Central Oregon Vacation-Sparks Lake Edition

Last week we headed off for a vacation with Frank's family in the Central Oregon area. This was a trip we'd looked forward to all summer long, and as we're in the beginning stages of moving we decided to do it anyway, as the next few months are going to be pretty hectic, and we don't get the chance to see these people we love very often. So, we headed out for Sunriver. While we've gone to Sunriver a few different times, we hadn't been since we moved to Wenatchee. So, it was fun to take a different route--actually, it was the same route we usually take to Portland, up until we got to the the John Day Dam, where we headed straight south on 97 instead of west on 84. This was a really great road, and I'm so glad we got the chance to take it. Tiny little western style towns, and a whole lotta nuthin'.

It started getting darker and darker as we drove along, and Frank and I kept trying to figure out if it was a Thunder Storm (his choice) or a Fire (my Choice). Finally, as we're driving into this crazy unnatural blackness we figured out it was both. That ended up being an epic drive... Orange-ish, black-ish, brown-ish darkness, with lightning striking the bone-dry ground around us constantly, and the glow of fire around us as we headed into it, and then finally thundershowers that fell so fast and hard I could hardly see through the windshield. We (meaning Frank) has a Ham Radio installed in Rovey, so we were able to listen in on the Fire Fighter's conversations... which was really cool. Turns out they closed 97 for firefighting purposes right behind us.

 We didn't take a lot of pictures while in Sunriver, because we were WAY too busy not doing anything. But, on Wednesday we headed out for a hike at nearby Sparks Lake. While a lot of Eastern Washington was formed due to flooding way back when, Eastern Oregon was formed due to Volcanic Activity. So, while some landscaping is similar a lot of it is amazingly different too. Kiki started out pretty bent-out-of-shape here, because her Aunts and Gramma were all busy with other things, and she was stuck at the back with boring old dad and mom. Then, at about this point she realized that boring old dad and mom were going to let her climb and explore a whole lot more than anyone else would, and she became a happy, happy camper.

 This picture looks unremarkable, until you notice how tiny Frank looks compared to the people walking towards him. This area is amazing. The scale of these rocks and cracks in the ground is just astonishing.

 The massive landscape shots are amazing, but they're best when they're combined with macros, so you get a full sense of the texture of the landscape at which you're looking.

 One thing that I always love about exploring nature is not just the massive, hard things, but the little, delicate things you find hanging on in the crooks and crevasses of those massive tough things. What was formed through mayhem provides a home for the delicate little things that hang on and grow despite the fact that they call dangerous and possibly deadly places their home. What's more, they bloom and provide their own delicate beauty in that place. It's a life lesson for me, and for us all.

 This lake was just beautiful.

 Sweet baby girl, who did so good on this hike, strapped to the front of her momma.

 My goofball.

 The three goofballs.

 And, the kids and grandkids of this family. I can't believe this picture turned out with such great looks on all their faces. Amazing. :-)

After we were done in Sunriver, we headed off for our own Going Losting style adventure. Stay tuned!