Time wasters, such as grocery shopping and banking, slowed down the riding today. Around noon, the temp was in the 70's F; time to go to the local Mexican food place, Mazatlan, for lunch. It was great, chicken enchilada and tostado. Before we arrived in Madras, across from the Lake Simtustus, Pelton Park turnoff, the two Mountain Sheep, transplanted about 4 years ago, were grazing. I have seen them twice this year - before that, I had decided they left; if they did, they returned. After lunch, it was on toward Terrebonne, right on Lower Bridge Road, which used to be known as the back road to Sisters.

The last time I drove my parents on this back road, they told me what was around every turn! At one point, Mom said "There's a little house up here around the corner," and sure enough, there it was. They traveled that road frequently in their younger days, crossing the back of the reservation.

On one of our trips when I was a youngster, a hail storm hit us. The kids were in the back of the pickup with the 2 dogs. The folks stuffed the kids up front with them (7 of us!) and the little dog stood under the big dog until the storm was over. It was a good one!

On the way to Sisters on this road, you come to what used to be called the Dicalite mine. It was also called the kitty litter place. It is actually diatomaceous earth - made of diatoms from years long ago living in water - now known as the high desert, although located beside the Deschutes River. Now that earth is sometimes used in the making of fireproof doors, among other things.

The 'back road' hardly had any homes along it; now there are not only many homes, but they are very nice homes, homes with big pastures, lots of irrigation, and beautiful animals! We took the road around (northeast) of the town of Sisters - houses everywhere! What do all these people do! Sisters used to be a tiny, beautiful, tree-laden logging town; now it is a tourist attraction.

Eastward we went toward Bend from Sisters. Haven't been on that road for quite a while as well. It was the same thing - almost solid housing developments almost to Tumalo where we turned left toward Redmond. From there we took the Old Redmond-Bend road, on to Redmond and on home.

Yesterday we rode 257 miles. Today it was a mere but hot 139 miles. We arrived back home around 4:30. Yesterday was leather jacket day, today wa a no jacket day.