Jan 18-20 - Snake Rriver, Narrows, OR

We left Pendleton on Jan 17 and drove in Rain to KOA south of Madras.  The night was dark and stormy.  In the AM, we headed toward Bend.  We were driving OR 97 and saw a cool bridge and park to our right.  The park featured a bridge built in 1926 for the new millennium.  Because of traffic increase, the bridge is replaced but the  current Rt 97 bridge (bakgrond o following photo).  This bridge and the nearby RR bridge have a length and height of  >300 hundred feet. A number of gristly accidents and murders have occurred here.

Here's the RR bridge

RR bridge

Under the RR bridge.

As we approached Bend, Will called and said it would b too quiet around the house with Christina and kids leaving to visit he parents.  He invited us to return and hang out in Pendleton for a week until he would leave for a long weekend to join them.

We headed back toward Pendleton by way of Malheur  and John Day

We stayed at Narrows campground that evening and the next.  Then headed for John Day

Dec 20 intermitttently until Jan 29 in Pendleton

After Rebecca had informed us she would be at Will and Christina's for Christmas, we decided to go too.  

One day in early January, I rode with Will to Ontario.  On the way back, we take scenic detour to Huntington.

Leaving Busters with a car load.  Christina, Beth, Tater, Maggie, Will, & me.  Will demonstrates why it's called a Honda Fit"

Christina is an thoughtful and gracious host, and Will, an awesome big brother, who also significantly helped his sister with air fare.  We camped for the first month at Pendleton KOA

December 14-20 to Pendleton OR

We left home headed to Pendeton via  St Louis / Cheyenne / Salt Lake City /Ontario. 
Dotti is a good road dog, not bothering me while I eat 

And helping Beth drive

Feb 17 - We lunched in Concordia, KS across form this fancy antique shop.


Signage in the windows suggested it a safe place. 
We were the only patrons who used a menu or did not know the others 

Further west

Sunset east of Rock Springs,CO, Rt 80

Near Green River

Entering Utah, Rt 80

Devil's Slide, SE of Ogden

x

July 12 - Canton, OH - Pro Football Hall of Fame

Interesting displays in the Pro football Hall of Fame tell the development of football from the late 1800's until modern day.  

What you see from parking lot

We learned about development of rules, equipment, formation of leagues, records, exceptional players, and much more.

Lots of old stuff

and newer stuff

nearly 300 inductees.  These include managers and league execs, as well as players

Team uniforms

Jim Thorpe

Footfall art:  more than several paintings by Ernie Barnes were on display.  This one is entitled "The Bemch"

July 9 Mackinac Bidge

We drove along Lake Michigan and across the Straits of Mackinac on Mackinac Bridge.  This  beautiful, smooth, safe 5 mile suspension bridge's awesome height render it the second scariest bridge in the US. 

Lake Michigan

The Bridge

Mackinac Island, which is accessible by ferry is to the right of the bridge

Regional food abounds north and south of the bridge.  North, we stopped and bought pastes.  

Ours were beef and potato and had nice flaky crust.  I (Bill) got  one with rutabaga.

South of the bridge, we purchased smoked fish.

July 8 to Iron Mountain

We have left MI and into WI.  Rolling countryside.  Count 3 hills ahead.

We had  good lunch in Ashland, MI.  Beth's sandwich was called the big pig -  pork loin, ham, and bacon with Wisconsin cheese sauce, all on a pretzel bun.  Good wild rice and ham soup too.  Ashland is a picturesque town with extensive murals of local culture and history.  The mural project has been underway since 1998. 

Beautiful houses and settings also in Ashland

Camped at Rivers Bend Campground in Iron Mtn, MI.  Good, but could not connect to wifi.  Iron Mtn is home town of Tom Izzo