DAMS, SKI RESORTS & WATERFALLS

Before picking up Nancy's Jeep at the dealer in Bend, we took a ride into the Deschutes Forest, toward Mount Bachelor.  When you go exploring, you never know what you might run across.

Our first discovery off a dirt road, was a small dam on the Deschutes River.  As dams go, this one was pretty small, but lots of water was being released on the down stream side of the earthen structure.  We next drove toward Mount Bachelor on the Cascade Lakes Hwy, and made several stops for look see's, and photos.  This region is dotted with lakes, all in the shadows of several snow capped mountains.  Mount Bachelor is the one most visible, towering above the western view from Bend.

 This is looking east at Mount Bachelor.  Bend is on the other side of the mountain.

When we approached the ski resort at approx. 6,500 feet above sea level, we were kind of surprised to see plenty of snow, and more than just a few skiers.  By mid May, I think it's safe to say that all of the Sierra Nevada ski resorts are already closed. 

Our next destination before heading back to Bend was Tumalo Falls.  This 89' high waterfall is about 10 miles west of Bend, located on Tumalo Creek.  It was about a 1/4 mile hike up to the top of the falls, and well worth the effort.  A viewing area, complete with wall & railing for acrophobia types like me, provided a great panorama of the water cascading over the edge. 

 Patty & Nancy at the lower viewing area.

Even though this waterfall is at the end of a dusty, dirt road, the parking lot was just about full of cars.  A space to park here, might be just about impossible on a busy weekend. 

It was early afternoon when we got back to Bend, stopping first at the Chrysler dealer to pick up Nancy's Jeep.  The girls hadn't quite finished stopping at every yarn & fabric shop in Bend, so when that subject came up, I said "see ya"!  On the way back to the motor home, I made a couple of quick stops, one of which was the High Desert Museum.  When we were there a few days ago, our debit card was charged twice for the same purchase, so that was quickly corrected. 

We're here for two more days, then we'll be headed east toward Bob & Diana Rush's place in Enterprise, OR.  In a couple of weeks, our journey north will take us across the U.S./Canadian border into British Columbia.