John Day Library
July 29, 2021
3 pm
The past two days have been mind blowing. The drive on US 395 South from Pendleton is breathtaking in its emptiness. There are enormous areas of pasture all the way to the horizon; the next minute you are in a forest of Douglas Firs. And the road is eerily empty; I probably went on average 10 minutes between seeing another vehicle -- which was more than likely a semi.
Google Maps says the drive to here takes 3 hours. More like 2 days! There were so many insane photo opportunities -- I wanted to drop down on my knees and beg for mercy! I won't win a gold medal for my photogra[hy, but I am trying hard. The past two days -- I am not sure it is possible to capture the majesty of the areas I drove through.
I made slideshows of yesterday's and today's photos. I will tempt you with a handful of 30 photos that I really like.
I'm still "five hours" (that's a Google Maps' five hours) away from the "historical" Paris in Malheur County, Oregon. I have the coordinates, and I have a plan to prove it is Paris.
Might I suggest the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway from Baker to the Columbia, with a slight sidetrack to the Painted Hills..... The Thomas Condon Paleontology Center in the John Day National Monument (Route 19 north of Federal 26) is also worth the time.