Sorry Microsoft, not your fault?

Hhmm.. found out it was Google changing their posting program that caused the glitch.  Here's the blog.  Sorry Microsoft, not your fault, (this time).

Tuesday 3 November

Awoke to all the bustle of cars, trucks and even bigger trucks careering all over the Walmart parking lot.

-2oC overnight but very calm so I didn't notice too much. The furnace kept the chill out and curtains the floodlights.

Got on the road by 10:30 and drove back down US 95 to the Museum again. It really is quite a place to see and experience. The living exhibits of homestead, sawmill and tepee were interesting but do I have issues with the live exhibits.

They have a couple of bald eagles, some owls and hawks, even a desert fox and a lynx, The cages/aviaries were not big enough for birds to fly or the animals to do anything but take a few paces. On the other hand, Thomas the otter had a wonderfully elaborate area with both pool and ground area to play in. Apparently he was bred in captivity and did not get on with others of his kind so I guess his habitat was good for him, but the others?...I'm not so sure. Certainly the magnificent bald eagles looked terribly confined and not at all where I felt they should be. I wish I had talked to someone whilst I was there as I am sure there are good reasons, but I will just have to go back some time!

The model sawmill was incredible. 25 YEARS in the building and a man's legacy dedicated to his childhood and his father's working life.

So, eventually took my leave of the museum just after 2pm and headed back to the camper in the parking lot. A couple were just about to drive away when their car alarm started wailing. Boy, you know, these elderlies' just can't work modern technology, thought I!  I started to drive past and then saw the look of panic on the lady's face. Oh heck, can't just drive off and leave them alone in the lot can I? So I pulled in next to them and I hadn't even got out of the door when she's asking can I help her husband stop this horrible noise.

Who me? turn up the opportunity to play with electronic gadgets in nice shiny new cars? No way! They turned out to be the nicest couple, retired and moved to Florida from New York (I think), orthodox jews trying to get off to Walmart for kosher bread! Yup, Walmart sells kosher bread!

Oh yes, the alarm was going off because he had used the remote tailgate opener instead of the door locks, then used the key! I wonder what technology will come along in the next few years that'll fandangle me and have me looking for assistance?  (I did find I can't use a PS2!! .....or was it a PS3?)

OK, back on to US 95 heading south again to LaPine, a town nestled in a huge pine forest. Wonder where the name came from? duh!

Just south of LaPine I took a left turn onto US 31, designated a "Scenic Highway" and yet another left onto a Scenic Loop toward Fort Rock. Sounded really interesting on the roadside marker so worth the detour I hoped. Found the "old homestead" town that a group of local people have reconstructed but it was closed. In fact it's only open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays so no point in hanging around.

Had a quick cup of coffee (made "tea-bag" style!) at the local tavern. Small town America certainly has its share of interesting characters......

Back on toward Fort Rock then, driving through mesa, tumbleweed and volcanic rock with the buttes looming all around and on, and on, and....oh look, there's US 31 again!! Still have no idea where the Fort Rock turn off was, or indeed the other two points of interest, the 500 foot wide hole made by a water pocket being hit by lava and the crater edge.  It's not like there is hundreds of roads around....Oh well, there's always something to come back for!

South again with the sun starting to get low above the escarpment to the west. The time change means it's dark by 6:15 now. (Can anyone explain the idea to me??).

Time to look for a place to camp. I'm climbing up toward Picture Rock Pass (4,830ft) and then down the twists and turns of a canyon on the other side when I spot a track of to the right. Hmm, looks a likely spot, in amongst a stand of stunted trees but beautifully sheltered from the winds.

Having bumped over a good few potholes I backed in to a lovely site sheltered from both the wind and the road. Obviously used a lot (by locals I guess), as testified to by the blackened remains of campfires and plucked bird feathers all over the place!

Anyway, it turned out to be a wonderfully peaceful night with a magnificent moon illuminating the landscape around me and turning it almost "lunar".
I was so warm that I took off a layer of bedding and a layer of night wear, checked the thermometer and it was 10oC at 10pm...toasty.  Then 4am came and I woke up shivering. Having neglected to set the furnace, outside it was now minus 6.1oC!! Blanket back on, furnace on and back under the covers pronto.

Wednesday 4 November
Chilly but blazing sun in a cloudless blue sky!! Oh I really could get used to this! It is sooo energising and the world seems just so much brighter somehow.

A couple of tracks run off though the trees in different directions, one leading to what seems to be an abandoned ranch and the other disappearing over the hills and away, who knows how far. The track is too rutted to chance driving it and my back won't let me walk too far so it'll have to remain a mystery (for now).

Packed up and back on the road south I managed to get at least 15 miles before stopping again at a rest stop opposite a gas station in the middle of nowhere, a few miles north of Summer Lake.  Actually I stopped to look at the Historic Marker signposted, then realized it was a picnic site with tables, rest rooms, water faucets and even allowed camping overnight!! It had better facilities than some of the campgrounds I've been to!

So, another coffee (yes, it's getting to be a bit of a habit) and a can of stew for the larder from the gas station and I'm crossing back over to the Islander when a truck camper towing a horse trailer pulls alongside mine. A rancher, complete with Stetson, leather chaps and sheepskin waistcoat, pokes his head out and asks "where in tarnation did I get that neat little rig?". Half an hour later and we're still chatting when his horse decides he really needs a drink and gives the trailer a thump, or two!

Unfortunately the water's been turned off for the winter so the retired cowboy gets on his way again, heading just down the road to a reservoir and trailhead. He regularly drives down from Washington and spends a week or two riding different trails in the back country. Pity he only has one horse!

Onward toward Lakeview, but I've been told to look out for Summer Lake Hot Springs and take a dip so, just another 10 miles or so and I turn off another rutted track with cinder fill into the Summer Lake Hot Springs RV campground. A few wooden structures, an old trailer set at an alarming angle and an airstream that has certainly seen better days. Enter the office and find it's a charming wooden lined interior with a very calm and cool atmosphere.

I paid my $10 and was directed down to a huge barn-like structure that was the bath-house. Built in 1927 it's all original.....

Oh boy, 113oF of totally soothing, soft and regenerating hot spring water. Half an hour later I'm back in the office booking in for the night.  Then back to the camper to lay down and mellow out.

Another dip before dinner and maybe another before bed, although after 9pm it's "dress optional". Mind you, there are only two of us here! The main rental cabin has its own private pool and I'm not sure who is there, but the lights are on.

During the afternoon, a Mercedes drew up and an elderly gent and his son got out to chat. Turned out he was 87, used to live in the area and his son was taking him on a "tour of reminiscence". He was able to add a bit more of the place's history and local characters to the present owner and they had a rejuvenating dip before heading off north again on their journey.

Fortunately I have internet access again so can post this update.

I've been poring over the map time and again and think now I'm heading toward Furnace Creek in Death Valley, CA. Don't ask me why, it's a bit of wanting to see DV and the forecast of hot days and warm nights so...

Also the National Parks I was headed for, such as Crater Lake, have a lot of roads shut due to snow so not much point in going really. Again, somewhere for another time.

At least I have power tonight so the electric heater (thanks Jack & Joan, mine is in Victoria) is toasting the inside of the camper and I'm re-charging the camper batteries, whilst the warm waters re-charge mine.

Actually, my back feels a heck of a lot better. Is it real, or all in the mind??...

Goodnight all

PS As I am writing this the camper is being buffeted by the strongest winds I've encountered so far.  I'm crossing my fingers that 8,500lbs of metal and fibreglass will keep all four wheels firmly on the ground.  Hope I'm still here in the morning because it is getting just a little disconcerting now!