We have been out of touch for a few days so I will bring you up to date on our whereabouts. We spent Wednesday and Thursday evenings at Farewell Bend State Park just outside of Ontario, Or. Farewell Bend is where the Oregon Trail travelers left the Snake River and crossed overland until they met up with the Columbia River. They had traveled 330 miles along the Snake River and probably felt contradictory emotions when they said "farewell Snake." They were close to their destination, but still had to cross the Blue Mountains. The campground at Farewell Bend was both old and new. The older part had trees, small sites, large park areas and was not made for today's large motorhome. The newer section where we stayed was out in the wind and sun, but along the reservoir. The sites had some grass but you knew you were in a desert area. We put the awning up at night because we didn't know what to expect. Thursday we had to get it up unexpectedly in the middle of the day because rain showers were on the way, and as we found out, they are preceded by very high winds. We left early Friday morning (July 3rd ) to drive the southern route to Sisters. Unlike the Oregon Trail travelers, who went northwest up along what today is close to I-84, we drove back to Ontario and took US 20 west which is called the Central Oregon Highway. There is no real direct route across the middle of Oregon. You drive 2 lane roads that flow through the mountains just like the rivers, following them and the sides of the mountains from one pass, through the valleys to the next pass. Once we hit Burns-Hines the scenery began to change and we drove though miles of high desert with nothing to see but sagebrush. Of course that is when I have to have a nap. I can only take so much flatness with nothing to see before my eyes close involuntarily. The initial drive in the morning took us through some beautiful irrigated farm land and along the North Fork of the Malheur River until we hit the mountains and followed Kingsbury Gulch as i said, from one pass to another. It is interesting to see where people will find to live in the mountains and it makes you wonder what they do for a living so far from any type of close civilization. You definitely don't run to the store every week, let alone every day.
Anyway, we went that direction on US 20 to Bend and the travels, although slow, were pretty uneventful. Just west of Bend that changed (just like the Oregon Trail travelers, with mixed emotions we saw the end of our journey but alas, there were more challenges ahead)and we sat in traffic because of an accident. Everyone was trying to get somewhere Friday afternoon before the 4th, so there was quite a bit of traffic. Our final destination was Camp Sherman- just northwest of Sisters out 20 on Forest Service Road 1419 - not 35 more miles, but we all jsut got to sit. Once we finally arrived at the Black Butte RV Resort & Motel I immediately knew that I might have made a bad choice. It is a small RV resort in what the locals consider the best area to stay, Camp Sherman, but all of the RVs are crammed together and of course, out site was what Bruce would call an overflow area, no gravel, just grass and not in the best location. We had passed the newly redone KOA on the way in and that was on Bruce's mind as he pulled in and spent quite awhile trying to get us set up. We of course had words and spent the first night here not really speaking, , but we are over that now- especially since we found out today we would have to pay $47-$50/night at the KOA and $34/night at the Sisters Overnight Park, if we could even get in.
We spent a nice 4th in Sisters. I preregistered for next weeks classes, got all my stuff, spent some quality time (and money) in the quilt shop, the Stichin Post, and then we did the Sisters Faire. This is an outdoor craft fair in the park where the crafters are local (Oregon & Washington), the food vendors sold everything from German sausage plates to Soba noodles to fresh made Quesadillas and there was music to shop "buy". I bought a few things, of course, that will remain nameless and we ended up back here mid-afternoon where we read, played with the computer and shared a lovely Porterhouse hot off the grill for our 4th of July feast. Sisters & Camp Sherman have no fireworks as the fire level is HIGH and there is a ban, so we don't have to worry about the dog going neurotic or things going off long after we are ready to bed down- so I would say this wasn't a bad day and a fine time was had by all. Tomorrow we will go into town and do the Fiber Arts Stroll & Quilt Walk. This is where the show sponsor businesses hang one of the show quilts during the week (so you get a preview of over 100) and they also feature a fiber artist demonstrating different techniques and displaying & selling different art forms. It should be a great time - will report on it with pictures later this week. It is late now and Pacific Time is kicking my butt- so it is off to bed once I get this posted. My Verizon may not work up here in the mountains but their Wi-Fi is taking its place so I can shop, email and blog to my hearts content.
By the way, I exhausted one Picasa web album (digital cameras make it too easy to just take pictures of everything and I have also included a few videos) so have begun another and have adjusted the link on the blog page so if you are interested, you can view one or the other as you wish. I will probably set up some smaller albums on that link with like kind pictures (e.g all of Yellowstone in one, etc.) so they are easier to find- but not tonight, that is for later. Promise to post some pictures next time for you all that only follow through email.
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