Next stop: Bend, Oregon

It was a fun, memorable weekend. We experienced our first ever Rodeo and in between bouncing back and forth to rodeo events, we spent time with and got to know more NoWACA members.  Our rally hosts put on a terrific rally, with matching themed meals and games.  We enjoyed traditional American flapjacks, melt-in-the-mouth ribs, hamburgers, corn, chili, muffins, ice cream… the traditional American fare that suits the wild west and its cowboy culture. 
And not to be outdone by the rodeo events, the games and competitions at the Yakima River RV Park continued as Alpine members faced one another off at a game of ladder golf.  
The amusing part is that here at the RV Park, set among fields on the outskirts of Ellensburg, the bulls watched us from behind the fence in their pasture.

It was a perfect setting.

We have made new Alpine friends, and look forward to meeting up along the road again some time soon. For we are a travel-loving bunch, moving from destination to destination in our Alpine coaches, following the sun and warmth, and having different experiences. 
And as I found out yet again, there are quilters in every rally group. I met several more quilt-mates yet again at this rally. 

Rodeo and NoWACA Rally over, we left this morning for Bend, Oregon, after a last coffee and donut breakfast and mutual adieus. Route 97 was a straight run into Bend, a familiar run which we have driven several times.  The difference this time was that everything was bone dry and looked parched. 
I snapped photos of today's drive to Bend to capture the essence of the time of year. 

vineyards clinging to the hill

cresting one of two passes

wide open spaces

open gently rolling terrain

Mt Adams, sparsely covered now

approaching the Yakima valley

this is the land of fruit orchards and fruit packing cases

a Rialta passed us along the way... and rekindled fond memories of our travels in
our Rialta

entering a forested zone

previous fire damage remains still

Mt Hood with its distinctive pointy peak

Mt Hood up close

even in this remote area, there are cattle ranches

wind turbines signal the approach to the Columbia River

a glimpse of the Columbia River far below in the gorge

the downward approach to the bridge crossing into Oregon

the bridge across the river and Mt Hood in the distance

crossing into Oregon

We crossed the mighty Columbia, filled up at the Flying J across the border in Oregon, and continued on. 


There was a fire high on a ridge above us, the firefighters already hard at work putting it out. The areas east of the Cascade Mountain range have had a particularly difficult time this year with fires which started early in the summer. Hundreds of folks lost homes and several towns were evacuated.
It's a tireless job, and we are thankful for the constant vigilance and efforts of the firefighters.

Next on our agenda was an appointment with Bend RV Repair to have some body-work done.  So, our prime camping spot for the next couple of days will be in the industrial lot at Bend RV. The good thing is that Jeff will hook us up to 50 amp power. And the even better news is that Michael's sister lives in Bend so we will be spending time with the family as well.