CENTRAL OREGON

For OUR WORLD TUESDAY  and NATURE FOOTSTEPS-WATERS on Wednesday.

Last week, we took a spur-of-the-moment mid-week trip to Bend in Central Oregon.  As always, it was "not so much the destination as the voyage itself that mattered."

 

 

When we lived in Springfield,*  Bend was a favorite weekend getaway spot.  It is a scenic loop drive from the Willamette Valley and the high desert climate made it a nice change from the sometimes rainy and gray valley.   

It's still mostly sunny and warm in the Valley (where we're spending the summer), but we haven't really visited Central Oregon since we sold our home and moved from the State, so we thought we'd check out some of our old haunts during this visit.  

These pictures are all from the Willamette Pass, which on this trip was our return half of the loop drive.  We camped often in this area,  with our kids and after they were grown.  Nearly every campground, view and trail we passed brought back memories.  

 

 

We enjoyed revisiting these old memories and the spectacular scenery —  and we were happy to be able to head up to the mountains in the middle of the week without having to worry about getting back for work! 

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*Springfield-Eugene was a great area to live, work and raise our family, and there is a lot to do right in the area.  But sometimes you just want to get away.   One of the neat things about the area was — and is — that there are so many different ways to do that easily (and relatively cheaply).  Within an easy day's drive East there is central Oregon, with great mountain camping spots along the way (and skiing during the Winter);   going West there's  the beautiful Oregon Coast;  heading North is Portland with all its bigger city amenities; and South Ashland, Medford, Jacksonville with the famous  Shakespeare Theater and other cultural activities (and yet another climate).