What does everyone do eventually when they are writing such
interesting BS over time? They delete the current blog and its only
when they go back to add some more very important data that they
realize that, and of course this does not pertain to moi, that there
has been a major screw up. So my worthwhile friends of very little
patience I am trying to re-capitulate my past travels for the last 3
weeks.
For one I spent 2 weeks at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge as a
volunteer in SE Oregon putting up signs, grumpy old fuds and a blocked
up loo that never got cleared. Matter of fact all of the volunteers
were issued a black bucket upon checking in for waste material. Of
course if you did not use the bucket then you had a 2-mile walk
through snakes, viscous rabbets, and free ranging cattle. And town was
30 miles away so food and petrol was a big consideration before anyone
with the free spirit decided to go anywhere. My performance as a sign
put-to-upper was so appreciated that I have volunteer for another
stint at the refuge after I leave Padre Island, Texas next year.
Going west on Route 20 to Bend, Oregon was my next move. Again staying
with friends that I had met through US Fish & Wildlife working the
Hawaiian Islands.
The wife just kept going on about their new house and the 10 acres
that surround them. Well remember the FEMA trailers that were used
when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. They had bought 2 trailers,
welded them together and threw a blue tarp over the roof then found a
sewage tanker on e-bay for their fresh water catchment system.
Innovative yes and considering that they are both are from Alabama,
organic and a fun day for them is taking a shower every 2 weeks……………No
wonder that there is no fly problems.
Bend, Oregon has a Costco of major proportions. This means that I can
store up on wine, California dates, and Power Bars guanteed to
generate as much methane gas as possible. The next leg of the journey
is going to the coast of Oregon then north through Washington State
before venturing to the island of Vancouver, British Columbia.
Leaving Bend, we follow Route 20 west passing through Three Sisters
which over the Memorial Weekend is crawling with tourist, traffic and
the frustration of getting through the town itself. After that the
next bit of excitement is going over the Cascades Mountains. Well snow
was causing traffic to come to almost a stand still in places. Spent
the night at a side road in the Mt Jefferson Wilderness. Man was it
bloody cold but with multiple layers of clothing and sleeping bag and
a bit of the red fine wine sleep was possible. Morning brought more
snow but manageable. Passed numerous vehicles in the ditch and believe
me when the speed limit was 10 mph or slower people finally realized
just how treacherous the roads were. Once you got though the Cascades
temps climbed, elevation dropped and you gradually got back to the
greenery of forest.
Followed Route 20 to 239 then north to Lincoln, Route 101, where the
tourist reigned supreme and of course Memorial Day weekend just added
to the congestion. Mt Hebo campsite, part of the Siuslaw National
Forest it is for the night; rain is the current grump of this area but
the temps are in the 40's with no complaint from me.
Route 101 up the coast is always a great drive but as developers and
tourism expands its becoming more of a traffic problem then scenic
coast of Oregon. Astoria and the National Guard base is where I'll
spend the next few days Geocaching. Then once Memorial Day is over and
traffic along with it, its north over the bridge into the State of
Washington.
Well the last day in Astoria, Oregon has proven to be wet as usual
and was I expecting anything different?
Stay safe, travel well and may the wine last the trip.
Aloha,
The Greynomad
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