Silver Lake Tour 2008 - Recap

This year’s Lake tour was greeted with warm (okay more on the HOT) side, in the weather department.

After enduring the Friday afternoon traffic out of Portland, we were greeted with mostly open roads all the way to Bend, OR. After checking into our hotel, we went over to one of Bend’s locally owned Mexican Restaurants for a nice relaxing dinner and fellowship.

Early the next morning, we were greeted with beautiful blue skies and a wonderful view of the Cascade Mountains. After coffee, a great breakfast buffet and loading up our “Brown Bag Lunch Specials” we were on our way!

Our first stop was up to Paulina Point, in the Newberry Crater. What a spectacular view! From atop the point at almost 8000 feet, it was almost like one could see the entire state. Dan’s pristine and immaculate detailing on his E36 M3 succumbed to the 2 ½ miles of dusty gravel road, leading up to the point! What WAS Hellrot Red, became something more along the lines of “Desert Camouflage” with a variety of different colors of DIRT. LOL

Departing Paulina Point, we now headed for our lunch destination at Fort Rock, Oregon. Fort Rock is one of the more interesting places to visit in Oregon. With its hiking trails and sheer rock walls, we had the opportunity to see some truly interesting geological and botanical sights. All the flowers of the desert were in full bloom this year.

After having a relaxing lunch at Fort Rock, we then proceeded on the “Roads Less Travelled” out towards Christmas Valley, Oregon. Out here, you drive for many many miles through the rolling fields of the central desert of Oregon. Hardly a person or car for miles.

Departing Christmas Valley, we then headed further into the “Oregon Outback” along the shores of Silver and Summer Lakes all the way to Paisley, Oregon (Wide Spot in the Road, by most Standards).

After Paisley, when then pointed our roundels out through the high prairie lands of Lake County, with every passing mile further removing us from any signs of “Civilization” as we call it. The National Forest Roads are beautifully paved and maintained with some of the most awesome twisties and panoramic views of the high country. We did have to abruptly stop at one point, for out in this area, it is open cattle country. Came about a corner and ended up nose to Roundel, with one of next week’s steaks out walking about on the hoof! :D

After stopping at the picturesque Thompson Reservoir for a little Relaxation, we then headed down the hill to our dinner stop at the Cowboy Dinner Tree, all the while eyeing the darkening clouds on the horizon to the west.

After a Wonderful (incredible) meal at the expert hands of Connie and her staff, we then leisurely headed for Bend. By now, we were witnessing not only a gorgeous sunset, but also the beginning of Mother Nature’s great “light show in the sky”. All the way home to Bend, we got to see some really great “Fireworks” put on by Her.

Arriving back at the Hotel around 11pm, we were all on the tired, yet very satisfied side. It was really great to know that we have fond memories of another great driving tour filled with beautiful scenery, funny moments and fantastic “Roads Less Travelled”.

Sunday, we pretty much all took our own different ways home (as is often the case on these tours) and headed back to the “Double R” that we all have at home. Excited to know that we had a great weekend and already planning for upcoming events in the weeks to follow with this great club.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m still working on my left over’s from Saturday night’s dinner at the “Tree”!

See you at the Historics!