Fossil Beds Part 2

So .. After breakfast we drove to John Day and surrounding environs. The route we drove on this day is named Journey Through Time", and lives up to that name as we pass into and around 40-50 (depending on what you read) million year old canyons. Paleontologists dig around in these hills and ancient canyons to uncover fossils of millions of years old animals and vegetation.

 

 

 

After wandering around on some of the short paved trails (carefully aware that there are rattle snakes in them thar hills) and stopping at the very extensive and informative Paleontology Visitor Center, we drove on to Prairie City to cycle a short route we had found in a visitor magazine. Short would be good because it was a long drive there and then a long drive back.

We drove smack dab into the town's Fourth of July Parade...

 

 

 

 

We gathered up some lunch supplies, offloaded our bikes from the van, geared up and took off for the Prairie Valley Loop ride. Susan has purchased new saddle and needed to make adjustments as we went along...

 

She got it just right and we enjoyed yet another peaceful country ride with nary a car to be had in bright blue sky.

 

I tried to get the many mud swallows that were flying in and out of these holes, but they scattered once I stopped for the photo.

A few miles were unpaved but hard packed as we completed the loop.

We returned to what was a bustling, busy, noisy, crowded town to find a quiet, almost abandoned hamlet. Our long drive back to Fossil gave different perspective views of the Journey Through Time route and we pulled into the Stage Stop Inn as the sun set golden over the John Day River.

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Fossil Beds Part 1

We continue to "sleep in Fossil Beds" as we stay in the town of Fossil for a few more days. This morning we walked to breakfast - a little early we found when someone driving by (the only only one driving by) rolled down her window to tell us the restaurant would open at 7:00. With fifteen minutes to wait, we explored a bit more of the town.

Ever vigilant Susan made sure we walked on the correct side of the road to be safe from all the traffic.

We were able to peek into the inside of that wagon...

 

 

Hard to picture a man and two dogs in that little space!

When in doubt of what to do with all that extra "stuff" -- make a fence...

 

Town is quiet enough for the birds to feel at home and safe...

 

 

The antique shop awaits business...

Finally time for breakfast at the Timbewolf Cafe. Turns out that the person in the car who informed us of the opening time is one of the cooks/staff here.

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Fossil, OR

Our motel. We almost did not get a room. The maid must have taken pity on us or liked Susan, because she came up with the solution of letting us rent the room that is somewhat under construction. It is a big room but the shower is inoperable because they are apparently doing some upgrades in some of the rooms. The property is also an RV Park, so the maid offered the solution for us to use the shower that the RVers use -- and it is practically right next to us. So here we are.

Susan wants this lamp.

 

 

We walked downtown (two blocks away) to one of the two restaurants for dinner, then strolled the town for what we could see.

Old School House and Interpretive Center...

 

Town Mural on a building ...

 

And an auto body shop which is itself a fossil...

 

 

We have not had Internet access for a whole day! So I am posting two updates this evening.

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Double digits; Painted Hills

Susan had her first "double digit" day and caught 10 fish yesterday, and a watermelon. Yep, a watermelon.

 

We left Renee and Tim's but did not go far. There is prolific fishing on the Crooked River and Tim had given Susan a list of campgrounds. We were happy that Helsa and Kim joined us for one night of camping at Devil's Post Pile. It made our outing weekend seem extended to have two of our group with us. Susan did a lot of fishing and I basically did nothing -- well, I read my book, napped on our reclining lawn chair, and fixed our dinner. Felt really nice.

This area of Oregon has superb views of mountains, canyons, rivers and COWS! I don't know when or if I have seen so many cattle grazing in surrounding fields, and on the steep hillside slopes.

We broke camp and headed out for more adventure as we knew we wanted to visit the Painted Hills in John Day Monument. And wow! We were, in a word, wowed!

 

I couldn't take just one!

We are staying in this little motel in the town of Fossil. It is just outside of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument which we plan to visit tomorrow. Staying put here for two nights seems a good idea to allow some exploring and possibly a short bike ride or two (I hope).

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They fish, I ride

Of the nine of us here for the fishing outing weekend, I am the lone one who does not fish. That is true of any of the fishing outings I go to with Susan. I usually get in some kind of bike ride, but this outing holds many beautiful riding opportunities for me. Today was another bucolic day in the saddle.

The bike map we had bought in Bend on our first day here has proven to be a gold mine with several wonderful routes to explore. It helps to have a local (Renee) to show the way to the starting point and to tell me which streets to avoid that had steep hills. From her house she directed me to the nearby path in Box Canyon.

 

I found my way there with no problem. The trail winds past a dog park and people parks, tennis courts and sport fields, through a tunnel and up a stair case (you can see the wheel gutters on each side that help transporting your bike up or down). The sage brush heightens the deep red/brown of the rock walls.

 

At the edge of town I was reminded that there is homework...

 

 

Once out of town I was immersed in more country that I never tire of.

The llama was hunkered down under the shade of the tree against the heat of the day.

 

These little burros were too cute to not take two photos.

 

And this beautiful horse was totally ignoring me.

 

Even my wrong turn (which added about 6 miles to my day) was enjoyable and I got to see another part of the area.

 

My route was simply beautiful, offering views of the Three Sisters mountains and peaceful country fields, homes and ranches.

 

 

Folks find lots of use for the rock around here, a barn and a self made "Stonehenge" are two samples.

 

P

 

 

This being a "fishing" weekend ...

 

 

My sadness of the day was seeing the two ranch hands loading a trailer full of calves, and hearing the mamas loudly crying out for them. Two mamas stood close to the trailer (outside of the fenced off area where their babies were being corralled into) looking in at the calves that had been loaded. Heartbreaking and almost (almost) enough to make one become a vegetarian. The most I do for them is not eat veal!

 

We are now packing up to leave the warm home and hospitality of Renee and Tim. It has been a grand time for fisher people -- Susan caught another one yesterday -- and for cyclists! I was pleased to have Renee join me on my first day of riding, and she says I have inspired her to ride more -- and longer. She will have no problem as she is strong and could be outriding me with regular days in the saddle.

 

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