Day one of the return trip

OK, so heading north and west isn't really what most would consider
returning to Sourh Bend from Tahoe. However, for my trip home, the
first stop is Corvallis, OR.

Our wonderful friends, Caren & Jim, live here now and it's my first
opportunity to visit them and see their AMAZING house. Such fun!!!!!!!

Of course today started prettry early. We got up at 4 am and got
Charmelle to the airport for her flight back home. Then I headed
north. I've always read about Bend, OR being a great place to live so
I wanted to swing through there on my way to Corvallis.

The drive to Bend was pretty cool. Huge highland meadows and mountains
along the drive. Photos are coming soon. Bend itself is a pretty cool
feeling town in the middle of great outdoor adventures. All the basic
things are there even some extras like REI & Trader Joes!

The drive on US20 from Bend to Corvallis is beautiful. I followed a
ridge line up the mountain while looking at Mt Bachelor and Mt
Wasington. Once I was over the summitt I had 11 mile of a 6% grade and
lots of curves as I followed a river down the mountain. It was a
really pretty drive through national forests, more pine trees than you
can imagine and beautiful mountain scenes.

Two interesting things about OR though. 1. You are, by law, not
allowed to pump your own gas. There is no self-serve option here. 2.
Many OR roads have 55 mph speed limits. Roads that would have been 65
elsewhere are 55 here. Just something I haven't seems in a long time.
It sure boasted my mileage!