Last Days in Bend Oregon...

In the middle of Bend is a tall hill called "Pilot Butte", the top of this butte affords one a 360 degree panorama of all of Bend and its surrounding mountain ranges. An awe inspiring vista.

photos below...Used the zoom feature on my little camera to get a close up shot of the Cascade Mountain Range. Wish I knew all the names of the many peaks but the only one I know by name is Mt. Hood and I'm sorry to say I don't know it by sight. Bet you Oregonians know which one it is.

Photos below...Different view points in the 360 vista.

photo below...shows more of the city of Bend. Over the last 10 years this small high desert city has grown in leaps and bounds. Some of the growth good, some...well not so much !

Photo below...This large Juniper tree grows at the top of Pilot Butte, it has obviously seen better days but it is still impressive, plus I couldn't resist snapping a photo of my hubby as he waited patiently for me to finish taking pictures.

As I get this blog ready for posting I'm sitting in a hotel room in Denver, Colorado and it is COLD outside, or at least it feels cold to this tropical Florida gal. When we left Rock Springs (really Green River) Wyoming at almost 7:00 a.m. this morning, the temp outside was 27 degrees. My teeth are chattering just thinking about it.

Now I've got to pack stuff back into our suitcases as we head out tomorrow towards Witchita, Kansas. So I'll leave you with a few photos of vivid flowers that caught my eye on my last day in Bend, Oregon.

And the GRAND FINALE...my bouquet to all of you

Bend Oregon...The Jewel of the High Desert

Photo above...In the main lobby of the Ameri Tel Inn is the most spectacular stone fireplace. I always marvel at its height and the fact that it is double sided so guests can enjoy a roaring fire from both sides.

Howdy all...we're in Rock Springs Wyoming...well actually it's Green River. Took some photos here this early evening, hope they look good when I download them and see them on a PC monitor. But that will be for another day, I'm still trying to catch up on all the photos I've taken in California and Oregon, oh yes and Washington too ! Egad, I'm getting behinder and behinder (I'm sure Alice must have said something similar after tumbling down the rabbit hole).

Photo below...the large chandelier that greets guests has a very definite Arts and Crafts look to it as does much of the decor of this magnificent Inn.

Photo below...The main desk with hotel manager Don Seaton helping one of the guests. Don is one of the world's nicest, most congenial and most helpful hotel managers my hubby and I have ever met. He goes out of his way to make each guest comfortable and insures their stay is an enjoyable one.

The lovely Ameri Tel Inn has a number of suites that face spectacular views of the Deschutes River. It also features a lovely breakfast area where one can enjoy everything from bacon and eggs to waffles, muffins, fruit, cereal, well you get the idea. Then in the early evening they set out a large tray of freshly baked cookies...my hubby always looks forward to that special treat.

Photo below...the breakfast bar

Photo below...A pretty garden area where one can sit and have an iced tea in the summer or hot coffee in the cooler months.

Photo below...The petunias were real show offs !

Photos below...LAST OF THE SUMMER BLOOMS !

The Ameri Tel Inn is located in the Old Mill District of Bend. This is a charming area of shops and restaurants that front the Deschutes River. It is also an area very popular with the health enthusiast and you're sure to always find joggers, bikers, and even kayakers getting their exercise and enjoying the beauty of the area.

Photo below...The entrance to the Old Mill District from the Ameri Tel Inn (there are other entrances, but this one is the most convenient for the guests).

Photo below...The original smoke stacks from the old mill now stand as tall landmarks which can be spotted for what seems like miles.

Photo below...View of some of the shops in the mill district.

Photo below...and art is everywhere.

Photos below...The scenic Deshutes River, a favorite with kayakers and canoeist.

Photo below...There was a duck floating in the river...really there was, but just as I snapped the photo he ducked. If you look closely you might be able to spot his little duck tail sticking up out of the water. Guess I was mooned by a duck. LOL

Photo below...Kayaker on the river.

I have many more photos but they will have to wait until tomorrow. All-in-all I just hope that there are a few lovely souls out there that are getting some pleasure from my blog and my photos. Best wishes to you.

A tiny mission at the end of the mission trail

Hello from Boise, Idaho !
The day has been long and tiring, amazing how tired one can get from sitting in a car all day long. We left Issaquah, Washington early this morning, around 8 a.m. and drove from Washington state through Oregon and now, after about 7 hours of driving ( between 75 and 80 mph), we are in Idaho...Boise to be exact. I will keep this short as I can hardly keep my eyes open.

Our stay in Navoto, California was a short one and we really didn't do a whole lot of sight seeing. I did get to have a lovely visit with my sister which was the primary purpose of our stopping in the San Francisco area.

Photos below are of the Mission San Francisco Solano in Sonoma, California. This is the last and finale mission on the California mission trail.

Photo below...Love the little pomegranate tree at the front of the mission.

Photo below...Front entry of mission church.

Photo below...another lovely old mission door.

Photo below...Mission's historic plaque.

Photos below...The historic City Hall of Sonoma California.

Photo below...The largest Eucalyptus tree I've ever seen. Had to get a shot with my sister and hubby next to it.

Forgive me for cutting this so short but as I said the day has been long and tiring and we have gone many miles since we first arrived in Los Angeles California. I hope to get the photos of Bend Oregon posted tomorrow but tomorrow is also going to be another 7 or 8 hour drive...this time from Boise to Rock Springs, Wyoming. Pardon me while I go crash into bed. zzzzzzz

Another long drive before we reach the San Francisco area

As I write this I find myself discouraged and wondering if I am merely wasting my time and efforts on this chronicling of my excursion along the Western states. It's as though I'm calling out into a wind with no one out there to hear me or to care. Perhaps I am mostly alone and my energy would be better spent on doing other things ? But today I have these photos to share so guess I'll give it another shot and see what happens. Perhaps fate will be kind to me...and then again perhaps not...what will my karma be ?

Photo above...After driving through the mountainous desert regions of places with names like Maracopa, Taft, Ventucopa and buttonwillow you're faced with the finale descent into the lower valley lands of interior California.

The trip up from Ojai to the San Francisco area is a long and winding drive through hillsides and mountain terrains. At times the views are scenic with tall trees and breathtakingly steep mountain cliffs, at other times it's dry, barren dessert where vegetation is sparse, punctuated by occasional sagebrush and tumbleweeds. Most of the flat land, whether it was high mountain valleys or low interior valleys, were fertile agricultural land, all that was needed was water ! Unfortunately water is a dear commodity in the Southern areas of California's San Joaquin Valley.

Photo below... A winding road awaits us. At the far right of this photo is a small patch of lush green. The promise of what miracles water can achieve.

Photos below...The view was massive, expansive and impressive. Stretching out as far as the eye could see...rolling hills and clear blue sky and a tiny ribbon of a road beckoning us forward.

The next stop will be after a 3 hour drive to my sister's home in Novato, California. From here on out my journey will continue, but should I continue to post about it ? I keep asking myself this...and all I get are question marks ?????