Hello, Friends!
Several folks have been asking why no blog yet this summer since we've been in Oregon. It was Ben's responsibility for the short time we are here, and we are heading back to Mexico on Sunday October 7th. I can just say "he's been really busy".... vacationing! So, because there is a "need to know" just what we've been doing with ourselves on our short Oregon vacation, here's Harriet's version!
The good news is, we found a "new" truck! Hooray! It's a 2011 Ford F350 4x4 with a 6.7 diesel engine. We got a good deal, and a good trade in on our old red truck. We also got a good price on a used canopy, and Ben is very happy with his new purchase. We bought it from South Commercial Auto Sales in Salem, as recommended by a friend who buys his trucks from them. The purchase of this new truck was one of the main reasons we decided to come to Oregon this summer...and we are glad we did!
We haven't been too far out and about. We traveled to Eugene and Salem, visiting friends and family on our short time there. There was an impromptu Purkey reunion for a morning while we were in Eugene. It was good to see all Ben's brother's and sisters-in-law.
Since we were close, we walked down the road and visited the grave sites of Ben's parents at West Point Cemetery, where my Malpass Grandparents and Young Great-Grandparents are also buried.
This is my father's parents, John and Hazel. The H in her middle name is for "Harriet". She lived 92 years! Grandpa died when my Dad, the oldest of 6 sons, was 13.
My Uncle Dave Malpass is the most recent addition to the cemetery. He passed last December. Notice the little John Deere tractors on his grave. Appropriate, since he was a farmer for many, many years. He was the youngest of the 6 brothers, and the last surviving.
In Salem, we visited with several friends who wined and dined us nicely! Thanks Paula and Dan, and George and Carolyn. George and Carolyn also gave us a place to park our trailer for a few days when the RV park ran out of spaces. We hit up our favorite thrift stores in the area, and bought some fresh fruit (peaches and apples) at Olson Orchards.
When we went back to the Bend area, we did a day trip with Ben's brother Ken and wife Bea to the balancing rocks near Lake Billy Chinook. It's always fun to see these rocks, and it's a miracle they're still balancing!
Its a beautiful spot with Mt. Jefferson and Lake Billy Chinook making great backdrops!
Then, we finally took a long awaited camping trip to Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge, one of our favorite places to visit in Oregon. George and Carolyn went with us, too. To start out our trip, we managed to get a reservation at the Cowboy Dinner Tree in Silver Lake. (That way, we had enough food for several days after!) A local rancher had this set of horses available for carriage rides at the restaurant when we got there. (No, we didn't go for a ride!)
We got our favorite camping spot at Hart Mountain, and set up our camp. The dogs all love it there. They are mostly leash-less, and generally stay close to camp. They did get a bit grassy, however!
Several folks have been asking why no blog yet this summer since we've been in Oregon. It was Ben's responsibility for the short time we are here, and we are heading back to Mexico on Sunday October 7th. I can just say "he's been really busy".... vacationing! So, because there is a "need to know" just what we've been doing with ourselves on our short Oregon vacation, here's Harriet's version!
The good news is, we found a "new" truck! Hooray! It's a 2011 Ford F350 4x4 with a 6.7 diesel engine. We got a good deal, and a good trade in on our old red truck. We also got a good price on a used canopy, and Ben is very happy with his new purchase. We bought it from South Commercial Auto Sales in Salem, as recommended by a friend who buys his trucks from them. The purchase of this new truck was one of the main reasons we decided to come to Oregon this summer...and we are glad we did!
We haven't been too far out and about. We traveled to Eugene and Salem, visiting friends and family on our short time there. There was an impromptu Purkey reunion for a morning while we were in Eugene. It was good to see all Ben's brother's and sisters-in-law. Since we were close, we walked down the road and visited the grave sites of Ben's parents at West Point Cemetery, where my Malpass Grandparents and Young Great-Grandparents are also buried.
My Uncle Dave Malpass is the most recent addition to the cemetery. He passed last December. Notice the little John Deere tractors on his grave. Appropriate, since he was a farmer for many, many years. He was the youngest of the 6 brothers, and the last surviving.
In Salem, we visited with several friends who wined and dined us nicely! Thanks Paula and Dan, and George and Carolyn. George and Carolyn also gave us a place to park our trailer for a few days when the RV park ran out of spaces. We hit up our favorite thrift stores in the area, and bought some fresh fruit (peaches and apples) at Olson Orchards.
When we went back to the Bend area, we did a day trip with Ben's brother Ken and wife Bea to the balancing rocks near Lake Billy Chinook. It's always fun to see these rocks, and it's a miracle they're still balancing!
Its a beautiful spot with Mt. Jefferson and Lake Billy Chinook making great backdrops!
Then, we finally took a long awaited camping trip to Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge, one of our favorite places to visit in Oregon. George and Carolyn went with us, too. To start out our trip, we managed to get a reservation at the Cowboy Dinner Tree in Silver Lake. (That way, we had enough food for several days after!) A local rancher had this set of horses available for carriage rides at the restaurant when we got there. (No, we didn't go for a ride!)
We took a drive around the park one day, and counted over 100 antelope!
The hot springs were lovely, as usual. And the people you meet there! You hear some pretty interesting stories!
The lakes below Hart Mountain were again very full this year. It made a pretty scene coming down off the mountain! The road was very wash-boardy this year. Made for a pretty miserable ride, and we think that caused our camp trailer to get a broken leaf spring on the axle. 😕 That will be repaired tomorrow.
Ben and Carolyn took some time to do some rock-hounding several days, so Ben will be bringing home a box of rocks to play with this winter.
We are 99% packed, after trailer repairs on Friday, we will haul the trailer to it's winter parking spot at Tygh Valley (about 70 miles north of here) on Saturday, and we will leave for Baja on Sunday.
Our dogs, minus Molly on the left, are ready to travel, but they have enjoyed the green grass and cooler weather. (Brrrr....it's freezing here!) 😉
I am looking forward to cuddling with Olivia when we get back. She's growing up quickly!
Until the next time,
Your traveling in style friends,
Harriet & Ben, Sam & Zoey
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