Week 256 - Bend, Oregon - 07-10-2011

Bend, Oregon

From our visit to Crater Lake, we headed to Bend to spend a couple of days at the Bend Elks Lodge.

The ~~town~~ city of Bend is located just a little west of the center of the state. In 1989 the town of Bend had about 17,000 residents. Today, it is 80,000! A great place to see the entire city is on the top of Pilot Butte. This hill is an extinct volcano 500 feet above the valley floor. You can hike or drive to the top of the butte for a 360 degree view of the city and surrounding area. Mt. Hood is 120 miles to the north, but looks much closer.

The Elks is always a great place to stay with good meals, inexpensive RV parking and meeting the locals. This weekend was their annual Classic Car Show.

All cars had to be 1974 or earlier. Cars in this show were restored, no "Rat Rods" (that was for you Don!)

Some cars were older than others, some were twins.

The 1957 Chevy is always a favorite as well the the Model A's.

The interior of this Corvette is mostly stock and very sculptured. We don't know about your car, but our engine is not this clean.

It might be a good race between this 1971 Charger muscle car and the little yellow sleeper.

The first Ford Mustang was introduced on April 17, 1964. As most cars are introduced in the fall, it was dubbed a 64 and 1/2 model. This 1965 Mustang was "born" on September 15, 1965. It is still or again, in great condition.

Our favorite car was this 1948 Lincoln Continental convertible. Its body has the general 1948 shape but has been highly customized to become a very smooth creation.

This weekend also was time for the annual Bank of the Cascades Bend Summer Festival. What looks like a small farmer's market had hundreds of tents covering a dozen blocks in Bend. There were four music and food venues and the most amazing arts of every type of style and material.

This two-tone carved wood eagle could be yours for $1,750.00.

Every direction you look, you can see the beautiful Cascade Mountain Range. The Cascades reach from Canada, all the way down to Mt. Shasta in California. This view from a block away from the Cascade Bend Summer Festival shows life on the Deschutes river. Nice!

Our pickleball friends, A.J. and Irene just ended their full time traveling life style and moved to Bend. We can see why. Make that 80,002 people.

Our journey will continue as we head to the lesser populated Northeast section of Oregon, from Prineville, to John Day, Baker City, La Grande and Joseph.

Hope you come with us, love, Pete and Ellen.

Photos from Jul 2011