Wednesday, August 24, 2018
(Title is a quote from Ibn Battuta)
Ibn Battuta was a geologist and scholar who widely traveled the medieval world for 30 years during the 14th century. Near the end of his life, he dictated an account of his journeys, usually simply referred to as The Travels. This account of his journeys provides a picture of medieval civilization that is still widely consulted today.
My experience mirrors that of Battuta. Jil and I have visited so many wonderful places in our 24 years that I can honestly say that it has turned me into a storyteller. Some of my friends may say that I’ve always had the propensity to blab, but now I do more of it with my blabber fingers. So as not to disappoint here is some more of my finger yammering.
Our five stay in Bend (pop. 77,000) has been as expected- a really nice visit in a really nice city. This part of Oregon is considered high desert at an elevation of 3600 feet. The only drawback- smoke! The smoke from British Columbia fires moved out and immediately replaced by that of the Terwilliger fire burning to the west and the Jenny’s Peak and the Stubblefield fires to the north. Geez!
The Crown Villa RV Resort began as a owner purchased site park meaning that one bought a site within the park. That might work down in the Sun Belt for those who spend six months a year escaping the cold northern winters but it didn’t work here. Hence, the park features wide and deep site pads paved with pavers, and at least 30 feet of green grass and conifer trees in between each site. The site also includes a permanent storage shed. The amenities include a gym, a meeting hall, a hot tub, tennis/pickleball court, a dog park- OK everything a person could want in a beautiful park like setting. We also like it here as it’s dog friendly with lots of green grass to walk the mutzos. The daily rate is not cheap- one gets what they pay for. P.S.- it’s not located on the noisy main drag either.
While in Bend we had a few must do’s: I must get a haircut- done, we must go grocery shopping- done, we must visit the spectacular Tumalo Falls- check, and we must go shopping at the Old Mill Mall.
OK shopping at the Old Mill Mall is not my idea but it is located on the banks of the Deschutes River. Here’s a nice walk that extends from downtown past the Old Mill Mall and around through the Farewell Bend Park. It’s really a fine walk with beautiful scenery. Even the mall is scenic. Three more things are on our “hope we have time” list: 1) clean the front and rear of the very dirty coach, 2) get the car washed, 3) give the mutzos a much needed bath. We score on all three!
The place we didn’t visit this time is Drake Park. I really don’t know why we didn’t visit the park as we really enjoy walking it. This beautiful park is part of downtown Bend.
If one can call a downtown beautiful, downtown Bend would fit the description. The scenery is like eye candy with the mill pond bordering one side while very beautiful homes abut the pond on the other. Life can’t get any better than a visit to downtown Bend and the short walk to Drake Park.
True story: Jil is wearing her Put In Bay (located on South Bass Island, Lake Erie Ohio) sweatshirt that she purchased last fall while visiting the Great Lakes. The locals pronounce the place Putin, so that’s what reads on her sweatshirt. An older fella spots her shirt and gets all huffy as to how Jil can support that pinko commie rat bastard Vladimir Putin? He actually gets a little aggressive in his inquiry until Jil explains that she does NOT support Vladimir, that the sweatshirt is a souvenir from a tourist’s visit. A friend in the belligerent fellow’s party backed Jil up as he knew of Put In Bay, so the fella calmed down and sorta apologized, sorta………..
Tomorrow we are heading north than east towards Baker, Oregon. We will spend the night at Union Creek Campground located about 15 miles from Baker Oregon. We will then take the schlog up to McCall, Idaho and spend another five or so days visiting with Jil’s brother Rob, his wife Kathy and Jil’s sister Kim. That should be a good time- yes?
P.S.- Smoke has diminished to the point where we can actually see blue sky, clouds and even a couple of volcanic peaks! It’s still smokey, but not nearly as bad as the fog like smoke we’ve endured here in Bend………..
Travel With Jil and Mike 