It’s official! I will be turning 50 in Hawaii, this year. WOOT!
We’re saving our pennies in the froggie bank.
I noticed he was feeling pretty full, so I took him to the bank. He had more than $50 in him!! Good froggie.
Doesn’t he look happy to help?
Gonna keep stuffing those coins in there and then making deposits in the Hawaii Five O account.
Aloha!
About 20 miles south of Bend, Oregon you’ll see the turnoff for Paulina (pron. Paul-eye-na) Lake and East Lake (my family recently spent an afternoon at East Lake). These two beautiful lakes are part of the Newberry National Monument. (click the link to learn more about this volcanic crater). There are also nice campgrounds in this location. You can choose from campsites for trailer or tent camping. I think now is a good time to mention that Central Oregon has very few flying insects to pester campers. We DO have bugs. There just aren’t hoards and swarms of them…generally speaking. Of course that varies according to how close you are to water and what time of year it is. Having grown up in the southern USA, I have a warped perspective of what “a lot of bugs” looks like, though.
A few miles down the road leading to East Lake and Paulina Lake you will begin to see signs for the Obsidian Flow. Take the time to stop by there at least once during your visit to Central Oregon. It’s pretty impressive to see this mountain of volcanic glass..and walk around on it.It is educational, too! 
And there’s a nice little spot for a picnic lunch before or after your hike to the top.
The hike is not rough. Though, there is a pretty significant bank of stairs at the beginning.
This shot is from the top of the stairs. I don’t recommend bringing Grandma and Grandpa here unless they’re very mobile and agile. The trail itself is pretty tame. The most strenuous part is the stairs.
The view is nice.
More to learn.
Lastly (and also firstly) we have the parking lot.
Unless you walk particularly fast or slow, visiting the Obsidian Flow and doing the hike generally will take about an hour. There is a place to sit (it’s near the top of the stairs) if part of your group wants to rest while the others go further.
My one complaint about the Obsidian Flow is the horrendously smelly restroom situation. The rooms themselves are decently clean but WOW the smell is amazingly overpowering. I wonder if it might have to do with the hot springs that are prominent in the area…but I really have no clue. We’ve been to this spot several times in the last seven years and every time the bathrooms have been this way and that’s why I don’t think it’s an issue of them not being emptied frequently enough (they’re stationary, too – so I don’t even know if it’s possible to empty them). *cough* Sorry for that unpleasant info. It seemed important.
There you have it. More good reasons to visit Central Oregon; Beauty, Education, Exercise, low bug population, camping, and a mountain of glass!
A few days ago Batman and I spent the afternoon at Smith Rock State Park. Down in the canyon of Smith Rock you will find the Crooked River.
During our visit Lando got to play.
Lando loves the water – like any self-respecting dog.
He loves to fetch.
He loves to fetch IN the water.
I give you LANDO the Free!
“Lord, help me be the person my dog thinks I am.” Anonymous
I leave you with a beautiful little creation that I shot a mediocre photo of.
Check out the Fun Girls post on a fabulous little place to visit or stay.
Central Oregon boasts some mighty pretty country. Dry. Rugged. Still pretty. (for large images, just click on the photo)
Smith Rock is spectacular in any weather at any time of day. 
Batman and I took a little hike today. We drove to Terrebonne, OR (home of Smith Rock State Park). We entered and drove past the main parking area and continued all the way to the end of the paved road to the last parking lot available. This is where we like to go for a little hike. The trail down from the main parking lot is pretty steep in places and it kills my knees. So we use this other trail. Plus, it’s usually less occupied and more peaceful. All of the trails around Smith Rock are pretty manageable. There are some rough patches on some of the less-traveled trails (the die-hards like those trails). Most of the trails are fairly tame. 
Here’s what the minor tricky parts (on the easy trails) can often look like. 
Not too bad. I managed these in sandals. Piece of cake. Be warned, though. Not all hiking trails are alike. Check out the situation first before you take off. Check the maps and guides before heading out. Make sure you’re not getting into something you can’t handle.
Look what else we saw! 
An added treat at Smith Rock is sighting a Golden Eagle. They have nests all around in the rocks. There is a nest in the photo above. About an inch above the ‘p’ in my watermark.
Note: The parking lot referred to in the photo above is the MAIN parking lot.
Lando got to play in the river. His photos will come later in the week.
I hope you get to visit Smith Rock one day. You won’t be sorry.
