqDqHmGItHdEoHVs0p_hGQha93TFyD106on-6JwW1W33UZKT0Jo=s1024" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpFQjfSh9QeP80oU8QMWKA94GXQIQt-OWicZ8VKifu1dKCPTHZJ3DBFDm6yEUTbZkaZwH9QgilwKkTav7owexBgWngXSId7otXOpNLs9aNtvqjl83Cnw8hwKiu2lkvTqDqHmGItHdEoHVs0p_hGQha93TFyD106on-6JwW1W33UZKT0Jo=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0_SuMlFy7Dr19KetgAyqqqDMAgvQ1Db6WAqJLvlf-S_jVkX5YbCbSQfQ4GtROgX8DqlDt5l4jK94pzEUeSPc0bCWBmKi70i7BiuraMjxTvN_VO3aSS09v6oat4eD1usIwD5NBp7-aDGSWcTduVgjyyB08Qc8ojAhGrbkNT58YAgFESjs=s1325" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="1325" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0_SuMlFy7Dr19KetgAyqqqDMAgvQ1Db6WAqJLvlf-S_jVkX5YbCbSQfQ4GtROgX8DqlDt5l4jK94pzEUeSPc0bCWBmKi70i7BiuraMjxTvN_VO3aSS09v6oat4eD1usIwD5NBp7-aDGSWcTduVgjyyB08Qc8ojAhGrbkNT58YAgFESjs=w640-h214" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Traveling further east, we stopped in the neat little town of John Day where we visited friends we met while volunteering, toured the </span><a href="https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=5" style="font-family: helvetica;">Kam Wah Chung Heritage Site</a><span style="font-family: helvetica;">, and then headed for Baker City for a week's stay. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://traveloregon.com/places-to-go/cities/baker-city/">Baker City </a>is a historic town or around 10,000 at the base of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elkhorn_Mountains_(Oregon)">Elkhorn Mountains</a>. The downtown area is immaculately maintained with plenty of shops and restaurants:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizzurzRt6gEcMWMDOFarsUrlSIqiDyUzMbcSUrWP8ZPHCR4nkhOGr0vma5XuiC8nPGcIb72E-iVcz9bom4Xnsq9H-2yYBiEXd_5klCP3lSuQHCk71DQmBJ_zNfeNeU6TmUODL-uMwsAu0P2OkS-DQTxTP4Ktl2t4JdrLArCqUgsy-Dm_s=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizzurzRt6gEcMWMDOFarsUrlSIqiDyUzMbcSUrWP8ZPHCR4nkhOGr0vma5XuiC8nPGcIb72E-iVcz9bom4Xnsq9H-2yYBiEXd_5klCP3lSuQHCk71DQmBJ_zNfeNeU6TmUODL-uMwsAu0P2OkS-DQTxTP4Ktl2t4JdrLArCqUgsy-Dm_s=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Baker City was a great place to stay while exploring the area. We started with a trip to the Sumpter Valley Dredge, a structure that is an amazing example of engineering during the Oregon gold rush. Now on a pond, the dredge once moved up the river, creating it's own waterway as it dug up the earth. It is an interesting story; you can read about it <a href="https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=174">here</a>. </span></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiel4lyxqmDT-qP54MVZIjTrVDnIw3wyNtaAcXOXYVZdRGQXLI3LAC03aKaXNeX1rkN57L71MXy_prRLUkKDVIz49IDJtcqrlMHUoLH6GL3NFWnHQc9JnElfAfC1JI1oMixsxQkKRok4OlkzZ6v7HhO6nxFNqMRyqm4DFaBs1N6aeUmWhY=s1958" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiel4lyxqmDT-qP54MVZIjTrVDnIw3wyNtaAcXOXYVZdRGQXLI3LAC03aKaXNeX1rkN57L71MXy_prRLUkKDVIz49IDJtcqrlMHUoLH6GL3NFWnHQc9JnElfAfC1JI1oMixsxQkKRok4OlkzZ6v7HhO6nxFNqMRyqm4DFaBs1N6aeUmWhY=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8kqj3bKwC8T7UKEDkkAxnqIDoa3dhpTjnd1esWMrYnJaq7FEYlDLrXwDqT7prBcJWmJ1zP6bDuUGn5-xpUQ3WAcBeBAP8HQg0AlG7Nsx0jqs5aIg7YcpdrnUpu6RK63QFg4zkLsnmgXMJKvqaVBctDFeqEK4ln6-O31gCEKj1HwDed6c=s1024" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8kqj3bKwC8T7UKEDkkAxnqIDoa3dhpTjnd1esWMrYnJaq7FEYlDLrXwDqT7prBcJWmJ1zP6bDuUGn5-xpUQ3WAcBeBAP8HQg0AlG7Nsx0jqs5aIg7YcpdrnUpu6RK63QFg4zkLsnmgXMJKvqaVBctDFeqEK4ln6-O31gCEKj1HwDed6c=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Continuing up the road, it became the <a href="https://www.oregon.com/attractions/elkhorn-scenic-byway-0">Elkhorn Mountains Scenic Byway</a>. The road wound through beautiful scenery; but if you looked close, you could see mining tailings everywhere in the forest. This must have been an area of major activity, but not much remains today, except for a partially occupied "ghost" town of Granite:</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhs7xOFCjNeyo5ki49cGBDp5ocgQOSPh_CwYBWAaTP94sw9-aHtMZjJBA0brR0dK0v9jB4H5UNeDNzFAAIQm-_tsddjuBS-xOXZgqVVOyz0JrK3fWJ_jO5zwpnV4kkvZ1HE9UQMLnbxHZl3iNlWwcpuqXWrQn16TlDM8tGJLOagxFNhFoQ=s1024" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhs7xOFCjNeyo5ki49cGBDp5ocgQOSPh_CwYBWAaTP94sw9-aHtMZjJBA0brR0dK0v9jB4H5UNeDNzFAAIQm-_tsddjuBS-xOXZgqVVOyz0JrK3fWJ_jO5zwpnV4kkvZ1HE9UQMLnbxHZl3iNlWwcpuqXWrQn16TlDM8tGJLOagxFNhFoQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Granite Ghost Town<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">A bit east of the Cascades is Oregon's volcano country. There are cones, calderas, and lakes everywhere. At <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?actid=42&recid=71997">Paulina Lake</a>, the water-filled calderas are overseen by a viewpoint with a look back at the Cascades.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGJqO6unXv0t5GhhSqMLY-WaFOXYsY80dtlY0SQzu_-vwdIBzG8dcDR_KfvfAe12ZkjQtzOgKMVtv_s8Jb3CdCxRFloAWW4pGDWAEAr44Jfv8uRNaQCHUu1sAF7aXdaxYAVURPj-UFVDsf2mbGFHblNV2bO5smaV3sIqns2sIU38wK1O0=s1958" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGJqO6unXv0t5GhhSqMLY-WaFOXYsY80dtlY0SQzu_-vwdIBzG8dcDR_KfvfAe12ZkjQtzOgKMVtv_s8Jb3CdCxRFloAWW4pGDWAEAr44Jfv8uRNaQCHUu1sAF7aXdaxYAVURPj-UFVDsf2mbGFHblNV2bO5smaV3sIqns2sIU38wK1O0=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A short hike into the nearby forest was worth it for the scenery:</span></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbRVyKjjjzck43CYu6Ahhlc76y2ekpLysp3xyfOASy5d9LuAPwpYxwI63JK7oNjiKjAnxJvxBtquPL6yisu83ZXdznvgReLBydg3ULGBFx2Eufqs8UEBOjsBEW1hQ4rEMm-pqd51mgLESTuhiRDUOeqcVMijo8ZEBETgveNqCXBE3CMuo=s1958" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbRVyKjjjzck43CYu6Ahhlc76y2ekpLysp3xyfOASy5d9LuAPwpYxwI63JK7oNjiKjAnxJvxBtquPL6yisu83ZXdznvgReLBydg3ULGBFx2Eufqs8UEBOjsBEW1hQ4rEMm-pqd51mgLESTuhiRDUOeqcVMijo8ZEBETgveNqCXBE3CMuo=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Venturing East, we passed crossed the Oregon Trail and headed into the southern Blue Mountains to the old mining town of <a href="https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/exhibits/ghost/Pages/mining-cornucopia.aspx">Cornucopia</a>. The lightly populated town has an interesting history of gold mining and today is a starting point for trails both summer and winter. The winters in this narrow valley are harsh; in the gold rush days the snow could reach the second floor of buildings and strand people for days. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirnDQUolgj3ZHnUI_MkqgwBZ5UFPSYWlSWj9jB8f-Cf3fC2a1ysLuIaXOrC2FT1yXprno7OQznbaSmWYSefFWgkRCEelQ_iYIZeO9xACoC4gw8xnOXwcEwcuMLMdjAKZyXbzvclat5gyq08OjUoXUkPYfWXREa0hvAmPO6p00KEJ0pLMM=s1958" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirnDQUolgj3ZHnUI_MkqgwBZ5UFPSYWlSWj9jB8f-Cf3fC2a1ysLuIaXOrC2FT1yXprno7OQznbaSmWYSefFWgkRCEelQ_iYIZeO9xACoC4gw8xnOXwcEwcuMLMdjAKZyXbzvclat5gyq08OjUoXUkPYfWXREa0hvAmPO6p00KEJ0pLMM=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Road into Cornucopia</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCFk4BjoEwv7M2Q6mZW5j_zK8xyHeok57MCpMgLvdLZ0atHO_4csz0lrmFcIHSRS0L4ZcypBOrQJCF1mwKueHlE4xwQVSFZ1YRPrB6o0_UVRe37z3DpbAiooWkCX5pHyafTxhSN_0-GMUbKjcJoSrtOxf-_cnTLh5ln67WEVoSXvVXQhA=s1024" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCFk4BjoEwv7M2Q6mZW5j_zK8xyHeok57MCpMgLvdLZ0atHO_4csz0lrmFcIHSRS0L4ZcypBOrQJCF1mwKueHlE4xwQVSFZ1YRPrB6o0_UVRe37z3DpbAiooWkCX5pHyafTxhSN_0-GMUbKjcJoSrtOxf-_cnTLh5ln67WEVoSXvVXQhA=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Cornucopia in Winter<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Of all the beautiful places in Eastern Oregon, <a href="https://josephoregon.com/">Joseph</a> and the <a href="https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/destinations/mountains/the-wallowas/">Wallowa Mountains</a> have to be at the top of the list. On the banks of a lake with towering mountains behind, the nickname as "Oregon's Switzerland" is quite appropriate. The small town of Joseph looks like a Hollywood movie set with its stores, shops, and beautiful sculptures. The surrounding area is dotted with brightly painted ranch buildings and green pastures and fields. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-X8mJATFHKDxQPozqKlJ43pjiddxtb7xeytH77BFXRHacJZYKWEogyvk9sIaZMbE6NBMX19-6fjTKdI0YM3R1WM75z8KfUvzpX1feXeItOLCJRlPEuBex9n6ddxtbzXMEd32IcMW0JTno-fYfkVSHbXcwipNnR2XXWCVkDZis2ErDzic=s1958" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-X8mJATFHKDxQPozqKlJ43pjiddxtb7xeytH77BFXRHacJZYKWEogyvk9sIaZMbE6NBMX19-6fjTKdI0YM3R1WM75z8KfUvzpX1feXeItOLCJRlPEuBex9n6ddxtbzXMEd32IcMW0JTno-fYfkVSHbXcwipNnR2XXWCVkDZis2ErDzic=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKCYh27VLhU4QQdMkaXRrq2Os7UQwLuyObENr-Ms4Q1PUxevd6yuwmDzyVL0b2JTo9MYit1IyFNNIrlGdcb0S8dZ2owIANJtemQSRU2m9OkroxQWVsQonKRopYwvfO8eNZoBfFzZ2rAuRGrFQhkAYyt1qPbkI6qiqjZRsYoCLFJKuvFl8=s1958" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKCYh27VLhU4QQdMkaXRrq2Os7UQwLuyObENr-Ms4Q1PUxevd6yuwmDzyVL0b2JTo9MYit1IyFNNIrlGdcb0S8dZ2owIANJtemQSRU2m9OkroxQWVsQonKRopYwvfO8eNZoBfFzZ2rAuRGrFQhkAYyt1qPbkI6qiqjZRsYoCLFJKuvFl8=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNtaBc9-VU_-W21rxHIKtFggzNap_qzJeG1exoL49akwVvN_8MkU2HXSe8MbHtEl1i3_WSs3lo8YVj-QsekjEv50LmRW_Xy9eVWuaZ02W5mToVDDMhYr7WI0ODH8Uclv2w4hhyxYsjFRqrGVMpmdgvGhizbTE16xA8lKwsAt9gjnWSdOA=s1958" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNtaBc9-VU_-W21rxHIKtFggzNap_qzJeG1exoL49akwVvN_8MkU2HXSe8MbHtEl1i3_WSs3lo8YVj-QsekjEv50LmRW_Xy9eVWuaZ02W5mToVDDMhYr7WI0ODH8Uclv2w4hhyxYsjFRqrGVMpmdgvGhizbTE16xA8lKwsAt9gjnWSdOA=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>From Joseph, we backtracked and then turned north into SE Washington and into Idaho for a stop in beautiful Moscow, a picturesque college town. Then up to Northern Idaho for a stop at <a href="https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/farragut/">Farragut State Park</a> for a visit with the volunteer community that we worked with over the past three years. Then down I-90 to St. Regis where we visited with Rob and Syd, friends we first met while volunteering on the Oregon Coast.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Our next stop was Missoula where we had dinner with friends from our first volunteer experience over 15 years ago. We had a great time reminiscing about our time together. Deb, Bill, Jim and Heidi will always have a special place in our lives for helping to make our introduction to the volunteer life so special.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We left Montana and entered Idaho again, following the Snake river and spending time in Twin Falls. No visit would be complete without a visit to the Twin, or <a href="https://visitsouthidaho.com/adventure/shoshone-falls/">Shoshone falls</a>. Although the water over the 212' falls was reduced this time of year, it was still a spectacular sight. Looking down river, we could see the site of Evel Knievel's 1974 failed attempt to jump the canyon on his "skycycle".</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAuiJ6tR3xHcTNJN0_UW-Cu_Ewmjkkul4ax_sI4LrmPeuRPh8ZusgbYGIU9EvkQ-Z_skes6bVPw_Py7TI-KlIYwQQQIzS6773GGuPii587jeE74PYVgJ3l5CXzwc5P7TnauNFCGl9DCcDbFIGUyqwZqaCI1LSY2zdd7OqUsrNtPwf51rw=s1258" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="1258" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAuiJ6tR3xHcTNJN0_UW-Cu_Ewmjkkul4ax_sI4LrmPeuRPh8ZusgbYGIU9EvkQ-Z_skes6bVPw_Py7TI-KlIYwQQQIzS6773GGuPii587jeE74PYVgJ3l5CXzwc5P7TnauNFCGl9DCcDbFIGUyqwZqaCI1LSY2zdd7OqUsrNtPwf51rw=w640-h298" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguG9vICHcUAi0pwnsiib4A1sWUH2Ll--u1z9mQe5OEmlii6hKpl1TY6D-XNRdYjHGyIkUitsvEQXNaM4ogZtj2w2qCWvrZeehJiefQ7OdMmKuQWuYGpa59Ad4Qu2KvC3F1hKAp5bFYSeKk7cZ1Qbxg_sQUOjKhn4AquVVYjf-ZaHNmnh0=s960" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguG9vICHcUAi0pwnsiib4A1sWUH2Ll--u1z9mQe5OEmlii6hKpl1TY6D-XNRdYjHGyIkUitsvEQXNaM4ogZtj2w2qCWvrZeehJiefQ7OdMmKuQWuYGpa59Ad4Qu2KvC3F1hKAp5bFYSeKk7cZ1Qbxg_sQUOjKhn4AquVVYjf-ZaHNmnh0=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Twin Falls is a favorite place for mentally unbalanced people enjoy throwing themselves off a high bridge. Just outside the visitor center, we watched as jumpers prepared their chutes, walked out on the bridge, and leaped into space. Amazingly, this is perfectly legal and no permit is required!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZyBJ-aeJB1Rp9fvlJB9us5HymwXmBypPPjj8O3YA_-RIc6Us7ci7Wu0etXTU7zWXFqd3buIlfKWMZYDvK-lMX1D-eOuLNVKNYXtT0HqAzG5ceJMG2Dq38PSk3KhncEeSaNYcIvUBQ6xih4OMXn8f9D8l6S2s1K5ygWHZQ2pRF8JDY7Eg=s1958" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZyBJ-aeJB1Rp9fvlJB9us5HymwXmBypPPjj8O3YA_-RIc6Us7ci7Wu0etXTU7zWXFqd3buIlfKWMZYDvK-lMX1D-eOuLNVKNYXtT0HqAzG5ceJMG2Dq38PSk3KhncEeSaNYcIvUBQ6xih4OMXn8f9D8l6S2s1K5ygWHZQ2pRF8JDY7Eg=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Base Jumping Bridge</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">West along the I-84, we spent a few days in Hagerman where we again crossed the Oregon Trail. A short drive south took us to the aptly named "<a href="https://visitsouthidaho.com/southern-idaho-icon-balanced-rock-is-a-sweet-springtime-destination/">balanced rock</a>":</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcReMaBuTbblwvOuzar5GMF4SaawmDaEM_aB6GmADEy3_LCOuDv0p9yy8BImB8it6nIonfaHWbDuiKlMBtNvEEXDGz4VHlLXa1l-PPZKZIHEvtHEK2wb7SAy6srkZRvwqflsSQ8vKFp_pQZdDKJYZuGb0G_JoBw-HM0HFQ16Ghid0C9I8=s1958" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcReMaBuTbblwvOuzar5GMF4SaawmDaEM_aB6GmADEy3_LCOuDv0p9yy8BImB8it6nIonfaHWbDuiKlMBtNvEEXDGz4VHlLXa1l-PPZKZIHEvtHEK2wb7SAy6srkZRvwqflsSQ8vKFp_pQZdDKJYZuGb0G_JoBw-HM0HFQ16Ghid0C9I8=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br />We then backtracked to the east and turned south to the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/ciro/index.htm">City of Rocks State Park</a>, a wonderland of granite mountains and rock formations. The Oregon Trail ran right through here, and at "signature rock" we viewed the names and dates of pioneers that originally passed through here.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHZrvxRw5c1oD3bx_KFKMOH0EQV7MyoyoAngKUw2LQwR3G5pWMbtxl03wG655gQo1l037fPS51gZbvCsAWkgcIyQNxl3MSScB_qZ37-dOv6EsmIrEHcXXiA-4LfM1DEKkCqQeRKLwDyRmWCGZD9_QVQPk52Wr3vq_S1DNGw_9y06ZDYds=s1024" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHZrvxRw5c1oD3bx_KFKMOH0EQV7MyoyoAngKUw2LQwR3G5pWMbtxl03wG655gQo1l037fPS51gZbvCsAWkgcIyQNxl3MSScB_qZ37-dOv6EsmIrEHcXXiA-4LfM1DEKkCqQeRKLwDyRmWCGZD9_QVQPk52Wr3vq_S1DNGw_9y06ZDYds=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxDIrvYhF_-4DSrVohf18FuBOvx9jqUhGfk9qEirjQ-4n4gCdZhJi7Rifvw1IPhhPEkV2gQADrWN3EjzzamQjNC3kBmoxeVApkmxdvI39QWUa0waNKnXOQIHIoJctQA1xVGoo6xyUzkPRXRryjvUqWvh45Q9X5DcnWzzg96ZyUEU8bgcs=s1958" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxDIrvYhF_-4DSrVohf18FuBOvx9jqUhGfk9qEirjQ-4n4gCdZhJi7Rifvw1IPhhPEkV2gQADrWN3EjzzamQjNC3kBmoxeVApkmxdvI39QWUa0waNKnXOQIHIoJctQA1xVGoo6xyUzkPRXRryjvUqWvh45Q9X5DcnWzzg96ZyUEU8bgcs=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was here that our motor home's large slide failed to retract. Looking under the slide, I could see that a large section of the frame had come loose. I was able to line it up and get the slide in, but we knew that the only facility capable of lifting the slide and repairing and aligning it was the Winnebago factory in Forest City, Iowa. So we changed our plans and headed to Iowa, but not before a stop in Star Valley, Wyoming to see our good friends Don and Betty who we met years ago while - you guessed it - volunteering. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We took our time crossing Wyoming, Nebraska, and into Iowa, arriving at the factory in August. After a few days wait, the coach was taken in, evaluated, and the next available appointment given to us.......on December 13th! So we headed South through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas for New Mexico where we'd wait out the rest of the time until December.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We started by spending a month a park in a pistachio field in <a href="https://www.villageoftularosa.com/">Tularosa</a>, a small town north of Alamogordo. We posted on our visits here before, so we'll just leave you with a picture of the church that typifies this small town's heritage:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjur0NEd8qmDT30d33hbMYcZW_DdI5kRnZD46fLp6Yc-E8fY-nQgGP10OIKITlI_bQip0i9IYGA9ZuygSTNv02G2z-HybAoKnRlaMnM5TvYy429c6LvbjPl7X0a5MsxJIEZJjQUjRTvzXsWFK192_8M1V_YdqjF69GJXcRS14KlomCCW1A=s1958" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjur0NEd8qmDT30d33hbMYcZW_DdI5kRnZD46fLp6Yc-E8fY-nQgGP10OIKITlI_bQip0i9IYGA9ZuygSTNv02G2z-HybAoKnRlaMnM5TvYy429c6LvbjPl7X0a5MsxJIEZJjQUjRTvzXsWFK192_8M1V_YdqjF69GJXcRS14KlomCCW1A=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We spent the next month in Las Cruces, one of our favorite towns. Great weekend market, lots of dining opportunities, and ample shopping but still with the atmosphere of a small town. In the distance, the <a href="https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/new-mexico/organ-mountains-desert-peaks-national-monument">Organ Mountains </a>dominate the skyline:</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNaYygiU09EryjD9lGEHerIYgXS3kTtoS_Zkj_fgt-hZctCpvvnAjOu6qfpe2Dl317fhGMF3Hhby9EoJaflYJctT0lvhWimajA5DEBzDYrxKOIv_yXXva6_9dlgmPuErXsJKolCWL54qqzZOfqQvPofEL0swMwaw8kOSOizLaABva-b9o=s4650" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1332" data-original-width="4650" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNaYygiU09EryjD9lGEHerIYgXS3kTtoS_Zkj_fgt-hZctCpvvnAjOu6qfpe2Dl317fhGMF3Hhby9EoJaflYJctT0lvhWimajA5DEBzDYrxKOIv_yXXva6_9dlgmPuErXsJKolCWL54qqzZOfqQvPofEL0swMwaw8kOSOizLaABva-b9o=w640-h184" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was chili harvest time, and so with Don and Betty (who had returned to their winter home in Benson) we headed for the village or <a href="https://www.newmexico.org/places-to-visit/regions/southwest/hatch/">Hatch</a>, the chili capital of the known universe. It's a small town, but lined with stores selling every iteration of chili you can imagine. And no trip to Hatch would be complete without a stop at <a href="https://sparkysburgers.com/">Sparky's</a> and their world famous green chili cheeseburger.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWiucKlXXePLVmS9vzh312yg9BTw_JAKa1PvXflc6QjZ-BwfJZuT_8J5hhD7OJ06kLb12CwwuKM7ARS8TTHjnA9681yUwCuzbQcU7EL2hsUXlZT5dxbnMB0HtRwYxI56kksoy9fvxd0R-evcQT9lgWIrpzz6wgFLZtjQMK7aLvhAYGt-A=s1958" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWiucKlXXePLVmS9vzh312yg9BTw_JAKa1PvXflc6QjZ-BwfJZuT_8J5hhD7OJ06kLb12CwwuKM7ARS8TTHjnA9681yUwCuzbQcU7EL2hsUXlZT5dxbnMB0HtRwYxI56kksoy9fvxd0R-evcQT9lgWIrpzz6wgFLZtjQMK7aLvhAYGt-A=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTJUVWxl6bV3pdTcof2nRnLakkw2vpo4LtKJ7snRIg0i8kWFT_QMTuDm-9NbLot6ZjX1e7yRcugutKH24V8LNGqhPrfSPQKK4zKwka_XIyHD2o7BvF60UbffLW7rYKevVht7P49IHxb2W-ZvMfyqF9iuMwudmGBd035muHOZl8-QaMJQc=s4896" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTJUVWxl6bV3pdTcof2nRnLakkw2vpo4LtKJ7snRIg0i8kWFT_QMTuDm-9NbLot6ZjX1e7yRcugutKH24V8LNGqhPrfSPQKK4zKwka_XIyHD2o7BvF60UbffLW7rYKevVht7P49IHxb2W-ZvMfyqF9iuMwudmGBd035muHOZl8-QaMJQc=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On December 1st we headed north again, retracing our route to Forest City. We left early to provide a buffer if we encountered bad weather, but were fortunate to have good weather all the way. We turned in our motor home and checked into a motel just in time for a winter storm, but six days later when the repairs were complete we were on our way south again.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Once again, we headed for New Mexico for a brief stay, the headed west for a visit with our daughter and her husband in Rancho Santa Margarita, in the foothills outside of the LA basin. We parked the motor home at a park in Desert Hot Springs since driving it through the traffic into LA was about as palatable to me as jumping off that bridge in Idaho. We had a great visit, returned to the coach, and headed for Oregon. We traveled up over Tehachapi, through Bakersfield, and then the drive up I-5 back to the coast. We finally arrived at our starting point in late January, after 8000 miles and seven months of travel. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">You may wonder why we didn't visit Glacier, Yellowstone, or Yosemite National Parks. We've visited them many times in the past, and no longer have any desire to fight the crowds, the traffic, or pay the high RV park prices. And more importantly, we enjoy searching the back roads for beauty and history without the crowds. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We traveled 8952 miles, burned 1220 gallons of diesel at a cost of $4315 and spent $7245 at RV parks. And the memories? Priceless!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We're relaxing right now but will be posting in the future on what we've found in the area. Here's hoping we all have a safe, healthy, and enjoyable 2022!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-32223725575343218822021-11-18T10:37:00.000-07:002024-03-16T14:13:54.239-06:00Back in the Land of Enchantment<span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">In the fall of 1966 while in Air Force basic training, I was handed a sheet of paper called the Assignment Selection Sheet, better known as the "dream sheet", and told to select the bases that I would like to be assigned to after training. Gosh, I thought, how nice of the Air Force to ask me where I'd like to go, and being from Northeast Ohio, I wrote down my choices as Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. And that is, of course, how I ended up assigned to Alamogordo, New Mexico.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">During my leave at home after air traffic control school, I called a travel agent to get an airline ticket to Alamogordo. There was a long pause, and finally she replied; "I'm sorry, but there is no Alamogordo, New Mexico". I started to weep.....telling her "but I've got to go there! I've got orders!". Looking back now, I realize that like so many others in the eastern part of the country, she was looking up a location in Mexico, not realizing that there really is a state named New Mexico. It still happens today; New Mexico magazine has a section that includes true stories of people getting confused - <a href="https://www.newmexicomagazine.org/culture/one-of-our-50-is-missing/" target="_blank">One of Our Fifty is Missing.</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">So I bought a car and drove across the country, mostly on the old Route 66, arriving at Holloman AFB, just outside Alamogordo, in the spring of 1967. And I loved it! So much was new to me - the desert, the mountains, the food....and so I've returned many times with Brenda, who has also learned to love the area. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We recently spent a week in <a href="https://www.villageoftularosa.com/index.html" target="_blank">Tularosa</a>, a small town at the base of the Sacramento Mountains and 12 miles north of Alamogordo. It's a town that like many in the area, are struggling but it seems to be growing due to the growing number of pistachio orchards. In fact, the RV park that we stayed is in the middle of pistachio trees, where the nuts are close to being ready to pick.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W8YdhmCCqXg/YZLp9jNjm-I/AAAAAAAAQqg/8fKzVAmJaWEHdrua8bi-X41Tw86sh0xyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Pistachios.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W8YdhmCCqXg/YZLp9jNjm-I/AAAAAAAAQqg/8fKzVAmJaWEHdrua8bi-X41Tw86sh0xyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Pistachios.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Tularosa has an interesting history. Mescalero Apache raids kept settlers from establishing a permanent village until 1863, and hostilities went on for years and didn't come to a halt until after the Battle of Round Mountain in 1868. The centerpiece of central Tularosa, the <a href="http://stfrancisdepaulachurch.org/about.html" target="_blank">Saint Francis de Paula Church</a> was built to commemorate the battle and honor the 28 local volunteers who fought there.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WLRnp9RdYCU/YZATiMAMN9I/AAAAAAAAQpo/W_al66Bo7zUaK1sJbJi9XInbA6rn1FJfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Tularosa%2BChurch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WLRnp9RdYCU/YZATiMAMN9I/AAAAAAAAQpo/W_al66Bo7zUaK1sJbJi9XInbA6rn1FJfwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Tularosa%2BChurch.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCsARy2wNHk/YZBCcsgd8EI/AAAAAAAAQpw/DwMb_38zPYMGdXJmXcfSVHjWKYp4LTFcACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Downtown%2BTularosa.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tularosa Main Street" border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCsARy2wNHk/YZBCcsgd8EI/AAAAAAAAQpw/DwMb_38zPYMGdXJmXcfSVHjWKYp4LTFcACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/Downtown%2BTularosa.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tularosa Main Street</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">There aren't a host of services in this little town; most of the restaurants have closed due to COVID, but there's a main street - with a large hardware store and little else. At one time Tularosa was over 95% Hispanic, and although the population is more diverse today, Mexican food is still the king. I'll bet your local Kroger or Fry's market doesn't have a "Tortilleria", a large portion of the store devoted solely to making tortillas. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BjjTIHc9srk/YZBD4WbRjaI/AAAAAAAAQqA/x7Stnqdr6_4fMmy9drpQZX1wVFlJpqEEACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Tortilleria.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Fresh Made Tortillas, Chips, and Pork Rinds" border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BjjTIHc9srk/YZBD4WbRjaI/AAAAAAAAQqA/x7Stnqdr6_4fMmy9drpQZX1wVFlJpqEEACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Tortilleria.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Fresh Tortillas, Chips, and Chicharrones (Pork Rinds)<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">But the main reason we're attracted to this area is the Sacramento Mountains which lie just east of town. Stretching 85 miles north to south, and 42 miles east to west, the heavily forested mountains are home to the resort towns of Cloudcroft, Ruidoso, and the Ski Apache resort on Sierra Blanca which reaches 12000'.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Driving up the mountain, we entered the Mescalero Apache reservation and the tribe's schools, store, and medical facilities. The tribe's reservation has improved immensely since I was stationed here, thanks to two casinos, resort hotel and golf course, and ski resort. Brenda and I like to think that we contributed to this betterment of their quality of life through our "contributions" over the years at the casino.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Along the road, we passed the Saint Joseph Apache Mission, built using local materials starting in 1939. The mission has an interesting history that you can read <a href="https://stjosephapachemission.org/history" target="_blank">here.</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="St. Joseph Apache Mission" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IBpntcWH7_g/YZKPZ5bxFuI/AAAAAAAAQqM/Zj3Tg4nriwEE97Fcfwt7mVhliwP74ZnZgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Mescalero%2BChurch.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="St. Joseph Apache Mission" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">St. Joseph Apache Mission</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The interior is rustic with a Native American theme. We were intrigued by the "Apache Last Supper":</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jz8WndGPYQ8/YZLokxlXJII/AAAAAAAAQqY/BXVa89vqtUY_E-gf9hSYiZ1EFejNbEMpACLcBGAsYHQ/s1138/the-last-supper-as-apaches.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="1138" height="312" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jz8WndGPYQ8/YZLokxlXJII/AAAAAAAAQqY/BXVa89vqtUY_E-gf9hSYiZ1EFejNbEMpACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h312/the-last-supper-as-apaches.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Continuing up the mountain, we came around a curve where Sierra Blanca came into view.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bd9unFhPMnE/YZLrRcAJSXI/AAAAAAAAQqw/5Ychi6s7GnkbO5sldPk6Md-JCWyBlAMMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Sierra%2BBlanco.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bd9unFhPMnE/YZLrRcAJSXI/AAAAAAAAQqw/5Ychi6s7GnkbO5sldPk6Md-JCWyBlAMMQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Sierra%2BBlanco.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Sierra Blanca<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We Continued up the mountain and took a side road that took us to <a href="http://cloudcroft.com/" target="_blank">Cloudcroft</a>, a 110 year-old community that sits at a cool 8675' and boasts one of the highest golf courses in the country. It's become a popular location for bikers, and to us on this Sunday resembled a smaller version of the Sturgis Rally.</span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ggOKQmY38w/YZLt8HsiWBI/AAAAAAAAQq4/kzsFEHJXaXEO7LGOztUlIqIJiZEubQERwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1776/Cloudcroft%2BMotorcycles.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1776" height="292" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ggOKQmY38w/YZLt8HsiWBI/AAAAAAAAQq4/kzsFEHJXaXEO7LGOztUlIqIJiZEubQERwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h292/Cloudcroft%2BMotorcycles.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">After a stop at the <a href="https://brothernlawbbq.com/">Brother-in-Law BBQ</a> for a amazing brisket sandwich, we made our way through the forest to one of our favorite places to visit, the <a href="https://sunspot.solar/visit" target="_blank">Sunspot Solar Observatory</a>. While the facilities are closed to public due to COVID, there an informative visitor center and at over 9000' fantastic viewpoints. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OgoAjbVP8AQ/YZL2u_aQK-I/AAAAAAAAQrA/IGEExxeDVF8H3wRS9rllDC-VLzJf0E3DQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Sunspot%2BView%2BWest.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OgoAjbVP8AQ/YZL2u_aQK-I/AAAAAAAAQrA/IGEExxeDVF8H3wRS9rllDC-VLzJf0E3DQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Sunspot%2BView%2BWest.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">View to the West - White Sands National Monument in the distance</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GvoOHbMd5mA/YZL3SqAsd5I/AAAAAAAAQrI/xnp9BPRKb84JDnX1CduowADCKYH03gcuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Sunspot%2BView%2BSouth.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GvoOHbMd5mA/YZL3SqAsd5I/AAAAAAAAQrI/xnp9BPRKb84JDnX1CduowADCKYH03gcuwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Sunspot%2BView%2BSouth.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Looking South towards El Paso</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Finishing up our stay in Tularosa, we traveled to <a href="https://www.lascrucescvb.org/" target="_blank">Las Cruces</a> to visit some of our favorite locations. We were joined by a visit from our friends Don and Betty, who spend their winters down the interstate in Benson, AZ. No visit to the area would be complete for us without a visit to <a href="https://www.lapostademesilla.com/" target="_blank">La Posta de Mesilla Restaurant</a> a place we've been coming to for many years.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XJWk0ts8tgY/YZWpA8PWQRI/AAAAAAAAQsU/GVwD0c9xrPwMa8W4Yoq3wYwL1MUd1MaWgCLcBGAsYHQ/s864/La%2BPosta%2BEnchilladas.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XJWk0ts8tgY/YZWpA8PWQRI/AAAAAAAAQsU/GVwD0c9xrPwMa8W4Yoq3wYwL1MUd1MaWgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/La%2BPosta%2BEnchilladas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>As a young airman in the late 60s, if you ordered enchiladas in Alamogordo, they were done "pancake" style. Each tortilla was dipped in red or green chili, cheese, onion, and chicken or beef sprinkled on top, then another layer, and another, usually three tortillas stacked, with more chili and usually a fried egg on top. I don't remember ever seeing a "rolled" enchilada back then, and over the years stacked enchiladas have disappeared from Mexican restaurant menus. And that's one of the reasons I love La Posta! Here they serve red chili enchiladas in the old style, complete with an over easy egg on top. It may seem like there wouldn't be much difference, but believe me, the taste difference in stacked vs rolled is huge - at least to me. <br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">La Posta has an interesting and long history, serves great food at reasonable prices, and is visually stunning. Each room has a different theme with paintings, sculptures, and period furniture.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t3PiwZ5ueZU/YZWpw_aEYvI/AAAAAAAAQsc/AKjWYpr9cqMLqqZjYNJfHHC6cg5_nUehACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/La%2BPosta%2BCollage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t3PiwZ5ueZU/YZWpw_aEYvI/AAAAAAAAQsc/AKjWYpr9cqMLqqZjYNJfHHC6cg5_nUehACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/La%2BPosta%2BCollage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Fall is the time when the chilies are harvested, and every supermarket has large bags of green and red chilies and most have a large drum outdoors roasting chilies. And so it was the perfect time for the four of us to make a pilgrimage to <a href="https://www.hatchchilefest.com/" target="_blank">Hatch</a>, the chili capital of the world!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Hatch is filled with stores selling chilies by the bag, by the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/petr/learn/historyculture/chile.htm" target="_blank">Ristra,</a> canned, bottled, and dried. Colorful Ristras are proudly displayed in almost every store.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IfzUmvI0yuU/YZWszr2JKXI/AAAAAAAAQsk/JGaqGV5T7nsV673D6nclZydNgGU3OFN3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Red%2BChilis%2Band%2BRistras.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IfzUmvI0yuU/YZWszr2JKXI/AAAAAAAAQsk/JGaqGV5T7nsV673D6nclZydNgGU3OFN3gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Red%2BChilis%2Band%2BRistras.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Ristras and Red Chilis</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">A visit to Hatch wouldn't be complete without a visit to <a href="https://sparkysburgers.com/" target="_blank">"Sparky's" </a>home of the "World Famous" green chili cheeseburger. Always busy (for good reason), their cheeseburgers are made with hand made patties and fresh green chilies. They are fantastic!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x9b7rdSQHhg/YZWuWsQ-GCI/AAAAAAAAQss/RxpmYmxmZtcYUsQmNsN95XRz1Qe_x693gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Sparky%2527s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x9b7rdSQHhg/YZWuWsQ-GCI/AAAAAAAAQss/RxpmYmxmZtcYUsQmNsN95XRz1Qe_x693gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Sparky%2527s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Busy Day at Sparky's</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Back in Las Cruces, we decided to take Don and Betty on a trip to one of the hidden gems in the area. The Organ Mountains dominate the Eastern skyline from Las Cruces, but on the eastern side there's little vegetation, just dry desert.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-06l-ho1zHuo/YZWvJBj4RHI/AAAAAAAAQs0/aVpRj9NMEPEufYHMeOX_-B6hGD_50jdYACLcBGAsYHQ/s3313/Organ%2BMountain%2BPanorama.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="949" data-original-width="3313" height="184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-06l-ho1zHuo/YZWvJBj4RHI/AAAAAAAAQs0/aVpRj9NMEPEufYHMeOX_-B6hGD_50jdYACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h184/Organ%2BMountain%2BPanorama.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Organ Mountains View from Las Cruces</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">But driving to the back side is a revelation - the lush desert and memorable mountain vistas are an amazing contrast to the other side:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yLRxdLQ3oDk/YZWwgNGUv0I/AAAAAAAAQtE/FrSVkcZnHgskdbVUZ5hac-OGIUMtdyOvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Organ%2BMountain%2BView.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="2048" height="348" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yLRxdLQ3oDk/YZWwgNGUv0I/AAAAAAAAQtE/FrSVkcZnHgskdbVUZ5hac-OGIUMtdyOvQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h348/Organ%2BMountain%2BView.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EtthKwnnnOA/YZWwq8ItKPI/AAAAAAAAQtI/hfSNA36xxNsWBaSP-6e5mxb3CrDnDpNsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Organ%2BMountain%2BView2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EtthKwnnnOA/YZWwq8ItKPI/AAAAAAAAQtI/hfSNA36xxNsWBaSP-6e5mxb3CrDnDpNsQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Organ%2BMountain%2BView2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We've been enjoying the warm weather and sunshine here in New Mexico, but soon we'll have to leave and head north to the Winnebago factory in Iowa for major repairs to our motor home. We'll be back to posting once we've returned and resumed our journey back to Oregon. Brenda and wish you all a happy and safe Thanksgiving!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-58616805988062827332021-10-26T11:07:00.002-06:002024-03-16T14:13:57.359-06:00Exploring Southern Idaho<span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Leaving Joseph, we retraced our route west until we could head north again, avoiding the stretch of highway 3 with its switchbacks and 8 percent up down and up grade. We entered Washington and passed through Walla Walla (didn't buy any onions) then turned east for a night at Potlatch, ID, a small town with an interesting <a href="https://www.intermountainhistories.org/items/show/112" target="_blank">history</a> as the nation's largest company town. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bxe53W8BzKU/YXNMPoqW_nI/AAAAAAAAQlU/hDKlyzk58asxCaQstLL4F_c_Y515XM53wCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/palouse.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bxe53W8BzKU/YXNMPoqW_nI/AAAAAAAAQlU/hDKlyzk58asxCaQstLL4F_c_Y515XM53wCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h180/palouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> We drove north through the "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palouse" target="_blank">palouse</a>" with its rolling multi-colored hills - a uniquely beautiful area of farmland. Mile after mile of fields of wheat, barley, canola and other legumes, each a different shade of green, form a picture-perfect patchwork of color. </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Continuing north, we passed through Coeur d'Alene and on to Sandpoint for a short stay and visit with our many volunteer friends at Farragut State Park. Our friends treated us to ice cream, stories of the summer season, and welcoming hugs. Then it was off down I-90 to St Regis, MT for a visit with our friends Rob and Syd, volunteers that we met years ago on the Oregon Coast. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8OgVfSoBj8/YXNh-MeEftI/AAAAAAAAQlk/XqN8TgbWVqEVP6lQwRqGfIg6zV6paO55ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Metcalf%2Bfriends%2Bat%2BMontana%2BClub%2B2021.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8OgVfSoBj8/YXNh-MeEftI/AAAAAAAAQlk/XqN8TgbWVqEVP6lQwRqGfIg6zV6paO55ACLcBGAsYHQ/w249-h187/Metcalf%2Bfriends%2Bat%2BMontana%2BClub%2B2021.jpg" width="249" /></a></div>After a short stay, we continued on to Missoula to meet the friends we made at our first volunteer location, Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. We met at a steakhouse and spent the evening reliving our time together in 2006 thru 2008. It's hard to believe that over 15 years have passed since we first met these folks; we can laugh now how we had no earthly idea of what we were doing, but thanks to friends like this we somehow muddled through. We reluctantly said our goodbyes and the next day headed south back into eastern Idaho.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We eventually settled in for a week's stay near Twin Falls, a city we've never had the chance to visit. Once again, we ran into the Snake River, now far upriver from our last visit in Eastern Oregon. Known as the "gateway to the Snake River Canyon", the river drops from the plains into the canyon at Shosone Falls, a popular tourist site. During the summer months, the falls are reduced to mostly a single waterfall, but it's still an impressive sight:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2BZT1SP8NOY/YXNnol3QSKI/AAAAAAAAQls/AiR7CV0Ggu8JNzdJNskQiNpWumoR5OwyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1258/Shosone%2BFalls%2BPanorama.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="1258" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2BZT1SP8NOY/YXNnol3QSKI/AAAAAAAAQls/AiR7CV0Ggu8JNzdJNskQiNpWumoR5OwyQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h298/Shosone%2BFalls%2BPanorama.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-djcvf5X4c8s/YXNnywvLW-I/AAAAAAAAQlw/2xgFTnvwTlo5mzXFo0gAK1ZJxni-xRA_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1722/Shoshone%2BFalls.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="1722" height="376" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-djcvf5X4c8s/YXNnywvLW-I/AAAAAAAAQlw/2xgFTnvwTlo5mzXFo0gAK1ZJxni-xRA_QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h376/Shoshone%2BFalls.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Looking south from the overlook, you can see the spot where Evel Knieval attempted his rocket powered jump over the river in September, 1974. From this vantage point, you can understand the difficulty and danger of this attempt:</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QVs8lbfZtGY/YXNpkPSr5TI/AAAAAAAAQl8/z7f9BKD-fnUj8ZwfLUP_n-q3sUK2aGG-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/Evil%2BKnievel%2527s%2BJump%2BPoint.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QVs8lbfZtGY/YXNpkPSr5TI/AAAAAAAAQl8/z7f9BKD-fnUj8ZwfLUP_n-q3sUK2aGG-gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Evil%2BKnievel%2527s%2BJump%2BPoint.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Although Evel didn't make it, in 2016 a 54 year old stuntman successfully made the jump. You can view the video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSu4skS-vkk&ab_channel=CBSEveningNews" target="_blank">here.</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The Snake River has cut some serious gorges in this area, and the bridges spanning them are spectacular. One of the oldest, The Hansen Bridge, wasn't built until 1916. Until then, the only crossing of the river was by rowboat! I can't imagine hiking down those canyon walls....and then having to hike up to the top on the other side. I think I'd travel as far as needed up or down river to find an easier crossing. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bHOtg-3uSyo/YXRTe_Rpq6I/AAAAAAAAQmI/zDtG_iTBqF4xVDAWAqOV5mk8xWaLuw7IQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Hanson%2BBridge%2BSign.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bHOtg-3uSyo/YXRTe_Rpq6I/AAAAAAAAQmI/zDtG_iTBqF4xVDAWAqOV5mk8xWaLuw7IQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Hanson%2BBridge%2BSign.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bl0IwX5muvI/YXRTqbK_f3I/AAAAAAAAQmM/AAS3j9BiY-I6dE8CTgO5tjp3RiprJYVjACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Hanson%2BBridge1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bl0IwX5muvI/YXRTqbK_f3I/AAAAAAAAQmM/AAS3j9BiY-I6dE8CTgO5tjp3RiprJYVjACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Hanson%2BBridge1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">New Hansen Bridge looking Upriver</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eCLzJOl8iGg/YXRUKy4SPmI/AAAAAAAAQmY/NKmh-6EB1mEMqptr0ImTfrCDeKRWsXvOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Hanson%2BBridge2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eCLzJOl8iGg/YXRUKy4SPmI/AAAAAAAAQmY/NKmh-6EB1mEMqptr0ImTfrCDeKRWsXvOwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Hanson%2BBridge2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">New Hansen Bridge Looking Downriver<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--KMEHY7JLq4/YXRaio1uDnI/AAAAAAAAQmg/LhvGHcnqWUAfZNlrDi_mzyfx7R3pAwl-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Visitor%2BCenter.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--KMEHY7JLq4/YXRaio1uDnI/AAAAAAAAQmg/LhvGHcnqWUAfZNlrDi_mzyfx7R3pAwl-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Visitor%2BCenter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />We finished our visit with a stop at the Visitor Center. It's an impressive facility, with plenty of informative videos and displays. On the front lawn, there were dozens of apparently mentally unbalanced people packing their parachutes in preparation for a jump off the nearby highway bridge. Surprisingly, there is no permit, certification, or mental evaluation required. You can just show up with your parachute and jump. Lots of people jump - unfortunately some have gotten to the river a lot faster than planned. Google "base jumping Perrine Bridge" and you'll find news accounts of those unfortunates. Here's a link to show just how much fun jumping off a bridge 500 feet above a river can be! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s7CdmR3riE&ab_channel=IaninLondon" target="_blank">Video </a></span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DxoPP_Bat6Q/YXRarkDWU4I/AAAAAAAAQmk/_LYFHdkH8SMrqjjw1ysxy_K9fXQfd9_YgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Base%2BJumping%2BBridge.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DxoPP_Bat6Q/YXRarkDWU4I/AAAAAAAAQmk/_LYFHdkH8SMrqjjw1ysxy_K9fXQfd9_YgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Base%2BJumping%2BBridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Perrine Bridge</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3-TxSU29IVA/YXSwGMi7gvI/AAAAAAAAQm4/hi2759qCT1QjHBvMXD4T_KtCZaRRNUq9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1608/Oregon%2BTrail%2BSign.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="1608" height="229" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3-TxSU29IVA/YXSwGMi7gvI/AAAAAAAAQm4/hi2759qCT1QjHBvMXD4T_KtCZaRRNUq9wCLcBGAsYHQ/w287-h229/Oregon%2BTrail%2BSign.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br />From Twin Falls, we traveled further west along I-84 to the small town of Hagerman, just a mile from the Snake River...again. Crossing river and driving a bit north, we came upon the Oregon Trail Overlook. Here, the terrain changes drastically, from green fields and trees to the east to barren desert to the west. We didn't hike to see the wagon ruts since they were three miles away and the temperature was 101, but you can see the type of terrain the trail covered. This is the same trail we crossed over 200 miles to the Northwest near La Grande, Oregon...and we'll cross it again later in our trip.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oc8-nU5gVsw/YXSvy6vDUFI/AAAAAAAAQmw/ShmOHUgEXhU2q7pY9BydjCRYsp_B4k_LwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1676/Oregon%2BTrail%2BOverlook.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="1676" height="248" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oc8-nU5gVsw/YXSvy6vDUFI/AAAAAAAAQmw/ShmOHUgEXhU2q7pY9BydjCRYsp_B4k_LwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h248/Oregon%2BTrail%2BOverlook.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Looking West from the Overlook</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">South of town is one of the most unusual rock formations we've seen - the "balanced rock". Part of a state park, the area is filled with unusual rock formations, picnic areas, and a canyon with a spring-fed stream. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RwiHA2GX6Pg/YXS0_AgvIKI/AAAAAAAAQnA/jJM17xeDIqsZUwOVK9U0gAd2faxVE19NwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Balanced%2BRock%2BSP2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RwiHA2GX6Pg/YXS0_AgvIKI/AAAAAAAAQnA/jJM17xeDIqsZUwOVK9U0gAd2faxVE19NwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Balanced%2BRock%2BSP2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ro8Gnu11Phw/YXS1YbiqbdI/AAAAAAAAQnI/v3pNRpTObEgUO3oiZl9B8rVs9-3_MmyxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Balanced%2BRock.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ro8Gnu11Phw/YXS1YbiqbdI/AAAAAAAAQnI/v3pNRpTObEgUO3oiZl9B8rVs9-3_MmyxQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Balanced%2BRock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Yes, it's a real picture!</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Balanced Rock is 48 feet tall and weighs over 40 tons. All of this tapers to the base which is only 3 feet by 17 inches. Truly a natural wonder!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">From Hagerman, we backtracked to the east on our way to visit friends in Wyoming. We stopped in the Pocatello area for a short stay and then drove south to see the City of Rocks National Reserve. On the way, we took the road to the top of Mount Harrison, at over 9000' the highest peak in the region. The road was paved and well maintained to the top, where it ended in a parking lot and fire lookout tower. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JCxDKRpFnhU/YXS288V-nVI/AAAAAAAAQnY/1mwdBE4fsY8nMQkHm17qulW4A8sUD2jWACLcBGAsYHQ/s1578/Fire%2BTower%2BMt%2BHarrison.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1578" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JCxDKRpFnhU/YXS288V-nVI/AAAAAAAAQnY/1mwdBE4fsY8nMQkHm17qulW4A8sUD2jWACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/Fire%2BTower%2BMt%2BHarrison.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Fire Tower Built in 1937<br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gx1iFUQy29E/YXS3aRb8-PI/AAAAAAAAQng/gGT13L3j6BoMf1uFxMCqtfsoMtjPOg9fACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Mt%2BHarrison%2B9250%2527.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gx1iFUQy29E/YXS3aRb8-PI/AAAAAAAAQng/gGT13L3j6BoMf1uFxMCqtfsoMtjPOg9fACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Mt%2BHarrison%2B9250%2527.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Looking West from Summit</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">On the way down the mountain we stopped at Diamond Lake, a scenic lake with camping, fishing, and kayaking.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GwKegVq2SBk/YXS4U5bPOTI/AAAAAAAAQno/EOmJUaMNwpYY0DocndD5BTEgh3mI_Or-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1346/Diamond%2BLake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="1346" height="274" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GwKegVq2SBk/YXS4U5bPOTI/AAAAAAAAQno/EOmJUaMNwpYY0DocndD5BTEgh3mI_Or-ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h274/Diamond%2BLake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Coming off the mountain, we headed south to City of Rocks National Reserve. The reserve is a wonderland of granite rock formations, large and small. A popular place for climbers to train, we saw groups from climbing schools from Montana to Washington. It's a large are with plenty of places to camp and hike:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UjftqfVdisk/YXcI9Pn0clI/AAAAAAAAQnw/kgOnxSN29040HZJutxESwaPqkhnHkhxAACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/City%2Bof%2BRocks%2BCollage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UjftqfVdisk/YXcI9Pn0clI/AAAAAAAAQnw/kgOnxSN29040HZJutxESwaPqkhnHkhxAACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/City%2Bof%2BRocks%2BCollage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Once again we came upon the Oregon Trail. This was a popular area for wagon trains to rest before pressing on across the desert. There were many areas where travelers recorded their names and dates on the rocks. It was fascinating to stand where they stood and read the inscriptions:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xLlbijTW2Nc/YXcKgrhcXdI/AAAAAAAAQn4/k9bXnkze9A0prMb-d7SPEITu-Tp-h9ZrACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Oregon%2BTrail%2BSignitures.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xLlbijTW2Nc/YXcKgrhcXdI/AAAAAAAAQn4/k9bXnkze9A0prMb-d7SPEITu-Tp-h9ZrACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Oregon%2BTrail%2BSignitures.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_8bGHu2tTI/YXcKoZSvOSI/AAAAAAAAQn8/HpIB9XD6WtgXcifvontsiSWveyR75O51ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Signature%2BRock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_8bGHu2tTI/YXcKoZSvOSI/AAAAAAAAQn8/HpIB9XD6WtgXcifvontsiSWveyR75O51ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Signature%2BRock.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And finally, as we left we passed this old stone house. We wondered, like the signature rocks, what stories it could tell of the thousands that passed through here.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ElXeJ_xZoaI/YXgxk2s9mGI/AAAAAAAAQo0/uPf9hAXUUkYRpXb0EhdSReGhgoN4qv-DwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/City%2Bof%2BRocks%2BRuin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ElXeJ_xZoaI/YXgxk2s9mGI/AAAAAAAAQo0/uPf9hAXUUkYRpXb0EhdSReGhgoN4qv-DwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/City%2Bof%2BRocks%2BRuin.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-59qPPUwwMYE/YXdOoYpbVII/AAAAAAAAQoI/G4DPyEtV_rcIURQoQ6WeL3EYR7VqnqzcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Don%252C%2BBrenda%252C%2Band%2BBetty.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-59qPPUwwMYE/YXdOoYpbVII/AAAAAAAAQoI/G4DPyEtV_rcIURQoQ6WeL3EYR7VqnqzcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Don%252C%2BBrenda%252C%2Band%2BBetty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>A few days later we left Idaho and entered Wyoming for a visit with our good friends Don and Betty. We first met in 2010 when volunteering for US Fish & Wildlife in Oregon and have kept in touch ever since. They spend their summers in Star Valley, a huge complex of RV and park model sites with golf course, pickleball courts, and other activities. We spent our time relaxing on their beautiful site, catching up on old times and eating too much. We did some sightseeing, visiting - once again - to the Snake River and an area of waterfalls. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3qbp_pv0FBA/YXdQrPSCT0I/AAAAAAAAQog/MfKE6WtNJi8shfhVY8ZWnRaMa6hGADXAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1560/Wyoming%2BSnake%2BRiver%2BPano.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="1560" height="292" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3qbp_pv0FBA/YXdQrPSCT0I/AAAAAAAAQog/MfKE6WtNJi8shfhVY8ZWnRaMa6hGADXAwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h292/Wyoming%2BSnake%2BRiver%2BPano.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Too soon it was time to leave and head east for an unexpected trip to the Winnebago motor home factory in Forest City, Iowa. The large slide-out on the driver's side had become misaligned and was stuck in the retracted position and because of the size of the word required, we didn't believe a typical RV dealer could handle the job.<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Our route made it necessary to travel through Teton National Park, a place we've visited before and weren't looking forward to since it was the height of tourist season. It was a beautiful drive, but we didn't stop to enjoy the scenery until we were clear to the east. Looking back, we had a nice view of the Tetons:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ejf4pLJzNQE/YXdPyNQDu9I/AAAAAAAAQoQ/RNuG4XsOtg8i2E92UvabenvBVumVwsuvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Tetons2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ejf4pLJzNQE/YXdPyNQDu9I/AAAAAAAAQoQ/RNuG4XsOtg8i2E92UvabenvBVumVwsuvQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Tetons2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Once clear of the Teton/Yellowstone tourist area, we had an easy drive with typical Wyoming landscapes:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q3jhjSX8gIo/YXdR6pCrm0I/AAAAAAAAQoo/nTC6u3rpuMIYohu7LFnO6Sx1PytsZAEQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s618/Wyoming%2BMountain%2BPano.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="618" height="234" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q3jhjSX8gIo/YXdR6pCrm0I/AAAAAAAAQoo/nTC6u3rpuMIYohu7LFnO6Sx1PytsZAEQwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h234/Wyoming%2BMountain%2BPano.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We'll be taking a break from exploring while we travel to Forest City and the Winnebago factory. We'll post again once we're done with our maintenance visit and have traveled down south to New Mexico. Thanks for traveling with us!</span></div>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-83653617852065126322021-10-08T18:52:00.001-06:002024-03-16T14:13:59.750-06:00Eastern Oregon Part III<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UrnUN36X0Cs/YWDYGmCNiAI/AAAAAAAAQiw/TQWE1T_yOnsS-uLyXsRfqOCTnHP0tlqEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Map%2Bof%2BJoseph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="500" height="301" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UrnUN36X0Cs/YWDYGmCNiAI/AAAAAAAAQiw/TQWE1T_yOnsS-uLyXsRfqOCTnHP0tlqEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Map%2Bof%2BJoseph.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Hidden away in the far Northeast corner of Oregon is the town of Joseph, a small<br /> town at the base of the Wallowa Mountains. Sometimes called the "Little Switzerland of America", Joseph sits on beautiful Lake Wallowa under snow-covered peaks of over 9000'. It's not an easy place to get to - only two roads lead to Joseph, and both end in town. And one, highway 3 to the north, involves a white-knuckled switchback drive that starts at 4000', drops to 1200', and climbs back to 4200', all within 16 miles.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We took the easier route, highway 82 from Le Grande, and stayed at a neat little RV park right in the heart of town. With only 11 sites and a gracious owner, <a href="https://5peaksrvpark.com/">Five Peaks RV Park</a> featured large, fenced sites with patio umbrellas and a "misting" system. Best of all it was only a short walk to a great Mexican restaurant that had ice-cold Dos Equis Amber on tap. Perfect!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The town of Joseph is picture-perfect. Shops, restaurants and museums are all beautifully maintained, and trees, sculptures and murals complete the main street views. And always, the mountains in the distance. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TVWGajSROh4/YWDbhS-vkNI/AAAAAAAAQi4/kgpLm2jMWzkd-NiDrCyBWiT79n9hJbcOACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Joseph%2BStreet%2BSculpture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TVWGajSROh4/YWDbhS-vkNI/AAAAAAAAQi4/kgpLm2jMWzkd-NiDrCyBWiT79n9hJbcOACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Joseph%2BStreet%2BSculpture.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-55XCiJM6ky8/YWDbs0Qg3XI/AAAAAAAAQi8/D_z4u1x0Hc4yh4iwGSSqUyRwkVSyftCVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Downtown%2BJoseph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-55XCiJM6ky8/YWDbs0Qg3XI/AAAAAAAAQi8/D_z4u1x0Hc4yh4iwGSSqUyRwkVSyftCVwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Downtown%2BJoseph.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ijFJv9n7h-k/YWDb_EqShpI/AAAAAAAAQjI/nYUAvRHsESIdPRjwGZV0nxd0OgqVU3euwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Joseph%2BMural.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ijFJv9n7h-k/YWDb_EqShpI/AAAAAAAAQjI/nYUAvRHsESIdPRjwGZV0nxd0OgqVU3euwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Joseph%2BMural.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WMA2HV270LQ/YWDccdCkf9I/AAAAAAAAQjQ/cxXUAT5GN5MJjA56Tf9eL40-LqXsmvNpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/View%2Bfrom%2BJoseph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WMA2HV270LQ/YWDccdCkf9I/AAAAAAAAQjQ/cxXUAT5GN5MJjA56Tf9eL40-LqXsmvNpgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/View%2Bfrom%2BJoseph.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Driving around the area, we came across farms with breathtaking scenery. How they can get anything done with the views surrounding them is hard to imagine :</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DOKJ3bby4Fg/YWDdyIB-SAI/AAAAAAAAQjY/4pMUHGiq6V4yF4gQtbboW29cwEMtNY5LACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Joseph%2BRanch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DOKJ3bby4Fg/YWDdyIB-SAI/AAAAAAAAQjY/4pMUHGiq6V4yF4gQtbboW29cwEMtNY5LACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Joseph%2BRanch.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-93PGEEPcswo/YWDeC7Bg_oI/AAAAAAAAQjg/RqpoqDdI6zokMtoLyPUc5S4pPgffsuCtgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Joseph%2BValley%2BVIew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-93PGEEPcswo/YWDeC7Bg_oI/AAAAAAAAQjg/RqpoqDdI6zokMtoLyPUc5S4pPgffsuCtgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Joseph%2BValley%2BVIew.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>There's so much to do and see in this area. <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/wallowa-whitman/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5214080">Eagle Cap Wilderness</a>, with over 350,000 acres of high mountain meadows and lakes and 535 miles of trails. Even larger, the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/wallowa-whitman/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5238987">Hells Canyon Recreation Area</a>, at over 650,000 acres includes scenic overlooks, the Snake River, and the deepest gorge in North America. </p><p></p><p>We took a drive into the Eastern Wallowas and stopped at the Hells Canyon overlook. From up high, we couldn't see the river itself, but the view was still impressive:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Af7eubnmwjE/YWDequTwkQI/AAAAAAAAQjo/vT6Zpa7n2uI1xYpHG6EeU9GZqSoasECAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2616/Hells%2BCanyon%2BOverlook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="2616" height="294" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Af7eubnmwjE/YWDequTwkQI/AAAAAAAAQjo/vT6Zpa7n2uI1xYpHG6EeU9GZqSoasECAQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h294/Hells%2BCanyon%2BOverlook.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>On another day, we drove east to the Imnaha River gorge. The road wound its way along a creek, getting deeper into the gorge with the hills rising higher and higher around us. It was a beautiful drive:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e2YM53fdb90/YWDgW0CZJtI/AAAAAAAAQj4/RfzSKpu0vUchK4qeXshUIm2NKj6oO5wSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Imnaha%2BDrive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e2YM53fdb90/YWDgW0CZJtI/AAAAAAAAQj4/RfzSKpu0vUchK4qeXshUIm2NKj6oO5wSgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Imnaha%2BDrive.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPCjQCkPH78/YWDgeoAEFwI/AAAAAAAAQj8/1PXEJMVlQZAoqYES2fK70LhNRK9_KTL9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Imnaha%2BDrive2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPCjQCkPH78/YWDgeoAEFwI/AAAAAAAAQj8/1PXEJMVlQZAoqYES2fK70LhNRK9_KTL9wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Imnaha%2BDrive2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Finally we arrived in the little town of Imnaha. It's hard to believe anyone lives here - so far from any shopping or medical facilities. The centerpiece of the town seemed to be the little post office:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UyX5bHtbHoA/YWDf9UJLTHI/AAAAAAAAQjw/Y8cJDXVwLjYv8NGDna_H9jmK3cRMkdaKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Imnaha%2BPost%2BOffice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UyX5bHtbHoA/YWDf9UJLTHI/AAAAAAAAQjw/Y8cJDXVwLjYv8NGDna_H9jmK3cRMkdaKgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Imnaha%2BPost%2BOffice.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>While it was in the 90s in Joseph, it was just a bit toastier along the Imnaha River where it was over 2000 feet lower:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xSTRQNmoMvE/YWDhuL1Nd6I/AAAAAAAAQkI/bMMRyanm9B4UAeRueuodLhh0SyMqVS92gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Dashboard%2BTemperature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xSTRQNmoMvE/YWDhuL1Nd6I/AAAAAAAAQkI/bMMRyanm9B4UAeRueuodLhh0SyMqVS92gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Dashboard%2BTemperature.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>After visiting Joseph, we headed north to visit friends in Idaho and then on to Missoula. C'mon back and see what we've been doing!<p></p><p><br /> </p></span><p></p>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-45156513523314668172021-09-17T13:13:00.001-06:002024-03-16T14:14:03.229-06:00Eastern Oregon Part II<p> <span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We've always been fascinated by ghost towns. Seeing what remains today and trying to visualize what they looked liked in their heyday is always interesting, especially when you can read the history of the towns and find old photographs. We read about the town of Cornucopia, an old mining town, and decided to check it out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gh6a8uJeH8Q/YTuT59zdeTI/AAAAAAAAQXk/UT8QwU2Ccy8yJYOjAEUsav-VHBsYFjDrACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Oregon%2BTrail%2BInterp%2BCenter.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gh6a8uJeH8Q/YTuT59zdeTI/AAAAAAAAQXk/UT8QwU2Ccy8yJYOjAEUsav-VHBsYFjDrACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Oregon%2BTrail%2BInterp%2BCenter.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">On our way east to visit the town, we stopped at the Oregon Trail Visitors Center, a BLM facility that sits next to the trail and has a large interpretive center. Which, since it is a federal facility, was closed. We walked along the trail but didn't venture down to the wagon ruts themselves since the temperature was over 90 and the return would be a lengthy uphill walk. There was little to see without the center being open and the heat was fierce, so we decided to head for Cornucopia.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We followed the highway east from the visitor center as it followed a creek through canyons and desert until reaching the small town of Halfway. From there, we headed north on a dirt road into Cornucopia. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Cornucopia sits in a 4700' narrow valley surrounded by steep mountains on three sides. This is the "backside" of the Wallowa Mountains, a rugged, heavily forested area. Following the dirt road into the former townsite we saw what has become a typical "ghost town" - fallen remains of buildings, buildings barely standing, and others that have been fully or partially restored and are occupied during the summer. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kv511tpInQw/YTuYliNYzLI/AAAAAAAAQXs/bGHcVHF9iXAbvhoRPHcv7hzJ0iqn5vwzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Road%2Binto%2BCornucopia.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kv511tpInQw/YTuYliNYzLI/AAAAAAAAQXs/bGHcVHF9iXAbvhoRPHcv7hzJ0iqn5vwzgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Road%2Binto%2BCornucopia.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Road to Cornucopia</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The town was named after a mine opened in 1884 and the successful mining of gold led to a population growth of around 700 residents by 1902. This was a tough place to live; the alpine environment meant extremely hard winters with snowfall measured in the tens of feet. Still, the mine continued to operate until 1929 when the stock market crashed, dropping the population to 10. It had a short revival when more efficient mining equipment was introduced, but WWII was a death knell for the town, and after over $4M in gold was extracted from the many tunnels under the town, the mine shut down. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1vNkzMQ3th0/YTuY81VSS-I/AAAAAAAAQX0/DQawAQbxwg0YogFL8jHITt2utWgIFebqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Town%2BSIte%2BView.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1vNkzMQ3th0/YTuY81VSS-I/AAAAAAAAQX0/DQawAQbxwg0YogFL8jHITt2utWgIFebqwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Town%2BSIte%2BView.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Cornucopia Town Site</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Navigating over rough gravel and dirt roads, buildings became visible. Top left is what was probably a miner's dormitory, bottom left is the original jail, to the right a restored and occupied home.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9xwXUYswnU/YTucm_igR1I/AAAAAAAAQX8/7ntF8PCueMkW2rIYs6vUlDH2Mxzv-NSzACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/Cornucopia%2BCollage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9xwXUYswnU/YTucm_igR1I/AAAAAAAAQX8/7ntF8PCueMkW2rIYs6vUlDH2Mxzv-NSzACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Cornucopia%2BCollage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>There are many photos available that show the town in the days it was booming:<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e905Yas2Z1E/YUTggAmd9SI/AAAAAAAAQYs/etJW2PpqiBwT2PQHdLJqpsLqqnND38lwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/Old%2BPhoto2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="600" height="394" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e905Yas2Z1E/YUTggAmd9SI/AAAAAAAAQYs/etJW2PpqiBwT2PQHdLJqpsLqqnND38lwQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h394/Old%2BPhoto2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The winters were long and harsh:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6iyszTsxVg/YUTg0eBA0xI/AAAAAAAAQY0/XaV05nq2sK88hCJoZ1o-MeuHrUtdmXthQCLcBGAsYHQ/s282/Winter%2Bin%2BCornucopia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="282" height="404" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6iyszTsxVg/YUTg0eBA0xI/AAAAAAAAQY0/XaV05nq2sK88hCJoZ1o-MeuHrUtdmXthQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h404/Winter%2Bin%2BCornucopia.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">A short distance from the town site is the <a href="https://www.cornucopialodge.com/">Cornucopia Lodge and Pack Station</a>, a modern lodge that serves as a starting point for those exploring the Eagle Cap Wilderness and for cross country skiing in the winter. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-juxDKWcDBO4/YUTi771f5RI/AAAAAAAAQZE/snI2E-ZkYnwVgSp0kG8WMU83ui-Ueu69wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Cornucopia%2BLodge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-juxDKWcDBO4/YUTi771f5RI/AAAAAAAAQZE/snI2E-ZkYnwVgSp0kG8WMU83ui-Ueu69wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Cornucopia%2BLodge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Besides lodging, it has a snack bar, large living area with fireplace, and the only WiFi in the area. We talked to the lady manager who told us that she and her husband live there year around. During the winter it sometimes resembles living in the lodge from "The Shining" but so far, without the ghosts. When asked how she could tolerate the snow and cold, she told us that she was from Stanley, ID, reputed to be the coldest town in the lower 48. We remember visiting there one summer - it was easy to tell which residents lived there year around; their stack of firewood was higher than the roofs of their houses!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It's a beautiful place in winter: </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8zVkh2pZwdg/YUTjI0tKuCI/AAAAAAAAQZI/yNFUt_iSpZ88dPsTvn9sQQrPbIpTyk7aQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/Cornucopia%2Bin%2BWinter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8zVkh2pZwdg/YUTjI0tKuCI/AAAAAAAAQZI/yNFUt_iSpZ88dPsTvn9sQQrPbIpTyk7aQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Cornucopia%2Bin%2BWinter.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Even though they stock up on supplies, they still have to make an occasional trip to Halfway. And it's only possible because of their really cool and appropriately named Yukon!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2blpIoOWZ-U/YUTkKpYyhfI/AAAAAAAAQZU/0aw6J_QqlYElyItUkfJejYtMT8m-xGKqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Snow%2BCar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2blpIoOWZ-U/YUTkKpYyhfI/AAAAAAAAQZU/0aw6J_QqlYElyItUkfJejYtMT8m-xGKqwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Snow%2BCar.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Our next stop was a week in amazing Joseph, a scenic town tucked into the northern side of the Wallowa Mountains. We'll be posting soon so check back!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-9978217401311037632021-09-04T10:08:00.002-06:002024-03-16T14:14:07.725-06:00Eastern Oregon, Part I<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">If you've never spent time there, when you think of Oregon you might think of Portland (and it's constant political turmoil), Crater Lake, and the scenic coastline. And while the Oregon Coast and the Cascades are stunning, there's a lot more to Oregon, especially the overlooked Eastern half.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Oregon from Bend eastward is a combination of mountains and desert, forest and sagebrush. From the top of Steen's Mountain to the banks of the Snake River is nearly 8000' difference in elevation, and there's a lot of places in between. On our journey, our first stop eastward was the little town of John Day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We've stopped here before and enjoyed our visits. There's a small, tree-shaded RV park next to the fairgrounds on the bank of the John Day River. It's a great place to stay while exploring the area.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Located at the base of the Strawberry Mountains, John Day was settled in the early 1860s as a mining town. In 1880 the official population was 280, but this number didn't include the estimated 1000 Chinese, all men, who worked as miners. Today the Chinese population is gone; the population is around 1500 and slowly decreasing. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We visited friends Robin and Donna who were volunteering as camp hosts high in the mountains at <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234274">Magone Lake</a>, drove the backroads of the Strawberry Mountains, and visited the interesting Kam Wah Chung Museum.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-adbG8p1zk38/YTFPQByUxVI/AAAAAAAAQVg/PdYpG52VT2M74n9yJqaJA33IsFvx_y5-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Kam%2BWah%2BHouse.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-adbG8p1zk38/YTFPQByUxVI/AAAAAAAAQVg/PdYpG52VT2M74n9yJqaJA33IsFvx_y5-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Kam%2BWah%2BHouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The Kam Wah Chung and Company ("Golden Flower of Prosperity") was a </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Chinese-owned grocery, dry goods store, and clinic, built in 1866 to serve the large Chinese population. It also functioned as a temple and joss house, unofficial post office, library, business and interpretive center, contract labor pool, social club, dormitory, and apothecary shop. One of the partners, Ing Hay was a "herbalist" who became known as "Doc Hay" and continued living in Kam Wah Chung until his death in 1955. He became the primary medical provider to many in the town, and was a popular member of the community.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PbWv6wIfxJw/YTFP8sn1RCI/AAAAAAAAQV4/u27Ua-Vzmw4Lq5dSIlDTJ0qeTZ6S9P4dgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Kam%2BWah%2BDisplay.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PbWv6wIfxJw/YTFP8sn1RCI/AAAAAAAAQV4/u27Ua-Vzmw4Lq5dSIlDTJ0qeTZ6S9P4dgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Kam%2BWah%2BDisplay.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Because the original building was closed due to COVID, the visitor center staff had developed a "virtual" tour. We sat in front of a large screen while the host took us through each room, examined each shelf and item, and explained what we were seeing. The display was amazing, and as the host explained, the virtual tour allowed visitors to see far more than a physical visit.<br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">From John Day, we traveled east for a week's stay at the <a href="https://www.mtviewrv.com/?utm_source=campgroundreviews.com&utm_campaign=RVLife_Campgrounds&utm_medium=referral">Mountain View RV Park</a> in Baker City. With views of the Elkhorn Mountains to the west and the Wallowa Mountains to the east, Baker City is one of Oregon's most picturesque towns. Sitting on the historic Oregon Trail, the town's main street reflects it's heritage as a major stop for thousands of travelers. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1Yk2cTP3xY/YTFTzwlLZjI/AAAAAAAAQWA/YhQ800IPHTEYAV-ptlvs7Yf17WH-AXjKACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Baker%2BCIty%2BMain%2BStreet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1Yk2cTP3xY/YTFTzwlLZjI/AAAAAAAAQWA/YhQ800IPHTEYAV-ptlvs7Yf17WH-AXjKACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Baker%2BCIty%2BMain%2BStreet.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Baker City was a place where we could comfortably stay and use it as a base to explore the area. Our first visit was to the Sumpter Dredge, about 30 miles into the mountains. We've seen dredges before, and it always amazes us that these huge machines could move up a stream-sized river while excavating for gold. The dredge is huge - the boom alone has 72 one-ton buckets!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FCYUAWtiY4/YTFX9-Lp-hI/AAAAAAAAQWI/eTc5QZ0Hh-gm-_kM-uc9W2LIQt9v-Mx2gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Sumpter%2BDredge2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FCYUAWtiY4/YTFX9-Lp-hI/AAAAAAAAQWI/eTc5QZ0Hh-gm-_kM-uc9W2LIQt9v-Mx2gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Sumpter%2BDredge2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The dredge was basically a big sluice box and only needed three men to operate it; however, another 17 were needed for support (maintenance, admin, etc.). Although the dredge made $4.5 million during it's lifetime, it lost money and was shut down in 1954. The interior was immense with all kinds of motors, belts, pulleys, and chutes going in all directions. I have no idea how it all worked, but it must have been noisy!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aYl2vFUpKMc/YTFkzERTgmI/AAAAAAAAQWQ/NUtm2Tntdn4zWgYm0CrNGa_WMb7v1gF9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/Sumpter%2BDredge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aYl2vFUpKMc/YTFkzERTgmI/AAAAAAAAQWQ/NUtm2Tntdn4zWgYm0CrNGa_WMb7v1gF9wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Sumpter%2BDredge.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>We continued past the dredge along the <a href="https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/trip-ideas/scenic-drives/elkhorn-drive-scenic-byway/">Elkhorn Scenic Byway</a>, a 106-mile loop that took us through the mountain gold country and back to Baker City. It's a beautiful area of high mountains and forest:</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H0GuRFmeGMA/YTFr5DsqXVI/AAAAAAAAQWY/KWuTxmJVVPIQXjiKCy76d9WSX_1CQka-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1325/Elkhorn%2BMts%2BPanorama.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="1325" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H0GuRFmeGMA/YTFr5DsqXVI/AAAAAAAAQWY/KWuTxmJVVPIQXjiKCy76d9WSX_1CQka-gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h214/Elkhorn%2BMts%2BPanorama.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We visited the nearly-ghost town of <a href="https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/exhibits/ghost/Pages/other-granite.aspx">Granite</a>, a gold mining town that was shut down during WWII. The population in 1960 was one lone occupant, but it's been exploding with growth and now has a population of 40. Most of the buildings are abandoned, but some have been partially restored and are occupied.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhrQLRAmXrE/YTFvph3Oq6I/AAAAAAAAQWg/Bpdd4LrwwqksGTOlP5bLtOJ3YyrtTnljACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/Granite%2BCollage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhrQLRAmXrE/YTFvph3Oq6I/AAAAAAAAQWg/Bpdd4LrwwqksGTOlP5bLtOJ3YyrtTnljACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Granite%2BCollage.jpg" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhrQLRAmXrE/YTFvph3Oq6I/AAAAAAAAQWg/Bpdd4LrwwqksGTOlP5bLtOJ3YyrtTnljACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/Granite%2BCollage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A3tk8S98GgM/YTFyNAie9TI/AAAAAAAAQWo/m5d1HRtZ5o8k55vLhA2N8wlcFeG4gJVDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/tailings.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="400" height="191" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A3tk8S98GgM/YTFyNAie9TI/AAAAAAAAQWo/m5d1HRtZ5o8k55vLhA2N8wlcFeG4gJVDgCLcBGAsYHQ/w288-h191/tailings.JPG" width="288" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Throughout the area we could see mining tailings - they're everywhere along the road and well into the forest. There are also areas that look like tailing from a dredge, but were created when hundreds of Chinese miners moved and stacked rocks to expose the water underneath. It's difficult to visualize, but these mountain areas teemed with miners and small settlements drawn to the lure of gold. And just as fast as they appeared, they disappeared when the gold ran out.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">As we continued on the byway, the tailings disappeared as we drove into a rugged area of mountains. We passed Anthony Lakes, a resort area with golf course and ski resort. Overlooking the area is Gunsight Mountain, aptly named when you look at the summit.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XYbAKcKsx6Q/YTOYaCrDoyI/AAAAAAAAQXI/DskidoduDogf-DxBjMnVpwk2InqtkpZoACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/Anthony%2BLakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XYbAKcKsx6Q/YTOYaCrDoyI/AAAAAAAAQXI/DskidoduDogf-DxBjMnVpwk2InqtkpZoACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Anthony%2BLakes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Eventually we turned east and descended back into the valley and Baker City. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We truly enjoyed our visit to Baker City and the surrounding area, but it was time to move on. Check back with us for Eastern Oregon, Part II!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p></div></div>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-52492261368226930712021-06-29T20:52:00.005-06:002024-03-16T14:14:11.264-06:00Oregon's Volcano Country<p> <span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">When we think of volcanos, large cones like Mount Saint Helens come to mind, so we were surprised to learn that an active volcano larger than Rhode Island was right here in Central Oregon.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The Newberry Volcano National Monument is a "shield" volcano, one that produced lava of a thin consistency and have broad sloping sides and sloping hills in a circular pattern that resemble a warrior's shield. Like Yellowstone, it doesn't seem like a volcano until you can view the caldera from above, and unlike Yellowstone, we had that opportunity from Paulina Peak.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">But like Yellowstone, the volcano is active and an eruption would impact the lives of as many as 200,000 people. The entire area is monitored and it is considered by the USGS to be a "very high threat" volcano. Yikes!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This map clearly shows just how large the volcano in relation to the area and some of the towns and cities that could be affected by an eruption:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tfz71qkFqLk/YNvVgBSUWPI/AAAAAAAAQDk/t-1NEp6XK6MqtBb_sGxEGO17waCO8as6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s570/Newberry%2BCrater%2BMap.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="522" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tfz71qkFqLk/YNvVgBSUWPI/AAAAAAAAQDk/t-1NEp6XK6MqtBb_sGxEGO17waCO8as6QCLcBGAsYHQ/w586-h640/Newberry%2BCrater%2BMap.jpg" width="586" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><p>With two large lakes in the caldera, this is a popular area for camping and water sports. Entering the park, we split off of the main road onto a gravel road that climbed to the overlook nearly 8000 feet up.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HdKti7efbo4/YNvHbQVFxyI/AAAAAAAAQC8/HuvERP9NPZ0sHFqvpUjsXLhZzdQPOMk-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/VIewpoint.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HdKti7efbo4/YNvHbQVFxyI/AAAAAAAAQC8/HuvERP9NPZ0sHFqvpUjsXLhZzdQPOMk-wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/VIewpoint.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /> From here we had a great view of the two lakes within the caldera, Paulina Lake and East Lake. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LvWC9SBJ3b0/YNvI7yfINyI/AAAAAAAAQDE/3KRs1BkIpB8YsXZYWzGfAPGOlj9MeehoACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Paulina%2BPoint%2BView1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LvWC9SBJ3b0/YNvI7yfINyI/AAAAAAAAQDE/3KRs1BkIpB8YsXZYWzGfAPGOlj9MeehoACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Paulina%2BPoint%2BView1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Paulina Lake is the larger of the two with a depth of 250 feet and has produced state record Brown Trout:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d1wA9R671j8/YNvMhfpip7I/AAAAAAAAQDM/XA3SOWrlcI471hMijnkQDU6bgibBhgaDACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Paulina%2BLake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d1wA9R671j8/YNvMhfpip7I/AAAAAAAAQDM/XA3SOWrlcI471hMijnkQDU6bgibBhgaDACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Paulina%2BLake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">From here and looking to the east, it was easy to see the caldera rim:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2g1xHWORPVE/YNvUdKKUFlI/AAAAAAAAQDc/DFPL0aLHaKEdNxXr_37qMEfcEP2VHc0pQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Cauldera%2BRim.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2g1xHWORPVE/YNvUdKKUFlI/AAAAAAAAQDc/DFPL0aLHaKEdNxXr_37qMEfcEP2VHc0pQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Cauldera%2BRim.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Looking to the west, we could see the traditional volcanic cones of the Three Sisters, still snow covered on this hot June day:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uvNoe-4Utsw/YNvOrlOoLsI/AAAAAAAAQDU/VIB5-c96DdYprHOLS7V_9TZnsa-5VIQFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Paulina%2BPoint%2BView2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uvNoe-4Utsw/YNvOrlOoLsI/AAAAAAAAQDU/VIB5-c96DdYprHOLS7V_9TZnsa-5VIQFQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Paulina%2BPoint%2BView2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Driving back down to the caldera floor, our next stop was the Big Obsidian Flow, the newest of the area's volcanic activity at 1300 years old. Formed by lava, Obsidian is a natural glass with no crystalline structure. Here's a picture that show just how big the flow is:</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VpGaZP2qjyg/YNvYKbncAsI/AAAAAAAAQDs/Dw9qyKr9ByYOOH2WDogq7nntr1fPWhjQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/Big%2BObsidian%2BPanorama.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="900" height="152" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VpGaZP2qjyg/YNvYKbncAsI/AAAAAAAAQDs/Dw9qyKr9ByYOOH2WDogq7nntr1fPWhjQwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h152/Big%2BObsidian%2BPanorama.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><p><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.5pt;">And a close up of one of the large obsidian "black glass" rocks:</span></p></span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-24j4InSygrI/YNvYdQBbOpI/AAAAAAAAQD0/36cr9f5XiMoTBIoxIooJlyuBpDZduqsRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s450/big%2Bobsidian%2Bflow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="450" height="460" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-24j4InSygrI/YNvYdQBbOpI/AAAAAAAAQD0/36cr9f5XiMoTBIoxIooJlyuBpDZduqsRwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h460/big%2Bobsidian%2Bflow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We finished our visit with a drive around the lake and a stop at Paulina Falls, just below the lake. Above the falls the forest was green, quiet and beautiful.</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dWPneaBDYoM/YNvZAqCoMKI/AAAAAAAAQD8/nvPK1BF4vuc7BAQPwtMHmlS9jxEdrkPcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Paulina%2BFalls.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dWPneaBDYoM/YNvZAqCoMKI/AAAAAAAAQD8/nvPK1BF4vuc7BAQPwtMHmlS9jxEdrkPcwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Paulina%2BFalls.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2brqDdCw8dY/YNvZMqlaQ1I/AAAAAAAAQEA/61CK5LO__hYd3ihL7qbZ-v4WfWML_76XwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Above%2BPaulina%2BFalls.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2brqDdCw8dY/YNvZMqlaQ1I/AAAAAAAAQEA/61CK5LO__hYd3ihL7qbZ-v4WfWML_76XwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Above%2BPaulina%2BFalls.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We enjoyed our visit to this interesting area and were surprised that an active volcano existed here in Central Oregon. We're moving east soon, and hope that you'll check back and see our next adventure.</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5I-Akc77omI/YNvZ2H4jaRI/AAAAAAAAQEM/j0WQYxgCy18VrSpuhUApiEL4WEpqDWeOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Keith%2Band%2BBrenda%2Bat%2BCauldera.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5I-Akc77omI/YNvZ2H4jaRI/AAAAAAAAQEM/j0WQYxgCy18VrSpuhUApiEL4WEpqDWeOgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Keith%2Band%2BBrenda%2Bat%2BCauldera.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-39488331971136185412021-06-12T11:40:00.001-06:002024-03-16T14:14:12.965-06:00On the Road Again....Finally!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-csbRtscnsw8/YMP_EO4U1jI/AAAAAAAAP6o/8_6P_4B1m7cKrVKX0IkX2PTaQR-o0KeGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Seven%2BFeathers.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-csbRtscnsw8/YMP_EO4U1jI/AAAAAAAAP6o/8_6P_4B1m7cKrVKX0IkX2PTaQR-o0KeGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Seven%2BFeathers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>After seven long months of being stationary on the Oregon Coast, we've finally begun our summer of travel. Our first stop after reaching the I-5 corridor was a Memorial Day's stay at the Seven Feathers RV Resort in Canyonville. "Resort" is a word used lightly by RV park owners, but Seven Feathers truly fits that definition. <br /> Disneyland landscaping, beautiful shaded sites, huge indoor pool, exercise room, and manicured walking trails are all meticulously maintained. And most important, a free shuttle to the casino! <br />Visiting the casino was a shock to us - no ID check on entry for contact tracing and no mask! Being vaccinated this wasn't a problem for us, but it was hard to believe that everyone else had received theirs, and they assured us that there had been no COVID-19 cases reported in over two weeks. Canyonville is located in a mountainous area of the interstate, and we decided to explore the area by taking a drive east along the South Umqua River. It was a beautiful drive through a green valley and small towns. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QAew4RM6bQo/YMQNokMPGXI/AAAAAAAAP6w/-kGAuARcosErXFolSz-cwUB75ozX6GBhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Milo%2BAcademy.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QAew4RM6bQo/YMQNokMPGXI/AAAAAAAAP6w/-kGAuARcosErXFolSz-cwUB75ozX6GBhQCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h240/Milo%2BAcademy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Milo Academy</span></td></tr></tbody></table>In the former town of Milo (now a part of Day's Creek) we came across the Milo Academy, a Seventh Day Adventist boarding school for high school students. It's an interesting place - on former ranch property, it has extensive fields, orchards, shops, and even an equestrian academy. This seemed like an unusual place for an academy - over 16 miles from the small town of Canyonville and over 60 miles to a city of any size (Grant's </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pass). To enter the academy grounds, you must travel through a picturesque wooden bridge....except that it's not really wooden. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0EuTFNhhmfs/YMQPHhzV2uI/AAAAAAAAP7A/ZUZabBbMOQgo_pQEdDNos83Xz9lGNv0iwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Milo%2BAcademy%2BBridge.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0EuTFNhhmfs/YMQPHhzV2uI/AAAAAAAAP7A/ZUZabBbMOQgo_pQEdDNos83Xz9lGNv0iwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Milo%2BAcademy%2BBridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The original bridge was, but it couldn't bear the weight of trucks that were bringing in building materials and it was replaced with a steel structure. The locals were unhappy and wanted their wooden bridge back, so the steel was covered with wood. It's the only one of its kind in Oregon.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Further up the road, we stopped at South Umpqua Falls, which although far off the beaten path was busy with people trying to beat the heat. Heavily forested, the area was beautiful and the blue skies and sound of rushing water made it a great place to just sit and relax.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0P__O_hqK3M/YMQXeCKVnGI/AAAAAAAAP7Q/MyxqbPT8zy89MNk0glsemyVCCERsGOmNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Umpqua%2BFalls1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0P__O_hqK3M/YMQXeCKVnGI/AAAAAAAAP7Q/MyxqbPT8zy89MNk0glsemyVCCERsGOmNwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Umpqua%2BFalls1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w4Oz3N4jP8I/YMQXmXBflWI/AAAAAAAAP7U/5_YFJohIr8w8mIFgxyRqMmkkUICPZwkNACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Umpqua%2BFalls2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w4Oz3N4jP8I/YMQXmXBflWI/AAAAAAAAP7U/5_YFJohIr8w8mIFgxyRqMmkkUICPZwkNACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Umpqua%2BFalls2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From Canyonville, we headed south for a week's stay at <a href="https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=76">Valley of the Rogue (VOR)</a> State Park, a very nice park along the interstate outside of Medford. We were here to catch up on shopping, restaurants, and have the annual maintenance performed on our motor home. On the coast we'd been complaining about the cool temperatures. What we didn't expect was going from 50 degree weather on the coast to 104 degrees on the day we arrived at VOR. </span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdZCGr3y2no/YMQSLDkQduI/AAAAAAAAP7I/uE5y0u7-jsgxXmMt_Wgo65Npb8tfqT-3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/VOR%2BState%2BPark.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdZCGr3y2no/YMQSLDkQduI/AAAAAAAAP7I/uE5y0u7-jsgxXmMt_Wgo65Npb8tfqT-3gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/VOR%2BState%2BPark.jpg" title="Valley of the Rogue State Park" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Our site at Valley of the Rogue</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /><span> Fortunately, the park was heavily treed and we were parked in shade for most of the day. It was time to break out the long-ago used shorts and sandals, and although the high temperatures made it sometimes uncomfortable, we enjoyed shopping at places other than Wal-Mart and Fred Meyer! </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We celebrated Brenda's birthday with a trip to Yreka, California's Rain Rock Casino for some gaming and dinner. On the way, we passed Mt. Shasta which normally would be snow covered. This year's appearance is another indicator of the light snowpack experienced throughout the Pacific Northwest. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GjRc2g2HQwA/YMQZKKyh7KI/AAAAAAAAP7o/EE74tF3lv7YRXW9QRfcWZ4c3YDwUfPIHACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Mt%2BShasta%2BJune.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GjRc2g2HQwA/YMQZKKyh7KI/AAAAAAAAP7o/EE74tF3lv7YRXW9QRfcWZ4c3YDwUfPIHACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Mt%2BShasta%2BJune.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Mount Shasta June 6th</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Temperatures eventually cooled down into the 60s and we packed up and drove north and east over the mountains, passing north of Crater Lake, and then down to Hwy 97 and Crescent. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We're staying for a week at </span><a href="https://www.bigpinesrvpark.com/" style="font-family: helvetica;">Big Pines RV Park,</a><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> a nice park just of the highway. While the pines aren't all that big, the sites are and it's a comfortable place to stay and it gives us a great location to explore the area. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our first trip out was to explore the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. We drove west up into the Cascades to the town of Crescent Lake for a bite at the <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/mountain-house-kitchen-crescent">Mountain House Kitchen</a> before driving to the shores of Crescent Lake and Odell lake. At Crescent Lake we could see snow-covered mountains in the distance.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PjbuKKkKAgs/YMQYOFGcvtI/AAAAAAAAP7g/bWZG8shOTV0VBnIgSr4gAQfNsw09GwtjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Crescent%2BLake.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PjbuKKkKAgs/YMQYOFGcvtI/AAAAAAAAP7g/bWZG8shOTV0VBnIgSr4gAQfNsw09GwtjwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Crescent%2BLake.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Crescent Lake</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /><span>At Odell Lake, another beautiful vista with Diamond Peak and a large volcanic cone in the distance:</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gx18msuMg2o/YMQbf8PfoZI/AAAAAAAAP7w/iivorooxQL0rwenTtJawR8FXQe7SPudNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Odell%2BLake.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gx18msuMg2o/YMQbf8PfoZI/AAAAAAAAP7w/iivorooxQL0rwenTtJawR8FXQe7SPudNQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Odell%2BLake.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Diamond Peak from Odell Lake</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ywI3rOrf1C8/YMQb2V0ZrRI/AAAAAAAAP74/bikogLmwTCM2AFuuBv4NSb86jLBY9rLnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Volcano%2BCone.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ywI3rOrf1C8/YMQb2V0ZrRI/AAAAAAAAP74/bikogLmwTCM2AFuuBv4NSb86jLBY9rLnQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Volcano%2BCone.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volcanic Cone from Odell Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span>The Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway is a wonderful drive; smooth pavement with dazzling terrain and beauty - every curve reveals a new view of a distant peak or lake. We passed blue-green Davis Lake and shortly after, a large lava flow. This was "blocky" lava instead of the mud-like flows we're used to seeing. It towered over the highway and seemed out of place:</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8uBGUlpYbY4/YMQf0rIBXbI/AAAAAAAAP8A/tfNscsmMExcNShOySDISFw1Vl839WEgLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Lava%2BBed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8uBGUlpYbY4/YMQf0rIBXbI/AAAAAAAAP8A/tfNscsmMExcNShOySDISFw1Vl839WEgLwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Lava%2BBed.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Blocky Lava</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /><span>Somehow this Ponderosa Pine found enough soil to gain a foothold - the only tree visible in the lava field.</span></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ijhdJ-d0MI/YMQgaE__iVI/AAAAAAAAP8I/pgjMLkGqF5gPaU7jai_2-rlvp6rHsMk5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Tree%2BGrowing%2Bin%2BLava.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ijhdJ-d0MI/YMQgaE__iVI/AAAAAAAAP8I/pgjMLkGqF5gPaU7jai_2-rlvp6rHsMk5ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Tree%2BGrowing%2Bin%2BLava.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pine growing in lava bed</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">There were huge stands of wildfire killed trees in one long stretch of highway. We were impressed by this stand of bleached-out pines from a fire in years past:<span><br /></span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QOWPAhSXQFk/YMQhSUw0L-I/AAAAAAAAP8c/JT_EEaCTCqY-Hv2CSfICjuRhOSfTPNv-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Wildfire%2BTrees.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QOWPAhSXQFk/YMQhSUw0L-I/AAAAAAAAP8c/JT_EEaCTCqY-Hv2CSfICjuRhOSfTPNv-wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Wildfire%2BTrees.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Coming around a curve brought Mt. Bachelor into view:</span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cyt92NZLNl8/YMQh3x6uoOI/AAAAAAAAP8o/Z2pF7TTmHwkfkyBKu-lNubmklooc0neugCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Mt%2BBachelor.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cyt92NZLNl8/YMQh3x6uoOI/AAAAAAAAP8o/Z2pF7TTmHwkfkyBKu-lNubmklooc0neugCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Mt%2BBachelor.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Mt. Bachelor</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And finally, a view that made our day. Suddenly coming into view was South Sister, beautiful with its covering of snow:</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cg-fAxlvcGY/YMQiU1MLjnI/AAAAAAAAP8w/yuvoCZVIeTQWurzpAdOSXYibW2gy7PVsACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/South%2BSister.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cg-fAxlvcGY/YMQiU1MLjnI/AAAAAAAAP8w/yuvoCZVIeTQWurzpAdOSXYibW2gy7PVsACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/South%2BSister.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">South Sister</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We'll leave this trip report with a flashback to our winter site at Osprey Point RV Park. Just before leaving for the year, the sunset put on this show to say goodbye:</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I34EyXA-bjI/YMQi2pBLAtI/AAAAAAAAP84/6PLdI5oAwSMQXvMqrFQeGVoynOpgxxHvgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Sunset%2Bat%2BOsprey%2BPoint.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I34EyXA-bjI/YMQi2pBLAtI/AAAAAAAAP84/6PLdI5oAwSMQXvMqrFQeGVoynOpgxxHvgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Sunset%2Bat%2BOsprey%2BPoint.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Thanks for checking in on us - we'll be posting often as we work our way across Oregon so check back!<br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p></div>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-20030316697750752982021-05-13T20:23:00.004-06:002024-03-16T14:14:16.050-06:00 Finally - Travel is on the Horizon<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It was on October 9th, 2020 that we parked our motor home here at Osprey Point RV Resort. Although just over seven months ago, it seems like so much longer. Never in the last 15 years have we been in one place for so long, and although we've always enjoyed staying on the Oregon Coast, we're ready for a change.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Like most areas of the country, we've struggled through the pandemic and its affect on our daily lives. This area of Oregon has been spared the wave of COVID-19 cases that many urban areas have experienced and the state has a visible metric to determine closures and activities. We're currently at the "moderate risk" level which means most normal activities can be resumed. It's a relief after a long period of restrictions - Brenda enjoys cooking at home but not having an option of an occasional trip to a restaurant was frustrating. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The two casinos in town became the only dine-in restaurants consistently open. It was interesting to see that while any indoor activity of multiple people was banned, the Native American casinos and their restaurants remained open. We were impressed with the steps the casinos took to remain safe. IDs were checked to provide a source for contract tracing, temperatures taken, and of course masks were required. Machines and tables were well spaced and separated by plexiglass shields, disinfection sheet dispensers were spaced throughout the casino floor, and employees were quick to clean each machine and seat after use. They were of course motivated to eliminate the the possibility of an infection and a forced closure. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">In April Brenda and I reached a significant milestone - our 50th wedding anniversary. Brenda and I agree that there must be some mistake in our math, because surely we can't be that old. Trying to capture in a few words our 50+ years together is impossible, but I'd start with "magical". </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We had a quiet celebration with our daughter and her husband. They rented a VRBO on the water in nearby Charleston with great views of the Coquille River lighthouse and offshore rocks. We capped off their visit with a seafood boil; it <u>was</u> as good as it looks!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fEoUlZl9nxU/YJ3a9GzFyKI/AAAAAAAAP0k/CQHaCu8lSk0I-jJBu2Wj4wfUNYsDiwGowCLcBGAsYHQ/s1522/Seafood%2BBoil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="1522" height="541" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fEoUlZl9nxU/YJ3a9GzFyKI/AAAAAAAAP0k/CQHaCu8lSk0I-jJBu2Wj4wfUNYsDiwGowCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h541/Seafood%2BBoil.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Sitting in one place for so long had one benefit - I had the time to write a book I've been meaning to get to for years. It's a short book about my time in Viet Nam as a young Air Force air traffic controller. It's and ebook and is available at many ebook stores, including Amazon, Apple, and Barnes & Noble. Here's a link: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Never-Left-Anybody-Up-There-ebook/dp/B093XS822J/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=krejci&qid=1620705472&s=digital-text&sr=1-2">Amazon</a></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iuL_awCye9M/YJ3ci7IbA-I/AAAAAAAAP0s/Ny-u6LD58nIc7fbfR991bUdIIZrFYjrOwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iuL_awCye9M/YJ3ci7IbA-I/AAAAAAAAP0s/Ny-u6LD58nIc7fbfR991bUdIIZrFYjrOwCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/image.png" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We're celebrating our golden anniversary by spending the summer traveling. Our planned route will take us through Eastern Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Southern California. We'll be visiting some interesting places, taking pictures, and writing about our experiences, so come back and visit!</span><p></p>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-53564239024537016962021-01-26T14:26:00.005-07:002024-03-16T14:14:18.498-06:00Waiting for the Vaccine<div class="separator"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wKNzllQcKJs/YBCE7kFw2AI/AAAAAAAAOnE/UgGlgNhQ-qYzJ8BTCZbgY1UCUY17F4WeACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Smith%2BRiver2%2BNov%2B2020.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wKNzllQcKJs/YBCE7kFw2AI/AAAAAAAAOnE/UgGlgNhQ-qYzJ8BTCZbgY1UCUY17F4WeACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/Smith%2BRiver2%2BNov%2B2020.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's winter here on the Oregon coast, and although we don't have to worry about </span><span style="font-family: arial;">snow and freezing temperatures, the rain, fog, and cold temperatures are beginning to weigh on us. COVID 19 numbers continue to slowly rise, restaurants are closed to dining inside, and so far there's no word on when the vaccine will be available. So we wait and try to stay busy planning future travels, reading, and watching too much television. </span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qHSXJMn-3i4/YBCFNWKJ_ZI/AAAAAAAAOnM/xA2w-fiUQbIcohWWKbqvrIsxMJc3vldogCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Osprey%2BPoint%2BRV%2BSite2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qHSXJMn-3i4/YBCFNWKJ_ZI/AAAAAAAAOnM/xA2w-fiUQbIcohWWKbqvrIsxMJc3vldogCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/Osprey%2BPoint%2BRV%2BSite2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We're in a very nice park, on a paved site with parking. That becomes really important here since the ground has become a soft sponge from the rain. We overlook Ten Mile Lake and have been entertained by the American Coots as they hurry around looking for fresh grass. A member of the Rail family, they resemble ducks with big chicken feet and watching them walk on land is entertaining. There are also the songs of Redwing Blackbirds, Mallards, Cormorants and Grebes, and Crows that enjoy clog-dancing on our roof at six AM. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d0F98lNY8z8/YBCHKa01P3I/AAAAAAAAOns/4vWTAfG3OfsavQELHOJaS9eWnktuXXvtwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Eel%2BLake%2BTrail.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d0F98lNY8z8/YBCHKa01P3I/AAAAAAAAOns/4vWTAfG3OfsavQELHOJaS9eWnktuXXvtwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/Eel%2BLake%2BTrail.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Weather permitting, we hike some of the many trails close by. We're working on embracing </span><span style="font-family: arial;">the Japanese technique of Shinrin-yoku or "forest bathing". Instead of hiking at a brisk pace for exercise, forest bathing encourages a slow pace, frequent stops, and the peace of absorbing the surroundings. There's a whole lot more to it, but for us, just sitting, breathing in the forest smell, noticing the little things that we've </span><span style="font-family: arial;">previously overlooked, and listening to the sounds has been relaxing and educational. We're fortunate to have a climate where everything stays green year-around. Even in January the forest trails are beautiful.</span></span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WhtD6WDkxng/YBCHr2XUMOI/AAAAAAAAOn0/5yNmClf8ajwd_M_mByl11nuuZ5K3N610QCLcBGAsYHQ/s4896/P1010748.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WhtD6WDkxng/YBCHr2XUMOI/AAAAAAAAOn0/5yNmClf8ajwd_M_mByl11nuuZ5K3N610QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/P1010748.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We also drive country roads to look for wildlife and perhaps a new bird or duck. Many species of ducks winter here, and Buffleheads and Scaups are fairly common. Elk are common here, and on a rare sunny day they enjoy relaxing in the open. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KUFStyAWv50/YBCIA-EPmII/AAAAAAAAOoA/VmcmYUe0oTsRNTO6QoXlmPdRa7Nmi_W3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Elk%2B2%2BNov%2B2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KUFStyAWv50/YBCIA-EPmII/AAAAAAAAOoA/VmcmYUe0oTsRNTO6QoXlmPdRa7Nmi_W3ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Elk%2B2%2BNov%2B2020.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">We'll stay here until we feel that it is safe to travel, but hope to be on the road for the summer. Wherever you are, Brenda and I hope you're well and keeping busy. We'll post again soon!</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></p><p><br /></p></div>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-83252805378536851082020-12-14T17:49:00.001-07:002024-03-16T14:14:21.044-06:0015 Years on the Road - Our Epic Journey<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8BOgkMWGPb0/X9gH1_SHi3I/AAAAAAAAOlg/dTBLmbeNPjkxvs_aK8e72HSWz2Gk7j9KQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/RV%2Bin%2BSnow2%2BDec05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1024" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8BOgkMWGPb0/X9gH1_SHi3I/AAAAAAAAOlg/dTBLmbeNPjkxvs_aK8e72HSWz2Gk7j9KQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/RV%2Bin%2BSnow2%2BDec05.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />On December 11th 2006, Brenda and I drove our new motor home through the snow heading south from Ohio on what we hoped would be an interesting life traveling the country. 15 years later, we now know that we've been on a life-changing journey that exceeded our wildest dreams.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our time on the road has flown by so fast. I was able to put it in perspective when I realized that in my first 15 years of my Air Force career with Brenda, we lived in Tucson, Altus OK, Galena AK, Alexandria LA, Las Vegas, Tacoma, and Belleville IL. Our travels to 35 states have flown by - It seems that it was only a short time ago that we were celebrating our first Christmas on San Antonio's River Walk.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">2006 was our first full year of travel and looking back; it was a year of new experiences in nature that changed our attitudes. After the holidays in San Antonio, we worked our way to the west coast, passing through desert and coastal beauty. We spent the summer as volunteers at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge with a staff that introduced us to a new world of wildlife management. We helped visitors identify birds, participated in bird banding, taught children, and became "birders". Our stay opened up a new world for us that we explored over the next years. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TPtQCIVDQrY/X9FvBXM5BII/AAAAAAAAOh8/E7eQRF7EX0Uc5Ron1KxrfOaxuXZIkhzZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/2006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TPtQCIVDQrY/X9FvBXM5BII/AAAAAAAAOh8/E7eQRF7EX0Uc5Ron1KxrfOaxuXZIkhzZwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2006.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /> In 2007 we toured New Mexico's Gila Wilderness, visited McDonald Observatory and the "Marfa Mystery Lights", climbed to Northern Idaho's "Palouse", and volunteered in Oregon teaching "Junior Rangers" (6-12 year olds). But the highlight of the year was our daughter Kim's wedding to Bill, held in Newport CA. It was a joyous time with amazing people.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-65cb0ug0zrI/X9FwYOKDMRI/AAAAAAAAOiI/2gTjYKiFlVU7pU3isdZ42b5iGGqTJhNWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/2007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-65cb0ug0zrI/X9FwYOKDMRI/AAAAAAAAOiI/2gTjYKiFlVU7pU3isdZ42b5iGGqTJhNWQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">2008 saw us touring the west with a visit to Billy the Kid country, visiting Bryce Canyon, Yellowstone and the Tetons, and friends near the Air Force Academy. We spent the summer back at Lee Metcalf NWR where we upgraded our motor home to our current 40' Itasca Ellipse.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KR6hEd1op3s/X9FzHqIBL9I/AAAAAAAAOiU/SW7pAEngXLUH2xVdGzHokrT5UWEfPm7VQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/2008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1280" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KR6hEd1op3s/X9FzHqIBL9I/AAAAAAAAOiU/SW7pAEngXLUH2xVdGzHokrT5UWEfPm7VQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h512/2008.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In 2009 we skipped volunteering and traveled. We started our year in the hill country of Texas, and traveled west into Big Bend, north through New Mexico and on to a huge RV rally in Albuquerque where we and a thousand other senior citizens rocked to a performance by Neil Sedaka. From there it was east to Ohio and a visit with family, then Johnstown PA to visit old friends. We then headed back east with a stop at the RV Hall of Fame, the Mall of America, and an item on our "bucket list", the Field of Dreams in Dyersville IA. After walking the base paths, it was on to Forest City, the home of Winnebago, for the Grand National Rally. Then west through Nebraska, into the Dakotas, and a visit to the Custer Battlefield. We cruised through Spokane and turned west for a stop at another "bucket list" spot, Rosyln WA, the film site for the series "Northern Exposure". We had a burger at the "Brick", saw Ruthann's store, and even danced on her gravesite! After visiting Mount Rainier, the Olympia National Park, and Astoria, OR, we headed down the Oregon coast, into California for a visit at Yosemite, then back east to San Antonio for the winter. Whew! </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yBRKLxpPGho/X9GDPpLNnhI/AAAAAAAAOig/cS0FCrQVQHMZIrdnSf_0aXtttJM62ea_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/2009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1280" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yBRKLxpPGho/X9GDPpLNnhI/AAAAAAAAOig/cS0FCrQVQHMZIrdnSf_0aXtttJM62ea_QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h512/2009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">2010 was a year that we returned to volunteering. We left Texas in late April and headed north for a visit in the Black Hills (and the casinos in Deadwood). Then we were off for a visit to the Oregon Coast and a volunteer opportunity with the Shoreline Education for Awareness (SEA), where we became marine mammal interpreters and dug invertebrates with local school children. Unfortunately, we had to leave early to return to Ohio and help Brenda's mom. We remained in Ohio until November, and after a visit to the "Christmas Story House", we headed back to Texas for the winter.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2_2Zr7_mp7s/X9GGlZZcu4I/AAAAAAAAOis/aUFCdtzVx3UR1beKaqwqg-gIgk3ZFwe6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2_2Zr7_mp7s/X9GGlZZcu4I/AAAAAAAAOis/aUFCdtzVx3UR1beKaqwqg-gIgk3ZFwe6QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We returned to volunteering in 2011, a new location in Spearfish, SD for the D.C. Booth Historic Fish Hatchery. It was a beautiful location with RV sites on a trout-filled creek, great facilities to show the public, and fellow volunteers that we still maintain contact with. We visited the Sturgis Rally (I especially enjoyed watching the "bikini bike wash"), explored the Black Hills, and Brenda had the opportunity to stand in the geographical center of the US! We also traveled to Lone Pine CA, the site of many movies including "Tremors" where Brenda got to pet a "Graboid"....or maybe it was an "Assblaster". They sorta look alike. We even visited the site of an authentic alien autopsy in Roswell, NM. Who knew?</span><p></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-11DD1-UVESw/X9Lmg4QBcaI/AAAAAAAAOi4/ifYqxBkALeAqplT5M_HL-VLXhu9sTcGfACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/2011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-11DD1-UVESw/X9Lmg4QBcaI/AAAAAAAAOi4/ifYqxBkALeAqplT5M_HL-VLXhu9sTcGfACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In 2012 we traveled from Texas to the red rocks of Sedona, stopped at the Atomic Energy Museum where Brenda hit on Robbie the Robot, and stopped at Crater Lake. We spent the summer at Humbug Mountain State Park on the Oregon coast, teaching the "Junior Rangers" and hosting evening programs. After Labor Day, we made a trip through the Cascades, then up to Mount Saint Helens (we lived in Tacoma when it erupted), ending up in Port Townsend and the Coastal Artillery Museum for a volunteer stint during the winter.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLKMldyvn5k/X9LopP9Q2XI/AAAAAAAAOjE/nOOCJhf3OZUXIcaFljN8Ij8asboHuuf7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/2012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1280" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLKMldyvn5k/X9LopP9Q2XI/AAAAAAAAOjE/nOOCJhf3OZUXIcaFljN8Ij8asboHuuf7ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h512/2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We were back to traveling in 2013. After finishing our time at the Coastal Artillery Museum (which was REALLY interesting for the first 20 minutes) and took the ferry across Puget Sound. But not before visiting Forks WA, the home of "Twilight" so that Brenda could meet Edward and Jacob. We climbed Mt Hood, revisited "Cicely Alaska", and found the perfect moose near Spokane. After another visit to Devil's Tower and a stop to visit friends in Montana, we breezed east for a visit with Brenda's mom and another visit to the Christmas Story House where we basked in the glow of the original "Major Award" (from the Mediterranean country of Fragile). But the real reason we came this far east was for another "bucket list" item - the Little League World Series in Williamsport PA. The best word we can find to describe the experience is "Joyous"! Children everywhere, from countries all over the world laughing and playing together, learning each others language and culture, and playing some pretty good baseball! We're so glad we went! But then it was time to head back Texas, but not before stopping in Nashville and Opryland. We managed to keep moving fast enough not to be covered in kudzu, and arrived back in time for another Christmas on the River Walk.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ifcp4Aij_xE/X9LtrySZ3tI/AAAAAAAAOjQ/90r7IlvR-w83pFYbf45ohoETkL4X72txgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/2013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1280" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ifcp4Aij_xE/X9LtrySZ3tI/AAAAAAAAOjQ/90r7IlvR-w83pFYbf45ohoETkL4X72txgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h512/2013.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In 2014 we traveled back to Humbug Mountain State Park for another summer of "Junior Rangers". On the way, we spent time in New Mexico exploring the Sacramento Mountains, stopped in Las Vegas and visited near the place I once worked at that doesn't exist, and fed the donkeys at Oatman. That summer we picked blueberries, ate crab, and tried hugging giant redwoods. It was a great, fulfilling summer! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SeWAhbCsTpM/X9QpXfupYUI/AAAAAAAAOjc/osUA_1wvpfgJzbLDdc9OSrT5czaK1mMFACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/2014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1280" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SeWAhbCsTpM/X9QpXfupYUI/AAAAAAAAOjc/osUA_1wvpfgJzbLDdc9OSrT5czaK1mMFACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h512/2014.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We started 2015 in Patagonia AZ, just 20 miles north of the border volunteering at the Sonoita-Patagonia Nature Conservancy Preserve. A premier birding location, we assisted visitors, led birding tours, and were thrilled while watching Javelina, Coyote, Bobcat, and Coatimundi in their natural habitat. In the spring, we traveled north to Bandelier National Monument, drove past the "Longmire" cabin, and spent time in beautiful Sheridan, WY. At a stop in Montana, our friends and family completely surprised Brenda on her 70th birthday. Back on the coast, we started a new volunteering job at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, a large BLM facility with huge visitor center, the best lighthouse on the coast, and amazing tide pools. Brenda took over the visitor desk scheduling lighthouse tours and answering questions while I was trained on being a tide pool guide. Spending time on the tide pools almost every day was the experience of a lifetime - so much incredible beauty and marine activity! The staff was great, our site overlooked the surf, and we explored new areas of the coast. And no trip to the coast would be complete without a visit to world famous Langlois for one of their amazing hot dogs!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VsVlDBCKI3s/X9WCgXICK5I/AAAAAAAAOkY/JQuZSmt-X8QkAhbr7oocxtp4N7zVq4z9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/2015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VsVlDBCKI3s/X9WCgXICK5I/AAAAAAAAOkY/JQuZSmt-X8QkAhbr7oocxtp4N7zVq4z9wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">2016 was another year of travel. We began in Southern Arizona then headed for Southern California for a month where we explored the Salton Sea and Slab City. This is one of the strangest places we've ever seen, and "Salvation Mountain" and "East Jesus" are unique to this country. And maybe the planet. From there we worked our way up to Las Vegas for a visit with our daughter. Then it was back roads north to the Black Hills, west to Sheridan and the Big Horn Mountains, and back to Montana for a family gathering in the Bitterroot Valley. From there, we wandered north and east back to Ohio, then up through Michigan to the Upper Peninsula. We'd never been here before and are glad we visited, but Lake Superior wasn't much different than where we grew up on Lake Erie and the scenery was just OK. But boy, were the mosquitoes impressive! We crossed northern Wisconsin and dropped down through Minnesota to the state's cultural mecca - the Spam Museum! No joking, it was amazing; great displays, lots of interesting history, and even a continuous loop of the Monty Python Spam skit. Back in the west, we stopped in the Black Hills to view the fall colors, then it was back to the Oregon Coast where we spent the winter volunteering</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">for US Fish & Wildlife as marine mammal interpreters. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-48PzFresQYc/X9VyT73chkI/AAAAAAAAOj0/GrJvQpEKdR4mC0asn5cZPDiTQqOnPVJUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/2016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-48PzFresQYc/X9VyT73chkI/AAAAAAAAOj0/GrJvQpEKdR4mC0asn5cZPDiTQqOnPVJUQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We spent the early spring of 2017 on the Oregon coast, then drove to Pahrump NV for a month in the sun. We spent time in Las Vegas, visited Death Valley, and found that you can't buy eggs at the "Chicken Ranch". Then it was back to the Oregon Coast, this time just north of the California border where we volunteered for US Fish and Wildlife as shorebird and marine mammal interpreters. It was here that we had a life-changing experience when Brenda had a heart attack and was airlifted to Springfield for a Sunday morning triple bypass operation. In the end, everything was successful and three weeks later we were back on our deck overlooking the ocean. In July, we were evacuated from the area due to wildfires, and decided to visit friends in Star Valley WY, south of Jackson. After a great visit, we slowly worked our way back to Oregon for another winter at Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tTTEYVNwsAo/X9V1iTc3qnI/AAAAAAAAOkE/q9rWheoogbMNslianLHe9H_1sqJd-42MACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/2017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tTTEYVNwsAo/X9V1iTc3qnI/AAAAAAAAOkE/q9rWheoogbMNslianLHe9H_1sqJd-42MACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We started 2018 on the Oregon coast and once it warmed up, moved east to explore the John Day Fossil Beds and the Painted Hills before checking in at Farragut State park near Coeur d'alene ID for our summer volunteer job as program hosts. It was a fabulous summer with great people, an opportunity to teach children and develop evening programs, and relax in one of the best RV sites we've had. At the end of summer, we made a maintenance run to Iowa, then back for a week at Lone Pine CA exploring movie sets before reporting in for another volunteer position as visitor center hosts at the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rUOte4OWKM/X9bHeOrK33I/AAAAAAAAOlU/V6s3RVJsbEYfggNaWROQaRbbXKiQMd2GgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rUOte4OWKM/X9bHeOrK33I/AAAAAAAAOlU/V6s3RVJsbEYfggNaWROQaRbbXKiQMd2GgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2018.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">2019 started with a cold winter in Las Vegas. We left in early spring, returned to Oregon until the weather warmed, then headed back for our second year as program hosts. Unseasonably cold weather kept us from visiting Montana, so we headed to southern Washington and the Tri-Cities area for a visit. Following that, we explored Northeastern Oregon's Wallowa Mountains and the town of Joseph. Then it was back across Oregon for another winter on the coast.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LKB3OHbDg0c/X9a8csVAKnI/AAAAAAAAOk8/WscZh_0ed3MYpH3wrwQdLxIHIeYIDf9KgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1280" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LKB3OHbDg0c/X9a8csVAKnI/AAAAAAAAOk8/WscZh_0ed3MYpH3wrwQdLxIHIeYIDf9KgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h512/2019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">2020 for us has been a year of decreasing activity. We started the year on the Oregon Coast which had single-digit COVID-19 cases at the time, and were able to spend the summer again at Farragut State Park. We curtailed classes and only presented evening programs with social distancing and sterilized seating. Numbers were low there also, but we limited our shopping and dining trips. After Labor Day, we rushed back to Spearfish SD to renew our driver's licenses as required every five years, then it was back west through Montana and an early return to the coast. We'll be staying here for the winter and possibly well into the spring depending on the pandemic. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iifdHoh4Bdk/X9bDeUMZcDI/AAAAAAAAOlI/o6_m1YeV57gv-wQoyYulok-m78Ppnb_jACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iifdHoh4Bdk/X9bDeUMZcDI/AAAAAAAAOlI/o6_m1YeV57gv-wQoyYulok-m78Ppnb_jACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>After 15 years of life as the "semi-affluent homeless", we've no plans to change our lifestyle and hope to resume travel in the summer of 2021. As much as we've tried, we just haven't found "the place" where we want to settle down. So we'll keep looking, and hope you'll follow along with us. Thanks for following us - have a healthy and happy holiday season! </span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-17177424710761731792020-10-25T19:09:00.001-06:002024-03-16T14:14:23.842-06:00Another Visit to Montana<p> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Leaving Buffalo, we headed up I-25 to join I-90 and head west to spend a few days in Livingston, a historic Montana town of 7000 on the Yellowstone River. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zxoEXiKcKdg/X5TBuIhZ8FI/AAAAAAAAOcE/KYKpTsbb5WIxhi9pTRxs7tSXGUO2KZikQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Osen%2527s%2B1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zxoEXiKcKdg/X5TBuIhZ8FI/AAAAAAAAOcE/KYKpTsbb5WIxhi9pTRxs7tSXGUO2KZikQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/Osen%2527s%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />It's another one of those towns that we've driven past many times and always wanted to visit. We stayed at <a href="http://www.montanarvpark.com/" target="_blank">Osen's RV Park</a>, a nicely maintained park on the outskirts of town. You can see our review <a href="http://dnpc4.blogspot.com/2020/10/osens-rv-park-livingston-mt.html" target="_blank">here.</a> Livingston is a popular tourist destination for both visiting Yellowstone National Park (about 55 miles south) and fly fishing the Yellowstone River. While it has a historic past, it's now a mix of Western and California cultures with upscale restaurants and high-end gift shops. It's become another one of those Montana towns where the locals can no longer afford the price of a house due to the influx of refugees from California.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The downtown area maintains the look of an old western town:</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tTZaKa1DlWQ/X5THYToi7MI/AAAAAAAAOcQ/Omf8SGpgIrQhAzbeoYsyUXgkJXFqUKpBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Livingston%2BMT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tTZaKa1DlWQ/X5THYToi7MI/AAAAAAAAOcQ/Omf8SGpgIrQhAzbeoYsyUXgkJXFqUKpBgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Livingston%2BMT.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pIxpOQYR_mo/X5THg0ZXbhI/AAAAAAAAOcU/rgWywWCFPA4c3wxncXYnejgSqy_69c5XACLcBGAsYHQ/s2009/Livingston%2BMT2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2009" height="490" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pIxpOQYR_mo/X5THg0ZXbhI/AAAAAAAAOcU/rgWywWCFPA4c3wxncXYnejgSqy_69c5XACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h490/Livingston%2BMT2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Since we were so close, we decided to take a drive down the valley along highway 89 to Gardiner, the northern entrance to Yellowstone. Some of the scenery along the way was by itself worth the drive:</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-awq7h14_Sxw/X5TMmC2AD5I/AAAAAAAAOck/tOyHqvuMftMK5g2QY9BpJGtYSOk7c9aAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Yellowstone%2BValley.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1431" data-original-width="2048" height="448" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-awq7h14_Sxw/X5TMmC2AD5I/AAAAAAAAOck/tOyHqvuMftMK5g2QY9BpJGtYSOk7c9aAgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h448/Yellowstone%2BValley.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Since the traffic was light, we decided to enter the park and go only as far was Mammoth Hot Springs. Entering the park, we passed the historic stone gate, now bypassed by the new road. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKGlse8HKCU/X5TNTIyhDkI/AAAAAAAAOcs/tr0c-jYX-dE_hrJgf5Rie2UjZm3bPewMACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Gardiner%2BGate.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKGlse8HKCU/X5TNTIyhDkI/AAAAAAAAOcs/tr0c-jYX-dE_hrJgf5Rie2UjZm3bPewMACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Gardiner%2BGate.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It wasn't long before we realized our mistake....despite it being a weekday in October, the traffic was bumper to bumper, crawling along at a snail's pace. Every parking lot was full, every building had a line to enter - and God help you if you needed a to visit a restroom. And all this in spite of the lack of foreign visitors, which are usually half the crowd. We finally reached Mammoth Hot Springs, only to turn around and get in line again in a slow crawl to escape the chaos. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfipZDk4FDs/X5TOXqw0UaI/AAAAAAAAOc4/AI8dKr0YWkIRIhLm8B2CNzh1JOV4QXsOACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Busy%2BYellowstone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfipZDk4FDs/X5TOXqw0UaI/AAAAAAAAOc4/AI8dKr0YWkIRIhLm8B2CNzh1JOV4QXsOACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Busy%2BYellowstone.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Back in Gardiner, we decided to take the road above the town towards <a href="http://geyserbob.org/gate-jardine.html" target="_blank">Jardine</a>, once a gold mining area. We didn't see any wildlife and there wasn't much of the old town to see, but the view from above the town was worth the drive:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ya1bZfpzkwc/X5TQBM035nI/AAAAAAAAOdE/cIGIaZBBVZQ02WPA-NDWRcaeBPXoG8bvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1401/Gardiner%2BPanorama.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="1401" height="262" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ya1bZfpzkwc/X5TQBM035nI/AAAAAAAAOdE/cIGIaZBBVZQ02WPA-NDWRcaeBPXoG8bvQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h262/Gardiner%2BPanorama.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Back in Livingston, we left Osen's and headed west again, off the interstate to the small town of Ennis. We visited here four years ago, and the beauty of the area and history of the old gold rush towns made us want to return. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pErDNYhFR9Y/X5TiNk8Y-oI/AAAAAAAAOdo/hBz0T7OlCKEAv1mVFLR8gdzl1ca_DS71QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Ennis%2BRV%2BPark.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pErDNYhFR9Y/X5TiNk8Y-oI/AAAAAAAAOdo/hBz0T7OlCKEAv1mVFLR8gdzl1ca_DS71QCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h150/Ennis%2BRV%2BPark.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />Ennis is a trout fisherman's dream - the Madison River, one of<br />the nation's premier trout streams runs through here and the town is packed with guide services and fly shops. We </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />stayed at the <a href="https://ennisrv.com/">Ennis RV Village</a>, a large, well-managed and maintained park with mountain views in all directions. The little town of Ennis is another one of those picture-perfect Montana towns:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v8PdgkZyi5E/X5Thfz9OK_I/AAAAAAAAOdQ/B2BQX-iMuuA8HIf-Qjb-FhlM2RCY4sHOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Ennis%2BMT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v8PdgkZyi5E/X5Thfz9OK_I/AAAAAAAAOdQ/B2BQX-iMuuA8HIf-Qjb-FhlM2RCY4sHOwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Ennis%2BMT.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">While Ennis is an interesting little town, the real attraction here for us is visiting the historic gold rush towns of Virginia City and Nevada City. Just a few miles over the ridge from Ennis, Virginia City tries hard to maintain the look of the 1860s. A history of the town is worth stopping to read:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jVc3g_lLGqc/X5YQMl7WXYI/AAAAAAAAOd0/MJe_RVhekUgvATKw7iTXKkEAO70g0F8FgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Virginia%2BCity%2BSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jVc3g_lLGqc/X5YQMl7WXYI/AAAAAAAAOd0/MJe_RVhekUgvATKw7iTXKkEAO70g0F8FgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Virginia%2BCity%2BSign.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Most of the town had closed down for the season, but one of the unique sights here is that some of the original stores are always open and display the contents as they were left when abandoned.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AkvMst9FXxU/X5YRORwtYiI/AAAAAAAAOd8/MFBegZ5vVEk44oWtbqME6zz2hD7MQDjQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Virginia%2BCity%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AkvMst9FXxU/X5YRORwtYiI/AAAAAAAAOd8/MFBegZ5vVEk44oWtbqME6zz2hD7MQDjQQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Virginia%2BCity%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X78VzqoWIio/X5YRXFCl1hI/AAAAAAAAOeA/MankmfivkiA3NNY9SWqeiw-hAdc2sv42ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Virginia%2BCity%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X78VzqoWIio/X5YRXFCl1hI/AAAAAAAAOeA/MankmfivkiA3NNY9SWqeiw-hAdc2sv42ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Virginia%2BCity%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rjbJnJbSuyw/X5YRf-PQjaI/AAAAAAAAOeI/J_Wdx52x-c0z1QYi3pQuRotdUu0q8katACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Virginia%2BCity%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rjbJnJbSuyw/X5YRf-PQjaI/AAAAAAAAOeI/J_Wdx52x-c0z1QYi3pQuRotdUu0q8katACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Virginia%2BCity%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Just up the road is another gold rush town, Nevada City. Never as large as Virginia City, it's now mostly abandoned but still worth a visit. Here's the sign describing the town's history:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uI41iYMxMNg/X5YTYB6YZVI/AAAAAAAAOec/E6wVKV46PvEVOlo1zCsVh5WXC_bvvXqygCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Nevada%2BCity%2BSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uI41iYMxMNg/X5YTYB6YZVI/AAAAAAAAOec/E6wVKV46PvEVOlo1zCsVh5WXC_bvvXqygCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Nevada%2BCity%2BSign.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We wondered who George Ives was - here's a video that talks about his hanging, shows some of the historic buildings that were moved here, and even includes a ghost story. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dTyyf5Ti5M" target="_blank">Click here.</a> Like Virginia City, the town was closed up for the season but that made it look even more historic:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TRbvJH-2iZ8/X5YWgk6VHrI/AAAAAAAAOes/YvXLHoNIigkxUyUTpKA1u0Oz_5SIaiBcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Nevada%2BCity%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TRbvJH-2iZ8/X5YWgk6VHrI/AAAAAAAAOes/YvXLHoNIigkxUyUTpKA1u0Oz_5SIaiBcQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Nevada%2BCity%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pWKeKaLh7GE/X5YWn3y0RqI/AAAAAAAAOew/VhPGWYszlJ4Qsfi4ZC5d4sZ-RDcVt9t0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Nevada%2BCity%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pWKeKaLh7GE/X5YWn3y0RqI/AAAAAAAAOew/VhPGWYszlJ4Qsfi4ZC5d4sZ-RDcVt9t0gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Nevada%2BCity%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The gold mining boom here was centered in Alder Gulch, which runs about 14 miles from Nevada City west to the town of Alder. The center of this activity was Adobe City, a small community in the gulch where the population numbered over 10,000! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cU6lqiDjdNI/X5YYINPS3dI/AAAAAAAAOfA/N8KY7CWNOK4liTXfrkflhR0QP-FwfCd1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Adobetown%2BSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cU6lqiDjdNI/X5YYINPS3dI/AAAAAAAAOfA/N8KY7CWNOK4liTXfrkflhR0QP-FwfCd1ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Adobetown%2BSign.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Looking across Alder Gulch today, nothing remains but the rows of rocks formed by the gold dredges. It's hard to imagine that this narrow gulch once held so many people and so much activity.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TsjcgTZnwfw/X5YYmsGd0CI/AAAAAAAAOfI/dw3gO6fWd3MGy7MqlOkGT-cUKFtT2XU4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Alder%2BGulch%2BToday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TsjcgTZnwfw/X5YYmsGd0CI/AAAAAAAAOfI/dw3gO6fWd3MGy7MqlOkGT-cUKFtT2XU4QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Alder%2BGulch%2BToday.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Places like this, with so much history that is no longer visible, is one of the reasons we enjoy exploring the back roads. And there's often a surprise. On our return to Ennis, we ended up as part of a cattle drive, complete with real cowboys! In case it ever happens to you, the technique is to slowly ease your way through the herd as the cowboys guide the herd away from you. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uEDo-4QM6vQ/X5YZydsio1I/AAAAAAAAOfU/tMroXpLHNlgKvJDby1M6LNw6aE2Q7jtigCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Cattle%2BDrive1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uEDo-4QM6vQ/X5YZydsio1I/AAAAAAAAOfU/tMroXpLHNlgKvJDby1M6LNw6aE2Q7jtigCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Cattle%2BDrive1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BJ3aOTL80k/X5YZ4SPcebI/AAAAAAAAOfY/5NI8W6SKQJIePKSWsxRKUYX04LBCYqc0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Cattle%2BDrive2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BJ3aOTL80k/X5YZ4SPcebI/AAAAAAAAOfY/5NI8W6SKQJIePKSWsxRKUYX04LBCYqc0ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Cattle%2BDrive2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Coming down the hill back into Ennis, we were treated to one last look at this beautiful valley:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-svsxO7xvwds/X5YaGuw5JwI/AAAAAAAAOfg/QT6ZuPiY9XshWc7Ts4hek8lUmP0plTLmwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Ennis%2BValley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-svsxO7xvwds/X5YaGuw5JwI/AAAAAAAAOfg/QT6ZuPiY9XshWc7Ts4hek8lUmP0plTLmwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Ennis%2BValley.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We've always enjoyed our time in Montana, and believe that the state tourism motto is the most accurate in the country: "Montana - The Last Best Place"</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We're back on the Oregon Coast for the winter, but check back with us - we're always looking for new adventures!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-57745043924708174312020-10-13T14:59:00.003-06:002024-03-16T14:14:27.817-06:00Buffalo and the Big Horns<p> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Another one of those places that we've driven by while traveling through Wyoming and wanted to spend time exploring is Buffalo and the surrounding Big Horn Mountains. Buffalo is a charming town with roots in the old west, and the town works hard to keep the look of the 1800s. The downtown area is small but busy with shops and restaurants. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rrD0eJzwXPI/X4X9cb8N33I/AAAAAAAAOZc/kfvV7Sb_lLEtr5a3ypCH6GOvICRUuhpEACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Buffalo2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rrD0eJzwXPI/X4X9cb8N33I/AAAAAAAAOZc/kfvV7Sb_lLEtr5a3ypCH6GOvICRUuhpEACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Buffalo2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_2_cGkqlHkU/X4X9k3mHeiI/AAAAAAAAOZg/T8jvycjmflQJqjRTJbZXUpKxSIfMfFvqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Buffalo1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_2_cGkqlHkU/X4X9k3mHeiI/AAAAAAAAOZg/T8jvycjmflQJqjRTJbZXUpKxSIfMfFvqQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Buffalo1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A visit to Buffalo isn't complete without a visit to the </span><a href="http://www.occidentalwyoming.com/" style="font-family: arial;">Occidental Hotel and Saloon</a><span style="font-family: arial;">. It's a place that many of the famous and infamous visited; the guest list on their web site is impressive. We opted for an evening burger in the saloon where everything is much the same as it was when Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were here. The bar has the original tintype ceiling and to put you in the mood, there's a TV playing old John Wayne westerns.</span></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-53qs0-nhA9E/X4X-FAuPHeI/AAAAAAAAOZo/TiatEMgozXkv0m_QzAcHzfEPMLWX-2o6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2009/Occidental%2BSaloon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2009" height="490" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-53qs0-nhA9E/X4X-FAuPHeI/AAAAAAAAOZo/TiatEMgozXkv0m_QzAcHzfEPMLWX-2o6ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h490/Occidental%2BSaloon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GOTJ0qzjOr4/X4X-MWSfxoI/AAAAAAAAOZs/FVhVE0CmItg_uEHhwRQV5bIXE1tEYOTGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Occidental%2BTV.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GOTJ0qzjOr4/X4X-MWSfxoI/AAAAAAAAOZs/FVhVE0CmItg_uEHhwRQV5bIXE1tEYOTGgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Occidental%2BTV.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Our first trip into the Big Horn Mountains was to Crazy Woman Canyon. It isn't known who the crazy woman was, but I'm sure we all have someone in our families who we think would qualify. We started at the high end and worked our way down the winding, rough gravel and rock road. Here's some of the scenery:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zMbBonZIhDk/X4YFfnBTMrI/AAAAAAAAOZ8/nhzlWoYCw4MaZyM7e1g7HBTeMUqPdAE5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Crazy%2BWoman%2BCanyon6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zMbBonZIhDk/X4YFfnBTMrI/AAAAAAAAOZ8/nhzlWoYCw4MaZyM7e1g7HBTeMUqPdAE5wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Crazy%2BWoman%2BCanyon6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nqqxKRr5xPk/X4YGDZbjjjI/AAAAAAAAOaE/mGHfYWgFwh80t8C9YaUrP5K8nCbTZWpgQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Crazy%2BWoman%2BCanyon3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nqqxKRr5xPk/X4YGDZbjjjI/AAAAAAAAOaE/mGHfYWgFwh80t8C9YaUrP5K8nCbTZWpgQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Crazy%2BWoman%2BCanyon3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rdpFuE8gokw/X4YGZhAxARI/AAAAAAAAOaM/AYGuN_i_S644kwZb_U-yIwUxehE0Ori_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Crazy%2BWoman%2BCanyon5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rdpFuE8gokw/X4YGZhAxARI/AAAAAAAAOaM/AYGuN_i_S644kwZb_U-yIwUxehE0Ori_wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Crazy%2BWoman%2BCanyon5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FeyefM-s13k/X4YHsPRBMII/AAAAAAAAOaY/ogBpmd2jtTA8X9JH6cKF46Qmlw1tB12sQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Crazy%2BWoman%2BCanyon7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FeyefM-s13k/X4YHsPRBMII/AAAAAAAAOaY/ogBpmd2jtTA8X9JH6cKF46Qmlw1tB12sQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Crazy%2BWoman%2BCanyon7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The next day we went further up into the mountains. The roads here travel over an area from 7000' to 9000' elevation, and the landscape varies from forest to large, open meadows. This is the view from one of the Forest Service campgrounds we visited:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sJCb11WY4hQ/X4YI-YLBfKI/AAAAAAAAOak/aHVIp-PhwDUaMP0tLBPfoYWmGDcinyKEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2999/Bighorn%2BPanorama.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="2999" height="224" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sJCb11WY4hQ/X4YI-YLBfKI/AAAAAAAAOak/aHVIp-PhwDUaMP0tLBPfoYWmGDcinyKEwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h224/Bighorn%2BPanorama.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Driving to the point as high as we could, we came across this fire lookout tower, closed for the season. The sign in the parking lot said "15 minutes easy walk to tower". At our age, there's nothing easy about a 15 minute walk at 9000' - especially if it's uphill. So we didn't.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E4W9X5wIdsI/X4YJ5_1-gVI/AAAAAAAAOas/KXxSCLk7gE8S_ly7AT8ERU8ADPRv3V7HQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Fire%2BLookout%2BTower.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E4W9X5wIdsI/X4YJ5_1-gVI/AAAAAAAAOas/KXxSCLk7gE8S_ly7AT8ERU8ADPRv3V7HQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Fire%2BLookout%2BTower.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Even at this altitude, there were streams that were still running:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dGL7G4RtPk4/X4YKVBCFHeI/AAAAAAAAOa0/24vsoCnYEdgihp-dgZh9MUmIhtBwViACACLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Big%2BHorn%2BCreek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dGL7G4RtPk4/X4YKVBCFHeI/AAAAAAAAOa0/24vsoCnYEdgihp-dgZh9MUmIhtBwViACACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Big%2BHorn%2BCreek.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And at 8500', Meadowlark Lake probably is a bit cool to go swimming in:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uYFCvGLvjfw/X4YK_8pcBLI/AAAAAAAAOa8/NuyZByYf_rASfckntsjntNykycCbwqIygCLcBGAsYHQ/s1958/Bighorn%2BLake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1958" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uYFCvGLvjfw/X4YK_8pcBLI/AAAAAAAAOa8/NuyZByYf_rASfckntsjntNykycCbwqIygCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Bighorn%2BLake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We were, as always, looking for wildlife, especially moose. Unfortunately, it was hunting season for moose and elk and they were nowhere to be seen. But being in these mountains reminded us of the last time we were here, in the northern section during the spring, when it was too early in the year for the willows to turn green. As a result, moose where grazing in the meadows. We saw this young bull grazing, and because their legs are too long for them to bend over and graze, they get on their knees. As with me, it was the getting back up that was difficult to watch:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EhGW_--LObU/X4YTeXyPsQI/AAAAAAAAObM/dJpY8c4JOAQQGNrQUTZwEH8zp3aH84O5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1183/Kneeling%2BMoose.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="1183" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EhGW_--LObU/X4YTeXyPsQI/AAAAAAAAObM/dJpY8c4JOAQQGNrQUTZwEH8zp3aH84O5gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h424/Kneeling%2BMoose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We're heading for Montana and some new places to visit. We'll be back soon!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-21388304034054171902020-09-22T12:18:00.000-06:002024-03-16T14:18:03.604-06:00On the Road to Familiar Places<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We've finished our third and final year as program hosts at Farragut State Park </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ddH10y-Uuok/X2ovY9rPVBI/AAAAAAAAOSg/mM_mwTRepsUY_mDbJYoKKCHs0zsCW_vNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Brenda%2Band%2BKeith%2Bon%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1638" data-original-width="2048" height="283" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ddH10y-Uuok/X2ovY9rPVBI/AAAAAAAAOSg/mM_mwTRepsUY_mDbJYoKKCHs0zsCW_vNwCLcBGAsYHQ/w353-h283/Brenda%2Band%2BKeith%2Bon%2B2.jpg" width="353" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">and are in South Dakota to renew our driver's licenses. We truly enjoyed our time at Farragut - developing and conducting evening programs was enjoyable and fulfilling, the area was beautiful, and we made lif</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">elong friends. I doubt we'll ever spend a summer in a more enjoyable RV site than those at Farragut. Huge, nicely landscaped, and shaded by Ponderosa and White pine trees. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />Wildlife was abund</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">ant, specially </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">deer and wild turkey. Our neighbor scattered deer corn behind their site each day, and as a result a Whitetail doe and her fawn were frequent visitors as were a small flock of wild turkeys. We watched as the fawn grew larger as the summer went on,</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">and even the turkeys grew into near-adults. While the deer were pretty good about maintaining social distancing, the turkey, being stubborn and not very smart, refused to wear masks or stay six feet apart, a trait unfortunately</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> shared by too many humans.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5C-xMX6mio/X2o0Txoy73I/AAAAAAAAOTc/QGQB1GHJ27oALaAeh2RL22sgvKwwAH84wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Backyard%2BFawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1639" data-original-width="2048" height="345" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5C-xMX6mio/X2o0Txoy73I/AAAAAAAAOTc/QGQB1GHJ27oALaAeh2RL22sgvKwwAH84wCLcBGAsYHQ/w432-h345/Backyard%2BFawn.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jktyFxr7lPU/X2o1PArQbaI/AAAAAAAAOTs/bGYE_HTtwrsx73Kp2s4vd3swhFtukz2YgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1741/Turkeys%2Bin%2Bthe%2BBack%2BYard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="1741" height="290" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jktyFxr7lPU/X2o1PArQbaI/AAAAAAAAOTs/bGYE_HTtwrsx73Kp2s4vd3swhFtukz2YgCLcBGAsYHQ/w427-h290/Turkeys%2Bin%2Bthe%2BBack%2BYard.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our travel to South Dakota took us on a familiar route; I-90 through Idaho and Montana, then US Highway 212 from near the Bighorn Battlefield into South Dakota. An early snowstorm made the the crossing of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestake_Pass" target="_blank">Homesteak Pass</a> near Butte and the mountains around Bozeman seem more like December than September. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UTkB_RRzhHA/X2o3wOH-HhI/AAAAAAAAOT4/ACBUp1i-RvwyFD-AwDscCQM1zMZS2UAeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/Highway%2BCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UTkB_RRzhHA/X2o3wOH-HhI/AAAAAAAAOT4/ACBUp1i-RvwyFD-AwDscCQM1zMZS2UAeQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Highway%2BCollage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> As residents of South Dakota, we need to travel back each five years to renew our driver's licenses. This year, the pandemic required us to make an appointment rather than just visit one of the offices. We chose Spearfish since it's closer than Rapid City and one of our favorite towns. I've often said that if Hollywood was going to make a remake of "The Music Man", Spearfish would be the perfect locale. It's picture perfect Americana with a well preserved downtown, a beautiful and extensive city park, and well kept houses and yards. We stayed at Chris' Camp, a large and busy park just outside of town. </span><p></p><p></p></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We spent two summers (2011 & 2013) here, volunteering at the D.C. Booth Historic Fish Hatchery. During that time, we were able to explore most of the Black Hills, the Badlands, and Devil's Tower. And of course Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse monument:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KhGgmG37Oyo/X2o6muKpIDI/AAAAAAAAOUE/om9VRWB7eig5NfTEYWua8HHslz7dNbzSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s864/Rushmore%2BView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KhGgmG37Oyo/X2o6muKpIDI/AAAAAAAAOUE/om9VRWB7eig5NfTEYWua8HHslz7dNbzSgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Rushmore%2BView.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C8ExDEbbXzU/X2o6uAmQXPI/AAAAAAAAOUI/ck1xllpmNqwTw0s991Q_eENp7MO6tzo9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s864/Crazy%2BHorse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C8ExDEbbXzU/X2o6uAmQXPI/AAAAAAAAOUI/ck1xllpmNqwTw0s991Q_eENp7MO6tzo9QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Crazy%2BHorse.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I doubt there's any place in America that has such a diverse beauty within a 100 miles radius. From the green forests of the Black Hills, it's not far to the Badlands National Monument with what looks like the surface of another planet, and in the other direction is the eruption from the forest of Devil's Tower.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AwUw_O7soss/X2o8iMM2kcI/AAAAAAAAOUY/k8kpUmT0Shg6iOdBPfzV1uZIOcYft7mTACLcBGAsYHQ/s864/Badlands%2BView5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AwUw_O7soss/X2o8iMM2kcI/AAAAAAAAOUY/k8kpUmT0Shg6iOdBPfzV1uZIOcYft7mTACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Badlands%2BView5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TzGjIGwryf0/X2o8qd4K0XI/AAAAAAAAOUc/1exZVXY9DgI7T1hiNX6IA2ApenAjEqYAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s864/Devil%2527s%2BTower%2Bw%2Bflag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TzGjIGwryf0/X2o8qd4K0XI/AAAAAAAAOUc/1exZVXY9DgI7T1hiNX6IA2ApenAjEqYAgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Devil%2527s%2BTower%2Bw%2Bflag.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There is a lot of beauty in the Black Hills, but of all the sights, our favorite is Sylvan Lake; it has a magical look of serenity and calm.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s3UDW3oKMfU/X2o9U3cWgLI/AAAAAAAAOUo/Ew24JfQ5W6kKY8_rM-0q_MnI3KMOI1JPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1075/Sylvan%2BLake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="1075" height="286" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s3UDW3oKMfU/X2o9U3cWgLI/AAAAAAAAOUo/Ew24JfQ5W6kKY8_rM-0q_MnI3KMOI1JPQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h286/Sylvan%2BLake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We've been here longer than expected due to a problem with the hydraulic pump on our motorhome, but it's been repaired and we're ready to travel again. We'll leave you with this image that reminds me of what has been our main activity during this pandemic:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f_-1Xic4m_I/X2o-pmLBiHI/AAAAAAAAOU0/HqqdDxnjD8I-4WPFXgWxufMaC_y7B1B-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1183/Prarie%2BDog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="1183" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f_-1Xic4m_I/X2o-pmLBiHI/AAAAAAAAOU0/HqqdDxnjD8I-4WPFXgWxufMaC_y7B1B-ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h424/Prarie%2BDog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We'll be traveling to new territory soon, so check back!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-84293460585462767372020-07-16T13:48:00.000-06:002024-03-16T14:14:33.353-06:00A Different Kind of Summer<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We're back at our summer spot </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">at Northern Idaho's Farragut State Park </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">where we're the "interpretive" hosts . This year things are a bit different due to the COVID-19 pandemic - but more of that later.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We left Bandon at the end of May and headed for Medford to take in some shopping. The Oregon coast has been largely unaffected by the virus; less than 40 cases in our county to date. In Medford stores were open, and we were able to get our first haircut in three months...whoohoo! From Medford we traveled east to the small town of Lakeview, then turned north on Hwy 395. This took us to the little town of John Day, a historic town and home to the <a href="https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/culture-history/historic-sites-oregon-trail/grants-getaways-kam-wah-chung/">Kam Wah Chung</a> historic site, which tells the history of Chinese miners that once lived here. Further north, we traveled over forested mountains and valleys that were breathtakingly beautiful. We finally hit interstate 84 at Pendleton, and from there it was a familiar, if boring, trip into Spokane and finally Coeur d'alene, and a bit farther, Farragut State Park. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We're back in our spot in the volunteer row, away from the </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">camping areas and under the pines. The sites are huge and nicely landscaped. Only one of the six sites is occupied by a first time volunteer, the others are all friends from last year. On volunteer row there are "kiosk hosts" that check campers and visitors in to the park, "cabin hosts", that clean rental cabins, and "relief hosts" that fill in for campground hosts on their day off. We've all been very busy; the park is full every day, with campers, beach goers, boat launches, hikers, bikers, and disk golf players everywhere. The park is normally a favorite of Canadians, with close to 50% of the sites occupied by our northern visitors. This year the border is still closed to them, but the slack has been taken up by locals and travelers. This has resulted in more children, since most of the Canadians were adult couples. We've seen more families with children this year, and our program attendance is significantly higher.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The six couples on volunteer row enjoy getting together for the slightest reason. We usually have a weekly ice cream social, and during our daughter's visit they all stopped by to share in some birthday cake and ice cream.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">June is our family's birthday month, and our daughter Kim and her husband Bill were able to visit for a few days. We had beautiful weather during their stay and were able to do some touristy things. They rented a pontoon boat on Lake Pend Oreille and we spent a great day cruising the shoreline and admiring the waterfront houses. One was a spectacular sight, the "Castle Von Frandsen". Still under construction, the 8000' square foot castle was built with over a million pounds of imported stone and can be yours for only $6.5 million. And you'll still have to finish the interior!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lake Pend Oreille is huge - 43 miles long with 111 miles of shoreline. At it's deepest, the lake is close to 1200' deep and so the water temperature on the day we cruised was 58 - although it didn't keep people from water skiing and tubing. We stayed close to shore to avoid open water and wind, enjoying the views and watching other boats and even a bit of floatplane activity. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Continuing our tour of area lakes, we took a cruise on Lake Coeur d'alene, Idaho's second largest lake with 135 miles of shoreline, much of it covered with expensive homes. The number and grandeur of the homes on the lakefront is impressive; there must be more money on display than many third-world countries. Cruising the shoreline, there was a never ending line of million-dollar homes:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The city of Coeur d'alene is a busy vacation spot this time of year, with most activity centered around the resort built near the city center. Here are where the boat cruises, floatplane rides, and parasail rides are based, along with a large city park and beach. From the water view, it's an impressive area:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The lake is busy, and on this day we were surrounded by parasail boats, skiers, tubers, and kayakers. The floatplane pictured here was returning from a tour; tragically, it was involved in a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/05/us/idaho-plane-collision-coeur-dalene-lake/index.html">mid-air collision</a> with another plane just a week later. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We're been busy with evening programs four nights a week, and this year, largely because of the lack of Canadian visitors, we're seeing more families. We're still relatively unaffected by the COVID pandemic, but are watching the numbers closely and taking every precaution possible. Wherever you are, we hope that you're staying healthy and enjoying the summer! Thanks for checking in!</span>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-46340006295446803912020-05-21T20:49:00.000-06:002024-03-16T14:14:37.158-06:00Time to Travel<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">Like many of you, we've been "sheltering in place" here in Bandon, Oregon. It hasn't been much of a hardship, as we're in a nice RV park, and have a small town for essentials and an amazing beach to walk. We've had very few cases of COVID-19 here; none within 25 miles and only a few dozen (thanks to a correctional facility) in our largest city (Coos Bay) to the North. Face masks, disinfectant wipes, and gloves have become a natural part of our wardrobe. But the time has come to head to Northern Idaho and Farragut State Park for our third year as program hosts. It will be a challenge to conduct programs using "social distancing", but we're willing to give it a try. Just to be safe, we're taking a route on U.S highways instead of interstates and traveling through lightly populated areas until reaching Coeur d'alene. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">We'll miss the coast and the many things it has to offer. Some of the memories of our summers here are worth reposting since the pictures were taken a few years ago. As always, stuff that's good to eat comes first to mind, and we'll miss the pick-your-own blueberries and abundant blackberries. Blackberry bushes are everywhere, and these are the "Himalayan" blackberries that grow large and sweet. There are also thimbleberries, wild strawberries, and my favorite, huckleberries in the fall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And ahhh....the crab! When we lived on Chesapeake Bay, I was a big fan of Blue Crab. But then I discovered Dungeness Crab and I realized the error of my ways. Fat, sweet, and plentiful in the local waters, it only takes a few to make a meal. From catching them in a trap to serving them on the table is a labor of love:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The park we stay in is less than a mile from the ocean and we've enjoyed walking the beach and exploring the tide pools during low tide. Tide pools are a fascinating and colorful world of strange life - from the ever-changing Giant Sea Anemone to the bright Purple Sea Urchin and strange Gumboot Chiton, every tide brings a different pallet of colors:</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Purple Urchin, Ochre Sea Star, Gumboot Chiton, Purple Shore Crab, and Giant Green Sea Anemone</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bandon is the home of Face Rock, an unusual offshore rock or "sea stack" that eerily resembles a face looking up at the sky. The legend of Face Rock tells of a young Indian princess named Ewauna from and inland </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">tribe, who while visiting the coast was told not to swim the in the ocean lest the evil spirit Seatka capture her. One night, while the tribes feasted and drank, Ewauna decided to visit the ocean and swam far out from the shore. Seatka, laying in waiting, seized her and demanded that she look at his face, for his power lay in his eyes. She defiantly refused, saying that she never would, keeping her face to the friendly moon. The next morning the tribe realized she was missing and searched everywhere for her, and when the morning mist cleared they saw the beautiful face of Ewana smiling up at the white clouds. Where she remains today. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I was intrigued and amused by the legend....and then one day after taking some pictures of a winter storm I noticed something strange in the waves. Images of the princess? Or the evil spirit? Spooky!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And speaking of spooky.....Brenda and I have been binge-watching really bad horror movies on Amazon. One of our favorites (right up there with "The Crawling Eye") is "From Hell it Came", the riveting story of a native prince who was wrongly murdered by a rival and returned to life as a......tree! A horrible, murderous, bloodthirsty tree! Named Tabonga!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And then one recent day, while driving up a lonely mountain road, we came around a corner and there.....stood....Tabonga!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In the interest of public safety, we will not reveal the location of Tabonga. Unless a bribe is offered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">That's it for now. We'll be traveling soon through some new places so we're hoping to see some interesting sights. Until then, we'll say goodbye to the coast for now. </span></div>
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DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-87086067866722080882020-04-04T14:38:00.000-06:002024-03-16T14:14:40.282-06:00Sheltering in Place is for the Birds!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like most of you, we're "sheltering in place" at our favorite park on the Oregon Coast. State parks, hiking trails, wildlife refuges....all the places we enjoy visiting are closed and so we have time to relax and reflect on our lives. Looking back, entering the full time lifestyle and volunteering was an opportunity for us to do something new and learn about facets of nature that we never had the time to do in our working lives. One of the first thing we learned to enjoy was "birding". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When we started our first day at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge we asked what our duties would be in the visitor center. "Answer questions about the birds and ducks" we were told. That was a pretty frightening order to two people who, when it came to birds knew there were Robins....and all others, and when it came to ducks, Mallards.....and all others. But we found learning to be a challenge we enjoyed, and eventually became fairly knowledgeable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of our favorite birds often caused us to be uncomfortable; a visitor would come in after walking the trails </span><br />
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and ask "I saw a bird on the trail....about the size and color of a blackbird, but with a yellow head...what was it". Of course the answer is "a yellow-headed Blackbird", which was usually received with a "oh I see, making fun of the visitor" look. I became a favorite of ours, not only because of it's appearance, but of it's strange <a href="https://www.audubon.org/sites/default/files/YEHEBL_3.songsnum3_UTkc_1.mp3?uuid=5e83ace04b88f">song</a>. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-winged Blackbird</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Although common, another favorite is the Red-winged Blackbird. In mating colors it's a beautiful bird to watch, but what enthralls us is their trilling song in the reeds on an evening walk. Coupled with the Yellow-headed Blackbird, it's a magical chorus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the refuge we had the opportunity to participate in bird banding. When I first heard the term, I visualized a group of marching birds with horns and tubas....but it wasn't that kind of bird band. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Instead, we met at the crack of dawn in a wooded area that had "mist nets" (almost invisible) set up. Birds were ensnared, placed in soft cloth bags, and examined/weighed/sampled and asked to fill out a customer</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bullock's Oriole</td></tr>
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survey. I may have that last part wrong. But what the experience showed us was the close-up beauty of these amazing little creatures. One of the most colorful was the Bullock's Oriole - the bright orange and yellow can't be appreciated from a distance. Another is the <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQV9CHnoLEk/XoP7BUB0oGI/AAAAAAAAOEQ/-R5KNGIAUzw6B1AKA_g0XmV7enOCDNo1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Waxwing%252C%2BCedar2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQV9CHnoLEk/XoP7BUB0oGI/AAAAAAAAOEQ/-R5KNGIAUzw6B1AKA_g0XmV7enOCDNo1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Waxwing%252C%2BCedar2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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Cedar Waxwing, with a tail that looks as if it's been dipped in yellow paint. Brenda was given the job of releasing a Cedar Waxwing, but it refused to fly away. Instead, it had a grip in her fingers and proceeded to peck away at her hand, all the time chirping what I believe were Waxwing obscenities. Finally, it was satisfied that Brenda had learned her lesson and it flew away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While volunteering at the Nature Conservancy's Sonoita-</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Preserve in Southern Arizona we had the chance to see a number of birds, some, like the Rufus-backed Robin were rare and coveted by true birders - but not all that great to look at (think Robin with more red). But some of the more common birds were striking, like this Pyrrhuloxia I found in the Hackberry limbs.</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also at the Nature Preserve were a pair of Vermilion Flycatchers that would hang around the small trees near the visitor center. We couldn't imagine a better welcoming committee for visitors that these brightly colored beauties.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes you find a bird that just doesn't look right. We found this Red Crossbill in New Mexico's Sacramento Mountains. My first thought was that it needed to see an avian orthodontist. Turns out it's supposed to look that way and the crossed beak is helpful in digging out seeds from conifers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tropical</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> birds seem to be more colorful than most, and this Green Jay </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">that we spotted in the Rio Grande Valley was a good example. We were visiting the San Bernard Wildlife refuge and saw this Jay complete with red berry to complete the color palette.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While volunteering at the Desert National Wildlife Refuge in Southern Nevada, the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Phainopepla, often called the "black Cardinal". It was very common here, feeding on the berries of the Mistletoe growing in the mesquite trees. Unfortunately, the berry seeds aren't digested, and after being passed through the bird, they stick to the tree branches and grow....more mistletoe. It can overwhelm the tree's ability to get enough water and eventually kill it. Regrettably, the Phainopepla are notoriously difficult to potty train.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And finally, the Nature Preserve was close to the Mexican border and in the spring we were treated to dozens of Hummingbirds as they started their spring migration. Our three two-quart feeders would be emptied each day by these hungry little guys...and oh my, the dogfights!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-70924558037199256722020-02-23T19:58:00.006-07:002024-03-16T14:14:44.106-06:00King Tides and Back Road Travels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Winter on the Southern Oregon Coast is a time of rain, wind, and frequent displays of nature's fury. Almost every day's forecast contains a warning of dangerous beach conditions, hazardous seas, and small craft warnings. This is also the time for King Tides, which occur because the northern hemisphere is at it's closest to the moon. The constant struggle between the earth and moon's gravity always creates tides, but we've had high tides over 9' above mean sea level, tides that obliterated beaches, stacked huge logs against bluffs and onto parking lots, and rearranged beaches and tidal rivers. At the Face Rock overlook, the face of the princess looking skyward seemed to be sinking. Views that normally included beaches were now water covered, and the Coquille River Jetty was battered with waves. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XFP1AN47bgg/XlMdd3I3aLI/AAAAAAAAN8g/6SY0MUfd14Ypsa39dHEE5c9dkh_tY6fKwCEwYBhgL/s1600/King%2BTide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XFP1AN47bgg/XlMdd3I3aLI/AAAAAAAAN8g/6SY0MUfd14Ypsa39dHEE5c9dkh_tY6fKwCEwYBhgL/s640/King%2BTide1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Coquille River North Jetty</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Days of warmer temperatures bring fog, giving the area a surreal look. We visited the sand dunes near Winchester Bay where there weren't any dune buggies on this damp, dreary day.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Djou6TPfQKE/XlMg3ppb8jI/AAAAAAAAN9Q/s8_KNHfKKcIfhAl7QGDvHN-cSXeQQOF9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Foggy%2BDunes2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Djou6TPfQKE/XlMg3ppb8jI/AAAAAAAAN9Q/s8_KNHfKKcIfhAl7QGDvHN-cSXeQQOF9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Foggy%2BDunes2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We've spent some time volunteering for US Fish & Wildlife; using spotting scopes to show visitors the marine mammals on Simpson Reef near Charleston. This time of year the activity is slow compared to the summer when there are between 2000 and 5000 seals and sea lions on the reef. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shell Island on Simpson Reef at Low Tide</td></tr>
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On the Oregon Coast, every offshore rock, over 1800 of them, are designated as a national wildlife refuge to protect wildlife breeding grounds. Although signs are posted and advise to remain clear, there's always someone who feels that they're entitled to trespass. One one of our trips this year, we watched this group of one male and four females as they tromped over mussels and barnacles while they explored the reef. They weren't very smart, since they forgot that the low tide allowed them access....but wouldn't stay very long. When they tried to return to the beach they realized the water was almost waist deep - and was around 50 degrees. We watched, along with our visitors, as the man rolled up his pants, hoisted up a woman on his back, and carried them to the shore one at a time. I have to admit, we were all secretly hoping they'd spend more time on the reef and would have to pay for a Coast Guard rescue.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trespassers </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You would think that an area as beautiful as the Southern Oregon coast would be crowded with people. And yet it isn't, and the population decreases every year. The reduction in commercial fishing and overseas lumber demand has stalled the economy and jobs are hard to find. In fact, the area south of Coos Bay to the Oregon Coast is one of the least populated areas in the country. Only one highway (101) runs North/South, and only two highways run east to the I-5 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EXLWkaoN2Sg/XlMw-hFUSsI/AAAAAAAAN9w/va6jquKsHk0B-TtWNqFefSKxfUzI2fbbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Oregon%2BPopulation%2BDensity.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1600" height="306" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EXLWkaoN2Sg/XlMw-hFUSsI/AAAAAAAAN9w/va6jquKsHk0B-TtWNqFefSKxfUzI2fbbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Oregon%2BPopulation%2BDensity.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">corridor. East of highway 101 the coastal range is not much more than rugged forest owned by lumber companies and the Forest Service. There are roads along the rivers that run into the Pacific, but not many, and driving them gives you an idea of what the area looked like in the late 19th and early 20th century. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We drove up the Smith River into a green valley that was once populated by dairy farms. It's a perfect place to raise cattle - year around green grass and mild temperatures. Farmers built dikes to hold back the river and built docks for the steam ships to stop and pick up their milk. There were scheduled trip up and down the river ferrying people, mail, and visible on the decks, milk cans. Today, the dairy farms are gone and in place are beef cattle roaming the meadows. But the remnants of the farming days are there in abandoned barns and pilings along the river.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IXQqSNBdkDo/XlM0g5XMPSI/AAAAAAAAN-E/uuekduIZPAYqLKoliu-UQldSKwYsZy6bgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Oregon%2Bhistory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="474" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IXQqSNBdkDo/XlM0g5XMPSI/AAAAAAAAN-E/uuekduIZPAYqLKoliu-UQldSKwYsZy6bgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Oregon%2Bhistory.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In these sheltered valleys Elk are almost as common as cattle, and we saw quite a few on this trip:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On another day we took a trip to Loon Lake, a popular lake tucked back in the mountains about nine miles from the Umpqua River. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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It's a beautiful lake, with a large resort area and BLM campground. Driving beyond the lake, we once again entered an area of old farms and what was once the town of Ash Valley. There's nothing left of the town except the old school, built in 1928 and that looks like it's being renovated into a home:</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ash Valley School</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> There are seemingly endless roads back into the mountains here. Although this isn't the prettiest time of the year, driving down the roads flanked by moss-covered Red Alder, without seeing another soul for hours is an experience that can't be had duplicated in many places.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We'll be leaving the coast soon and exploring new areas, so check back!</span>DNPChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314232896329422808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001073.post-61361669280939143472020-01-21T14:56:00.001-07:002024-03-16T14:14:45.765-06:002019 - The Year in Review<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2019 marked our 14th year on the road. It was another memorable year, starting at the Desert National Wildlife Refuge just outside of Las Vegas. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Our Site</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We spent January and February there, and although it was a beautiful place with great people, the weather was miserable. Snow, howling wind, cold temperatures, howling wind, and even more howling wind. We acted as caretakers during the government shutdown, greeted visitors, and managed a few trips into the back country. With over 1.5 million acres of desert, mountains, and forest there was plenty to explore.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peek-A-Boo Canyon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring Mountains View From Our Site</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Leaving Las Vegas, we drove west into California, then north along I-5 for a return trip to Bandon, our favorite stop on the Oregon Coast. We stayed there until early May when we made our way back to Farragut State Park to spend the summer as the program hosts. Farragut has become our park of choice; the best host sites, host coordinator, and fellow hosts of any park we've been to over the years. We had a great time leading school hikes, teaching junior ranger classes, and putting on programs for campers on the weekends. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ck1_mWRY4co/XidmQBjMeTI/AAAAAAAAN5U/d3d3i4WPUCkz6pFpL7v07ZUtX69LLMcYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Kids%2Bwith%2BMoose%2BHats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ck1_mWRY4co/XidmQBjMeTI/AAAAAAAAN5U/d3d3i4WPUCkz6pFpL7v07ZUtX69LLMcYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Kids%2Bwith%2BMoose%2BHats.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moose Day at Junior Rangers Station</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">School Hike</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making Sailor Hats</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Program Amphitheater</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We Farragut in late September, and had planned to visit friends in Montana and then explore Idaho's Sawtooth Range. But weather didn't cooperate, and to avoid the cold and snow we headed instead to the Tri-Cities are of Southern Washington. There, we enjoyed a week exploring hop fields and small towns.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hop Frames</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toppinish Wall Murals</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Leaving the Tri-Cites, we headed for Pendleton, Oregon from where we could visit the town of Joseph and the Wallowa Mountains. We'd never been, and were so impressed with the beauty of the area that we promised ourselves we'd make a return trip.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chief Joseph Grave</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wallowa Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joseph, OR</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a quick visit to Boise, we headed west across Oregon to have some work done on our motor home in the Medford area. Our trip took across the high desert and stop in Bend, then over the mountains and down into the I-5 corridor where fall colors were still evident.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near Crater Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rogue River State Park<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally, we were back in Bandon, in time for our annual medical and dental appointments. The beauty of the coast here never fails to amaze us, and on the cold days we can sit in our favorite restaurant and comfortably enjoy the view.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We'll be starting our 2020 travels soon, so check back with us to see what we're up to! Remember, you can always contact us if you'd like more information on a location that we've visited - we're happy to help!</span></div>
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