Hello Friends!
It has been over a month since we sent out our last post, so I felt it was time to do it again since a few of you are starting to ask... "where in the world are you?" ... or ... "are you going to come see us this year?" .... or .... "when are you going back to Baja?" OK, we'll update you with where we've been, where we hope to go and when! It seems like whenever we make plans this summer, something comes along to change them. So we are trying to learn to be flexible!
Easiest question to answer first: we almost always start back to Baja on October 1, and it will be the same this year. (Lord willing and the creek don't rise...and it is raining a LOT in Baja. No hurricanes yet, just a lot of summer rain.)
Where are we? Right now we are parked in Ben's brother's driveway between Bend and Sisters, Oregon. The annual Purkey family reunion just ended this morning, and we were going to head out, too, to Salem, but that got delayed. Ben had some Mohs surgery yesterday (Basel cell skin cancer) on his upper lip, and decided since he is not supposed to talk much, and to eat soft foods, and be close to the doctor's office if needed, to just stay here for a few more days. On Monday we plan to drive (trailer-less) to our friend's home in Washington near Cathlamet. We'll spend 3 days with them, and then drive back here so Ben can have his sutures out on Thursday. After Labor Day weekend, we WILL go back to Salem and visit friends there who we've neglected all summer. The next week is the Pendleton Roundup (mid September), and then we'll have several weeks in September to wind things down, put the trailer away and pack up.
Where have we been? Not sure if I can remember all the places, but I'll try! We left our daughter Rebecca and her family at the farm in Harrisburg in mid-July and headed to Bend for some medical appointments for Ben. It was tough to leave these kids! They are a great bunch, and we're proud to call them our grandkids! They are now back in the Middle East for another year.
We started our official "camping road trip" the end of July when we camped with our friends Tom and Pauline at the Crooked River Ranch RV park near Terrebonne. It's a very pretty place and quite popular with golfers as there's an 18 hole course there. The RV park and golf course are on a mesa, and the river is over the edge in this canyon! Way down there!!
We took a day tour to Smith Rocks and hiked around the area (not up on the cliffs, or the trail UP the mountain). We did see quite a few rock climbers doing their thing. That is also the Crooked River running through Smith Rocks park.
Several days later, we camped on the Crooked River near Prineville. This is a beautiful area with numerous BLM parks in which to camp, and we selected one right by the river.
We don't have Oregon fishing licenses, so we just sat and enjoyed the view.
After spending a few days with cousins John and Allyson in Prineville, we headed north-east to Walla Walla. No matter how you go to get there, you're going to see a lot of wheat fields and a lot of power generating windmills.
You see the same thing north of Walla Walla! Those rolling hills are full of wheat fields, and if you roll far enough, you will probably come across the Snake River!
Our destination north of Walla Walla was the cabin of our friends Jim and Pat, near St. Regis, Montana. Fortunately, it is located in western Montana!
Jim took us on several hikes, including this shorter one next to the Clark Fork River. We took another one that was up the mountain 2 miles, and back 2 miles. There is a falls going over the cliff at this point, but it was pretty small at this time of year. The trail we hiked on was an old wagon road used to haul out ore (can't remember what type), and to haul needed supplies back to the mines. It was a pretty decent grade most of the way, since those poor old mules needed to carry those heavy loads. Here's the view from the top of the falls.
We also took a day and visited the National Bison Range near St. Ignatius. We saw Bison, Big Horn Sheep, antelope and deer.
Can you see the fawn in this picture? She is hiding pretty good, but she's there! And mama deer is keeping an eye on her, too!
We visited the Mission Church at St. Ignatius that day as well. The mission was started by Fr Peter DeSmet in 1841, and the church was built in 1871. Amazingly, the frescoes inside the church were painted by the mission cook!! Some are in need of repair now, but it is a beautiful building.
We did get to go to our favorite hot springs in the area, Quinn's, and had a very enjoyable time visiting with our friends and their new puppies and watching rafts and kayaks and drift boats go by on the river from their deck.
I'm going to pull a "Ben trick" and stop here, although we were out and about for another couple weeks and covered a lot of ground.
I haven't posted any pictures on the internet. I'm going to do some research and see if I can find an alternative to Picasa. (Sad face!)
Zoey was doing very well with her walking, and then she rough-housed with Sam and regressed about a month's worth of progress. Very discouraging!
Your plan changing friends in Oregon (we make plans, they change!)
Harriet, Ben, Sam & Zoey
It has been over a month since we sent out our last post, so I felt it was time to do it again since a few of you are starting to ask... "where in the world are you?" ... or ... "are you going to come see us this year?" .... or .... "when are you going back to Baja?" OK, we'll update you with where we've been, where we hope to go and when! It seems like whenever we make plans this summer, something comes along to change them. So we are trying to learn to be flexible!
Easiest question to answer first: we almost always start back to Baja on October 1, and it will be the same this year. (Lord willing and the creek don't rise...and it is raining a LOT in Baja. No hurricanes yet, just a lot of summer rain.)
Where are we? Right now we are parked in Ben's brother's driveway between Bend and Sisters, Oregon. The annual Purkey family reunion just ended this morning, and we were going to head out, too, to Salem, but that got delayed. Ben had some Mohs surgery yesterday (Basel cell skin cancer) on his upper lip, and decided since he is not supposed to talk much, and to eat soft foods, and be close to the doctor's office if needed, to just stay here for a few more days. On Monday we plan to drive (trailer-less) to our friend's home in Washington near Cathlamet. We'll spend 3 days with them, and then drive back here so Ben can have his sutures out on Thursday. After Labor Day weekend, we WILL go back to Salem and visit friends there who we've neglected all summer. The next week is the Pendleton Roundup (mid September), and then we'll have several weeks in September to wind things down, put the trailer away and pack up.
We started our official "camping road trip" the end of July when we camped with our friends Tom and Pauline at the Crooked River Ranch RV park near Terrebonne. It's a very pretty place and quite popular with golfers as there's an 18 hole course there. The RV park and golf course are on a mesa, and the river is over the edge in this canyon! Way down there!!
Several days later, we camped on the Crooked River near Prineville. This is a beautiful area with numerous BLM parks in which to camp, and we selected one right by the river.
We don't have Oregon fishing licenses, so we just sat and enjoyed the view.
After spending a few days with cousins John and Allyson in Prineville, we headed north-east to Walla Walla. No matter how you go to get there, you're going to see a lot of wheat fields and a lot of power generating windmills.
You see the same thing north of Walla Walla! Those rolling hills are full of wheat fields, and if you roll far enough, you will probably come across the Snake River!
Our destination north of Walla Walla was the cabin of our friends Jim and Pat, near St. Regis, Montana. Fortunately, it is located in western Montana!
Jim took us on several hikes, including this shorter one next to the Clark Fork River. We took another one that was up the mountain 2 miles, and back 2 miles. There is a falls going over the cliff at this point, but it was pretty small at this time of year. The trail we hiked on was an old wagon road used to haul out ore (can't remember what type), and to haul needed supplies back to the mines. It was a pretty decent grade most of the way, since those poor old mules needed to carry those heavy loads. Here's the view from the top of the falls.
We also took a day and visited the National Bison Range near St. Ignatius. We saw Bison, Big Horn Sheep, antelope and deer.
Can you see the fawn in this picture? She is hiding pretty good, but she's there! And mama deer is keeping an eye on her, too!
We visited the Mission Church at St. Ignatius that day as well. The mission was started by Fr Peter DeSmet in 1841, and the church was built in 1871. Amazingly, the frescoes inside the church were painted by the mission cook!! Some are in need of repair now, but it is a beautiful building.
I'm going to pull a "Ben trick" and stop here, although we were out and about for another couple weeks and covered a lot of ground.
I haven't posted any pictures on the internet. I'm going to do some research and see if I can find an alternative to Picasa. (Sad face!)
Zoey was doing very well with her walking, and then she rough-housed with Sam and regressed about a month's worth of progress. Very discouraging!
Your plan changing friends in Oregon (we make plans, they change!)
Harriet, Ben, Sam & Zoey
