Oma With a View: On the Go...47º

An early 6am start on Friday had us in Central Oregon by 1pm...No the Subaru hasn't sprouted wings but it does get out and go...Looking for the least smoky route, we opted for the "middle road." I think this is my favorite way to go and the road is much improved...Our gas tank was almost full so other than a potty stop we made it all the way to Mt Vernon, OR before we had to gas up the car and fill our tummies...Herb drove the winding road, that runs along side a mountain stream...It is so peacful that I immediately feel my body relax and unwind from the tension of the raging fires close to our town and making sure everything is done before we leave the house...I can't even describe the feeling I get, other than total peace, as if the world isn't crazy and that awful things don't happen...That is a really good way to start on a road trip...I sent out a "triple text" that we were on the road.

While we waited for our breakfast in Mt. Vernon, I placed a call to Rusty to let him know that we could stop in Powell Butte for an hour or so...For many years now, he has talked about "The Fishers," Herbie and Dave and they now live in Powell Butte and we could meet them and see the new place. (This is another story for another time.) So after a very good breakfast, again we were on the road...I put in a CD, Herb tuned in his hearing aids and to the strains of "Glen Campbell" we sailed through another 2 1/2 hours...We text with the "Girls" a couple of times as they were on their way from Portland to meet us in Redmond, where Cienna's water polo jamboree was being held for the next 3 days.

We had a good visit with Herbie and Dave before arriving at the aquatic center in Redmond and the first match at 4pm...Rusty joined us (Bobi, another mother and friend Sue, Herb and I) at the Hub Motel for snacks of home made cookies, crackers and cheese, and veggies, before we watched one more match and called it a night, because we had a 7:30am match on Saturday morning...A whirlwind of activity on Saturday, as Bobi kept close track of the Polo schedule and we sandwiched in shopping at the thrift store, grabbing a bite to eat, watching for yard sale signs, toured several areas of Redmond and snagged a few bargains...We cheered our way through about 8 matches before "bleacher butt" said I've have had enough, got one more wet hug from Ci on Sunday morning and headed to Bend.

In Bend we braved the Sunday crowds at Costco for a few items before arriving at Rusty's house where we would spend the afternoon and night...Haven't been to Rusy house for a few years (he claims the last visit was pre Cienna, not quite right but close...)We had dinner, visited and were all ready for an early bedtime.

Leaving Bend before 8am, took the same route home and arrived at our valley, clear of smoke, fires a long way from being contained but after a bad day on Saturday, the winds have died down and it has cooled off, with a little rain, maybe the firefighters can work toward containment...I doubt that fire season will be over until the snow flies...That's our trip in a nutshell and again there is no place like home, a good nights sleep and we are back to life on Barton Heights...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

PS...Everything moves really fast at a water polo jamboree, so you have to snap photo's while everything is on the go and at a distance and between teams of half naked bodies parading by...Twelve teams of boys ( in skimpy speedo's and girls in tight form fitting (some not modest) suits as they are on deck, in the water, a quick change of ends of the pool, then another two teams are lined up to jump in...It is all very crazy, refs waving their arms, blowing whistles, noise and confusion reigns!..My head spins the entire time.