We wanted to honor our friend (my next door neighbor from Lombard, IL) and his family at his memorial service six hours away. The Pacific Northwest has been pounded with winter storms this weekend. As we studied the radar it looked like there was a break in the weather, when we could thread the needle and get through. We decided to give it a try. Except for a few dicey spots, the trip was a blessing.
Chapter 1 Setting Off
This, my friends, is Eastern Oregon.
Dry pavement. Yes!
Deer crossing
Welcome, Holly! This sign has been a source of delight for decades.
Chapter 2 Investment Opportunities
This stark landscape reminds me of the Midwest. Or Scandinavia.
A fine barn
I imagine homesteaders lived here once upon a time. Or, perhaps a school?
The detail on this fine old barn thrills me.
Roof needs repaired. Air conditioning free.
It was Tiny before Tiny Houses were cool
Chapter 3 Birds and Such
We’ve never seen so many hawks on posts. Here, there, here again. Sidenote: I over-helped my son write a paper on the red-tail hawk in 1993. I’ve never forgotten the scientific name: buteo jamaicensis. Isn’t it weird what sticks to the inside of your brain?
This horse has been studying and applying the Marie Kondo method.
Hawk perched in a tree.
Waterfowl feeding
I am drawn to lonely trees
Chapter 4 Coming Home on the Rattlesnake
Driving south towards Lewiston
I wonder how this highway was named The Rattlesnake?
Looking down from above
It descends, slithers along the floor of the canyon (see center of picture),
and slinks upward to the next plateau.
S-curves superabound
Sidling up to the mountain
Chapter 5 Watch for the Light
Coming into the Wallowas, spots of blue sky
A shroud of clouds cannot cover it. The light still shines.
Light and shadow. And a lonely tree.
Luminous
Winter glory
Bonus Chapter: Deer and Elk
Outside of Enterprise, deer feeding
Outside of Imbler, elk herding
I don’t have the skill to convey this magnificent sight: about 300 elk
Walking, loping, bunching together
Move ’em out!
Bull supervising the exodus
A Living Pencil 
I’m glad your made it home safe!
Thank you, Valerie! It was as I thought: lovely to see you, frustrating not to have more time together.
I want to visit Eastern Oregon after seeing these beautiful pics. So glad I found your blog a few short years ago!
Bebe
Oh Bebe, come and welcome! I’d love to show you around. (I snuck in a new be- word in my current post 2/23/19.)
Spectacular! I’ve been in eastern Oregon and east of there but never in snowy winter, when it seems to be in its glory.
Thank you!
Thank you Gretchen Joanna! I always remember Garrison Keillor saying that snow was the best landscape tool around, haha!
Beautiful! Loved every one. I think I’d love to travel The Rattlesnake, and a snowy drive in the winter could have been a real nail-biter!
It helped that it was a familiar road. And not much traffic!
How perfectly beautiful. Your drive, shared with your readers, lifts my inner being.
Thank you so much, Cimmie!
What a beautiful journey! I love your photos! BTW, I am very familiar with Lombard, Illinois. My children went to high school there and my grandmother lived there in the 1960’s. It’s nowhere near as beautiful, but the lilac festival is worth mentioning.
Oh, Diane! (I was traveling when you commented, and didn’t respond. Sorry.) Where did they go to school? I went to Glenbard East.
Montini Catholic.
Yep! I lived closer to North Ave. But my sister lived on Chase!