Bend

Friday, November 2, 2007 - Drove into Bend on Saturday and spent all night talking with VV and Ceci, and watching college football games.. VV and Ceci are huge sports fans - even moreso than me.. They are also a complete blast to hang out with. Their only requirement when staying with them is that you have fun, and they make sure of that. Sunday they took me to a little dive in Bend for breakfast. In the back are gambling machines, which was very interesting to see coming from Texas. VV and I then drove toward Mt. Bachelor (Ceci had hurt her back a couple days prior) and hiked around the Deschutes river - this is beautiful country. VV and Ceci have hiked well over 200 miles this year, which places yet another couple folks in my family as in much better shape then I. Dangit.

Monday we all drove to Smith Rock and took a beautiful hike around "Crooked River" that involved mountains, water, foliage changing colors, and tons of rock climbers. Later we went back to the little dive in Bend and watched some Monday Night Football.

I left on Tuesday but was not allowed to before Ceci made me some food and insisted on sending me with the best homemade beef jerky I've ever had. So glad I got to spend some time with them, I really only get to see my uncle and Ceci on holidays - yet another experience I won't forget.

A river running through a gorge on the way to Bend	My drive into Bend
	Smith Rock hike
Smith Rock hike	Thought the top of this rock looked like the Sphinx
Rock climbers at Smith Rock
	A snake on the hike
A couple rock climbers ontop of "Monkey Face" at Smith Rock
Elk Lake