Day 1 July 2, 2025 Boise Idaho to Condon Oregon 298 miles
We got off at our usual 9 am. Didn’t have to stop for gas so that was good. We decided to take the back roads and a different route. We started on Highway 20 then to 26 and finally 19. Definitely some new roads for us.
At a stop sign in Caldwell a group of killdeer were making a lot of noise. Rob thought something was wrong with the car for a moment or two. Certainly glad it was only the birds.
We climbed several summits but none very high. They were about 4000, 4600, 5100, 5300, 3800 and 3300. Luckily some flatter space was in between. The car got warm on the hills but did not boil. The new radiator made a big difference.
We ate lunch in the shade off the road in Unity Oregon. That is almost a ghost town. A lady stopped on her way to the small store and post office. She talked for several minutes before continuing on her way.
We saw lots of cattle all along the route. Once one of them was on the wrong side of the fence. Luckily it was on the other side of the road and in the barrow pit. Lots of hay some in bales and some still drying. It will take a lot for all the cattle.
One field had two donkeys however. Couldn’t get the camera up quick enough for a photo.
The wind was blowing hard most of the day. That will affect the gas mileage since it wasn’t a tail wind.
We are driving the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway. Well it certainly took a lot of time. Lots of green and lavender color in the cliffs. We passed the cut off for the fossil beds out of John Day but didn’t stop. Looking up the story of John Day was rather interesting. Also significant was Thomas Condon who identified the significance of the fossil beds.
The road followed the John Day River for a long ways. We saw three single person pontoon rafts going down the river. The side of the river are lush and green. The other side of the road is very brown and dry. Like Idaho, water is a very important resource. Some sections were really hot and others were nice and cool.
For several miles we drove through what was the remains of a forest fire from perhaps last year. The ground wasn’t black but the tree bark was.
Some of the rock formations are quite unusual. Mother Nature has done some interesting work. Not as much color as Utah or Colorado.
We saw one deer along the road on the right. Luckily it took off up the hill. Rob helped it along by honking the horn.
We arrived at the Motel a little after 4 pm local time. Rob should sleep well tonight after 8 hours behind the wheel. After checking in we returned to town to get dinner at the one grocery store. As I am writing this five horses and riders just went by. Maybe they are practicing for the parade. Don’t know if there is a parade, but we were told by a local that the 4th is a big deal here.
Spoffords Travel 