Crossing Central OregonSep 16, 2011
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Rest area in Central Oregon - see sign
fog on Glass Butte
down onto the plain
Date: September 16, 2011
Tonight’s Location: Mt. Home, Idaho
Mileage: End - 85166
Start - 84791
Total Miles for the day: 375
Weather: partly sunny, a little fog high
Temperature: start 41º but it dropped to 32° in the passes
High 73º
Wildlife count: Mule Deer, Antelope in hay fields, Red-tail Hawk, White-faced Ibis, Osprey
Up early and left Tumalo State Park before 7:30am. After we left the town of Bend, we were in high desert, with lots of sagebrush and buttes. (see pictures) Route 20 was a good road, with several rest areas and pull-outs. We had lunch in one rest area near Buchanan. As we approached Vale, we could smell the onions before we could see them – field after field of large, yellow onions. This area has the largest onion production in the US – over 9.6 million pounds of onions. That’s a bunch of onions!
We crossed the Snake River, which forms the border of Oregon and Idaho, as well as the Oregon Trail, and headed into Idaho, passing through Boise and out onto the plains a little further to Mountain Home, a neat little town. This RV park is lovely, with a fountain and rose garden to greet, and beautiful wide concrete sites – it’s a keeper. Had dinner at Golden Crown Chinese Restaurant, which was quite good. Got back and walked up to the fountain and rose garden, and then sat outdoors with our computers, enjoying a delightful evening.
