We all have gone on those Sunday Afternoon drives!
Sunday drives started when I was a little girl.
My Dad would pile all of us kids in the car and head out to pick
Hickory Nuts and Walnuts in the fall.
In the winter he would test the newly formed snowdrifts with the jeep!
We all loved it!
I think now it gave my Mother a great break from all of us Lake kids!
The memories of those times are still fresh in my mind.
My Dads humor was always front and forward and he too acted like a little kid!
My Grandfather would take us to East Grand Rapids on occasion on Sundays.
We visited "Jersey Junction"!
One of the greatest ice cream stores I have ever been in!
Every ice cream you could imagine all housed within a Victorian House.
I always ordered "Black Licorice Ice Cream"!
I would stick out my tongue at my siblings and act like I was dying!
The black tongue would just gross them out!
Sibling JOY!
When my son Easton was at home we made a jar filled with rolled up pieces of paper that had
Forest Service Roads, waterfalls, mountains, buttes, lakes, streams written on them!
We drew one roll and then we were off on a New Sunday Adventure!
Well...Flash Forward......I still LOVE Sunday Drives!
Last weekend I visited the Burnt River Area of NE Oregon!
It was a hazy snowy day.
The wildlife was abundant and stood out against the snowy background!
Eagles, Elk, Coyotes, Deer, Squirrels, Canadian Geese, Magpies, and Meadowlarks just to name a few!
~The Historic Eldorado Ditch~
Is a fascinating part of Eastern Oregon History!
The Eldorado Ditch carried water for placer gold mining from the
Burnt River above the tiny town of
Unity, over, Eldorado Pass to Malhuer City and the
Willow Creek Drainage.
The 100 mile ditch was designed by William Packwood and constructed by Chinese labor.
The ditch was started in 1863 and by 1878 was carrying water.
The ditch created much controversy between miners and ranchers.
A concrete diversion was created in 1918 as a last attempt by
Malhuer County ranchers to use the ditch water.
A long court battle ensued and the use of the water was divided equally between the two counties.
The politics made the ditch impractical and was abandoned in 1925.
On the slopes of the Burnt River you can see hundreds of deer grazing on grasses left by the massive burn from 2016.
I think personally...I saw well over 300!
The valley runs along side the river. You can see the many remnants of days gone by.
The valley creates a Photographers Paradise.
Old fences, corrals and out buildings abound!
Providing the photographer with a western scene like an old western movie set!
The corral fence lines provide scenic drama against the stark snow.
The cold winter haze creates a feeling of mystery.
I wish you could photograph the sound
...Silence.....
Sounds only created from the stream and the refreshing sounds of the first
"Spring Meadowlarks" off in the distance.
Ah Yes! A Sunday Drive!
Have a Wonderful Week Everyone!
Your Artist Friend in the Wilds...
Jennifer
&
Max
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