John Day to Diamond (Oct 14-16)

I'm still way behind - have a feeling that may be a familiar refrain on this blog. Why I didn't get caught up at Death Valley will become apparent later - right now I'm at the Grand Canyon and have about 20 minutes left on my battery, so I'll get as much up to date as I can.

I left Dunstan homestead on the afternoon of Sunday Oct 14, stopped in the town of John Day to do some grocery shopping, then drove south towards Burns, and camped at Idlewild NFS campground in the Malheur National Forest, about 20 miles north of Burns. I pulled in around 5:30 and was the only person in the whole campground - would have been cool, but maybe a little spooky if it stayed that way, but a couple RVs pulled in later in the evening.


Monday Oct 15 I drove thru the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge - very cool place, tho part of the time I was driving thru an area where they were just finishing a prescribed burn. I know it's a great management technique, but driving on a washboarded gravel road thru smoldering fields isn't that much fun. I saw some neat hawks tho and several ring-necked pheasants.


Monday night I stayed at the Diamond Hotel in Diamond, Oregon. Thanks to James for the recommendation. It's a neat old hotel, and they serve a wonderful family-style dinner. If you're in the Steens area, stay there!

Oops - almost out of power - more tomorrow.