Sleeping with the Big Boys!

For the first time in my fulltiming journey, I’m spending the night at a truck stop!  And definitely not by choice!  I know lots of people do it to save a few bucks, but I’m here to tell you that this is culture shock for me.  I have always felt most comfortable in a campground when I’m traveling down the road.  I’ve also always felt like a behemoth going down the road, but compared to my neighbors I’m a pipsqueak.

So, here’s how I got here at the Love’s Truck Stop in Ontario, Oregon.  Emma and I left Malheur NWR right on schedule at 9:00 this morning with a destination of a campground fairly close to the repair facility in Nampa, Idaho.  As I plugged ‘Jack in the Box’ in, he wanted me to go 13 miles down an incredibly dusty gravel road.  I had decided to ignore him since I didn’t want every nook and cranny of the rig and toad to be clogged with very fine road dust.  My plan was to add a few miles to the journey, but to remain on paved roads.  As I turned right when he wanted me to turn left, he went into recalculating overdrive and told me trucks were prohibited on the route I was taking!  Not so, mate.  I was familiar with the beginning of my route so I tried to ignore him, but eventually I had to shut the GPS off as he continually told me to turn places where there was no road.  :)  Once I got to Burns, I turned him on again, and he was much more reasonable.  I headed East on US 20 towards Idaho, and that’s when the fun (?) began.

I had about 120 miles on US 20 through some of the most uninhabited terrain that I have encountered.  It was reminiscent of West Texas on I-10, except there were no road kills to count or windmills.  :)  Instead, there were a few mountains (around 4500’) to contend with.  As I was rolling along, I noticed that the engine heat gauge kept going up!  Ugh!  I had checked the coolant level before I left and topped it off.  Funny thing was, when I had to climb the mountain grades, the temp would drop back down to normal.  I was getting pretty nervous about this since I was sure I wouldn’t have any cell reception to call for help.  The hot engine alarm went off twice as I was driving, and as soon as I could, I pulled over to cool off the motor.  US 20 is a two lane road with no shoulder to speak of, and a definite drop off on the side of the road.  I tried eating lunch, but things didn’t settle too well since I was worried about the overheating. I checked the coolant level, and it was good.  Eventually, I limped into the Love’s Truck Stop in Ontario just in the nick of time.  Earlier, if I slowed way down, the temp would decrease, but it had gotten to the point where it wasn’t doing that any longer.  :(

I parked back in the trucker’s lot and went to see if there were any repair services here.  There weren’t.  So, I called my Emergency Road Service for help.  Since it was Sunday, they suggested that I spend the night at Love’s, and will arrange for a tow job in the morning to a facility that can service my Workhorse. 

I then went in to verify that it would be okay for me to spend the night in the parking lot, and they said yes.  I told them where I was parked, and that I had heard that trucker’s don’t always like motorhomes in their area.  An obvious truck driver was behind me in line, and he said “Tough with them!  Just don’t go dancing around naked in the parking lot!”   I told him I’d try not to do that, but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do!  :)

So that’s how I ended up boon docking tonight in a truck stop!  It’s something I hoped never to do, but it sure beats being broken down out in the middle of nowhere with no cell reception.  I’m following those parking lot boon docking courtesy rules and haven’t deployed my (broken) levelers or put out my slides.  I did, however, kick in the generator as the temps inside the rig were in the 90’s this afternoon.  You can hardly hear the generator over all the noise the big truck rigs make.  :)  Maybe one of you can explain to me why they don’t turn off their engines.  I’m not complaining, just curious.  The rig on my left also has something that turns on every couple of minutes that sounds like a hot air balloon blasting away.  I wonder what that is? 

Tonight should be interesting when I literally climb into bed.  I sure hope I don’t have to get up during the night or I’m liable to break my nose crashing into the wardrobe slide.  If things had been different today, I would have regaled you with pictures of the onion harvest in Eastern Oregon.  I bet I saw millions of onions today.  I never knew they were grown here.
It’s a shock to move from the quietude of a wildlife refuge to the noisy goings on at a truck stop.  I hope tomorrow isn’t so adventurous, but I’m not holding my breath.  :)

Thanks for stopping by….talk to you later,  Judy 

Leaving already??

Some folks have commented that it seems like I just got to Malheur NWR.  In a way that’s true.  When I leave here next Friday, I’ll only have spent four weeks here.  I usually spend three months at a time at one our refuges.  Turns out that this time I was just filling in for someone who had to leave early, so it was only a one month assignment.  I don’t feel like I’ve had a chance to truly see everything I wanted in the area, but considering I’m stuck inside the Visitor’s Center for all my work days, I’m ready to move on.  I don’t mind working the Visitor’s Center, I just don’t care to do it every day.  This is a great refuge, but it didn’t turn out to be the assignment that I thought it was going to be, and if I’m fair about it, it’s probably because I was filling in for someone.

Others have asked where I’m going next.  Well, I’ll be making my way to Anahuac NWR which is near Houston, TX.  I can’t believe I’m volunteering there for the fourth time; my usual limit is two times (because there are so many places to see in this country).  However, Anahuac has been gracious enough to allow me to store my rig there while I go on my almost three week cruise in November that culminates in Galveston.  I also really like what I get to do there, and Stephanie, the volunteer coordinator, is super to work for. 

The big question is how will I get to Texas from Oregon.  I’m a very planful person, and this question is weighing heavy on my mind.  The problem is getting the leveling jacks repaired.  I’m awaiting an email from the manufacturer to find out the nearest repair facility.  That will determine my direction of travel.  With only six days to go before departure, I usually have my route pretty well mapped out.  Not so, this time.  I have about a month to get to Anahuac, so I’m really not stressing out about it, yet.  :) 
As Joanne, another volunteer, and I headed out early this morning for the farmer’s market in Burn, I noticed a golden eagle on a fence post as I was zipping down the highway.  I planted my foot firmly on the brake pedal and did a U-turn to go back and see if I could get a picture.  Of course, just as I slowly approached the fence post, it decided to not pose for me.  There was also a raven on a neighboring post, and they both headed for the hills together!  Kind of an odd couple, as the raven was not trying to harass the eagle.  Dang!  I sure would have enjoyed getting a good close up of the eagle.  :(

I scored big time at the farmer’s market, and carried back about twenty pounds of fresh produce to the car for myself and Sue.  Sue is another volunteer, but she always has to work on Saturdays, so I shop (and haggle) for the both of us.  :)  She is a vegetarian, and is always excited to see what goodies I’ve been able to find for her and her husband.  You sure can’t beat the fresh veggies I’ve been able to get every Saturday!  This week’s haul included tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, squash, pears, plums, apples, carrots, cabbage, and broccoli florets.  Mmm!
Late this afternoon, Emma and I hopped in the car and took a drive down the Northern half of the auto tour route to see what we could see.  There was one lone Western meadowlark still singing his heart out.  :)
Two feet away was a song sparrow enjoying the concert.  :)
As we turned down a side spur, I spotted two families of sandhill cranes feeding in one of the fields.  Each pair had one juvenile with them. (the juveniles don’t have the red on their foreheads yet)
They all suddenly looked to the right, and the second bird from the left began to call out.
I thought they were just communicating with another bunch of cranes further down the field.
But what I didn’t discover until I got home and was editing the pictures, is that there was a coyote watching them looking for his supper!  The young of the year are able to fly now, so it was probably wishful thinking on the part of the coyote.  It’s survival of the fittest out in the wild, so you just never know…

Speaking of coyotes, Emma is now pacing the rig with her hair up as we are being serenaded by some very close coyotes.  They have been leaving “calling cards” around the rig for Emma in the middle of the night.  Isn’t it nice to have friends come calling??  :)

Thanks for stopping by….talk to you later,  Judy

Archeology 101, part 1

This morning, I headed out with Jan and Karl Smith, volunteers extraordinaire, on a tour of Malheur NWR from their perspective.  They have been volunteering here for fourteen years as amateur archeologists!  But, as Karl says, they have more field experience than most professionals.  This is a picture of them and Harry.  Harry is a picture of a doll that was given to Karl when he was one year old.  Harry has followed Karl on his travels for 72 years now!  He used to come in person, but suffered a trauma that could be described as a near decapitation last year, so now only his likeness appears in their travel pictures.  :)

We left pretty early this morning and headed for Frenchglen for breakfast at the historic Frenchglen Hotel which is now a state park.  As we drove to the Hotel, Karl and Jan gave me a welcome lesson in the geology of this area.  I learned all about volcanic eruptions, and balsamic layers and columns. 
After breakfast, our next stop was an actual sod house.  They don’t know when it was built, but it’s probably over 100 years old, and was actually lived in through the 1930’s.
It’s in a state of rather disrepair, and as I looked around, I couldn’t help but think of Little House on the Prairie.  :)   What Spartan living conditions!  However, in the bottom right picture you can see that in later times they did have electricity!  (click pics to enlarge)

Besides the sod house, there is also the remains of the stick coral for livestock.
This homestead is not open to the public, so I really enjoyed imagining how it would have been for early settlers.  This is such a harsh environment in the high desert to try to homestead.  Can you imagine trying to eke out a living here?  Behind the sod house, an orchard was planted with what I think were plum trees.  The trees were large, but their fruits at this time had not yet ripened.  A hard freeze is not long off at this elevation, so it makes me wonder if the fruits will ever ripen.
The biggest necessity for living in this region is water, and this homestead had a very inviting warm springs.  That’s why those folks settled here.  As I dipped my hand into the spring, I could just envision having a nice long soak in those warm waters!  :)
There were many teasels surrounding the springs, and lots of dragonflies. (I can’t remember the difference between dragonflies and damselflies right now, so I’m going to call this a dragonfly)  I loved the brilliant blue color of this one.

The three of us visited quite a few more places today, and I learned a lot more about archeology, but I’m going to save the rest for tomorrow’s post.  This is long enough.  :)

I will leave you tonight with another pic of this morning’s sunrise…
Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy

Diamond Craters – Oregon’s Geologic Gem

After visiting Peter French’s Round Barn yesterday, we took the auto tour of Diamond Craters.
“There is no other place in North America like Diamond Craters.  That’s the opinion held by scores of scientists and educators who have visited and studied the area.  It has the best and most diverse basaltic volcanic features in the United States… Yet visitors with little or no geologic training will probably see nothing more than acres of sagebrush and a few lava flows and craters.”
Well, I’m one of those visitor’s with little or no geologic training,
and acres of sagebrush and a few lava flows and craters is what I saw.  :)  I read the guide at the appropriate stops, but I have to tell you that after a while, all that stuff about domes, ash flow tuff, pyroclastics, and magmas just began to flow like lava around in my mind.  It never did congeal.  :(
However, I did enjoy the scenery, and I noticed that the rain storms that came through on Wednesday and Thursday dumped quite a bit of snow on the Steens Mountains.  I was thinking of taking the rustic road up to the Steens tomorrow, but I’m going to think a little more about that.
The road back home did take us through about half of Malheur’s auto tour route, so you know I had to get a couple of bird pics.  :)   This great blue heron was very intensely looking for a bite to eat.  They are just like statues when they are hunting.
Rails are usually very secretive, but these young soras were out in the open.  There were actually four of them feeding in the same area.  Next year, they will have yellow beaks and a distinctive face pattern.  They are about the size of a quail.  (it’s hard to tell size in a close up picture)

Today was a day of rest and relaxation after heading to the farmer’s market in Burn.  I tried to attend the Harney County Fair, but I was there too early in the morning.  :(

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy

Peter French’s Round Barn

Emma and I headed out this morning to do some exploring.  I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go, so we just got in the car and started driving. 
We headed down to the Narrows first, and watched a little pelican ballet session.  Nothing new and exciting there, so I turned the car around and headed for the Round Barn Visitor’s Center about 35 miles away.
I think you can click on these to make them larger and readable.  Suffice it to say that Peter French, was an early cattle king in this area of Oregon, and he built an unusual barn.
It’s round.  He used it to break and train horses in the 1880’s.  He secured vast land holdings in the area that included what is now Malheur NWR.  He was quite a legendary figure of the old west, and at times used unscrupulous means to procure more land.
Thanks to the Jenkins family, who later owned this property and donated it to the Oregon Historical Society, this unique barn has been preserved.  One of the Jenkins’ descendants built and runs the eclectic Visitor’s Center.  What a character he is!  He is there seven days a week regaling visitors with his opinionated views on the history of the area.  :)  It is a welcome rest stop out in the middle of the high desert of Oregon.  You can even bring your dog inside with you as you peruse his wide variety of items for sale, and the family museum.  It’s a definite thumbs up if you happen to be in this area.
This is the terrain that those early cattlemen dealt with way back when.  It must have been a hard, but rewarding life.  As Emma and I headed back home, I was glad that I had made this little side trip to Peter French’s Round Barn.
                                                                      THE END!! 

Thanks for stopping by….talk to you later,  Judy

Holy bats and birds, Batman!

Today was my first official day “at work.”  The first two hours were an orientation with the volunteer coordinator, and the rest of the day was running the Visitor’s Center.  The electronic people counter on the entrance door counted 22 visitors today, but I happen to know that only 7 people came into the visitor’s center today.  I’m on duty again tomorrow, so I’ll bring my camera to get some pics to show you.  I sure hope visitation increases, because 7 visitors makes for a very long day! 

I was back at the rig shortly after 4:00, and after a walk, Emma and I sat outside to enjoy the sunny weather.  It seems she is in one of her shedding modes, so I opened up one of the basement storage doors to get out the furminator.  As I was brushing her, she kept trying to get over to the open basement door.
I checked to see what she was so interested in and found a bat hiding in the corner!  Egad!   I’ve had mud wasps sneak in the tiny border around the basement door, but never a bat!
I couldn’t figure out if it was trapped in there or just reluctant to come out into the bright sunshine.  I put Emma back inside, and asked my new neighbors if they knew anything about bats.  They didn’t, but they came over to see it.  Eventually, the bat got nervous enough to leave, and took off.  What next?  I know this is a wildlife refuge, but really!  I guess, just like mice, they can sneak into very small openings.  That gopher snake I saw the other day was also in back of the rigs tonight.

After that bit of excitement, I brought Emma back outside, and after refilling my hummingbird feeder, sat down to enjoy all the hummers buzzing around.
Merikay asked if I would ever let you know if I got that quintessential hummingbird picture, and I have to say that I probably won’t.  That would mean that quest would be over, and I think there’s always a better picture on the horizon.  :)

Thanks for stopping by….talk to you later,  Judy

It isn't easy being a mom (the tale of a yellow-headed blackbird)

When I take the auto tour routes on the various refuges that I’ve visited, I’ve found that using the car as a blind is one of the easiest ways of getting a peek into the lives of the creatures around me.  Such was the case yesterday.  I had been hearing the piping of many Soras (a type of rail) as I drove along the marsh.  Rails can be very elusive for a person to see, let alone photograph.  So, I pulled the car over, shut off the engine, and rolled down the windows.  I was prepared to wait a while and see if a sora came to the edge of the marsh.  As I waited, a different story unfolded before me.
There was such a raucous cacophony going on across from my window that I searched the reeds and found this female yellow-headed blackbird peeking out.
And right behind her, a youngster screaming bloody murder!  Isn’t it amazing how much bigger the baby looks than it’s mother?  It doesn’t look like it’s starving to me!  So, off she went to shop for some food.  :)  (the marsh is a veritable grocery store of insects)
Soon she was back with a bite for the screamer, but what’s this above her in the corner?
Another youngster appeared and sounded just as insistent as the first one!  What’s a mother to do?
She made numerous trips back and forth while the youngsters impatiently waited.  What a racket ensued whenever she got close!
At one point, I thought she was pursuing an insect down one of the reeds, but it turned out…
she was just looking for the perfect spot to take a little refreshing bath!  A lady deserves a nice soak after a morning of taking care of the kids.  :)  (I guess dad was off playing golf on a Sunday morning :))

With all that noise, no soras came poking out of the marsh, so I moved on down the road a ways.  It almost always pays off when I stop and take the time to look and listen.

Today was another drizzly, overcast day, so I hung around at home and did the laundry.  With temps only reaching the 50’s today, my hummingbird feeder has been seeing some action.  It’s giving those little birds a little boost for their high metabolisms.  Skies are supposed to clear tomorrow, so I think I’ll go investigate the town of Burn, Oregon.

Thanks for stopping by….talk to you later,  Judy