Bend and Three Sisters, Oregon

First day we actually slept in!   Beautiful weather, slept with the windows open, got down to 60.  We had our breakfast then headed for the High Desert Museum - rated the #1 thing to do in Bend, Oregon and boy were they right on the money.    A beautiful museum, very interactive for the kids, with live animals and lots of history and antiques.  Listened to a docent speech regarding the Apex predators (that being the bears and large cats, like cougars) and the lack thereof and how that impacts the entire ecosystem and animal kingdom.  Very interesting.   A large focus on the Indians of the northwest and high desert region, which we learned today includes Colorado/Montana/Idaho as well as Oregon east of the Cascade Mountains.

We watched two otters frolicking in their habitat, which is going to be remodeled and enlarged to include more otters.   There were displays of covered wagons and all the equipment the pioneers carried, to include chests with all their eating/cooking utensils, chests for their clothing and all the weaponry.  I found the place to be very thought provoking.   Thinking about the Indians and how the white man displaced them and eventually totally eliminated their way of life - is that what we call survival of the fittest?  They really are and were the true first Americans and it's a shame we don't pay them more homage.    I really felt a little sad at being a descendant of the people who almost wiped them from the earth!   Pretty deep - eh?   What's happening to me in my old age? 

Look at this handsome guy posing for me!

Here's the cute little otters "frolicking" - don't ya love that word - don't ya want to "frolick" from time to time?

We left there and drove about 18 miles to Sisters, Oregon.   If you are a quilter you may know it.  There is a big outdoor quilt show in Sisters every year on the second Saturday of July and this year is their 40th!   Wow - the town's population is 2000 something but during that weekend it swells tremendously.    The big attraction is they hang quilts outside on the buildings for everyone to see and people enter quilts from around the world.    Amazing!   I've known about it for several years so just had to drive through town and stop in at the Stitchin Post Quilt Shop and check it out.   Gary wandered the streets a bit while I browsed.    He found a shop that sells fudge - his favorite!  Highway 20 is lined with quaint little shops and eateries.   Very cute little town and a very nice quilt shop that also sold yarn.   I restrained myself and just looked!   He took a pic of the store for me -

On the way to Sisters we stopped at a Vista Point.   There are three mountains in the Cascade Range that are known as the Three Sisters - get it?   So here's our pic of the Three Sisters - still with snow - not very good pictures but you can see the snow. 

Well tomorrow is a travel day - headed for Fort Stevens State Park in Northern Oregon on the coast, so we will be driving up and over the Cascade Mountains tomorrow.