The Striking Viking (a Scootard): Heading Inland Then North

We will be leaving the Coast today, and after breakfast we checked out of the hotel and loaded the luggage in the car.

We decided one more trip to the beach was a must, so we went down to Agate Beach, which I had walked many times in my youth.

Here is my beloved, sitting on the only log visible on the entire beach. The wind is blowing as usual and it's a little chilly.

I love the way the wind sculpts the sand into interesting shapes. No two are ever the same. This looks pagoda like.

A look to the north shows the length of the beach and Yaquina Head Lighthouse.
A headland juts out into the ocean and can affect navigation so they are all named on nautical charts. Yaquina Head Light was previously know as Cape Foulweather Lighthouse and was built between 1871-1873.

Scooterchick looks positively relaxed. There is something about being at the beach with the rollers endlessly booming, and the cool steady wind coming off the Pacific that cleanses the soul and allows one's internal clock to synchronize to the eternal rhythm.

Adjacent to the log was the remnants of a beach fire. My beloved noticed that one piece was still smoking from last night's festivities. Well, that means there is only one thing that can be done.

In short order it was refueled and stoked to a lively blaze. I have been making fires on the beach for the last 50 years, and had it going in about 5 minutes. To my great sorrow, a lot of authorities have decided that beach fires now encourage uncivilized behavior and now ban beach fires. Not so Oregon, thank God.

It consumed the available fuel in short order with and "someone" set off to search for more wood. I came across this little specimen poking bravely through the sand.

I have no idea what species he is but he is growing far away from any other greenery. What a brave little fellow!

When I returned with the wood, Scooterchick though she might help by placing it on the fire in an artistic and hopeful way. Isn't her work adorable.

All to soon it was necessary to leave the Coast and head inland. Farewell Pacific. Until we meet again.

We headed East on Hwy. 20 towards Corvallis, and drove around that town for a bit then continued East through Lebanon and Sweet Home and up the Santiam Hwy. parallel to the South Santiam River. This is a very twisty, scenic drive. I wished I was on my scooter. ScooterChick said "I'm glad I'm not on my scooter!"

The river was cool looking and green dropping down toward the plains. it looked like the perfect place for a dip in the summer.

We pulled over at a Nat'l Forest Campsite and stretched our legs. This was near a place where the river flattens, slows and widens.

Someone with imagination had been here shortly before we arrived, and left us a fond salutation. This sort of thing takes a sensible imagination which I lack but can thoroughly enjoy.

Scooterchick is trying to frame the perfect picture of the trees and river.

We sat in the sun, enjoying the day and incidentally enjoying the heck out of each other at the same time! I can't help it. I'm in love.

We came to the Santiam Pass and took this picture of a helpful sign placed here by Oregon Dep't of Transportation.

This is a picture of Mount Washington which is an extinct volcano of 7,794 feet. It lies to the South of the highway.

This is Three Fingered Jack to the North, which comes in at 7,844 feet.

Soon enough we were down on the flats again at Sisters Oregon and it was time to eat. I don't know if it was a late lunch or an early dinner. it was around 4:30.

We decided to try Takoda's. It looked better than the nearest fast food choices.

The interior was best described as Semi-Faux Old Timey Eatery. I took a couple pictures before the food arrived.

There are a lot of antiques throughout these areas, because the climate is so dry things neither rust nor rot.

I decided to go with a Patty Melt. For once not too salty! I requested the Rings well done and they were perfect. They were also served with home-made Dill Pickles. You can see by their absence that they were the first to go.

We continued on to Redmond Oregon, then turned north. A must see stop was Smith Rock State Park. It is a climbing and hiking mecca in the area. A few pictures will show you why.

Due to the lateness of the hour and our total lack of desire to risk life and limb, we decided to leave the climbing to those who could boast "don't try this at home, we're professionals!"

We headed north through Madras and then uphill towards The Dalles.

With some surprise we came briefly down off the hill to cross the Deschutes River which is teeming with rafting companies, and passed through the tiny town of Maupin which we didn't even know existed. It boasts a whopping population of 422.

Back up into the heights we went and across the arid plateau towards our destination. The sun was setting and I caught a picture of Mount Hood in the last few rays of it's decline.

A few miles further on I caught another picture of Mt. Hood. Majestic even from this distance. Even moreso in the setting sun.

The last picture for this entry as we descend into The Dalles to find our hotel.
The colors cannot be captured with the lens with the impact one gets upon the naked eye. The entire western sky is afire with glorious sunset.