A Tourist

Yesterday Greta and I left Cathy and Steve’s home, but the love and laughter reverberates in our hearts. We headed to Bend, OR. We were disappointed that we could not take in the beauty of the area because of the wild fire smoke.

When arriving in Bend, for the first time on the trip I felt like a tourist rather than a camper. We walked through the downtown area and window shopped. We also checked out the Old Mill District. The Deschuetes River runs through Bend and the city has done a beautiful job with splendid walk ways along the river that capitalize on the natural beauty.

We ended our day in Bend by having a wonderful dinner at Spork, a restaurant that serves Asian-Mexican fusion. It was delicious and then we returned to enjoy the river’s beauty in the evening.

Crossing our fingers in the morning we headed to Crater Lake National Park, hoping that the smoke would not hinder our view. Greta had never been there and Crater Lake did not disappoint. The clouds moved in an out while we were there but the stunning views filled us with awe. We ate breakfast at the historic, grand lodge.

We left Crater Lake and drove 5 1/2 hours to our next destination, the Oregon beach. Our hotel in Gold Beach, OR is on the beach. After being in the car for so long, we walked on the beach even before we got settled in our room. The ocean air was refreshing and the sound of the waves mesmerizing.

We saw a lot of crab shells on the beach which sent us on a search for a dinner of fresh, local crab cakes. We found them! Dinner was followed by taking in the beauty of the OR coast.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to share time with Greta. She is a great travel companion. So grateful that both of my girls have been a part of my epic journey!