The closer we got to Oregon, the more water there was. As we got close to the border and hungry for lunch, we stopped by Shasta Lake, which was clearly low but still beautiful.
We switched onto 97 N where we entered Oregon, there was no state sign, but the visitor centers began. Oregon is full of them. It is also full of snow capped mountain. This part of the drive was beautiful.
Here?
Logging country
That's our car!
As we got closer, we started arguing over whether Meir's or LeeAnn's cousin (in Utah) lives more in the middle of nowhere. We didn't come to a conclusion.
We drove past Bend on 20 W toward Tumalo, then started driving through farms. Turns out Amber and Brian live on about 4 acres of land, and are getting two mini donkeys soon.
When we got there we unpacked some things from the car, grabbed beers and relaxed with the family. Rona (aunt), Vaughn (Uncle), Amber, Brian, Cody (cousin), and CJ (dog) were all there to enjoy food and conversation. We also discussed the plan for the next day as we wanted to go rafting on a river but we decided to go to Elk lake where we could take a short nature walk, relax by the lake, and swim a little.
The next day we all went to the lake minus Brian (who had school). It was a longer drive than expected but it was really nice with trees and mountains on all sides of us with different bodies of water occasionally being by our side.
When we got to the lake area we walked for about an hour on a trail that led us by water and through trees while seeing volcanic debris looking rocks.
Rona and Meir
Cody and CJ found a path to the water for CJ to cool down
Vaughn, Cody, Rona, Meir, Amber (and of course CJ)
After the walk we drove to a better lake area where we found a place to sit at the restaurant and eat lunch overlooking the water.
After lunch and putting on sunscreen we lay by the lake and jumped in for a bit. Meir spent a little time watching a dog owner training her dog to jump into the lake to swim after a stick and retrieve it. It was very interesting to see the puppy succeed and swim far into the water after only 15 minutes or so of training.
Meanwhile everyone else watched a group of kids who looked quite young and were holding different drinks and talking about drinking and smoking. We had bets on how young they were, but never actually asked.
Napping with CJ
After we all had enough of the heat and the sun, we gathered all our stuff and headed back to Bend, OR. In the city Amber gave us a really nice tour of different parts of the city so we got a flavor of what was in the area.
It was really cute with parks and lots of kayaking and water tubing. Looks like a nice area.
We got back at about 5:30 and decided to relax in the cool house until Shabbat. We thought about going into Bend again, this time to actually walk around, but decided we wanted to just relax which was necessary at times on the trip.
We had dinner (salmon and salad) and dessert (pie, cake, and ice cream) and talked about different Jewish laws including Shabbat. After dinner Rona taught us how to play a new (for us) card game called Five Crowns. We played until we were tired and at that point Becky had shut us all out. We all cried our way to sleep.
In the morning (Fourth of July!) we had a lazy morning hanging around the house and then in the late morning Meir, LeeAnn, and Rona took CJ for a walk. We figured it was not too hot yet and we would not go too far. We ended up walking and talking for longer than expected and by the time we turned around to head back home CJ seemed pooped. About 5 more minutes back and CJ was not going any more. He was too tired! Rona stopped with him in the shade of a tree, and LeeAnn and Meir walked back to ask Cody to pick them up. (They were just around the corner)
When we were all back home LeeAnn, Meir, and Becky played some games while the rest of the crew went out for some shopping. After a nap some of Amber and Brian's friends came over for some July 4th celebrations and a bbq. While the bbq was going we played horseshoes on their lawn where they have a place to play horseshoes. Horseshoes and beer is a great combination!
Brian was so nice to buy Kosher meat for us kosher eaters! For dinner we ate a feast with potato salad, different meats, salad, bread, and fruit (watermelon!). As we finished dinner, we all headed inside and played a big game of Cards Against Humanity. It was a hilarious game with so many different types of people playing. As we were playing we realized the sunset became more and more gorgeous so we went outside and we took in the scenery as much as possible.
We put CJ into the house because he is afraid of fireworks even though we were not sure if there would be any in Bend. There were not that many but some individuals set off fireworks and those were nice. The firework show for the night was when we watched television on recording; we saw the fireworks parade in New York. We tried to blog after everyone went to bed but it was always difficult to blog so late at night.
We tried to wake up reasonably early so we could maximize our time the next day. We packed our stuff and said our good byes and then headed through Sisters, OR on the 20 to the 22 to get to Silver Falls State Park. We heard there were some nice shorter hikes with waterfalls there and we wanted to do a little hiking as we had not done much in some time.
One of Brian's cars
Which mountain is which?
We stopped at a rest stop with a funny sign:
Please help keep the restroom clean
Men, stand close, the seat is lower than you think
Ladies, please stay seated for the entire performance
Good advice
On our way we witnessed a fire where helicopters had to carry bags that they dumped into a nearby river and then dump it on top of the fire. It was the first time we had seen this and it was scary knowing how close we were to a fire but also fascinating to see first hand a fire being put out (at least an attempt).
When we got to Silver Falls, after a few unsure turns, we took a short hike which was really nice by a few waterfalls and nice smelling trees.
The air smelled very clean and pure, and we got to walk behind the waterfalls. We stopped for a quick lunch break by the side of the trail, and decided to go on the longer hike to see the second waterfall.
The game began at 4pm and the radio told us at 4:08 that the US was winning 3-0. We did not completely believe it but if it was true, that sounded like an amazing start. Becky got confirmations from her family who was watching the game that the US was actually kicking butt. The game sounded so crazy.
Through twists and turns out of the state park, and getting slightly lost, we got to the 5 and headed up to Portland, OR. When we got to Becky's aunt Sandy's house the soccer match was out of reach in the 75th minute.
We snacked and watched the end of the game with Becky's family. Sandy is a pro at putting out snacks. Not only were there the typical veggie platters and awesome cheese and crackers, she also had a bowl with different kinds of M&Ms mixed with popcorn, candy corn, and different types of chocolate chips. When the game ended we all sat down to a delicious dinner. It was so fun for Meir and LeeAnn to get to know Becky's family, and for Becky to catch up with all of them. When they left after dinner we watched part of a movie then showered and went to sleep.
Monday morning we woke up prepared for a full day in Portland. Sandy made us a cute candy weiner dog, we had a good breakfast, packed up and started on our way.
Our first stop was Washington City Park. Becky knew of an overlook of the city from there, and we wanted to check it out. Unfortunately, we drove in a few circles and didn't find the overlook, even after a woman tried to direct us, so when we stopped at a gas station and realized we were almost downtown, we just kept going.
We found parking and the meter happened to be broken, so we got a free spot for the day! (And smartly took a photo of the message saying that day was free).
We walked away, then came back for things we left, then continued on to find food trucks for lunch. There were so many options and we each got something different.
We must be in the Northwest
While Meir was still waiting for his food, LeeAnn walked pretty far to try to find a bathroom. She finally found Macy's and right when she walked in someone directed her to the bathroom, there was no question what she was there for, but thank goodness for Macy's.
When she got back, we all went to the river for a picnic. We got way too much food, but it was really good (and gave LeeAnn a snack for later).
After lunch we walked on the path near the water until we got to a ground water sprout (more commonly called a fountain) where we sat in the shade. Meir and Becky went to look for a restroom, which was not easy to find, while LeeAnn waiting for her friend Kate, from study abroad, to meet with us.
We all met back at the bench in the shade and walked to a Starbucks via a small farmers market in search of cold drinks. There was nothing worthy at the farmers market so we stopped at Starbucks quickly and continued walking.
LeeAnn, Kate, and Becky
Small market
We ended up at The Oregon Historical Society Museum, where there were supposed to be cool 8 story murals outside. We did not see the whole museum, since it cost too much, but on the way to the bathrooms we were told that an older women who was there was a women who was written about in a display for changes in the community. It was so cool being able to see her walk around the exhibit about herself, remembering the times she had had and the changes she made.
That's her with the white hair behind her helper
As we ventured back out we passed this old guy once again by the entrance to the musuem. Turns out it was a wax figure, but the most convincing one any of us had seen. We all thought he might be security and would kick us out for not immediately leaving after using the restrooms.
Then we went back into the hot air where we saw a man who was either meditating or extremely high (legalization in Oregon has made strides recently).
Becky decided she wanted to just wander around and shop a bit, so she took Meir's phone, and LeeAnn, Meir and Kate went back to Washington Park together. We wanted to go to the Japanese Garden, and walked all the way, just to find out it cost too much, so we moved on to the FREE International Rose Garden where we saw amazing bushes and roses.
LeeAnn and Kate (Sydney roommates)
Stop and smell the roses
Water fight!
We tip our hats (or lack there of)
We stopped quickly in the gift store, and found out there was a self guided tour we'd missed, but we got to taste some rose tea (sadly not from their roses) and saw the tallest family.
We left there and went to Pittock Mansion, where we decided not to pay to go in, but got a nice view of Portland from up high.
Talk about a room with a view
On our way out, we stopped in the bathroom as usual, and LeeAnn tried to put her nice camera in her purse, but missed. That was the end of that. She tried not to freak out, and hoped it would work again, but she didn't have high hopes.
Only in Portland
It was getting hot and the entire day we were talking about ice cream so we finally went to the ice cream talk of the town called Salt and Straw. LeeAnn and Meir could not believe that the line went around the corner of the store. It must be delicious... There were so many different kinds of flavors and new flavors are being created all the time (including but not limited to depending on the season).
After eating and tasting many flavors, but deciding not to buy a flight (great idea to have flights in an ice cream shop though!) we headed out to meet up with Becky and a few of her friends. We got to the top floor of a huge building and went into a restaurant called Departure. There were some nice views from up there but Becky and co. were finishing up and had not had the best experience there with the service, so they were ready to leave and go elsewhere.
They wanted to hang out and have happy hour in the area before we left Portland so we found a place in a mall and sat there. Only some of us got drinks and the waiter attempted to help LeeAnn with her camera issues, sadly it didn't work, but it was very kind of him to try.
DELICIOUS "Punch" Drinks
On the way out of the mall Meir got himself a nice belt, since his pants never seem to stay up. Then Becky went to do some last minute shopping, and LeeAnn, Meir, and Kate went to Powell's bookstore because it seemed like the last necessary stop in Portland. We wandered around and LeeAnn read Tiki-tiki-tembo to everyone, then Kate read an awesome book none of us had heard of.
Kid Picks!
Kate reading to Meir
We all said good bye to our friends and the traveling crew met back up to head out of Portland, OR and head for Seattle, WA.
