–Sunset, Bandon, Oregon–
Sunday, April 1st, 2018 – April Fools Day. With the van loaded, family, luggage, food and all, we pulled out of Springville, headed for the Oregon coast. The kids found a Box Elder Bug inside the van, crawling across the dash board. We joked that it wanted to hitch a ride to Oregon with us. They named it “George.”
First to I-80 and across to Wendover, Utah and West Wendover, Nevada we went, stopping there for a restroom break, a few yards from the Nevada state line. I had never been there before, but I knew that the town straddled the state line between Utah and Nevada. It was just funny to see a casino with its parking lot in Utah but the building in Nevada.
Our last stop before Oregon was in Carlin, Nevada. It felt good to stand up and stretch our legs. 
We filled up and made use of the facilities before heading out on our last stretch before the motel in Oregon. 
We also switched drivers. Hunter drove the rest of the way to Lakeview, Oregon.
The last stretch of road for the day was the lonely area from northwest Nevada into southeast Oregon. From Winnemucca, Nevada up highway 95, and then northwest on highway 140 to Lakeview, Oregon, there were no towns, no cell service, and practically no gas, restrooms or civilization. The highway was narrow, with almost no shoulder, especially after crossing into Oregon. We encountered almost no other traffic. I only found out later that the southeastern part of Oregon seems to be made up of practically nothing but wilderness study areas and wildlife refugees. If course this pretty much means no civilization either, but it was sure pretty, kind of reminding me of southwest Utah with all the black lava rock and sage brush.
At one point we came to the top of a ridge called Doherty Slide which looks to me like a faultline, where one side dropped and the other side went up, similar to the hill just above Hurricane, Utah where I grew up. The highway down Doherty Slide precariously winds down a steep slope into the valley below, with no guardrail and a speed limit of 25 miles per hour. This photo doesn’t do it justice. 
It is a thousand foot drop from the top to the valley floor. Hunter took this portion very slowly, but it still made us all a little nervous. We were glad to make it safely to the bottom.
Shortly after this area, the drive seemed to slowly get greener and greener. Then we hit a valley of cultivated fields and greenery, with farmhouses scattered across the valley. I don’t know if you’d call it a town or a village, but it’s listed on the map as Adel. From there we began heading up the canyon where Deep Creek flowed, getting into more greenery and alpine conditions. We even got into a few snow flurries and some rain. There were also some beautiful waterfalls. The beauty of God’s creations was astounding.
We arrived in Lakeview, Oregon and checked into the Best Western Skyline Motor Lodge. They had a room that had an extra extension room with another bed – three queen beds (we made due with this with some of the kids sleeping on the floor). We enjoyed pulled pork sandwiches for dinner. The room had a microwave oven in which we reheated the pulled pork we had roasted in the crock pot the night before. We had some chips we brought that the kids enjoyed too.
Later the boys and Grace went down to the pool and enjoyed a swim.
The next morning we packed up and headed out for the beach house, excited that we were going to see the ocean that very day. We were also excited to go through parts of Oregon we knew would be green, mountainous and beautiful.
We hit some spots of snow on the roads going over the mountain passes after Klammath Falls. The sun was out though, and it was already melting. It was amazingly gorgeous.
He has been serving in the role of senior class president and has participated in theater. He’s a responsible young man.
I just can’t believe my little girl is eight years old. She is a sweet, thoughtful and considerate girl that is growing up too fast.
How did this happen? Where did the time go? I love my family and feel extremely grateful to Heavenly Father for this wonderful blessing in my life!
