June 15, 2012

06/12/2012

We have been at Smith Rock for almost two weeks now and I can tell you, it's great to be back in Central Oregon and to our favorite park.

Mount Bachelor, Broken Top and the Three Sisters, Faith, Hope and Charity

Joyce and I have been a little busier this year than in years past.  Our co-hosts last year, Jerry and Marilyn Howlett, couldn't make it to Smith Rock due to a medical issue.  So, Joyce and I have had to step up to the plate and put in a few extra hours.  Not a big deal, but we don't have as much free time as we like.  The good news is that Matt, our new ranger and host coordinator has found some folks that will be here the last week in June.

On Tuesday last week, we took a long drive over into the Ochoco National Forest, through Mitchell, OR and then into the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.  The Fossil Beds in actually headquartered in John Day, OR and has four units, the Painted Hills Unit being one of them.  We hope to see more to the Monument before we leave the area in August, especially the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center at the Sheep Rock Unit.

After leaving Smith Rock, we took Highway 26 out of Prineville.  This park of the  highway winds it's way through the beautiful lodgepole pine forest, which is especially nice this time of the year. Although it was a partly cloudy and windy day, we really enjoyed that part of the drive.

After descending  out of the pines, we made our way down into the high desert, finally arriving at the small town of Mitchell, OR.  Not much more that a wide spot on the road, Mitchell never-the-less has a diner, a hotel and I think I saw a hardware store to boot.  Oh, and I almost forgot to add, the Silver Spur Lounge.  We enjoyed our picnic lunch at the city park which, believe it or not, boasts an RV Park.

After visiting the booming town of Mitchell, we backtracked to the Fossil Beds and a must see if you are in the area.  The hills were alive with color, which was caused by volcanic activity many moons ago.  Absolutely beautiful!

From the Fossil Beds, we took Highway 207 north out of Mitchell and then Highway 19 up through Fossill, OR.  Out of Fossil we took Highway 218 then 293 over to Highway 97 south through Madras.  It was a long, but  beautiful drive.

On Sunday the 10th, Joyce and I along with Scott, Smith Rock Manager attended the 72nd Annual Sisters Rodeo.  Although much smaller than the San Antonio rodeo, this rodeo had a small town feel (much like the Goliad, TX rodeo), with the majority of the cowboys and girls being from Oregon.  However, since this is a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event, there were several contestants from as far away as Texas.  We have already made plans to attend the 73rd event next June.

The Team Bronc Riding event, which Joyce and I had never seen before was really wild.  In this event, three-man teams must catch a wild horse, halter and saddle it, then a team member mounts to ride the horse past a barrel at the far end of the arena. The team has a mugger, an anchor and a rider. The horses are ranch-raised but unbroke animals who may grow up to be in bucking strings if they like the job. This was one of the first events in Sisters Rodeo history.


On Monday the 11th, we drove up to The Cove Palisades State Park in Culver to have supper with Rick and Patty Stills who were on their way to visit family and friends in Vacaville, CA.  Rick and I served together in the 7th MAS at Travis before he got an assignment to Altus AFB, OK.  It was great to see them again.  We plan to visit there home in Rathdrum, ID in August when we start our trip to the east coast.

Retired and Lovin' It!

06/15/2012

Last night we had supper with Sharon, Smith Rock's Interpretive Host at the Pump House Bar and Grill in Terrebonne.  Sharon is a full-time RV'er who has been traveling for several years and at one time made a trip across the country in a camper-van.  She also has a son who lives in Peru, and has visited there a few times.

More later!