August 23, 2004
Postcards from the Road
Today my friend Sean and I drove 750 miles from Portland to middle-of-nowhere Idaho just shy of the border near Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Here's what we saw.
Mt. Hood looms above Trillium Lake.
The forest around Trillium Lake.
After crossing the Cascade Mountains we entered Oregon's Outback. Most people don't know it, but half of Oregon really is desert. This photo was taken in the middle of the state just after the forest vanished.
Malheur County, Oregon, the most remote and least densely populated place in the lower 48 states. Outback, indeed.
Somewhere in Southern Idaho.
Somewhere else in Southern Idaho, near Pocatello, as the last rays of sunlight splashed on the mountains.
Tomorrow, eastward!
Will I post more photos? Or will I have enough time for the regularly-scheduled opinionated blather? Stay tuned to find out.
Posted by Michael J. Totten at August 23, 2004 11:20 PMGreat shots! More travel AND blather, why not? (well quantity, quality, opportunity costs, paid work ...)
Are there NO desert counties in Nevada with fewer folk? Strange. Interesting. Great shots!
Posted by: Tom Grey at August 24, 2004 01:21 AMAmerica the Beautiful
Land that I love
Stand beside her.
>>>"This photo was taken in the middle of the state just after the forest vanished."
it just vanished? disappeared???
Great photos Michael. America was made for road trips.
Posted by: David at August 24, 2004 06:54 AMDavid, it does seem to kind of just vanish with the blink of an eye out there in some places.
Anyway, excellent timing Michael. I'm heading out to Oregon on Friday and will be in the area for a couple weeks. Hitting the Black Rock Desert in NV, Oregon's South Coast, Bend (to see the Pixies), and then a few days in PDX.
Looking forward to the natural grandeur that is missing from life on the east coast.
Posted by: Nathan Hamm at August 24, 2004 08:40 AMHome! More pictures, please.
Posted by: Diggs at August 24, 2004 08:42 AMI've got two words for you.
Corn fields.
Hope you like 'em - you are going to see a few year's worth in the next couple of days!
Smooth sailing to the both of you.
Posted by: TmjUtah at August 24, 2004 08:52 AMIt's not fair that somebody should write as well as you AND take great pictures, as well.
Enjoy the trip.
Posted by: Silicon Valley Jim at August 24, 2004 08:57 AMGo SE from Pocatello, into Wyoming. Keep looking behind you as you go.
Posted by: dipnut at August 24, 2004 11:27 AMVery pretty state.
Posted by: Moonbat_One at August 24, 2004 02:15 PMMore pictures, please.
Posted by: Elliot Fladen at August 24, 2004 06:21 PMI'm a little north of you right now (Pender Island, BC), but anticipate a return road trip from Vancouver, Mt. Rainer to nowhere-Idaho and around Lake Tahoe by Labor Day. Good pics!
Posted by: d-rod at August 25, 2004 12:06 PM"Malheur County, Oregon, the most remote and least densely populated place in the lower 48 states. Outback, indeed."
What Tom Grey said, above. And also, about some of the desert areas in Eastern Southern Cal, and in Arizona. Seems like they'd be giving Malheur Cty a run for its money.
Gorgeous photography. I was just out in the Washington/Oregon/California region last month. Truly as beautiful as I remember. Drove from Vancouver, WA to Merlin, OR via 5, then down to San Jose, CA via 199/101. Stunning. Wish I'd taken some pictures. Redwood country is divine!
More! More! More!
Posted by: Gregory S. Hill at August 25, 2004 01:21 PMYou're rather a good photographer, in case you didn't know.
Posted by: Liz at August 25, 2004 02:32 PMSomewhere else in Southern Idaho
Great picture -- other than the power lines!
Posted by: Al at August 25, 2004 04:13 PMI was born in the middle of nowhere--Idaho--Kimima Butte near Paul--you are not there yet!
Posted by: Al at August 25, 2004 11:50 PM
