Day 2 of our grand adventure, and here we are in another new state! Checking this one off my 50 by 50 list! This post is brought to you by OREGON, the state with never ending geographical and geological changes...WHO KNEW? In planning this adventure we knew there was some plains, and we knew there would be trees. But we had no idea we would truly climb to the tops of those plains, and twist and turn back down into the deepest canyons, and then through hilled forest, and back out to the desert buttes. We also crossed wheat fields with amazing views of Mt. Hood and even Washington's Mt. Rainier in the distance. Our drive today was the longest we have planned for one day on this trip, but it was worth it. We saw so much today that we never knew OREGON would offer us. From the buttes and rocks we moved into a forest valley with Yellow Pines and Lodge pole tress. Then back out on the plains we went. Home Home on the Range...... where the skies are not cloudy all day!!! We saw so many wide open ranches today. Em says she's never seen so many cattle just wandering in the middle of nowhere. Our plan today was to head to the John Day Fossil Beds and Painted Hills. Geology and Paleontology is alive here. The Rocks show their millions of years of layers, and have added colour to the surface. To get there we had to drive through Picture Canyon.
Here are some the the amazing Painted Hills. From the Painted Hills we head north and wind our way across the canyons to find ourselves on top of the open prairie and seeing the most incredible views of the Snow Capped Mountains. We have ended our day on the shores of the Columbia River. In the town of The Dalles, Oregon. From our Hotel we can see across the river to Washington. Tomorrow we will follow the Columbia River National Scenic Drive http://www.fs.usda.gov/crgnsa and the Oregon Trail http://www.nps.gov/oreg/index.htm into Portland and the Pacific! So excited! Oh and by the way!!! We beat yesterdays heat record of 102.
Today while travelling through Cottonwood Canyon....IT WAS 110. God bless air conditioned cars!!!!! Good night from Oregon!
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