Bend, Oregon

We had planned to stay at Bend for a week over Labor Day weekend.  We made reservations at Newberry RV park in La Pine, about 10 miles south of Bend .  This is probably the tightest RV park we have ever stayed in but we were pretty desperate since it was the holiday weekend.  We paid for a week at $37 per day (weekly rate).  The first day we drove to the Lava Tube but it was closed because of a fire in the area.  Then we walked around the Sunriver resort just to get a little walk in.  We went to the LaPine state park and did a walk along the river.  The smoke was getting pretty bad.  We walked to the Old Tree - the oldest Ponderosa Pine tree recorded.  When we got back to the campground we both decided that we definitely could not stay here for a week.  We called the office and said we wanted to leave after two nights because of the smoke.  They were very nice and said that we could get our money back.  

Walk along the river.

Smoke on the road between Bend and LaPine

The Oldest Ponderosa Pine ever recorded

The next morning the sky was so full of smoke the sun looked like an orange ball in the sky.  We tried to see some sites in the Bend area.  We could not see the mountains and really did not want to be outside much.

So we went to Bend and had a nice lunch at Greg's Grill in the Old Mill district and then walked around there (shops restaurants along the river).  We went to the High Desert Museum.  We could walk around inside and see the exhibits on the Indians, settlers, and military in the area.

A collared lizard at the museum.

One of the Indian village displays in the museum.

Next we drove to the Lava Tube where we could not go the day before because of fire.  They put the fire out so we were able to walk the 3/4 of a mile walk in the tube.  This tube is very big, very dark, and a pretty good hike to get out of the smoke.

We left after 2 days - besides the smoke in the area this closeness really did not appeal to either of us.  It made Dean very nervous on how he would get out but he pulled her out very smoothly.  

Our rig is on the right of the picture and our neighbors slide out is inches from the side of our rig.  Way too tight!