Day 410: The Three Sisters

The Three Sisters are potentially active volcanoes in central Oregon. An old story suggests that the mountains were originally named Faith, Hope, and Charity in the 1840's by members of a Methodist mission. Three Sisters Mountains are a popular location for hiking, backpacking, climbing, and camping.

But right now, in the town of Sisters, they are best viewed by me - through my camera lens on a spectacularly beautiful morning. And best viewed with Canadian geese flying by.

Day 409: The Llamas

The hotel we're staying at (The Best Western Ponderosa Lodge - highly recommend it) has several llamas on the property and even has food available so guests can feed them.

We've learned so much about llamas since we've been here!

• Llamas have banana shaped ears and flat backs.
• Their wool does not have lanolin. People who are allergic to wool usually don't have problems wearing llama wool.
• They guard against predatory animals. Sometimes llamas are merged into herds of sheep and goats to keep predators out.
• Llamas can be used as pack animals and to pull carts. They can carry up to 100 pounds.
• Most llamas cost from $1,000 to $5,000. Some show llamas can cost up to $20,000 or more.
• They are native to Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina. They are used there for their wool, but people in South America also eat the meat.
• They live 15-25 years, weigh 200-450 pounds, and are 5-6 feet tall.

And here is one my husband found out first hand...

• The purpose of spitting is to tell other llamas to leave them alone. Llamas don't just walk up and spit at people. However, people can be spit on when caught in the middle of a dispute between llamas. Just moments after this next picture was taken, the two llamas decided to get angry at each other (and hubby) over the food. Hubby got the bulk of the spit.

Day 408: Sisters, Oregon

In the 1880s Sisters was a supply station for sheep men passing through to pastures in the high Cascades in the summer. In the 1930s, the timber industry boomed and Sisters had several sawmills in or near town. By 1963 the last sawmill closed and the population declined.

Fortunately, tourist-related travel increased and Sisters became know as the Gateway to the Cascades. Now Sisters is a tourist destination. Winter has nearby skiing and summer has things like the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. Held since 1975, the quilt show brings people from all over. 12,000+ on quilt show day!

Every time we ever pass through Sisters I always buy tickets for the quilt raffle and I did that again today. Of course that happened at the Stitchin' Post, Sisters' magnificent quilt shop. And of course I had to buy some patterns and fabric while I was there.

Day 407: Trip to Sisters, Oregon

As we drove our 315 miles to get to Sisters, Oregon today lots of phrases came out of my mouth. And I took pictures for each one.

Yay! I'm so excited!
On Day 373 I "rode" my way to the Shoe Tree outside Juntura, Oregon. I was sad to hear that vandals had burned it down. But today I was so excited to see folks have found another tree not too far from the original and are starting one up again.

I'm glad I didn't really ride this road on a real bike. Watching tv when I was biking was so much better than this.
Mile after mile after mile (after mile) is nothing but desert and sagebrush.

It's going to storm.
Our morning started with beautiful blue skies but along the way we encountered rain, hail, and snow.

We're here!
Self explanatory.

Where else can you not have to step a foot off your hotel room's patio and see this kind of thing?
Llamas, squirrels, and Canadian geese. Who knew geese and squirrels were so friendly towards each other?

Day 406

I'm on the verge. Tomorrow is the day.

315 miles west from Marsing, Idaho is Sisters, Oregon. And I will be there tomorrow.

Literally, even. To coincide with my biking trip we are taking our own little venture, a getaway-from-the-rat-race trip. So my posts for the next few days will be travel pictures.

But not today. Today's picture is of the blossoms on our plum tree. The tree won't be nearly as pretty when we get back as it was today.

See everyone tomorrow in Sisters.