August 17^th – Cool 48 degrees. We got Lexi a little exercise, hit the showers and headed to church. The regular pastor was gone so we had a very interesting Franciscan from the Bronx, NY who was originally from here. He was very good and had some stories to share from his ministry in the poor area where he is now and from the Harlem area he was in before and he made the stories the gospel from today very well. We made a quick trip back to switch loads in the washer and headed into Bend to meet Olivia. She said she slept in a hammock last night – now that’s camping I’m not ready for… The place we were supposed to go had an hour and a half wait so she texted us a new location and for a change the GPS did very well. (A lot of times I yell at it – where in the heck are you trying to take me!!!) It was a small place but had a nice patio and great mostly organic menu. Then she and her friend/co-worker had to head back to the boondocks up north of the Columbia River in Washington.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We stopped on the way back at the Newberry Volcanic National Monument. Not something you would expect to see in the middle of the tall pine forests. We got a lot of good info but the crowds were heavy so we said – see you tomorrow. Back to do a few more chores and calls before heading to a more remote area of the Park for some hiking at the Obsidian volcanic site – didn’t know there were so many kind of volcanic rock. We had a nice afternoon seeing Obsidian (black shinny rock) that shatters into sharp edged pieces and the lakes formed in the craters. On the way back we found a neat water falls and we got to hike down to the base for a great view.

 

A loud and interesting evening back in the motorhome – a sudden storm with large rain drops and small hail – so loud there was no way to hear the TV! We watched the ground turn white and then the streets turn into streams before it got too dark to see. I don’t think it did damage but morning light will be a better judge of that. I went on for an hour and a half – several inches I’m sure – not sure the rain gauge would have survived if it was out.

 

 

August 16^th – After our morning walk we had a shortened version of lawn chair coffee and started getting things ready to move on from Pendleton to Sunriver – just south of Bend, OR. By the time we got here and set up camp,  rode our bikes around the campground and checked out the Pickleball courts, the office, store and the schedule for while we are here. We talked to our niece who was here with friends this weekend and decided to meet her in the morning after church.