“USA 🇺🇸 ~Road Trip’n in Oregon: Madras; Cove Palisades, Sisters, Bend and Prineville”

Jaguar (Jag) the horse

After a few days of rain, while staying in Prineville, today was the day we were waiting for. We had sunshine.

We headed over to Madras and drove around Cove Palisades and Lake Billy Chinook.


Madras ~Cove Palisades and Lake Billy Chinook ⬇️

The Cove Palisades State Park is a year-around recreational destination. It is located in the heart of Central Oregon, encompassing the Deschutes and Crooked River Canyons.
Located in our high desert region, the weather is sunny and warm in the summer months and chilly but generally mild in the winter. The park is situated among towering cliffs that surround beautiful Lake Billy Chinook.
The park features a myriad water recreational opportunities, a full-service campground, store, restaurant, marina and rental services. Even if camping is not your thing, rustic lakeshore log cabins are also available.
Nature lovers will find nearly 10 miles of hiking trails that give access to areas rich in wildlife and splendid scenery.


Cove Palisades is especially dear to me with fond memories of great fun with friends, as a teenager. We camped and enjoyed boating; day after day on water as smooth as glass.
I learned to water ski here! I didn’t even bother with two skis to start. I had a great teacher, (thank you Launa) and started out on just one, having a blast.

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From Madras, we drove in to Sisters and then Bend. It has been many years since I have been to any of these places, so it was full of remembering the good times, back in the day.

SISTERS

When exploring Oregon, there is an immense amount of Old West history. The state is saturated in remnants of old clapboard saloons, ghost towns, Old West heroes, risk-takers, and, obviously, the Oregon Trail.
If you want to visit an old western town that has preserved history and overflows with the old western ambiance, then check out Sisters, Oregon. The residents of Sisters have carefully preserved the Old West with clapboard buildings, rustic art, country living and so much more. Just about Everyone who lives here, knows how to ride a horse and work a lasso!

Sisters is nestled at the base of the great Cascade Mountains. In fact, the town is named for the three consecutive mountain peaks that stand boldly in the background of Sisters.
The white-capped mountain peaks are known as “Sisters.” The town is located on Highway 20, which is 40 miles northwest of the city of Bend.
Sisters resides in the county of Deschutes and is considered a part of Bend’s metropolitan area. Sisters is surrounded by Central Oregon’s mesmerizing countryside with the Willamette and Deschutes National Forest to its immediate west and the wide-open spaces of the high desert region to its east. (Not my photo. The smokey skies hid these beautiful mountains) 😏

 

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BEND

With miles of hiking and biking trails through town, with  Mount Bachelor and Smith Rock nearby, Bend is famous for world-class recreation. Combine that with a richly diverse cultural landscape, award-winning dining and boutique shopping, you might not want to ever leave Bend.

⬆️ The mighty Deschutes River runs through the heart of Bend ⬇️

With 300 days of annual sunshine, blue sky, clean air and cool nights, it’s just a way of life, here.
The broad spectrum of weather and landscape in Bend makes for surprises around every turn. The Deschutes River is popular partly for its beauty, partly for its accessibility:
Start at Riverbend Park, just beyond the Old Mill District. There, you can rent an inner tube, kayak or stand-up paddle boards from a variety of outfitter. Float or paddle for about two hours until you reach Drake Park. (kids and newbies should take the detour before the Bend Whitewater Park’s whitewater channel). Then, board the city shuttle for a couple of bucks and do it all over again! I can attest the Deschutes River is where I have done most of my rafting, though I have also rafted the Colorado River. Tubing is also fun!

Mt. Bachelor is the Pacific Northwest’s premier mountain destination. Opening in 1958, Mt. Bachelor has grown to be the 6th largest ski resort in North America; offering 4,300 skiable acres, 3,365 feet of vertical drop, and 121 unique runs.
Even if you’re a seasoned expert, a never-ever family, or somewhere in the middle, you’ll find terrain that not only suits but satisfies your abilities. The locals’ favorite lift, Cloudchaser (added in 2016), provides access to primarily intermediate terrain and is ideally positioned to collect windblown snow from winter storms, often providing soft turns days after the last snowflake has fallen. The Summit Chair, a not-to-be-missed.
Mt. Bachelor experience for intermediate skiers and up, provides 360º views and the opportunity to ski all 360º degrees off the top of the mountain — the only place in the United States that you can do so. The Summit lift is best served on spring days when the snow is soft and the air warm! (Photo is not mine. Again, the smokey haze blocked the Mountain view).

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We thought we would eat dinner in Bend, before driving back to Prineville, but most restaurants did not open till five. So, back to Prineville we went, to have dinner at Crossroads, where they just opened back up, their inside dining. The western memorabilia was fun to check out.

The Oregon Trail was roughly a 2,000-mile route from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon, which was used by hundreds of thousands of American pioneers in the mid-1800s to emigrate west.
The trail was arduous and snaked through Missouri and present-day Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and finally into Oregon. Without the Oregon Trail and the passing of the Oregon Donation Land Act in 1850, which encouraged settlement in the Oregon Territory, American pioneers would have been slower to settle the American West in the 19th century.
Planning a five, to six-month trip across rugged terrain was no easy task and could take up to a year. Emigrants had to sell their homes, businesses and any possessions they couldn’t take with them. They also had to purchase hundreds of pounds of supplies including: flour, sugar, bacon, coffee, salt, rifles and ammunition.
By far, the most important item for successful life on the trail was the covered wagon. It had to be sturdy enough to withstand the elements, yet small and light enough for a team of oxen or mules to pull it; day after day.
Most wagons were about six feet wide and twelve feet long. They were usually made of seasoned hardwood and covered with a large, oiled canvas stretched over wood frames. In addition to food supplies, the wagons were laden with water barrels, tar buckets and extra wheels and axles. Contrary to popular belief, most of the wagons that journeyed the Oregon Trail were prairie schooners and not larger, heavier Conestoga wagons.

⬆️ Photos of Prairie Schooners

It was critical for Pioneer travelers to leave in April or May, if they hoped to reach Oregon before the winter snows began. Leaving in late spring also ensured there’d be ample grass along the way to feed livestock.
As the Oregon Trail gained popularity, it wasn’t unusual for thousands of pioneers to be on the path at the same time, especially during the California Gold Rush. Depending on the terrain, wagons traveled side by side or single file.
There were slightly different paths for reaching Oregon but, for the most part, settlers crossed the Great Plains until they reached their first trading post at Fort Kearney, averaging between ten and fifteen miles per day.

The End of the Wagon Train Era

With the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in Utah in 1869, westward wagon trains decreased significantly as settlers chose the faster and more reliable mode of transportation.
Still, as towns were established along the Oregon Trail, the route continued to serve thousands of emigrants with “gold fever” on their way to California. It was also a main thoroughfare for massive cattle drives between 1866 and 1888.

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“Mountain Men” was the name given to trappers who were lured west by the profits of the fur trade.
They moved into Oregon Country, the huge, barely chart-ed area beyond the Rockies, where the forests and mountains were home to beaver and other fur-bearing animals.
These men opened the way for later settlers.

For more stories of famous mountain men, click the link:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.history.com/.amp/news/6-legendary-mountain-men-of-the-american-frontier

Hardcore Women of the West:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.insidehook.com/article/history/these-are-some-of-the-most-hardcore-women-of-the-wild-west/amp

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At last, we made it back to Linda’s house, to enjoy a few more days in Prineville.

It was a very fine day, even though the smokey haze from the fires did not allow us to see the mountains, plus the haze made taking any photos a big challenge.

“Smokey the Bear” has a red flag, indicating fire danger is very high.

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We have really enjoyed our time with Linda in Prineville. She has three cats, which we liked being around, very much, too. We all had fun visiting and catching up!

“Squeakers” (yes, she has a white mustache)

⬇️ “Felix” ⬆️

This sweet boy suffered unimaginable cruelty. Thanks to Linda, who found him, he got a second chance at Life and is learning to trust again. 

“Miya”…. only “she is a he,” so he also goes by Jer-a-miya

Incidentally, both Squeakers and Miya were victims of a house fire; trapped inside, when Linda’s house caught on fire. If it were not for the firemen giving them oxygen and reviving them, they would not be here, today. Lucky cats!

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Next stop, we will be heading for Newberg; or close to, in Woodburn, where hotel prices are a little better. We look forward to seeing my mom, other family and friends there!
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  1. I enjoyed having you kids so much…. I guess I need to go to Lake Billy Chinook…. looks very interesting indeed…. Jaq is in need of some fly spray today and a good brushing….. the kitties are content in an airconditioned house for the heat of the day. Will see you both on your way east once youre back on the mainland…

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Hello and Welcome to our Travel Blog Website, We enjoy writing about our experiences and taking photos of our adventuring along the way. Our names are: Daryl and Pen, but Daryl calls me “Bunny.” We met, quite randomly, whilst both… Read More