Bend Oregon ... and way beyond!

2011-11-05T13:07:00.001-07:00

Posted some more pics at:

http://paradiseinthepacific.blogspot.com/

See you there!

New Blog

2011-10-30T04:59:00.000-07:00

I have decided Kiribati needs it's own blog .... so I am continuing my blog about Kiribati at:

http://paradiseinthepacific.blogspot.com/

Hope you will join me ...

Tia boo

Abaiang Atoll

2011-10-27T22:47:00.000-07:00

Abaiang Atoll, about 40 km north of Tarawa

We landed and stayed at St Joseph's Catholic Boarding School.

St Joseph's classroom

Bloody kids still have a problem packing up at the end of the week!

But, they can be excused ... a whole boat load of I-Matangs are coming and there is going to be a big botaki on Saturday night!

I-Kiribati kids

Kids are kids ... no matter where they come from!

They love to have their pictures taken!

Kids playing on the lagoon

Can you just imagine what Australian and US parents would be saying if these were their kids?

Maneaba

The traditional village meeting place.

This one is especially huge!

Oh, so many beautiful places ... so little time!

In the beginning ....

2011-10-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

I have finally arrived on Tarawa, in the country of Kiribati, straddling the equator in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. According to legends, it is the centre of the universe ... and I am not so sure I doubt that. Google Earth can give you a good view.

33 atolls, 100,000 people .... and it may be the first country to disappear due to climate change and rising sea levels ... and there are still people that want to deny it's happening. Come here ... it is happening.

Whether you believe human activity contributes to climate change or not ... if there is even the slightest chance it does ... don't you have an obligation to do your part to reduce your possible impact? Come here ... and see the beautiful people and country you may be destroying.

In the following 2 years, while I complete my volunteer assignment with Australian Volunteers International, I hope to show you something about this wonderful place. Maybe, then, you will feel compelled to care more about how your lifestyle choices affect the rest of the planet

... because they do.

From the air, Tarawa can be seen as a narrow (average width is 400 metres) string of atolls. Inside the ring of coral atolls is the lagoon, outside is the open ocean.

The average elevation of the country is less than 2 metres about sea level.

The ring of atolls is broken by a series of channels that allow the lagoon to be filled and emptied by the rising and falling tides. Makes it more challenging to get from one end of the atoll to the other ... man-made causeways have been built to enable easier movement ... but tend to trap pollutants in the lagoon, creating some of the highest counts of e-coli bacteria in the natural world.

Every action has a consequence.

2011-09-24T17:42:00.000-07:00

Only 2 weeks until departure for Kiribati ... hope my new waterproof camera arrives before then!

Log House Update

2011-09-14T07:32:00.000-07:00

Wow ... been over a year since my last post ... have done too many things to include here, except the progress I made on the log house.

Here are a few of the latest photos:

The outside has been stained and sealed ...

all ready for winter!

The inside has been insulated from head ...

to toe ...

And from the road ... very nice!

Now, for the next 2 years I'll be volunteering

on the island of Tarawa in the country of Kiribati ...

that's in the middle of the Pacific Ocean!

Check it out on Google Earth ...

my house is just to the west of the Parliament building!

I'll leave that up to you to find.

I hope to be blogging from there ... in about a month.

Working With Wood

2010-03-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

Here is a little project I started last summer (2009) before I left for Texas.

A birthday present for the granddaughter.

Back

Front

Maybe I'll get it finished this summer!

Just have to work out how to make and attach the lid!

Log Houses and Texas

2009-08-05T22:45:00.000-07:00

Boy! It sure has been a while since my last posting!

As you can see, I've been a bit busy!

Here's the front of the house I'm building.

And, here's the back!

Currently in the middle of staining ... you can see the darker color on the far right of the picture.

First had to scrub the whole outside of the house with a brush and bleach!

That was fun! Not!

Was easier than I thought it would be, though.

Now it's off on a new venture ...

Temporarily moving to Georgetown, Texas to take up a

teaching position at a new school.

So it looks like I'll have to delve into my archives to keep posting here.

If I start a blog for Georgetown I'll link it to here.

Cheers!

Tuesday ... Hit the Slopes!

2009-04-09T21:34:00.001-07:00

Always best to ski with good friends!
Jeanette and Alan certainly fit that bill!

The day was soooo sunny!

Who wouldn't be happy heading up this slope!

Mt Bachelor Northwes Express chair ...
found on the Outback side of the mountain!

Monday ... 70+F (20C)

2009-04-08T00:49:00.000-07:00

What would you do?
What else! Grab a couple good friends and
spend the afternoon riding!

Destination: Mitchell, Oregon

Actually, Mitchell is where I watched Neil Armstrong take
those first steps on the moon on July 20, 1969.
My god! That was 40 years ago while on a
university summer camp!

Winter

2009-04-03T07:52:00.000-07:00

The Deschutes River at Bend in February ...

Winter is Back!

2009-01-27T11:32:00.001-08:00

Thought I'd share with you the ice on my window this morning ...
it was a balmy 9F when I got up ...

Memories!

2009-01-21T08:13:00.001-08:00

Talk about bringing back old memories!
Hoodoo Ski Area ... a quaint little place about
half way between Salem and Bend on the summit of Santiam Pass.
The place where I learned to ski with Tom,
one of my university room mates, way back in 1966!

That's 3 Fingered Jack in the background.
The pioneers were so colorful when
they named mountains!
Or maybe they were just a bit drunk from all the serenity!
Of course it has changes a bit since then ... new lodge ...
some new lifts ... no more rope tow!

As you can see from the blue skies,
the weather has been unseasonably nice!
So, last Saturday I met the family there for a
little romp in the snow.
An hour or so on the sledding hill was just the ticket!Grandson, Steven, had fun!
He's getting so tall!
Granddaughter, Emily, had a blast!
Think she'll be snowboarding soon!

Happy Holidays

2008-12-24T09:33:00.000-08:00

Just a quick Holiday Greetings to all ...

May you be safe and have a prosperous 2009.

Still here!

2008-11-04T22:52:00.001-08:00

Progress is being made, but the snow has arrived! It is still early so it should melt and more sunny days are common ... hope "common" still prevails!

I've hired a builder to try to help get the roof on before it snows!

Guess that didn't work!
This morning I woke up to about 6 inches of new snow!

The builder did manage to get the rest of the sheeting on the roof.
As soon as the porch is on we can start putting on the roofing.

Besides snow, I only had one other set-back this week.
Seems somebody put the water pipe right where I thought a nice tree would go!

New president ... new hope!
Now looking forward to the future of the USA ...
especially on the world stage.
Go Obama!

I've been busy! Really busy!

2008-09-30T18:02:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been so lax in keeping up with my blog ... but I HAVE been busy!

Really!
Here's what I've been up to ... this is my "old" front yard.

I am currently in the middle of building a log house and trying desperately to get the roof on before it snows!

It's going to be a tight race! I'll try to keep you posted.

July 4th

2008-07-05T23:42:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July!

Couldn't let a posting go by without trying to capture a few fireworks!

There are always the local street scenes, with kids having

an exciting evening ... staying up late, playing with fire ...

and all in the middle of the street!

What more could a kid want?

Of course, the adults are waiting for the big one!
Here's a shot of the annual fireworks atop
Pilot Butte, as seen from across town.
At least there were no fires on the side of the butte this year!

Brothers, Oregon

2008-07-01T15:18:00.001-07:00

One Sunday, not long ago, the weather was so nice I just couldn't stay home and tackle those jobs I'd put off from other days when the weather was so nice I couldn't stay home!

The sky was so clear I ventured into Bend and up Pilot Butte to have a look.

I think this was the best Mt Hood had looked in a long time.

Mt Hood is Oregon's highest peak at 11,237 feet, 3,426 m and is home of Timberline Lodge, Mt Hood Meadows Ski Resort, several other ski areas and numerous lakes and hiking trails.
It is about 45 miles east of Portland and, being a volcano, last erupted about 180 years ago.

Once I had absorbed as much of the view as I could handle, I decided to visit my friends Jeanette and Alan (seen skiing in previous postings).
Since they are also motorcycle enthusiasts, and I was on my Harley, we decided to go for a little ride.

Where we ended up after a couple hours of wandering around the country side, was a little town on Highway 20 about 45 miles east of Bend, called Brothers.Brothers Stage Stop is about the only business operating and afforded us a little lunch.
You can see it is a great spot for multitasking! Saloon, Post Office, Cafe and ...
Jail? Think that was just for show!
Guess it could be handy having the jail next to the saloon!
I thought the signs on the bathrooms were quite interesting.
"Customer Use Only"
Like, who else is going to be here?
That's Jeanette and Alan availing themselves of the shade.
After lunch and a little look around, it was time to hit the road back to Bend.
That's the Three Sisters straight ahead!
Is it safe to come between sisters and brothers?
It was a nice way to spend an afternoon.
I'll show you the other bits of local interest in another posting ...

You might have to remind me!

Early Morning On The High Desert

2008-06-30T22:50:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago I managed to drag myself out of bed

early enough to catch the sun rising on the mountains.The light was somewhat disappointing.

Not as much color as I had hoped for. The rising mist is from the Little Deschutes River.
It was beautiful ... but hard to capture.When I managed to finally see some color on the vegetation,

the sky became washed out.

Looks like I'll have to get up early again ... there is a lot of smoke in the sky at the moment from the fires in California.

Maybe it will be worth getting up early for tomorrow's sunrise!

Some Skimmers Do Make It!

2008-06-29T11:21:00.001-07:00

Not all skimmers failed to make the distance!

Although it wasn't all smooth sailing ... or skimming!
Nice recovery!

Is that a "Bugwiser" I see?
Oh ya! A good time was had by all!

Pond Skimming!

2008-06-25T22:29:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, Harley and I headed off to Mt Bachelor

to watch the events signifying the closing of the ski season.

It was a beautiful day ...

a week or two later we had freezing temperatures and more snow!

The new road is super! Harley loved the wind in his ... well, what ever

the wind blew through!

The main event is something called "Pond Skimming".

Participants snowboard or ski down a small slope and

try to make it across a pond of ice cold water!

Not many make it!

More Signs of Spring

2008-05-08T09:06:00.000-07:00

The deer have returned!

As soon as the snow melts and the grass sprouts, different grazing animals appear.
Sadly, over the past 3 years, the number of returning deer seems to be reduced by half each year.
When I first moved here in 2006, there was a herd of about 14 deer that frequented my front yard.
Last year there were 7 and this year I have only seen 3.
The sad cost of "progress", I guess.
Too bad some land can't be set aside for what people love about this place ...
do we need to fill every available space with houses?
How about a wildlife corridor?
Anybody heard of "nature deficit disorder"? Try "Googling" it.

One good sign I did see, however, was a herd of elk nearby.It was late in the evening so photographic opportunities were limited.
Motorcyclist have to be extremely careful in elk crossing areas.
"Elk are big" is a warning sign along one busy stretch of road ...
and they are!

You know spring is close when ...

2008-04-28T21:56:00.000-07:00

Red Tailed hawks, looking for food, are commonly seen
circling in the sky.

Also, check out the link to our local "eaglecam"
at the top of the list on the right!
It's pretty amazing ... and, another sign of spring!

You know spring is close when ...

2008-04-28T09:27:00.000-07:00

your yard is white in the morning ...

and green in the afternoon!

Dog Sled Trips

2008-04-23T19:14:00.001-07:00

Need something else to do in the winter?

How about a scenic ride in a dog sled?

And, why not make it even more exciting ... go with a musher who is legally blind!

Rachael Scdoris is a 20 year old local girl who competed in the Iditarod, a race between Anchorage and Nome, Alaska ... a mere 1,100 or so miles. It's easy to find info about it on the Internet.

Being legally blind is an additional challenge to this gruelling event.

Rachael and her dog team didn't finish the race but completed nearly 1000 miles before deciding her dogs were suffering too much and would not be able to make it the last 100 miles.

Nice to see the dogs are well looked after.
Well done, Rachael!

Rachael and her dad run dog sled trips at Mt Bachelor on the weekends.

You can't see much from within the tree-lined trails, but the experience has to be worth it

... if you don't mind looking up a dog's bum the whole way!

The dogs they use are some of the nicest dogs I've seen.
I know several people who own "retired" Scdoris dogs and they all have the most gentle nature.
Might have to get one myself one day.

Skiing with Friends

2008-03-13T11:14:00.000-07:00

Skiing is a really fun sport/recreation.
But, skiing with friends is great!
Jeannette and Alan are a couple friends from my days at Oregon State University and I am lucky enough to live relatively close to them.
And, even luckier that they have both retired, can go skiing during the week, like a good drink, ride motorcycles and are still as crazy as they were way back when!
That's me and Jeannette with The Summit in the background.

Yesterday (Wednesday) we took advantage of a special 2 for 1 offer at Mt Bachelor.
The weather and snow were both very good. And the crowd ...
Oh look! There's another person coming down the slope! See them way back on the right?
Nothing like having a whole slope to yourself!

The view of the Sisters from Mt Bachelor is quite spectacular.
Oh look .... another person on the chair!

These photos are courtesy of Alan. He's probably responsible for igniting my interest in photography (and teaching me how to ride my Harley!).
When we were at OSU he had a Pentax Spotmatic and used to make me soooo envious of the photos he took.
As you can tell, he still knows his stuff!

Thanks guys for a great day on the High Desert!

Three Sisters

2008-03-12T23:18:00.001-07:00

Just another typical winter's day in Central Oregon!

But, don't be deceived by the clear sky!
The temperature is still near freezing!

Let me introduce to you the Three Sisters, just west of Bend.
The biggest on the right is the North Sister. The one just left of middle is the South Sister and the one between them (close to the North Sister) is the Middle Sister!
Imaginative names, you say?
The early Mennonite pioneers were a little more inspired by their new-found land.
They called them Faith, Hope and Charity.

They probably had a few other thoughts when it came to thinking about crossing the Cascades!

More Entertainment

2008-02-13T10:22:00.000-08:00

Those of you from countries outside the US may not realize how controlled gambling is here.

Until recently, about the only place you could find casinos in the US were in Nevada and New Jersey.

But, in the last 20 years (since I left and returned), Native American Indian tribes have been allowed to build casinos on their lands.

Kla-Mo-Ya Casino was opened in 1997 by the Klamath Indian tribes. Its name is derived from the three tribes that make up the Klamath Tribe ... the Klamath, Modoc and Yahooskin Band of the Snake Indians.

The casino is located about 90 minutes south of here ... and has plenty of RV parking!

It certainly has helped the Indian nations become economically self-sufficient.

Just as a special note ...

It was very pleasing to see the new Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, finally acknowledge and apologise to the Australian Aborigines on behalf of the Australian Government, for the treatment they endured from 1869-1969 that created the "Stolen Generations".

Good on-ya Mr Rudd!

Sunset

2008-02-11T12:15:00.001-08:00

Managed to catch a nice sunset the other evening.

I did have trouble finding a safe place to get off the road ...

by the time I did, it was almost too late!

Bend Winterfest

2008-02-10T10:02:00.000-08:00

Winters are never boring! Just because it's cold doesn't mean you have to stay home!

If you shovel your snow in the right direction you can build your own ski slope ...

Invite a few friends over for a little competition ...

(Sorry about the lighting!)

Throw on some fireworks to celebrate the occasion ...And party all night to AC-DC ...Well, they may be a bit hard to import ... so invite Hell's Belles and let them pay tribute!

What's that you say?

My ears are still ringing!

Thank you, Bend Winterfest organizers!

Suspended

2008-02-07T10:34:00.000-08:00

Work on the shed has been suspended, as I am sure you can understand!

I took this picture from the roof of my house, where I was busy shoveling off the 2 feet of snow!

The little trail coming out of the right of the shed was made by some poor animal looking for food and shelter. It led up to my deck, so hopefully the little critter found some protection from the elements! Just so they're gone by spring!

The lowest board you can see on the left and back of the shed is 2 ft above the ground.

The icecicles around here are truely amazing!

Here's one that was suspended outside of my front door!

It was nearly 4 ft long before it fell off this morning!

The temperature is starting to warm up!

The tip was most interesting!

And the snow continues to fall!

2008-02-03T00:41:00.000-08:00

You've got to be joking!

Is this snow ever going to stop?Actually, I am joking .... this is one of the lodges at Crater Lake!

So far, the snow at my place is only up to the bottom of the windows!

But, we are suppose to get more snow most of next week!

Getting a bit lonely for some blue sky!

Still snowing!

2008-02-01T23:32:00.000-08:00

The weather report calls for another 6-8" of snow tonight. I've been shoveling the snow off my roof, where about 24" has accumulated. My 240Z, which has had to move outdoors because I'm building a new shed, isn't doing so well, either. That's it below! Poor baby! Trying to walk in this stuff is impossible without snow shoes.

Here's me standing in a spot where my snow thrower has been ...

It really is that deep!

Can't wait to see what things are like tomorrow!

Snow!

2008-01-28T17:08:00.000-08:00

Snow arrived a little late this year ... but it continues!

Plenty around at the moment and it's snowing as I write!

I am in the middle of trying to build a shed.

The -17F (-24C) temps and nearly 2 ft of snow have kind of put the brakes on that!

Don't think I would want to be in the building business in the winter!

That pile of snow is really a stack of lumber for the shed in the background!

We have learned to cope with the large amounts of snow, however.

We invite Aussies over for a visit and chain them to our snow throwers!

Jono is now surfing on some beach in Hawaii!

Travelling in Winter

2008-01-26T08:15:00.000-08:00

Around here, you take your life into your own hands (or put it in someone else's!) when travelling in winter ... well, more than usual! Weather changes can occur rapidly and road conditions can be very different within a few miles ... or even around a corner! The road can go from being dry where the sun shines on it, to icy around a corner that has been in the shade all winter. Very "exciting" when you are doing 50 mph!

At Christmas-time I travelled across the Santiam Pass to be with family in the Willamette Valley. As I was half-way between Bend and Sisters, I could see a major snow storm coming from the Cascade Mountains, which I had to cross. (Note the sun in the rear view mirror ... storm just ahead) I had been in dust storms in Australia and knew what I was in for. Just replace dust with snow and freezing temperatures ... same visibility but roads as slick as ... well, you can imagine!Thankfully the storm passed just south of the pass so I didn't have the extreme conditions I was expecting ... much to my relief!

We also need to acknowledge the army of snowplows that keep the roads usable. This was the road I faced on the trip. Very good condition by winter standards.

Hard to believe they have to put out signs warning about passing snowplows on the right! It's not unusual to see signs broken off by the impact of the snow being thrown off the road. I guess some people can't figure that out for themselves!

Recently a snowstorm dumped so much snow there were 3 avalanches that closed the pass (no casualties) and numerous accidents that followed. One accident involving 18 vehicles but no deaths, thank goodness.

The "trick" is to SLOW DOWN and make sure your car (and your driving skill level) matches the conditions ... something that seems to be lacking amongst so many people that use these roads!

Nothing more frustrating than following someone who is scared to death of the winter driving conditions. Maybe they would be more relaxed in Arizona!

You know it's winter ...

2007-12-21T23:31:00.000-08:00

When you look out your kitchen window and the icicles are as long as your arm!

When everything in your back yard looks the same .... white!

Kind of like marshmallow cream!

And funny looking formations are sliding off your roof!

Or, you go to work and the road is finally smooth!

White line? What white line?

When your front yard is so serene and beautiful!
Merry Christmas to all ....

I'm back!

2007-12-20T11:44:00.000-08:00

Sorry I've been away! Been busy and the weather is getting very wintery!

My son came to visit a couple days ago and this is what his car looked like this morning!

We had about a foot (30cm) of new snow over night ... and it's snowing heavily again now.

That's my driveway!

What have I been busy doing?

I've been trying to get a shed built before the winter weather sets in ... didn't make it!

Here's what my efforts looked like this morning ...

Don't know if you can imagine working with wood in temperatures below freezing ...

have to prise the frozen boards apart so you can work with them!

I don't think I'll get too worried about finishing before "winter" ...

might just take it easy and enjoy the experience.

There are massive amounts of construction going on in this area so you can appreciate the efforts of all the construction workers.

They do it pretty hard at times.

No worries about a white Christmas here, though!

North Eastern Oregon - Day 6

2007-11-04T22:34:00.000-08:00

From the Steens Mountains we travelled to the northeast of the state. We visited my friend's sister and her husband ... their place is near Baker City ... but it's a little remote! That's it at the end of the little road in the upper center of the photo!
Told you it was remote!

Since we spent the night there I was able to get a picture of the moon rising ...

And the sun rising as well ...

Thanks to my friend Hank for showing me the easy way to do this.
Though they posted a bit dark I am happy with the results.
There is more detail in the originals.

Eastern Oregon - Day 5

2007-10-25T20:36:00.000-07:00

Man! Where does the time go?

Can't believe it's been a week since my last post ...

Hey! 2 months until Christmas! Anyway, back to the trip!

It was now time to drive to the top of the Steens .... here is our destination.

The Steens were formed by faulting many years ago.

The range is a large mass that was uplifted relative to the area to the east, which is the Alvord Desert.

You can't see it from here.

We are driving up the gentler side of the range.

Yes, that is snow creating all the white!

Along the way we saw a couple herds of antelope.

They must have known hunting season was approaching ...

no standing around gawking at tourists!

Well, except for one. He must not be the sharpest buck in the herd ...

wonder how he lost one of his antlers?

(I guess antelope have antlers and not horns??)

We eventually made it to the top of Kiger Gorge.

It was formed by glaciers during the last ice age ... the notch on the right is a hanging valley.

They call it the Gun Sight.

(You can tell what people here do for "recreation"!)

I did mention it snowed, didn't I?

Eastern Oregon - Day 4

2007-10-18T20:47:00.001-07:00

One of the things that surprised me when we got up into the Steens, was the Aspens replacing the pines.

The addition of all the color was beautiful.

The lower slopes, where it was drier, still had a few junipers.
As you changed altitude, though, the differences in tree species was quite remarkable.

Our next stop was Fish Lake. This would be a good place to go camping ...

there were only 2 other campers there!Apparently it is a popular ice fishing spot in the winter.

People ride their snowmobiles in for a spot of fishing.

I could do that!

Eastern Oregon - Day 3

2007-10-15T23:53:00.000-07:00

We spent a night at the Frenchglen Hotel. Lovely atmosphere and a very nice country style meal.

They close for the winter on Nov 1 ... so you better hurry if you're going this year!

Here are a couple pictures of an old barn across the street from the hotel.

The early settlers had it tough. A testament to the harsh climate.

The desert still prevails.
A few weeds looking prepared for the winter!
These are quite common around the state ... just can't remember their name!

Eastern Oregon - Day 2

2007-10-11T23:41:00.000-07:00

The day before we arrived at the Steens Mtns, guess what! It snowed!

That's the top of the Steens (10,000 ft) on the left and Kiger Gorge on the right.

Kiger Gorge is a beautiful U-shaped valley carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age less than 2 million years ago.

We'll get another view from the top a bit later.

Kiger Gorge was named for Reuben and Minerva Kiger, who moved to the area in the 1860s.

One of the amazing sights, if you can find them, are the Kiger Mustangs.

They are managed in this area and are thought to be one of the purest herds of Spanish mustangs in the wild.

Each year the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) offers a certain number for adoption.

The highest price paid so far was $19,000!

We found them hard to get close to!

Another animal that shares this area is the Pronghorn antelope.

We saw several herds numbering close to 20.

Of course, hunting season will reduce their numbers.

Eastern Oregon - Day 1

2007-10-10T12:58:00.000-07:00

As you travel east from Bend, the scenery changes dramatically.

Everywhere there are reminders that we really do live in a desert.

First we head off toward the Steens Mtns, in the southeast of the state.

The scenery constantly changes as your altitude changes. Here we are on the edge of Malhuer Lake, south of the town of Burns. This late in summer it can be pretty dry, but come spring it will begin to fill with snow melt ... and a myriad of bird species.
It always amazes me how many water fowl depend of these desert lakes.
Australia's Lake Eyre is another example ... and it only fills every 7 years on average.

You might think attitudes also change as you move into more isolated areas. "Is it safe to get out of the car here?"

Actually, this isn't all that uncommon of a sight ... even in Australia ... where guns are banned!

Winter is coming!

2007-10-03T13:15:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I'm ready for this, but we've already had our first snowfall ... about 3 weeks early! That's Mt Bachelor with several inches of snow ... and it looks like the snow level is going to drop to within 1000 ft of me tonight!
To cope with the cold temperatures around here, many people use wood to heat their homes. Yesterday I went out to collect a trailer load. Luckily for me, they (the Forest Service) have opened a new cutting area relatively close to my place. Here's the load I collected. It was the fourth for the year ... hopefully it will be enough!

The next step is to get it home and stack it close to the door where you will be bringing it into the house. Here in the NW we have become very good at stacking our wood. My friends in Australia, where I also heated with wood, used to marvel at my wood pile! A real work of art!

Think I might put a gas stove in my new house!

Getting too old for this much hard work!

Code Pink III

2007-09-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

I've just returned from 4 days of travelling around the east and southeast of Oregon with a couple of former colleagues. It was a great trip and I have lots of pictures to go through.
One of the highlights was having a professional photographer along. Learned some good tricks of the trade. Hopefully, you'll see the difference in future postings.
Meanwhile, here are the final composites from the recent Peace Walk.

Let's hope Peace breaks out soon.

Code Pink II

2007-09-22T00:43:00.000-07:00

Code Pink held another rally downtown this afternoon.

I took so many pictures I plan to just post a couple each day for the next few days.

(However, I'm going to be away until Wednesday.)

Even though the actual numbers were small, there was enormous support from passing cars and trucks.

I didn't hear one discouraging word from those passing by.

I have put together several collages to help give some "press" to as many people as possible.

I think the pictures are pretty self-explanatory.

One participant commented on how we must have faith we can make a difference even if we are such a small group.

I think Margaret Mead summed it up the best ...

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Peace be with you.

Fire Hall

2007-09-21T00:11:00.000-07:00

(Description below has been edited from the original)

The Old Fire Hall downtown is now one of several restaurants in Bend.

I thought it looked nice but the reviews are not all favorable!

(See posted comments for more details!)

The current "firemen" still have a job to do ...

and the customers must be very appreciative ...

especially as winter approaches and temperatures drop.

Deschutes Brewery

2007-09-18T22:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I thought I'd take a tour of the largest brewery in Bend .... they don't do tours on Monday!

No worries .... they do them on Tuesday.

So I went back today!

The Deschutes Brewery is located next to the roundabout I showed you in an earlier posting.

Not far from the Old Mill District.

What they didn't tell me yesterday was that today was a big media event .... the release of their brand new mobile keg event trailer! Even made the evening news!

Not a bad effort!

Of course we got to try it out!

Now that's what I call a tap!

We finished off the day with a tour of the brewery ... and a little more tasting!
The brewery is a very impressive facility. Well worth a visit.

Only 3 or 4 left to investigate!

I know! But someone has to do it!

Crane Prairie Reservoir

2007-09-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

Crane Prairie Reservoir is one of many lakes located along the Cascade Lakes Highway the starts in Bend, circles around Mt Bachelor and ends near Crescent, about an hour south of here.
This is a valuable osprey nesting area and provides good fishing for man as well as the birds.
From left to right, the mountains in the background are South Sister, Broken Top and Mt Bachelor. Bend is pretty much behind Mt Bachelor. We are looking just a little east of north.
The Deschutes River enters and leaves the reservoir on it's way to Bend.

I just like the composition of this photo. It's very busy but interesting.

Columbia River Gorge

2007-09-13T11:54:00.001-07:00

My trip last weekend also took me down the Columbia River Gorge. Part of the Columbia River forms the border between Oregon and Washington. Its origin actually is in Canada.
Windsurfers worldwide are familiar with this gorge. The frequent and steady winds create some of the best conditions in the world ... and, the water is fresh, as opposed to the sea.
There are numerous dams along the river that provide much of the cheap electricity in this part of the country. The migration of salmon upstream to Canada has had some problems and there are continued efforts to try to improve the situation.
There are many things for tourists to see and do along the gorge and you can find more details with a few Google searches.

Mt Hood

2007-09-11T23:42:00.000-07:00

Harley and I took a little 430 mile jaunt to Washington State last weekend. The occasion was the annual reunion of my Mom's side of the family. Part of our trip too us past Mt Hood and down the Columbia River Gorge.
During the winter these little streams can swell to raging torrents and cause tremendous amounts of damage.

You could step across this river (White River) today, but last winter it washed out a bridge, rolled along boulders as large as a VW and caused the local ski slope (Mt Hood Meadows) to open about a month late. The photos in the news were amazing.

Of course, the real reason I went across the mountains was to see my son and his family ... especially my granddaughter, Emily.

Ain't she a little cutie?

Prineville Reservoir

2007-09-07T22:09:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago Harley and I travelled to Prineville Reservoir, about 25 miles NE of Bend. It's amazing how quickly the pine trees disappeared and the true desert vegetation took over.
Prineville Reservoir is formed by the damming of the Crooked River (You'll see more of that later ... and you'll see why it's called "Crooked"!). Even with all the water, only plants adapted to the dry conditions prevail. The main trees here are junipers. Their odor is a distinct feature. Opens up those sinuses! There are numerous campgrounds at the reservoir and along the Crooked River as it winds its way toward the town of Prineville. I think the fishing here is pretty good ... hope to try it out before winter sets in. I took this picture mainly because of the little sign on the upper left hand corner of the notice board ...

"Rattlesnakes in area" .... also a feature of the desert environment. Just make sure you watch where you put your feet ... and tent!

Straight from the "squirrels mouth"!

2007-09-04T23:29:00.000-07:00

" Hey, drpack! Just read your blog from yesterday. Good point!

Hang on and I'll come down and show your readers what you were talking about ...

We need food like these pine cones. They store really well.
In the winter we can't get out to gather any food ... the snow is too deep and everything is frozen.
Remember last winter, that day when it was -19 out!
That's Brass Monkey weather! Not exposing mine in those conditions!

Well, got to get back to work! Nights are already getting cold and I still haven't got all my winter supplies put away! Been dodging too many of those darn cats!"

(Thought it was amazing to see this guy outside my dining room window today. He seemed a bit nervous about giving the interview, though! drpack)

More signs!

2007-09-03T23:46:00.000-07:00

Silly squirrels! No matter how much you tell them human food is bad for them, they just keep eating it!

At least humans are smarter than that!

There are also lots of good signs telling humans not to encourage the squirrels.

Good thing humans can read! No way would they want to create a population of squirrels that rely so heavily on humans feeding them that they don't find food they can store for the harsh winter.
I mean, if they were to feed them, they'd give them all-natural, sugar-free foods that the squirrels could store, wouldn't they?
A large brain for reasoning and feelings .... isn't that what sets us apart from the "lower" forms of life?
If only they could see them starving to death in the middle of winter!

Theme Day Sign

2007-09-01T19:40:00.001-07:00

Always nice to have plenty of fire hydrants along where you walk your dog!

Library anyone?

2007-08-28T13:58:00.001-07:00

As well as golf, tennis and cycling, there are plenty of things to do on rainy days in Central Oregon (Or even when it's not rainy!). The Deschutes County Library System has some wonderful facilities throughout the county. One of my favorites is the Sunriver Area Branch.
Here is a late afternoon view ...

As well as books, tapes, cds, dvds and free Internet access (WiFi and desktops), the libraries here have music programs and art displays. The "Cafe Libri" series presents live after-hours performances with refreshments provided.

Here are some shots of the current art display at Sunriver.

Quite a change from what libraries were when I was a kid!

Check out their website at www.dpls.us.

Gray Squirrel

2007-08-25T22:31:00.001-07:00

High up in one of the pine trees in my yard makes a great place to survey your domain. This Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus) thought he was well hidden ... but I have a telephoto lens on my camera! There are several around the neighborhood and they are about the size of a small cat ... at least too big and aggressive for the cats to bother.

They are classified as a "sensitive species" in Oregon, probably because they require tall trees for nesting and those are becoming less numerous.

I had a nice picture of one sitting on top of a telephone pole but I think I lost it when my hard drive crashed. Hopefully, I'll get another chance.

Out of the Ashes

2007-08-24T08:38:00.001-07:00

Just below the Phoenix Inn Suites, in downtown Bend, is this beautiful bronze sculpture "Dancing for Flossie" by Danae Bennett-Miller. Very hard to get a good picture of because of all the shadows, bright sun, and monochrome nature of the colors. One of those things you just have to see on your own!

I'm not sure of the history behind these bronze castings but the Phoenix Suites was originally the local hospital on a bit of a hill overlooking the downtown area.

Lovely setting.

Legacy

2007-08-22T22:40:00.000-07:00

Was in downtown Bend on Tuesday and noticed this little message on a wall surrounding some new construction:

I thought it fit well with Willdana's comment from the last posting.
Guess not everyone is happy with the direction Bend is taking.

"We are living beyond our means. As a people we have developed a life-style that is draining the earth of its priceless and irreplaceable resources without regard for the future of our children and people all around the world. "
Margaret Mead 1901-1978

Little Boxes, On a HIllside ....

2007-08-20T14:00:00.001-07:00

"Some rich men came and raped the land,

Nobody caught 'em,

Put up a bunch of ugly boxes, and jesus,

People bought 'em,

And they called it paradise

The place to be ....

You call someplace paradise,

Kiss it goodbye."

"The Last Resort", written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey. 1976

And it's never been more true than today (2007).

Life is tough on lava!

2007-08-17T09:29:00.001-07:00

Not my best photos but I like their message.
Trees will try to grow everywhere.

Here are a couple that have tried to make it on lava flows.

Some make it.

Some don't.

The organic matter that accumulates from the efforts of one tree will go toward making the next tree's attempt more successful.

Succession is the biological term for this usually long process.

If only humans would apply it to their efforts!

Each generation seem to make it harder for the next.

Alas! When are we going to learn?

You can't mess with Mother Nature!

Cycling

2007-08-15T23:29:00.000-07:00

Sunriver is the place you bring your family if you want them to enjoy the outdoors. This family is enjoying a cycle along the Deschutes River. There are over 30 miles of paved trails within the resort area as well as many other options in the surrounding countryside. You can either hit the roads for a bit of road racing or head up toward the mountains for some single track, epic mountain biking.

There's a medical center in Sunriver for the overly ambitious!

Sunriver

2007-08-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

About 20 miles south of Bend is the little resort community of Sunriver. There are 4 golf courses within walking (riding) distance and miles and miles of bike paths. It's a popular place to stay in the winter for skiers (Mt Bachelor is 30 minutes away) and popular in the summer for lots of outdoor activities. An earlier posting showed a triathlon held here.

This last weekend was the Quilt Show. I only got to see it being set up but there were a lot of people around early in the morning. I couldn't even get into the bakery for a breakfast treat!

The quilt show was spread all over the village. Some amazing work by the quilters!

Volcanoes

2007-08-14T00:05:00.000-07:00

Wow! It has been a busy few days! Today was "Do a clean install of Windows Day". If any of you have ever done that you know how time consuming it is .... and it's still going! But Sunday, Harley decided he wanted to go for a run. So, not to let him down, I thought we'd go look at some volcanoes ...

Mt Thielsen, at a little over 9000 ft high, was one that stood out like a sore thumb! We saw it from 3 sides and each was equally beautiful. Easy to see why it's called "The Lightning Rod of The Cascades". Diamond Lake is a popular recreation spot in this area. Had lunch there but that wouldn't be a reason for visiting!

Next we ventured up to Crater Lake.

Many of you have probably at least seen pictures of this spectacular caldera. It's about 15 miles south of Mt Thielsen. The caldera was formed by Mt Mazama blowing its top and leaving a giant crater about 6 miles across. It is now filled with water to a depth of about 1900 ft. And yes, the water really is that blue!

Absolutely magic!

Mt Thielsen is about 260,000 years old while Mt Mazama erupted less than 7000 years ago. The ash from the eruption buried much of the base of Mt Thielsen under more than 20 ft of ash. The ash is found in the 4 surrounding states as well as in Montana and Canada. Apparently, it was one of the largest eruptions in the last 10,000 years.

We also used the opportunity to try a little geo-caching. I found my first cache! The second one was a bit too far down a gravel road and Harley didn't have his hiking boots on! I wasn't too keen to leave him next to the main road unattended. He's just too good looking!

Total trip was 199.9 miles! I hadn't been to Crater Lake in over 20 years. It was a nice reunion!

Canaan Canaan

2007-08-10T23:12:00.000-07:00

Went to a very nice little free concert tonight at the Strictly Organic Coffee Company. The performer, Canaan Canaan, has only been in Bend for a few months, fresh from Japan. Though I couldn't understand most of the words it didn't make any difference. The beat and guitar still got your toe tapping. All her music is original and she gave a little introduction to each song which helped set the scene.

The concerts here are probably what you would classify as "intimate". Everybody is always friendly and the performers thank you personally for coming to watch them.

Canaan Canaan plays here again on Saturday, August 18th from 11 am - 1 pm.
Definitely worth seeing. Always good to expose yourself to other cultures.

A Couple Locals

2007-08-10T08:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, while cleaning up around my shed, I came across a couple of the locals. Haven't determined their names, yet but I am sure they are a "couple".

They did "lose" control of their bladders when I picked them up, hence the darker colored posteriors ... but I guess you would too if a hand with fingers as big as yourself reached down and picked you up!
(Actually, one of their defence mechanisms.)

Not as cute as "chipmunks" but just as important.
They have been relocated to a much safer spot.

Is it "C" day?

2007-08-08T22:31:00.001-07:00

I know! But it's the closest I could get to a Chipmunk! Most people still call them "chipmunks", but really, they are golden-mantled ground squirrels (Spermophilus lateralis). When you see them next to chipmunks the difference is obvious.
If only Walt Disney had been more responsible!

Anyway .... these guys are pretty common and really cute. I could watch them for hours.

So many brews. So little time!

2007-08-07T22:41:00.000-07:00

Bend is the home to several exceptional micro-breweries. Believe me, I've tried just about every one! I'll just have to revisit them to get some pictures to show you! Well, at least that will be my excuse!

This is the entrance to the Lodge, a pub run by Cascade Lakes Brewing Company. You'll find 7 or 8 different brews on tap, from the "Blond Bombshell" to the "20 inch Brown". There is a nice outdoor seating area, pool tables and the other things you normally find in a pub.

Not only do they have great beer, their food's pretty good, too. I usually take my visitors there.

Wednesday is Local's Night.

Their website is worth checking out: http://www.cascadelakes.com/

Flower Patch

2007-08-06T18:18:00.000-07:00

Found a lovely patch of flowers in the Old Mill District today when I was zipping through on my Harley. Just couldn't go by without a few pictures!

They aren't native to this area but sure did a great job filling in a bare patch of ground.

You might see a few more of these.

Progress and Patriotism

2007-08-05T22:55:00.000-07:00

Downtown Bend is growing up. Upward and up .... no more a cowboy/logger town.

Now home to lattes, panini and hummus.

Where have all the cowboys and loggers gone? Back to the range and forests?

There's that blue sky again!

Downtown Art Exhibits

2007-08-04T22:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, as well as protests, Bend hosted a First Friday Gallery Walk.

On the first Friday of every month art galleries (and pseudo art galleries ... shops that host art displays) stay open late so art aficionados can wander around, drink wine and have a look at what various artists have been up to.

The weather was beautiful, the wine was good and the streets were full of people enjoying the excuse to mingle.

This guy can be found at a major intersection in the downtown area. I can recall feeling a bit like this after a few too many wine "tastings"! Or can I?

Must put this event on my calendar for next month!

CODEPINKBEND

2007-08-03T23:50:00.000-07:00

The protest is alive and well in Bend!

If the horns of passing motorists are any indication, there aren't many people around here supporting GW and his "war on terrorism".

Why do we continue to put up with it?

Check out their web site at http://www.codepinkalert.org/, click on Don't Buy Bush's War.

Before and After

2007-08-02T22:18:00.000-07:00

The infamous "Manufactured Home"! This type of house was probably the norm a few years ago in this area. Affordable, easy to erect, and, it might even keep you warm during the freezing winters. Thousands of these were erected on small and large acreages around Central Oregon because they were about the only thing people around here could afford. Those who couldn't afford these, simply bought an inexpensive "mobile home" and parked it in one of the many "Mobile Home Parks" located around and in Bend. The mobile home park, an American Icon?

Now, however, land prices have skyrocketed and mobile home park owners can get a fortune for the land their parks occupy. But, there is a "Catch 22". Any mobile home or manufactured house constructed before about 1982 (or something like that) cannot be transported on Oregon highways. So the owners, many retired and on fixed incomes, are in a bind. Can't sell it. Can't move it. Can't afford to live anywhere else in Bend with most rents exceeding $1000 per month for anything decent. Lawmakers are scrambling to try to fix the problem, but the almighty dollar always seems to win out. I think many of the people are hoping they die before they have to move.

So, what's driving up the prices?

Nice "little" homes like this. Just around the corner from the house in the first picture. Probably about 3000 - 4000 sq ft, built with out-of-state money for a little ol' retired couple that hop in their $200,000+ RV in the winter and head south to the warmer temperatures.

Does anyone really need to create this big of an ecological footprint? Just the RV is bad enough. Ever imagined couples driving around the country in their own private Greyhound Bus, usually pulling an extra SUV behind? Disgusting!

Only consolation is that maybe the previous owners of the land got a good price when they sold. Not all did, though. They never imagined the land here would be so valuable.

Visitors

2007-08-01T00:17:00.000-07:00

Had a couple visitors the other day. They seem to have arrived a bit later this year, but that could just be my imagination. Mum was in the backyard pruning the vegetation while the kids did the front.

Sadly, today I saw a dead fawn along the road not far from here. I hope it wasn't one of my friends.

Three bucks ventured by a few days earlier. Last year they all arrived at once as a herd. I tried to count them but they kept running back and forth across the front yard (There are thickets on either side). I think there were about 12 in all.

I haven't seen near that many this summer.

Probably a result of all the building that's going on. Progress! Humph! ;-(

Still Floating After All These Years

2007-07-30T00:20:00.000-07:00

A popular spot for getting your body wet lies just upstream from the Old Mill District. When the timber industry was in full flight the main thing floating down the river were large Ponderosa Pine logs. They were brought by train to a spot about a 100 ft upstream from here and dumped into the river, where they floated down to the mill.

I was surprised to find a beach in Central Oregon! And look at those blue skies!

.......................................... Further down stream ..............................................
On hot summer days (and days not so hot) you will find human "logs" pretending they are on their way to becoming the latest piece of pine furniture! Unfortunately, if you don't get out of the water where numerous signs tell you to, you just may become the next sad statistic. Just around the corner is a bridge and weir that you can get trapped under and drown, and it happens all to often each summer.

Crashed Hard Drive!

2007-07-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

I'm temporarily out of action ...

Hard drive crashed ....

Still recovering files!

See you all soon!

Drake Park

2007-07-26T14:22:00.000-07:00

The Deschutes River continues past the Old Mill District and forms Mirror Pond in the center of downtown Bend. For obvious reasons it is a popular gathering place for people as well as ducks and geese. And you know what people can't resist doing when they encounter friendly "wild" animals!

Periodically the "wild" fowl have to be rounded up and moved, otherwise the grass and water becomes over-fertilized! Fowl takes on a whole new meaning!

That's the back of my friend John, another transplanted Aussie, who was visiting from Texas. Think he was a bit overcome because it wasn't raining!

The Old Mill District

2007-07-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

The Old Mill District is one of the latest commercial developments in Bend. It is situated along the banks of the Deschutes River in what used to be the location of main lumber mill. One way to enter is by a festively decorated foot bridge.

On either side of the foot bridge walkways lead along the river bank. Some additional seating along here would be a pleasant addition. There are also 3 large stacks and one large building (now housing REI, a recreational outfitter) left over from the mill operations.

There is your obligatory shopping ...

... and a cinema complex.

An overall pleasant facility located within walking distance of the amphitheater, where a variety of entertainment is staged. It seems to be a popular destination for those who come to experience the wild, outdoor experiences associated with this area.

Well, I guess you have to cater for all kinds!

Bird Day

2007-07-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

Today was a good day for observing birds. They were all quite active. Saw woodpeckers, jays and ospreys. I managed to catch what I think is a nutcracker sitting on a gnarly tree on top of Lava Butte. We used to call them "camp robbers" when I was a kid. If you've ever been camping around here you will know why ... If not, you can probably figure it out!

Not much contrast in this photo but I really like the shape of the tree.

Attitude Adjustment Needed

2007-07-23T00:12:00.000-07:00

Fall River is one of several beautifully clear rivers near Bend. Fishing is by fly only and is well known to those that pursue this sport/hobby.

This photo shows the Fall River Fish Hatchery on the left and a housing estate on the right. You are allowed to fish in the river from the hatchery property ... but not in the hatchery ponds!

Here's what bothers me ...

All over the US people can buy up lakeside and riverside property like this (and maybe oceanside, too?) and prevent public access to that natural feature. That doesn't seem right to me.

Since living in Australia I have been exposed to another philosophy that I feel is much more equitable. "Free and unimpeded access to our coastline is central to the Australian psyche." And "most states claim the first 150 feet above the high water mark as public land." That means that no one can keep another from using this natural wonder. Any development has to provide the public with access to the coastline.

Are our rivers any different? If you are a religious person, do you think God created that river just for the exclusive use of someone with enough money to "buy" it? Are the landowners responsible for managing the river bank? Do they control/cause erosion or pollution?

Upon President Washington's offer to buy the Indian lands around Puget Sound, Washington, Chief Seattle said "The President in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land. But how can you buy or sell the sky? the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?"

Everyday, a little more of "Gods Country" becomes hidden behind locked gates and meaningless signs. For the "exclusive use" of who?

The new reservation: the land not desired by the wealthy.

Storm Drains

2007-07-20T20:12:00.000-07:00

Hadn't seen one of these before. It is a "manhole" cover located next to a busy street. Not sure if all in the city are like this, but I will keep an eye out.

Nice way to remind people where our storm water goes and what impact it might have if we flush our wastes and litter into the street.

Every little bit helps.

Shopping Center Done Right

2007-07-19T23:02:00.000-07:00

Now this is what shopping centers could look like. Much of the original vegetation has been retained and local materials were used in the construction. As environmentally friendly as a shopping center can be.

They are even starting to use fewer plastic bags. Though they have a long way to go to catch up with South Australia. I brought several re-usable bags back to the US when I returned in 2006. Each of them cost less than AUS$1 (about US$.60). Until recently the only bags I could find here cost more than US$6.00 each! Since San Francisco has banned plastic bags it is easier to find cheaper bags.

Check out my Favorite Sites to see just how damaging plastic bags are.

Thank you SF!

Now that's a bank!

2007-07-18T23:40:00.000-07:00

I love this building. But it is hard to do it justice in 1 photo. The sequence moves anticlockwise around the building.

Most of the new buildings in Bend have been built in a style very suitable for this environment, wood still being the preferred building material. This is a fairly typical example. If only they would orient the buildings to take more advantage of all the sun we get around here.

So even though the timber industry has declined, it is still healthy. Clear-cutting has been replaced by more sustainable logging methods. "Sustainability" ... a word not heard often enough in the US.

I have some more pictures of this shopping center to share later.

Always something happening!

2007-07-17T21:15:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago there was a triathlon held at Sunriver, a resort about 20 miles south of Bend. Though it is the middle of summer, lakes over 4000 ft above sea level don't warm up very quickly. I am sure many of the athletes had second thoughts about being there once they waded into Wickiup Reservoir. A few did turn around and swim back a few yards into the swim.

The cycling leg would have been beautiful and overall downhill to the start of the running leg. I didn't get any pictures of the running leg because I went to the wrong spot! Good thing I wasn't running!

There are many such activities around Bend. In a couple weeks there is a major PGA golf tournament at Crosswater Golf Course and last weekend, I think, there was a cycling tour. Taking part in something here would make a great little escape from the daily routines of life.

Sure keeps the tourist dollars flowing in! Absolutely necessary with the decline in the timber industry.
Hello, Tasmania! Are you listening? There is life after timber!

Over and Back. No worries!

2007-07-16T23:56:00.000-07:00

To get from Bend to the state capital, Salem (and the Willamette Valley), you must cross the Cascade Mountains .... well, you could go around but that's a very long trip! One popular way to get over the mountains is through the Santiam Pass (elevation 4817 ft). Harley had a great time and loved the fresh air and windy roads .... and averaged a healthy 57+ mpg! Impressive!

Many years ago the majority of roads in this part of the State were paved using the red cinders you see here on the shoulder. The red roads are one thing that stand out in my mind from my childhood days. You could always tell when you were out of the "Valley" (and on the way to a camping holiday) by the color of the roads ... and the sky. I actually took this picture on the way back, so those of you who are geography buffs will recognize the county I'm entering is not in the Valley, and the skies are blue (the Valley is known to “sometimes” have cloudy skies).

The dead trees are a result of a recent forest fire, which they now call "wildfires". There'll be more about those later.

As you get on the Valley side of the Cascades things become much greener. Here we stopped for a break at the town of Detroit, which is located near the top end of Detroit Reservoir. I thought the selection of services and choices was interesting.

By winter the moorings will probably be sitting on dry land and all the boats will be gone. They drain most of the water to make room for the melting snow and rain that usually arrives in the spring, and also to provide a more consistent water supply for the agricultural operations in the Valley and some hydroelectricity.

So the birthday jaunt was a success. I was especially surprised at how much easier the trip back seemed after gaining the experience on the way over. It was very nice catching up with family, but after being away for 20 years there is no hope of keeping the match-ups between parents and kids sorted out! I guess if we are all family it doesn't make much difference who's whose!

I must thank my sister Beverly for getting everything organized … thanks Big Sister!

And thank all of you for your best wishes!

Location! Location! Location!

2007-07-14T20:12:00.000-07:00

Stitched a couple pictures together so you could see how Bend nestles up against the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains. It's elevation is about 4000 ft and, being in a rain shadow, the annual rainfall is about 10 in. Technically, this side of Oregon is a high altitude desert.... we just call it "high desert" here. There's the High Desert Museum, High Desert Gallery, High Desert Water Hauling ... you get the picture. Bend extends several miles off to the right of the picture. These pictures were taken from the top of Pilot Butte, a favourite scenic lookout for visitors and locals alike. Except for those who get a bit queasy going around in circles up hill!

That's Mt Bachelor on the left, followed by Broken Top and the Three Sisters as you pan right. All volcanoes. They say they are extinct.... but Mt St Helens is only a 100 or so miles north, and it's still rumbling since its big eruption in 1980.

Sometimes we humans think on such a small scale.

The Cascades stretch from Washington State to the north, to California to the South, producing extensive walking, fishing, biking and other outdoor activity opportunities. And did I mention the trees? Bend was originally a lumber town, and the timber industry still is very important. Just has to be done differently. Forests of Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir, Lodgepole Pine, Hemlock and other evergreen species are still found here. Development has taken its toll, though.

There's still plenty of work. Unemployment is about 3%. The last two years Mt Bachelor Ski Area has had to hire students from South America to meet their winter demands. New houses are springing up like mushrooms on a cow pat after a summer rain, and it's been labeled as one of the most desirable US cities to live in.... Don’t know if that's good or bad. Probably both, though the deer might disagree.

"The times they are a changin'".

Today is my 60th birthday. Tomorrow morning I'll be riding my Harley across those mountains to have a birthday gathering with my family (135 miles). My first big trip on the Harley... only got my motorcycle license last week! Why has it taken me so long? Riding is like a new freedom!

Aussie Connections

2007-07-13T19:09:00.001-07:00

You know, there's something unusual about this place. I keep finding things I'd expect to see in Australia. Take roundabouts for example. Do you have them where you live? I had never seen them until I went to Australia. But while I was away Bend built dozens of these things. And most are huge! So big the centers double as art galleries! Very nice! Just wish we could get people to signal when they use them!

There are also many Aussie connections on Mt Bachelor. Just check out their trail map. Especially the "Outback" side of the mountain. And their "Little Rippers" ski school classes! Struth!

I love it!

A bit of the view

2007-07-12T11:27:00.000-07:00

This is the Oregon I love .... mountains, water and trees.

It is summer. Temperatures have been in the high 80s - low 90s.

That's nice now, but can spell disaster later.

If you like to fish, hike/walk, ride, ski, golf, etc, you'd like it here.