by laura beth

We left Saturday afternoon after saying goodbye to the family. Mom, Dad, and Hannah were on their way to Tim and Ashley's (my brother and sister-in-law) so we said goodbye to them really early. Melisa, Melanie, and Olivia came bye later bringing us breakfast and Dr. Pepper for the road. We stayed the first night at Crystal Crane Hot Springs, about 2 hours south of John Day. $18 a night for RVs includes full hookups, wifi, and unlimited use of the hot springs pond. There is also a club house and nice kitchen where I warmed up our leftover homemade tortilla soup for dinner. We soaked in the springs when we first arrived, right before bed, and first thing in the morning before leaving. It was a perfect first day and night. On to Bend and Eugene.

We had no luck getting a hold of Kevin and Crissy in Bend, so we kept going west towards Eugene and passed through Black Crater. It is the second time we have been there but still just as jaw dropping. It's a large land area that a volcano did a number on and turned it into a black wasteland. But now there are signs of life as trees are growing and such. I am sure many Star Trek scenes were filmed here.


Had no luck getting a hold of Silver in Eugene so we spent the night in Cottage Grove's Wal-Mart.