Our Trip to Washington - Day 2 - November 24, 2015

We woke up in Burns, Oregon.  It was raining softly.  We turned on the news and Spokane has had major storm damage and power outages from the same system that Ruth dealt with last weekend further west.  Fortunately we are not going that way.  It will prove to be an adventure today!

It started snowing pretty hard when we reached Poison Creek at around 8:45 am - 32 °F.  The Devine Canyon Scenic Corridor was beautiful.  Slow going though.  The temperatures rose and fell depending on elevation.  We crossed or Starr Ridge (5500 ft) where it was snowing hard again, but along the flat areas in between the ridges, it wasn't too bad. 

Just before we got to Canyon City, OR, we found ourselves driving through a horribly burned area.  The people this summer must have been very scared.  Lots of houses survived, but some didn't, and the scarred landscape, soil, and trees were very sad to see.

We stopped at a favorite Antique store in Canyon City and stopped to shop a little (Christmas is coming).   We also stopped at a favorite old house that Grant photographed the last time we were up this way so that we could check it out and take more pictures.  

We drove through the Umatilla National Forest around noon.  Again, snow.  The North Fork of the John Day River is partially frozen.  We crossed the 45th parallel driving through the Ukiah-Dale Scenic Corridor.  That's where we're halfway between the equator and the North Pole.

Malheur National Forest - 

This looks like fog, but it's snow

Canyon City, OR - our favorite Antique Store for really cool stuff

Elk outside the Antique Store

Bear outside the Antique Store

Child's sled - Antique Store

Child's rocking chair - Antique Store

Sleigh - Antique Store

Clouds and scenery 

Umatilla National Forest - Oregon

North Fork of the John Day River - Oregon

The 45th Parallel!

Last views of northern Oregon

Ice beard on the rear view mirror

Ice on the truck

Can't remember where this is, but I thought it was pretty!

We crossed over the Columbia River into Washington just before 3 pm.  Grant said we have traveled 650 miles so far!  (It feels like more).  Getting through the Tri-Cities area was hellish, so we were glad to stop just north of Pasco, WA at another favorite place from our last visit, the County Merchantile.  It was good to stretch, look at the variety of fun stuff in the store, and buy a few gifts/treats.  We spent an hour here!

We (finally) made it to Moses Lake, WA at 5 pm after a long drive along a 2-lane highway at dusk.  We treated ourselves to a nice dinner and watched a really silly movie (The Avengers) as we relaxed for the night.

This place is just north of Pasco, OR on Highway 16

Apples that are almost the size of my head