Today was the journey home, and what a treat. I will definitely be coming back to explore this country of mountains and deserts and ranches and huge blue sky. It sprinkled all morning as I took the Elkhorn Scenic Byway then the Blue Mountains Scenic Byway. This is another gorgeous forest road. Signs said it opens June 15, oops. I had to dodge a few small rocks but otherwise it was fine. There are so many great places to dispersed camp here. I’m making a list!

And then I got to the open range. Omg. This is some of the most beautiful country I’ve ever seen. Broad high meadows bursting with balsam root, lupine, and more.

Just FYI, this big guy was on the other side of a fence!

This is open range, the highway snaking through vivid yellow fields of balsam and among herds of white-faced Herefords. My granddad raised Hereford cattle (and only Herefords). He was a successful farmer, so I assumed he chose this breed because they were the best. One day I asked my mom why, and she said, “Because he thought they looked nice in the field.” He would be awestruck to see his favorite cattle in this field of balsam with a ring of mountains around these high grassy meadows.

At a cute little county park with campsites, a swing set, a nature trail… and apparently animal dismemberment. I’m at Cutsforth County Park near Heppner. It looks like a fun place to take the family camping – lots of little trails through the woods and ponds and play areas.

Homeward bound and churning up the miles while I goggle through the windshield!