I’ve been going so hard from place to place, that I’ve left big gaps in how I got here.  Today, I’m weathered in at Port McNeill, B.C. on Vancouver Island, so I’ll take this opportunity to catch up on one of the high points of my trip………way back when I was starting out.  1½ months ago, already ??

While I was building my airplane, I became friendly with an Oregon couple who had a plane similar to mine, tho’ his is a Kolb FireStar II………a jump-seat version of the single place FireStar.  Nice little planes…………….

………….but really meant for 1 person and a little bit of luggage.  I rode with Larry at the Alvord Dry Lake near Steen’s Mountain in SE Oregon a couple of years ago, and actually survived the experience, so I can’t say I didn’t know what I was getting into.  Here he is at the controls, ready to go.  Notice the size and shape of the space behind him.  My knees were below his shoulders, my feet below his butt, crammed in beside the seat frames, my camera rested on the back of his neck, the back of his seat rested on my chest……and he weighs over 200#.  I could move my arms and my head…….nothing else, and I nearly went crazy with the inevitable itch while in flight…………….

At the end of the flight, I had to get out.  Can’t believe I actually fit back in there.  …………….

I won’t even joke that it was comfortable, but it was a great flight, and highly enjoyable.  Larry & Karen live on an isolated ranch out on the lava flatlands of SouthEastern Oregon, and love it there…………….

After take-off, we headed for the Owyhee (Oh-WAH-hee) River Canyon.  Flying across the open volcanic desert, we soon saw the 1st of many Pronghorn Antelope, which always ran from the plane.  I was frustrated, trying to get used to my cramped position, and didn’t think I’d gotten any decent shots of them.  Putting the pics up on the computer later was a pleasant surprise………………..

Cropping in on them showed far better results than I’d expected.  These are the fastest land animals in North America……………..

I’m told they can hit 60 mph for short distances……………

What Fun, eh ??  Soon afterward, an old, abandoned building appeared that Larry told me had been an old stagecoach stop………or was it a Pony Express stop ??  Can’t remember………………

Then, things got serious.  This little side canyon gives an easy entry into the main Owyhee River Canyon……………..

And, down we went……………

Waaaay down.  This was really neat, and cramped or not, I was clicking pictures like crazy.  It feels like you’re really…..uh……flying………….

Around some curves and past several sets of rapids……………..

The canyon opened out, and we passed a huge flock of Canada Geese.  This is only a few of them…………….

On the way home, flying past Jordan Valley on the Idaho border, we saw the “Pillars of Rome” formations.  Very nice, and they go for a long way…………

These are real, for sure, wide open spaces, and looks like nothing but flat lands, but there is a surprising amount of really beautiful country here, IF you know where to look……and it’s all quiet and private.  Very nice.  Larry & Karen know, and loaded me and 2 of the dogs into the Subaru and away we went, to the Succor Creek Road that leads down to the spectacular lava formations of Leslie Gulch……………

The farther you go, the better it gets………….

Until you think it can’t outdo itself……………..

And, of course, it does.  This is one of the most spectacular drives I’ve been on………………

Larry & Karen have many animals on their ranch, but their main focus is raising Peregrine Falcons, so it’s not surprising that this is one of their favorites…………….

Larry & Karen are real nice folks, and showed ol’ Lar a terrific day.  We spent the evening twilight on the back patio watching game come down to the creek below their house.  I can’t believe their eyes.  One would say quietly to the other………”see the covey of Quail by the fence post ??”  I’d look and see 300 fence posts fading into the distance.  What Quail ??  They’d patiently guide my eyes till I saw them.  Same with JackRabbits, and so on.  This country is far from barren or deserted.   I left the next morning with a warm glow, and hope that someday I can return the favor when they come to visit in Santa Fe.  Thanks for a great visit.                            Lar.

– …
Larry Bourne
Santa Fe, NM
www.gogittum.com
www.gogittum.com/blog

Posted: December 18th, 2009 under 08 Vacation, 08-7-24 Southeast Oregon.
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