15th trip of 2015- Maupin area

Last weekend we decided to explore the areas around Maupin, Oregon.    The city has a nice campground but it was full with very nice RVs.   We were able to find a space in the BLM's Oasis Campground.  Our trailer faced the river and only 50 feet more or less to the water.  Only 3 other sites were occupied.  Salmon were running on the Lower Deschutes so the others were fly fishing the river.

Indians dip netting salmon at Shear Fall, I got lucky not Photo Shop. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  On Saturday we explored the BLM road north and south of Maupin.  Many rafters and fishermen along the river.  Other than a couple of salmon, one caught in a dip net and one doe not much wildlife.  It is interesting to watch how the river goes from wide open to narrow and fast running stream.    Road was in good condition for little car. Good relaxing day.

White river entering the Deschutes River, nice small campground there but mostly group sites

Doe near old RR station house, she did not look very happy to have us there

Rafters coming down the river, fun

Close to home, road 370 and Broken top trail head

Sunday we took a short drive from Snowshoe Inn to Broken Top trail head.  I heard the USFS opened the gate early this year on the 370 road toward Todd Lake.  Normally the gate is not opened until much later in the summer.  It was a nice day and I had to get away.

So many wildflowers 

Head waters of Tumalo Creek

Each year the road gets rougher and it seems steeper.  So slow  GPS said 4 mph over much of the route.  We first stopped a short distance from where the road fords the upper reaches of Tumalo Creek.  It is a beautiful riparian area full of wild flowers.  Pepper had a chance to roll in the water and mud.  She was happy, Bobbe found a spot to read her kindle and she was also happy.  I was able to stretch my legs and take a few photographs,  that made me happy.  So far we only saw a few motor cycles and one pick up truck.

Just a few rigs east of parking lot

We continued along the 370 road toward the Broken Top trail head.  Only saw a couple of parked rigs along the road.  OMG, when we got to the road to the trail head we began to see more rigs. A little Toyota passed us a short distance up the road.  Before the trail head we saw several other rigs parked on the shoulder of the road.  At the trail head we saw 18 to 24 rigs.  We normally see only one or two rigs on most of our travels east of Bend.  Just a reminder of why we normally do not go into the Cascades on our travels.  We normally do not see that many rigs during a whole year of our travels.  Next trip is Southeast.  Bee safe.

Mile High Camp, off USFS Rd 23 4/18-19/15 3rd trip 2015

Loaded and ready for an adventure, note Mike's new motor home in background

Weather forecast was for great spring weekend. Bobbe decided we should take travel trailer out for some "camping".   I grabbed my USFS map of the Deschutes NF and looked for options.  In Central Oregon we go from Snow, to Mud, to Dust so quickly.  Depending on elevation and aspect we can hit all three on one trip.   I decided to try a new spot called Sand Springs CG.  It was in are area South of Pine Mt were we explored New Years Eve and new years day 2015. 

Backed into Mile High Camp

It turned out that Sand Springs Camp Ground was abandoned by the USFS and we drove a couple of miles  past the site with out knowing it.  We found a nice site a couple hundred yards of road USFS Rd 23 and backed in.  At 59 feet long I have found that often it is better to back into sites versus trying to turn around.  It takes 40 acres to turn my rig around.  This location happened to be at an elevation of 5280 feet according to my GPS..  Now it is Mile High Camp.  The drive from hwy 20 was 23 miles and took just over an hour.  USFS gravel roads are not fast, when pulling a trailer.

A huge power substation

 While searching for a geocache we found a very large substation out in the middle of the forest.  It must be 5 acres in size.  Three large sets of power lines go from Columbia River BPA system to California.  Plenty of power to charge mt cell phone  :) 

Bobbe with geocache

 

 

 

 

We found several geocaches over the weekend.  This one was inside a very large hallowed out Ponderosa Pine log.  The tree had to be six to seven feet in diameter.  It would be very hard to know the age of the tree when it died but it had to close to 700 years old and it must have to been dead for many hundreds of years now.  The location here is very poor soils and minimal water.  It shows how tough the species is and how long it can live, very long

Bobbe behind a large lava tube. 

Spring Break 2015

Spring Break 2015 Bobbe and I traveled well beyond the PNW.   This spring break we were in our nations capital, Washington, DC.   We took the time to explore many of the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress.   Washington, DC has a great rail system.  Our motel was only 3 blocks from the train station.   In less than a half hour later we were at the National Mall.  On our fist day after we recovered from the flights we visited the Smithsonian Natural History Museum.

Packed and ready for flight

In plane for first flight

A very popular exhibit  "the Hope Diamond"  

A map showing our home location

Everyone remembers "Jaws"

not a fish

Piece of Petrified wood outside Natural History Museum

On our second day we slept in until the rush hour was done, had coffee near the station and headed back to the National Mall  spent most of our time in the National Air and Space Museum and were able to visit one of the many outdoor sculpture gardens. The Air and Space Museum was huge and hoards were everywhere.  It was amazing to see the Wright brothers plane.  Oh the space craft.

Out door sculpture garden

Apallo Space Suit

Lunch at Air & Space Museum

Interesting art next to Starbucks and train station

Now can you tell me who and when this quote was made?

Love this piece

Where were you when this step was made?

It was amazing to not only see the plane but also the work they did to get in flight

It is important to pace your self

Not a fish

One of the high points of our trip was the Library of Congress.  We did the usual tourist thing but also spent the time to get readers cards.  With the readers card we were able to use much of the collections of the Library.   It did not take long and we spent half a day in the reference reading room in the Adams Building.  Bobbe and I found books on Japanese plants, Peony genus Shade plants.  How many gardeners in Bend have taken the time to do research at The Library Congress?  It was fun to also explore many of the underground hallway between the buildings.

 

Research in the Reading Room

The Gutenberg Bible

Add caption

All boys love this stuff

Thomas Jefferson's personal Library

Spring 2015, It is coming.

Snow drops

hellebore

crocus

Well exploring close to home,  my landscape around Snowshoe Inn, I discovered that spring is on the way.  You can not argue with spring bulbs, crocus, snowdrops, hellebore are coming up today.  I fired up snow machines and will put them back in cargo container this weekend until next winter's snow returns.