Steens Mountain, Oregon to Cape Perpetua Oregon

After enjoying some quality time at the rest stop on the Bonneville Salt Flats, we crossed the border into the rather soulless town of Elko, Nevada and turned south to the Ruby Mountains where we saw the elusive dusky grouse.  Then we had a long six hours drive to Steens Mountain but not before another fill up (can't do that too often you know) in a town that has inspired many a song.  Well actually only one song.

I've been everywhere man, literally crossed the dessert bare man.

Such a lovely place, but can't linger here because we need to turn right and head to the Oregon coast.  But, you know what, it's a long way to the west coast from Austin, Texas so we stopped once again at a place called the Narrows, which was at the end of a very dusty, washboard road.  There is absolutely nothing out here in eastern Oregon.  Just this one little RV trailer park near Steens Mountain.

Like I said, to much here

Ahhchoo

In the evening we practiced shadow puppetry in the middle of the highway

Stunning sunsets and boy did the coyotes howl at night

As we settled into the RV park we discovered that the Bambi had lost power to the fridge, cooktop, lights, exhaust fan, gas heater, basically one half of the camper stopped working.  After some googling of the symptoms I concluded that the Bambi had a stroke.  Basically, unresponsive on one whole side.  Many busted fuses later Fred determined the problem would have to wait till we got to a bigger city.  Oh well, we are intrepid former backpackers (well me anyway) and that's what ice chests are for.

The main reason anyone stops here, other than hunters anyway, is for the drive and hikes to Steens Mountain.

Fred....sign

Yodel-ay-de-hoo

Just like the little mermaid, if she was on dry land, wore bifocals and dressed in heavy fleece

That's the Alvord desert in the distance, I really wanted to go here at night for the stars but it was way too far to drive

Not too many birdies out here

We hiked to the tippy top of Steens Mountain for some incredible views

Icy cold lake, thistles were still blooming way up here

Great view of the Alvord from up top

This alien communication station is on the very top, or it could be for weather monitoring I suppose

When we climbed down we ran into a guy who had this big horn sheep head attached to his backpack.  His friends were backpacking out the rest of the carcass.  He was all smiles, apparently this is a big deal among the type of people who enjoy cutting the heads off wild things.  Oregon gives out a couple of permits each year and there are thousands of applicants.

Git along little doggies, and that's just what we did

From desolate eastern Oregon, we arrived in the rather over crowded town of Bend, Oregon.  We had high hopes for this place but it was just too busy of a little town.  We could not get a spot in the state park because it was filled up so we ended up at a pretty nice little RV park where we were able to confirm with a mobile RV repair guy that the Bambi has a short behind the circuit board.  A repair that will entail a short hospital stay once we return home.  

The best part about Bend?  

The generous samplings at the Deschutes Brewery

Finally, finally, this is why came out this way, the coast.  Nothing against the prairie, the grasslands or the dry, empty landscapes of eastern Oregon but come on how can you beat views like this:

We spent two nights at the Carl G. Washburne State Park which I highly recommend.  At first we were bummed because the sign on the highway said the campground was full.  Fred thought that did not apply to us so we drove in and sure enough a guy was just pulling out and we got the last spot.  And look how nice it was:

Across the highway is a beautiful beach with no one on it.  Miles and miles of empty beach with soft, powdery sand.  

Well there was one other dude out there besides me

But mostly, it looks like this

From our campsite it's a short drive to Cape Perpetua, which has some pretty amazing views of the coastline and an interesting geologic feature.

Fred.....sign

This feature is aptly named, it is very churny

Fred getting way too close for my comfort.  The sea is funneled into this narrow channel very forcefully and makes a thunderous sound when it crashes right around where Fred is standing

This pelagic cormorant was basically in a washing machine.  He didn't seem to mind

Meanwhile, back at the campsite, that's a Clark's Nutcracker but clearly he prefers a cracker of a different kind.

Did someone say Cheez-Its?

Or maybe they're really Chee-toes

Last little hike through some gnarly woods 

Next up, it's off to my favorite beach on the west coast, Cape Blanco.