The ABCs of An EPIC Girls' Trip! May, 2019-Q is for: Quietly Sending this Trip Report off Into an Internet Sunset (8/25)

[Malia78]

We didn't waste our time though, not only did we get a fun photo opp with a pretty well-decorated Navyman

Did that photo turn out?

 

[Steppesister]

G is for: Grand and Gorgeous Road Trip​

Some of you have asked for a few photos from my recent trip to Southeastern Oregon, specifically Harney County- one of the truly Wild West places left in the US. The ranchers and cattlemen take their work very seriously and contrary to popular belief by some, they are VERY into conservation of the land and care for it marvelously well. Quoted from one of my dinner tablemates at one of the historic hotels I stayed at, "The land is our life. If we don't care for it and responsibly manage it and the water, we have no life and we lose our business, animals, and livelihood."

​

It's rugged beauty is striking and diverse. Truly, one of the most gorgeous places I've visited on the planet. However, this is not a trip report-y kind of post. I'm simply going to put up the very best of the photos I took and let them do the talking. In a nutshell, to set the scene, this a is vast National Wildlife Refuge of wetlands that sits in the middle of high desert landscape that butts up right against the Steens Mountains. So 3 VERY distinct ecosystems within 75 miles.

Beginning with the landscape in general:

​

I mainly went there because of what I'd heard of the migratory birds and vast array of permanent resident populations. It did not disappoint!!! I saw probably 50 species, easy, and photographed about 30. One of my long-standing birding pipe dreams was to see an owl in the wild and get a photo. I did that!!!

This was a particularly phenomenal find as it's a bit of a rare one: A juvenile Long-eared owl. Notice its pupils. I don't know if that is due to differing sunlight amounts hitting them, or if they have vision that allows for differing focal points.

​

Pintail couple and a Cinnamon Teal:

​

Wilson's Snipe:

​

Crappy photo, but I did see a pheasant:

​

A black-necked stilt on the right:

​

A female Killdeer with her eggs (that I almost stepped on because she is a silly bird!)

​

A female Wilson's Warbler with dinner:

​

And a white-faced ibis:

​

There many others but the photos are crappy.

In addition to the birds, I saw the herds of wild Kiger Horses famous to our Steens Mountains.

Here are a few of the best shots of these majestic creatures:

​

Another highlight of the trip for me was seeing the very remote Mickey Hot Springs- they literally bubble, hiss and geyser in the middle of nowhere:

Here's a short video I shot:

​

Another interesting landmark I visited was a historic round barn restored and put onto the National Historic Sites- the Pete French Round Barn. If you want a good read about how the wild, wild west worked back in the late 1800's and how disputes were "settled" you can google him. Let's just say, "Karma's a b!tch".

​

Lastly, I saw a myriad of other wildlife. Here are my favorite keepers:

A VERY well disguised grasshopper that blended perfectly with the pink leaves of this small plant:

​

A lone antelope:

​

A LOT of deer:

​

A few snakes: (this one had sadly met his demise on the road )

​

A pretty dragonfly:

​

A marmot sunning himself:

​

And a gigantic jackrabbit. No lie, that sucker was about 2 feet tall.

​

Hope you enjoyed my little tour of rural Oregon. Home of the last true public boarding school in America (to my knowledge and research).

 

[Steppesister]

Did that photo turn out?

Added...

 

[thumper*]

Hope you enjoyed my little tour of rural Oregon.

Yes yes I did.

 

[pkondz]

I must've been hungry when I wrote that. Of course I enjoy all of that too- probably a lot moreso.

Hard not to think of food when you're hungry.

OH shush. You loved it, Mr. Spin-it-Faster.

I figured... "You wanna make me puke? Then we're all gonna puke!"

I knew it!

It's a drama, negativity bandwagon everyone seems to want to hop on right now. No solutions... lots of whining. I'mma stay happy over here focusing on making my own life and space better.

Pretty good way to go.

 

[pkondz]

Honestly, the tour was such a special thing that I went so far as to add 2 days to my trip so I didn't miss it.

It's nice that you could add a couple more days for something special like that.

Some of you know that I have a dream of becoming a pilot someday and have gotten to the point of passing my Written FAA exam for single engine private pilot.

Unfortunately, life is full of twists and turns, often out of our control and that has been put on hold for another season. Yes, I'll have to retake my exam as you have to get your 40+ hours of flight time in and your check ride done within 2 years. I'm getting on in that time frame and have chosen to spend what little play money I have on other things right now.

Life happens. Totally get it. I'm sure you'll get back in the air again when you are ready and circumstances allow.

After reading others' TR chapters on this, I think in the end everyone enjoyed it, some more than others of course.

I've been reading those TRs too.

The area set aside for viewing was pretty full and got moreso as it got closer to flyover time.

Same with the other side of the Golf Ball.

In short, it was nothing short of loud, beautiful, awesome, and totally worth it in my book!

Here are the few I got.

You got some really good ones!

But, clearly, the photog need to re-think their equipment.

What am I missing here? I'm not seeing something, obviously.

Then, we waited for what seemed like and eternity, but was only about 15 minutes or so. Out of nowhere and with no warning... ROAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was so cool! Even Elle, who's not known to be into that, (oh I have a story all right!) enjoyed it.

They made 2 passes and the 2nd was, IMHO, more cool than the first.

And I missed it! I thought there'd be just the one pass, so we left and were under the tunnel between the Electric Umbrella and Mousegears when they went by again.

While I did get some keepers, NOTHING will beat the footage from this website of the event. Seriously, guys, click on the link and enjoy the 1:14 minutes of awesomesauce!!

That was pretty cool. Thanks for the link.

As we were sitting there sharing our breakfast, @Malia78 noticed @pkondz and his daugther come off the ride, but they were moving too fast for us to go chasing.

What???? Well... poop! I wish I'd known. I didn't get a chance to see you this trip, and would've loved to have stopped for a hug and a "Hi!".

I leave again for the Big Kahuna Trip with my kiddos in 10 short weeks!

Whoa! Coming up soon!

 

[pkondz]

Some of you have asked for a few photos from my recent trip to Southeastern Oregon,

specifically Harney County

Nope. Don't recall asking for that. Since I've never heard of it.

contrary to popular belief by some, they are VERY into conservation of the land and care for it marvelously well.

"Contrary to popular belief"? I would've thought popular belief was the opposite.

"The land is our life. If we don't care for it and responsibly manage it and the water, we have no life and we lose our business, animals, and livelihood."

well said.

However, this is not a trip report-y kind of post. I'm simply going to put up the very best of the photos I took and let them do the talking.

And thanks for sharing with us.

So 3 VERY distinct ecosystems within 75 miles.

That's cool!

I saw probably 50 species, easy, and photographed about 30.

Wow! That's... a lot!

One of my long-standing birding pipe dreams was to see an owl in the wild and get a photo. I did that!!!

Yay! You got it!
I wish I'd had my camera at work the other day. Not one, but two large owls flew over me while I was enjoying the day on a break.

This was a particularly phenomenal find as it's a bit of a rare one: A juvenile Long-eared owl.

Huh! Not bad!

Notice its pupils. I don't know if that is due to differing sunlight amounts hitting them, or if they have vision that allows for differing focal points.

I'm gonna say it's the light. makes sense to me, anyways. More so than it can adjust pupils independently.

A female Killdeer with her eggs (that I almost stepped on because she is a silly bird!)

I remember in junior high there was one on the soccer field. It kept dragging its wing to "lure us away" from the eggs.

In addition to the birds, I saw the herds of wild Kiger Horses famous to our Steens Mountains.

That is sooo cool. I didn't even know there were any wild horses left in North America outside of Sable Island.

Another highlight of the trip for me was seeing the very remote Mickey Hot Springs-

Dang. Disney owns everything.

Another interesting landmark I visited was a historic round barn restored and put onto the National Historic Sites- the Pete French Round Barn

I really like the construction details you got of the inside.

And a gigantic jackrabbit. No lie, that sucker was about 2 feet tall.

Do not tick off that bunny.

Hope you enjoyed my little tour of rural Oregon.

Very much so! Thanks!

Home of the last true public boarding school in America (to my knowledge and research).

Really! Huh.

 

[pooh'smate]

I enjoyed the flyover video thanks for posting. I also enjoyed my time in Oregon. I really like all the wildlife photos and the picture with the rancher/cattleman reminded me of my gramps. He and my grammy used to lead overnight horseback trips through the back woods of Maine in their early retirement and he is very much a cowboy. Well as much as one can be a cowboy in Maine lol. He subscribes to the cowboy way of life. He did work on a farm and raised many horses through the years. He is not able to work with horses anymore but he still wears his cowboy hat and reads his westerns. Sorry for rambling have been homesick lately and your update sent me down memory lane.

 

[pcbianchini]

I’m long time reader but first time responder. I love your trip reports. You have a very unique writing style and it’s always entertaining and informative. I just wanted to say thank you for keeping me entertained.

 

[Steppesister]

Yes yes I did.

I'm so glad, Glenda! Finally got back to you. Check your inbox.

 

[Steppesister]

Hard not to think of food when you're hungry.

It's nice that you could add a couple more days for something special like that.

Life happens. Totally get it. I'm sure you'll get back in the air again when you are ready and circumstances allow.

I sure hope so.

Same with the other side of the Golf Ball.

In that video, some of the best footage is from that side.

You got some really good ones!

My favorite is the one you can see the lettering on the underside of the planes.

What am I missing here? I'm not seeing something, obviously.

Canon > Nikon

It was so cool! Even Elle, who's not known to be into that, (oh I have a story all right!) enjoyed it.

STORY? I hope you're getting to that soon!

And I missed it! I thought there'd be just the one pass, so we left and were under the tunnel between the Electric Umbrella and Mousegears when they went by again.

Well, that super sucks!

What???? Well... poop! I wish I'd known. I didn't get a chance to see you this trip, and would've loved to have stopped for a hug and a "Hi!".

Well, let's just say... you weren't sashaying.

Whoa! Coming up soon!

Yep! Almost time to pack!

 

[Steppesister]

And thanks for sharing with us.

You're very welcome!

Yay! You got it!
I wish I'd had my camera at work the other day. Not one, but two large owls flew over me while I was enjoying the day on a break.

Oh cool!!!

I'm gonna say it's the light. makes sense to me, anyways. More so than it can adjust pupils independently.

I honestly can't say.

I remember in junior high there was one on the soccer field. It kept dragging its wing to "lure us away" from the eggs.

I've heard that they do that, but this one was squaking up a storm and I STILL didn't even see it for a long time.

That is sooo cool. I didn't even know there were any wild horses left in North America outside of Sable Island.

Yes, I think there are some on Assateague Island too.

Dang. Disney owns everything.

LOL!

I really like the construction details you got of the inside.

Thanks! Wouldn't it have been something to see an owl in there?! Perfect spot for one too.

 

[Steppesister]

I enjoyed the flyover video thanks for posting. I also enjoyed my time in Oregon. I really like all the wildlife photos and the picture with the rancher/cattleman reminded me of my gramps. He and my grammy used to lead overnight horseback trips through the back woods of Maine in their early retirement and he is very much a cowboy. Well as much as one can be a cowboy in Maine lol. He subscribes to the cowboy way of life. He did work on a farm and raised many horses through the years. He is not able to work with horses anymore but he still wears his cowboy hat and reads his westerns. Sorry for rambling have been homesick lately and your update sent me down memory lane.

You're very welcome!

What a fun trip down memory lane. And what a fantastic retirement gig for your gramps! THey are certainly a dying breed deserving of respect for their hard work, simple ways, and respect for the land.

 

[Steppesister]

I’m long time reader but first time responder. I love your trip reports. You have a very unique writing style and it’s always entertaining and informative. I just wanted to say thank you for keeping me entertained.

OH my!!! I'm so glad you popped in to say hi. Your complements give me the feel goods; high praise indeed and thank you. No need to be shy though! I hope you'll come back often and join in here and there. It's fun to have a little chatter along the way.

 

[Cloe Colton]

I totally agree with you on the flyover, I would have wanted to see that too! How spectacular!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Unfortunately, life is full of twists and turns, often out of our control and that has been put on hold for another season. Yes, I'll have to retake my exam as you have to get your 40+ hours of flight time in and your check ride done within 2 years.

I'm sorry. That sounds like such an inconvenience, but I know you'll persevere.

Thank you Su-Lynn and everyone else on the Tour who accomodated me and were willing to see this in exchange for 20 or so minutes of our day.

Wonderful that they could accommodate you!

That's so cool. Nice shot!

As we were sitting there sharing our breakfast, @Malia78 noticed @pkondz and his daugther come off the ride, but they were moving too fast for us to go chasing.

Are you sure they didn't see you first?

So 3 VERY distinct ecosystems within 75 miles.

Very interesting! Pretty country.

The "lone barn in the wilderness" never fails to be a good shot, does it?

One of my long-standing birding pipe dreams was to see an owl in the wild and get a photo. I did that!!!

Nice job! And great shot.

In addition to the birds, I saw the herds of wild Kiger Horses famous to our Steens Mountains.

Those look like the quintessential West.

That's so random! But also neat.

 

[pkondz]

In that video, some of the best footage is from that side.

You think so?
I respectfully disagree

My favorite is the one you can see the lettering on the underside of the planes.

Oh!
I didn't see that on my phone.
Hang on... gonna take a closer look now that I'm on my home 'puter...

I can see lettering... but not make out what it says.
(Yes, I googled... USNAVY... now I know.)

Actually saw something interesting yesterday.
I saw a car with a bumper sticker for Canadian Navy and Marines.
Which confused me since we don't have Marines.

Then the nickel dropped. It was a bilingual bumper sticker.
Royal Canadian Navy/Marine Royale Canadienne.

Canon > Nikon

ohhhhhh...

STORY? I hope you're getting to that soon!

Nope! From years ago.

Well, let's just say... you weren't sashaying.

Things to do! Food to eat!

Oh cool!!!

I honestly can't say.

Pretty sure I'm right. Almost positive.

I've heard that they do that, but this one was squaking up a storm and I STILL didn't even see it for a long time.

"Why is that bird squawking so much?" <Craaaacckkk!> "oops."

Yes, I think there are some on Assateague Island too.

Interesting that they're both Atlantic coast islands.

Thanks! Wouldn't it have been something to see an owl in there?! Perfect spot for one too.

ooohhh yeah! That would've been great!

Are you sure they didn't see you first?

 

[disneyAndi14]

I loved the Blue Angel fly over and all the wonderful pictures and the video is awesome!! It was a very unique experience for all of us!

I didn’t even realize you had some breakfast and sat out of Soarin’ thank goodness for TR’s! Lol!

Thanks for the beautiful pictures of your home state! Loved those!

 

[Steppesister]

I totally agree with you on the flyover, I would have wanted to see that too! How spectacular!

It really was. I've been to a few airshows and I never get tired of them, but this was certainly something spectacular as far as venue goes for sure!

 

[Steppesister]

I'm sorry. That sounds like such an inconvenience, but I know you'll persevere.

It's my $$$ that needs to persevere. Well, ok, first it has to appear.
]

Wonderful that they could accommodate you!

Yes, it was!!

That's so cool. Nice shot!

Thanks! A very special few minutes.

Are you sure they didn't see you first?

Quick! Hide! It's that lady who takes a squat everywhere she goes!

The "lone barn in the wilderness" never fails to be a good shot, does it?

Always. I have a few more, but that was best of the lot.

Those look like the quintessential West.

Right?!

That's so random! But also neat.

They are so remote that the yay-hoos from the City haven't discovered them and wrecked them yet.