We're back!
It has been a crazy summer in many ways. Like I said last time, we make plans, and something comes along to change them. I guess it's a good thing that we are pretty flexible.
I'll finish up on our "cross country" trip news. I left off with us in Montana at our friends' cabin near St. Regis. We left there and headed for Missoula, MT and the Lolo Pass. FYI, that is the pass that Lewis and Clark used when they were headed west. It's a beautiful area with a lovely creek beside the road and lots of fishermen. Further down the road in Idaho, we went through a town (Riggins, I think) along side the Salmon River that reminded us of Maupin, Oregon, which is a very popular rafting destination on the Deschutes River. Riggins is also a jump off point for rafting tours in Hell's Canyon on the Snake River.
It was a long day, but we finally got to Zim's Hot Springs near New Meadows, Idaho. The hot springs were perfect, the facilities were fine for one night, and we woke up to a lovely foggy sunrise...and the fog burned right off.
It looks like the Hot Springs are contributing to the foggy conditions a bit!
That day we wanted to get to Frenchglen, Oregon, so we took off and compared diesel prices as we went...mostly high. So we got about a quarter tank in New Meadow. We were planning on filling up in Ontario, but somehow, Ontario got passed us, and we were on Hwy 20 heading to Burns. We saw a sign that said "next fuel 63 miles", and said to ourselves "sure hope they have diesel!" Well, by the time that 63 miles had gone by, our fuel alarm was going off and we were running on fumes! We don't get very good mileage when we're pulling that trailer. Ugh. We rolled into the little whistle stop of Buchanan, and hallelujah, they had diesel! We were willing to spend any price to get enough fuel to get us into Burns. We filled up the tank in Burns (20 miles away), and replenished our groceries, then headed out to Frenchglen.
We spent a couple days at the RV park near Frenchglen, and did a "half" tour of the Steens Mountain Loop road; we just drove to the top and returned the same way. As usual, the views are stunning, the wildflowers abundant, and the birds soaring! We also drove to the big town of Diamond (population 3) to the Diamond Hotel for breakfast.
A couple signs I saw in the hotel gift shop at Diamond.
Anyhow, we'd put a shovel full at a time on the screen, wet it down, and paw through for the sunstones.
The photo below shows all the ones we found.
It has been a crazy summer in many ways. Like I said last time, we make plans, and something comes along to change them. I guess it's a good thing that we are pretty flexible.
I'll finish up on our "cross country" trip news. I left off with us in Montana at our friends' cabin near St. Regis. We left there and headed for Missoula, MT and the Lolo Pass. FYI, that is the pass that Lewis and Clark used when they were headed west. It's a beautiful area with a lovely creek beside the road and lots of fishermen. Further down the road in Idaho, we went through a town (Riggins, I think) along side the Salmon River that reminded us of Maupin, Oregon, which is a very popular rafting destination on the Deschutes River. Riggins is also a jump off point for rafting tours in Hell's Canyon on the Snake River.
It was a long day, but we finally got to Zim's Hot Springs near New Meadows, Idaho. The hot springs were perfect, the facilities were fine for one night, and we woke up to a lovely foggy sunrise...and the fog burned right off.
It looks like the Hot Springs are contributing to the foggy conditions a bit!
That day we wanted to get to Frenchglen, Oregon, so we took off and compared diesel prices as we went...mostly high. So we got about a quarter tank in New Meadow. We were planning on filling up in Ontario, but somehow, Ontario got passed us, and we were on Hwy 20 heading to Burns. We saw a sign that said "next fuel 63 miles", and said to ourselves "sure hope they have diesel!" Well, by the time that 63 miles had gone by, our fuel alarm was going off and we were running on fumes! We don't get very good mileage when we're pulling that trailer. Ugh. We rolled into the little whistle stop of Buchanan, and hallelujah, they had diesel! We were willing to spend any price to get enough fuel to get us into Burns. We filled up the tank in Burns (20 miles away), and replenished our groceries, then headed out to Frenchglen.
We spent a couple days at the RV park near Frenchglen, and did a "half" tour of the Steens Mountain Loop road; we just drove to the top and returned the same way. As usual, the views are stunning, the wildflowers abundant, and the birds soaring! We also drove to the big town of Diamond (population 3) to the Diamond Hotel for breakfast. 
Continental breakfast at Diamond.
Then it was on to Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge, where it is dry camping all the way...except for the hot springs! There is no electricity, only a few spots near the headquarters where you can get spotty cell service, and obviously, no wifi! We managed, however, and did see a lot of Antelope (actually Pronghorn). We didn't see many on our normal loop drive, because they all seem to be hanging around the headquarters area. We did see deer and a lone coyote, though.
After a couple days at Hart Mountain, we loaded up and went to Oregon's Sunstone area, about 20 miles north of Plush. There we paid $200 to go through a little less than a yard of rock to search for those sparkly gems. Phew! It was HOT. We did manage to find a good amount, and a few really pretty ones. Ben says next time, he'll be sure to take more than a gallon of gas for our generator. The trailer was cooking that night, and we could have used some AC!
Anyhow, we'd put a shovel full at a time on the screen, wet it down, and paw through for the sunstones. The photo below shows all the ones we found.
This is the sunset the night we mined for sunstones. The color was from a fire very near Paisley, Oregon. It made for a beautiful sunset!
We got back to Bend in time for the annual Purkey reunion, and did at least one trip with the family to the Metolious River. I can't believe I don't have a picture of the entire family! This is at the fish hatchery near the Metolious, where we had a picnic.
This is a falls, about 2 miles from the hatchery. Ben and I drove around and took the shorter 1/2 mile hike to the falls so we could pick up the other folks who did the longer hike. The water just comes gushing out of the hill. It is an amazing spot. The river is fast and deep and clear, and this just adds to the overall beauty.
After that, it was a few more medical appointments and changed plans due to Ben's Moh's surgery for Basal Cell cancer on his face. We finally did get to visit most of the folks we promised we'd visit, including our friends Debi and Sandy who have a neat place near Cathlamet, WA. In the photo below, Ben is teaching Debi how to fillet a tuna (which we bought in Astoria). Delicious!
We even manged to spend about 4 days in Salem (first time this summer) to visit friends. Sorry we missed so many of you. We'll try to do better next summer.
That's it... you're caught up with us. This weekend we will be going to the Pendleton Roundup, and hopefully next week we will do some more camping with our friends George and Carolyn. Then it will be time to pack up, put the trailer away, and head south! It is getting COLD here in Bend.
Don't forget to plan your Baja vacation! We'd love to see you on the other side of the wall!
Zoey is still recovering, although still wobbly. Gotta love her!
Your friends who are starting to get cold!
Harriet, Ben, Sam & Zoey
