Trip to the High Desert

It has been such a strange – wet and cool spring that when we saw a weather forecast predicting 85 degrees on June 12th we packed up and headed out for a "fishing trip".
Since it has been raining all along the rivers are still high and when we reached the favorite Santiam River there were no fish.

That’s when we decided to be spontaneous and just keep driving EAST. We camped for two nights in the Ochoco Canyon alongside the Crooked River near Prineville OR. It was really warm – in the 90's and beautiful.




I did a lot of reading and meditating and Ron did a lot of fishing and cooking. Not many fish because the River there was high too – but the Sunrise and Sunset on the Crooked River are spectacular! It was a wonderful time.


The first night our bed in the back of the truck broke and we both slid together in the middle! Not so bad for a while but soon I was announcing "I'm getting out of here!". Ron said – where are you going? I said "I'm getting out of here!" I found if I put my head by his feet the bed was a little flatter. I found a way to hang on all night but it was the longest nights I have ever experienced! The benefit was seeing the sky FULL of stars as I have had the pleasure to witness. The next night with the help of the car jack under our bed – we had a lovely nights sleep!

Mute Swans are not native - but make beautiful attraction at roadside park near Prineville

It was Flagg Day - June 14th as we came home through Redmond.
We had beautiful views of the Three Sisters, Mt. Batchelor, Mt Jefferson, Mt Washington, and Three Fingered Jack as we traveled through the Eastern Valley on the way home.

Just before we reached Whitewater Road on the way down from the pass a deer jumped out in front of us as we were traveling about 55 MPH. Ron jammed on the brakes, the deer slid past, Ron jumped on the accelerator and increased our speed to about 10 MPH and turned the right corner of the truck toward the oncoming truck with locked up brakes and smoking tires. Ron was present enough to hold himself stiffly back from the steering wheel so that he wouldn't be thrown against his defib implant. Thanks to his quick thinking no one was seriously hurt, except the poor old truck. It is in the repair shop now.


I am starting about 8 weeks of therapy for whip-lash and am pretty stiff and uncomfortable right now. Rest, therapeutic massage, and hopefully I will be back to my stud-ly self!!

We welcome all the new babies in our life. James & Cami had a baby boy – Ian Alexander! Maria had a little girl on June 21st – Lilly. What beautiful children they are!
Ian Alexander


Lilly
Today Marilyn's parents celebrate 50 years of Marriage at a backyard celebration. That is a wonderful gift as well. Congratulations Wayne and Pat!

Greeting and love to all of you – busy people. We love you!