Eastern Oregon Camping 2020

Our 1st camping trip of 2020 was to Cottonwood Canyon State Park. A few weeks later we took off again, passing through the John Day Fossil Beds, stopping in Dayville overnight, and continuing to Page Springs Campground near Frenchglen in SE Oregon. Here are some photo highlights of the trips.

Off we go!

The campground on the John Day River from the bluff to the north.

Making rock rainbows is one of my super powers. This is from the gravel around the trailer, posed on the trailer step.

Nap time

Now some highlights of the trip to SE Oregon.

John Day Fossil Beds

One night at South Fork 'RV Park' in Dayville Oregon, population 144.

Dust devil

Frenchglen Oregon, population approximately 12

We stayed at beautiful Page Springs Campground on the Donner un Blitzen River - lots of grass, wildlife, and (gratefully) big shade trees.

We hiked about 7 miles out and back up the Little Blitzen Canyon, starting at the trailhead near South Steens Campground.

I took off my boots to wade the creek but Mike went for it.

I set my camera twice on timer mode to get a picture of us dunking in the river with Maple. You can decide which one turned out better. :-D

Even on a leash Maple covers twice the ground we do. We were all this tired by the end of the hot hike.

Next we drove the gobsmacking Steens Mountain Loop Road, the highest paved road in Oregon at nearly 10,000 feet - beautiful wildflowers and views from the top of the Little Blitzen and Big Indian Canyons, the Alvord Desert, and Wild Horse Lake.

Alvord Desert

We saw lots of pygmy rabbits, jack rabbits, and these sage rats that I think are officially called Belding's ground squirrels.

Golden eagle

Mike's polenta and sauce with turkey patties and zucchini - we love the outdoor kitchen on our Sol.

I loved watching the deer form our campsite almost as much as Maple did.

Cinnamon french toast with home made bread, home made yogurt, mangos, marionberries, maple syrup and ham.

Cooling off in the Donner un Blitzen River

There's a nature trail that loops above the campground and then along a creek to the river.

Our little Sol

Magpie

Young great horned oil

Going fishing

Perfect s'mores are another one of my super powers - marionberries and bing cherries.

I think this young coyote thought I couldn't see it very well because the fence wire was in the way.

There are lots of herds of wild horses in SE Oregon, descended from those introduced by the Spaniards. 

Another day we visited the old Riddle Brothers Ranch National Historic District.

Best outhouse in SE Oregon - the caretaker made sure to tell us.

We did a nice out and back hike from the ranch along the Little Blitzen River.

Picnic back at the ranch

Last dinner - with home made tacos and the right sauce, any leftovers are outstanding

HAPPY TRAILS!