Saturday, August 20, 2011

Farewell Bend

Jill's Journal: A few days ago, I wrote that early settlers named Bend “Farewell Bend.” I suspect it was because they hated to leave it. The bipolar (part high desert/part pine forest) mountain playground grew on us pretty quickly too.

Rob cracked me up as we were leaving this morning. Safety first! We’re headed to a place for the next week where the nearest convenience store appears to be 45 minutes away and the nearest major grocery store about 90 minutes away. To prepare, we shopped for the whole week, which is no small feat with a miniature fridge and pantry.

Like a boy scout, Rob always likes to be prepared. Before we started living minimally, he liked to have backups for his backups. The horrific thought of running out of beer this coming week must have made him revert to his old ways. And then to strap them into his front seat…I couldn’t help but laugh.

No grocery stores for miles is worth it when you’re heading to scenery like this. That’s Mt. Thielsen, or Big Cowhorn, an extinct shield volcano, ahead.

The sky just seems a little bluer here. Our home this week is Crater Lake. We’re been looking forward to this stop; we’re so excited to be here.

5 comments:

Kristin said...

Gorgeous scenery... you are making me want to move to Oregon and I haven't even ever been there :-)

Anonymous said...

This backups for his backup is an inherited quality. He is his father's son. But for camping for a week be glad he is this way and not of the philosophy "we can get it there" like his grandfather was. The Williams motto always be over prepared rather than do without even if it isn't totally necessary. Have fun at crater lake take loads of pictures for the rest of us home bodies to ooh and ahh over.

Mom W.

Jill said...

Andee, you'd think there would be a happy medium in there somewhere! Too funny.

Jill said...

Kristi (and Adam) -- you guys told me months ago to find you the perfect place for you. I found it: Bend. I thought of you guys the whole time we were there...super active lifestyle, incredibly dog-friendly, etc. They say it's the West Coast's answer to Boulder, Colorado and I know how you loved it there...but the weather in Bend is better and there's 300 days of sunshine a year! The Cascades shield it from the rain in the Pacific Northwest and the actual snow in Bend is minimal. Seriously, this town was MADE for you. Kris -- it's also a huge running city. I forget how many miles of jogging trails there are, but it's substantial. Huge horse area too!! And Adam, you're at the foot of a major snowboarding mountain...and can snowboard year-round if you're willing to drive to Hood (a mere 92 miles away)! It's an unbelievable place. I think you need to pay it a visit. :)

Andrea Kanelopoulos - Anam Nostos House said...

That is too funny!! But yes scenery and parts of the world MOST never see is way worth it!! Trying to catch up on your blog, still have more posts for me...don't know how you do it, no time! :-(