(Click on all pics for enlarged view.)
... but after a quick sniff around, Wally was ready to return to the air conditioning. I'm with Wally!
Pictured below is the severely salty Lake Abert. Getting saltier as the water level drops. Do not enter! It's so caustic it will eat the bottom out of a boat, so you can imagine what it would do to your skin. Water birds don't seem to have a problem and there are always a few swimming around feasting on brine shrimp.
After a long drive we came to a desert oasis. Yep, that's what I look like when I'm saying "LuLu" -- goofy -- but LuLu's plenty cute with her little furry paws reaching for me. Speaking of paws... notice behind the sign. It looks like I have dog feet, tee hee! That's Wally. Too funny.
Pictured below is the first thing I saw when we drove into town. Tiny and cute! I was impressed by the level of civic pride in this itty bitty town.
We were so busy being enchanted by the diminutive city hall and library that we almost missed the RV park which was the true desert oasis.
They were full up when we arrived, but the owner put us up in a temporary spot for the night and moved us into the best site in the park the next day. Actually, all the sites were large, shady, and beautiful, but this one on the end was amazing. We had all this...
... and much, much more. Wally and LuLu had the run of the place. Jump in the river any ol' time and have a roll in the grass afterward. The structure you see in the background is a vintage dwelling the owner moved to the park. The only thing dwelling there now is bats. At night we'd watch them swoop through our site and over the river accompanied by the sound of coyotes howling in the hills.
The picnic table beyond us is not an RV site. It was used only once in the four days we stayed, and that was by an older couple who stopped for lunch.
Some days we were the only campers in the park. Everything on this side of the RV is ours. Are you getting an idea of how much I loved this place? We're going back in September.
On the road again:
A quick stop at the Painted Hills on the way home. For real. What more can I say?
Well, friends... as this post goes live we're returning from yet another little getaway. Just an hour's drive from home, but idyllic nonetheless. It sure is nice to have a chance to slow the pace now and then. We'll visit again next Saturday. Take care!
wow amazing photos Leslie...LuLu and Wally are adorable and so enjoying their fun time out and about...love seeing these pics.xx
ReplyDeleteIt looks like everyone had a wonderful trip and I almost feel like I also got to travel there as well. Beautiful photos and as always I love seeing Wally and LuLu! Your motor home looks divine and I just know you will have many great trips in it!
ReplyDeleteWow! I had no idea Oregon had such diversity of climates and sites! Everything from deserts to woods and in between! It's a gorgeous state and I'm so jealous! I thought Nebraska was beautiful, but we have nothing like this! I'd be on the road every weekend just soaking up the beauty!!
ReplyDeleteThe scenery is breathtaking! For some reason, I was somewhat ignorant of the desert-like scape in parts of Oregon! As for the oasis you discovered for camping - WOW! "off the charts" beautiful! Loved seeing the city hall. It reminds me of where we voted the first 10 years we lived in our rural town. It was basically a storage shack for the guys who maintained the easements along the roads LOL Lulu is such an adventurer. Like Wally, our GSD prefers the AC unless Daddy is outside. They are joined at the hip. But then, often, Kilo comes to the front door and knocks, or walks around to the craft room and stares in the window hoping I will have pity on him LOL They are so cute, aren't they? I marvel at the many salt lakes around the world, and that wildlife has somehow adapted to live there. Wishing you a great week-end! hugs, de
ReplyDeleteWow! That is so beautiful. The painted hills really are. It's great that you guys get to travel around and see all these wonderful places and Wally and Lulu get to go with you. Perfect!
ReplyDeleteCan't add too much more than what has already been commented....totally agree. And I do so love your "dog" feet! Made me laugh out loud. Denise
ReplyDeletefantastic scenery!!! love all your photos. glad you are enjoying yourselves~~
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous and peaceful find, Leslie. I would be going back soon too:-) TFS all your beautiful and fun photos. Hugs..
ReplyDeleteOMG!! What great pictures!! Never having been out there I'm so enjoying your travels! I love the painted hills, and your campsite looks so inviting! Interesting about the salt lake and how it doesn't bother the birds. I'm sure you are having a great time!
ReplyDeletebeautiful pics. That colored mountain is amazing. Just goes to show that whatever unbelievable color we can use to color an image there is probably somewhere in the world that it exists. Have a great day
ReplyDeleteHello Leslie: I'm late commenting on ALL of this gorgeous and endearing pictures you shared with us of your fabulous vacation, I apologize.
ReplyDeleteI love them all, what gorgeous places you visited and enjoyed, it feels almost as if I was there with you guys.
Your doggies are precious and just the most perfect companions, I can tell that they enjoy this outings just as much as you and your hubby do, perhaps even more, since I don't see you frolicking in that stream with them or rolling around on the grass, LOL!!
Thank you for sharing this photos, what wonderful memories for all 4 of you.
Big hugs, my friend.
Maria.
So very beautiful and lovely are the pictures and descriptions on your trip. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeletelooks like you are having a wonderful holiday and the dogs are enjoying every minute of it. So jealous :)
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a great park you found there and anywhere the pups can run around and have fun is a good thing :) Wow what Gorgeous country that is out there, we didn't get much exploring of Oregon while living in Idaho, so sad, maybe some day when hubby retires and we have more time to make it out there :)
ReplyDeleteWOW cannot believe the beautiful scenery and how deserted it looks not unspoilt and those painted hills-unbelievable--
ReplyDeleteCarol x
We never saw this part of Oregon for the 7 years we lived there, Leslie. I do think those Painted Hills are so striking! Wally and Lulu must love all the free range...enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteWOW, these are amazing photos. Your part of country is absolutely breathtaking! What a beautiful state you live in. From the mountains to the salted lake, from the little town to your lovely campground, it's all gorgeous! I can see that Wally and Lulu are just loving this. I chuckled at the picture with you behind the picture and it really does look like you have dog feet - just too funny indeed! Love, love the painted hills - very stunning. Close to Toronto in a small town we have something called the 'Badlands", and the ground formation is more like the last picture, with the red, clay coloured ground, it's very striking. You are so lucky to be surrounded by such beauty. Thanks for sharing these today Leslie. I thoroughly enjoyed them. Hugs,
ReplyDeletehi leslie...i rarely comment since i receive your posts in my email. but when i saw these pics, i just had to. we're in albany and have been checking out areas like bend and sisters lately. a friend sent me a picture of painted hills and asked if that was near us. i had to look it up! but that is going to be our next exploration! very beautiful! i am happy to see that you had BLUE SKY!! until yesterday, we were still pretty grayed out from the smoke. love your "oasis" and pics of the kids! looks like a great trip!
ReplyDeleteIt's always a joy to see your photos and those adorable dogs... I love to see all the places and I love to see the happiness on their beautiful faces. Thank you so much for your kind words re Ginger buy... I hate to visit the vet because I always remember losing my beloved dogs whenever I go... Thankfully Ginger is home but in a sorry state and it took a long while to try and settle him... and me! But we are getting there. I'm grateful that they saved him but emotionally he was a wreck being there locked in a cage with a collar on and no way to eat.... He loves the outdoors so it must have been really rough on him.
ReplyDeleteWow, photos are fabulous!! What a gorgeous place to visit and so neat that the fur babies can go too!! The painted hills are stunning, I must ask my nephew that lives in Oregon if he has visited them yet....stunning pictures and so fun to Miss Lulu and Mr. Wally having such a great time!!
ReplyDeleteSo fun to see your trips! How awesome to get the perfect spot to enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI love going along for the ride-and dreaming of the days I get to join that sort of fun!!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fun little trip and wonderful new digs too! Lulu looks so happy playing and the little stream was perfect for them. I am with you and Wally staying in the cool air though. hee hee
ReplyDeleteAwesome trip photos. - I'd love to visit the Painted Hills. Sounds and looks like you are all enjoying your new mode of travel.
ReplyDeleteSo finally, I get to your travel photos! My favorites in Dayville are those tiny buildings. And I will return to the Painted Hills someday. (We had a freaky experience that "colored" our abbreviated visit. I'll tell you about it someday.)
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