Destination: Bend

We haven't been using the RV this year because our old dog, Tule, can't get into it anymore, even with help.  But this weekend was our nephew's HS graduation and we just had to go.  So we hired a doggy-sitter and headed out with just Elsie accompanying us.  Our new dog, Rosie, couldn't come, either, but that is a long story that will wait for another time.

We headed out I-5 until we got to Weed where we joined Hwy 97.  We spent the night in Klamath Falls and had a lot of time to kill before we needed to be at my brother's.  We spotted the largest logging museum in the USA and spent an enjoyable hour or so touring it.

We got to Monte and Brenda's  in plenty of time to visit with the boys and their folks before my Mom and oldest nephew showed up.  Here's the whole Clouston group (except me, I'm taking the photo):

Saturday was graduation day.  Bend sure does know how to treat its graduates!  What a difference from our kids' experiences as well as ours.  We got to the community center in time to see the caravan of 7 school buses arrive carrying the whole class, horns blowing, accompanied by 7 police cars, lights flashing,sirens blasting.  Josh told me they drove the whole 11 miles that way, stopping traffic thru town for the graduates, zig-zagging down the streets, as noisy as they could be.  That scene really choked me up--it was soooo cool!  And I completely forgot to take a photo.  Here's Josh the graduate.

The ceremony was very nice. The principal's speech acknowledged everybody in this amazing group.  They had severals sports where they went on to Championships.  They have 87 % going on to higher education.  She even acknowledged the kids who struggled just to graduate.  And on and on  and on. The music was incredible, done by the students.  And they all were so well-behaved.  One thing that struck me was the fact that this class had not one handicapped student, not even one on crutches from a broken leg!

The view from their house is fantastic.

But as we left for the ceremony we couldn't help but notice a fire had started across the valley.  By the time we got home it looked like this:

A few of Josh's friends had to evacuate their homes.  The horses that lived near the fire were being brought to the fairgrounds and a rescue shelter.  By this morning the fire was still 0% controlled. It covered 10 miles (6200 acres) by the time we left.  The wind was blowing away from my brother's place, but the smoke was very thick.  We're praying they'll be able to contain it soon.

Now we're in Redding, on our way home, back to the nasty heat.  The cool weather was nice while it lasted.