Pretrip: Battleground to Bend

Jim and I took off about noon hoping to hit the pass when it was above freezing.  The clouds disapated as we got close to Mt. Hood and it was sunny. No snow until we got near Government Camp. Then it became like a beautiful winter painting with a light dusting of snow delicately covering every needle of every tree.  Mt. Hood above the treeline was completely covered in white obscured by a few pesky clouds  (pesky because they are photographic distractions - like giant-sized dust in a pictrue).

Although the snow was beautiful, it was just a dusting and the snow level on the roadside (measured by those poles) was less than an inch.  The sun was blinding as it reflected off the snow.  Those of us west of the mountains sometimes forget how bright the sun can be.  As we got to the other side of the pass, the country changed dramatically.  We found ourselves in the high desert with a wonderful view of the backside of the Cascades.

We arrived in sunny Bend around 4 pm just as Teresa and Becker drove up.  Becker has trimmed down significantly.  T found a park where dogs can run free.  T also recently switched to an Android smartphone and has a gps app that can track her walking paths. So far she has tracked 32 miles, which means Becker has tracked at least twice that.  Becker is still hungry all the time, but T found a bowl with dividers in it which makes it difficult for him to wolf down his food.  He spends quite a bit of time at his food bowl now (where the food used to be gone in seconds)

T's daughter C and boyfriend E came over with pizza and we had good conversation about new jobs, bullets, and dream cars -- and of course the Super Bowl.  Jim left the next morning about noon hoping to beat the snow over the pass (he didn't quite make it--but no problems) and make it home to watch the Super Bowl in the privacy of his own DVR.

T and I took Becker to the park.  It is a beautiful high-desert area of state land in a one mile square.  Unlike west of the mountains the the area is arid with no trees to speak of--just bitterbrush, sandy soil, and rocks with a great view of the mountains in the background.  There are some dirt paths and roads but it is easy to go off trail.  You can't really get lost, but it was a good feeling to know T's app knew exactly where we were (and where the car was).

Then it was off to a super bowl party in Tollgate (just south of Black Butte Ranch near Sisters.  The Seahawks fans seemed to outnumber the disheartened Bronco fans (at least they were louder).  All sides lost interest about third quarter and headed for the snack table and the pool table in the "man cave."  Was a great group of people and a lot of fun (at least if you liked the Seahawks.)

As we headed home in the dark we discovered it was snowing.  It is rather eerie at night to see the white streaks coming at you in the windshield.  We drove slowly and the snow stopped before Bend.  We woke this morning to a carpet of snow (about half an inch).

I ventured out for a picture just as the cat decided to roll in the snow.  Evidently there is an artic "blast" (not sure how that is different than a "vortex") headed our way.  It is supposed to hit just as we leave town.  Good timing and let's hope a good omen for our trip.  We are packing and getting ready and will hit the road tomorrow heading to Redding.