35. Sunriver, Oregon - September 28

Here’s the third and last installment of our Oregon road trip.

Highway 58 from Eugene to Bend/Sunriver is very scenic but a tiresome 3 ½ hour drive. Heck it wore me out. You heard of 2-Way Highways? There are sections where it is 1-lane because of the many stimulus road projects.

Once we arrived in magical Sunriver, it was party time. We drank it in, and wolfed it down, and lived it up with great friends from long-ago.

In our younger years, the heaps of white fluffy powder brought us to Bend in winter. As we grew older, hiking boots replaced ski boots and sunglasses did the work that goggles handled in winter. And now that we’re geezers, upscale restaurants and 24 golf courses lure us, and millions of people from all over the country to this area.

Speaking of golf, Dickie was itching to play the fabled Pronghorn Nicklaus or Fazio courses, but his decrepit back didn’t allow it.

The golf pro had mercy on him and let us drive the 36-hole links without playing. (Oh the wonderful power of a PressPass)! The fairways and greens were the best Dickie had ever seen. And luxurious multi million dollar estates weave through the courses, surrounded by spectacular Central Oregon scenery. It brings new meaning to wealth.

On the way home we stayed clear of freeways and explored the remote back roads where cell phone service is spotty. The drive led us through the heartland of cattle country, small redneck towns with lots of local flair and colors…………and not a single traffic cop in sight.

Yes siree, the “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” road was a pleasure to drive. We even smashed the existing Guinness Record from Sunriver to Sparks by one whole hour.

Map from Sunriver, OR to Sparks, NV (380 miles/612 km)
http://www.mapquest.com/embed?hk=o8rW8Q