Vera – Page 7 – Not Your Average Engineer

May 25, 2013July 17, 2013

An Unanticipated Stop on a Long Desert Highway

Just south of the Summer Lake Hot Springs, we encountered a herd of cows being driven up the road by cowgirls.

The cows didn’t have much interest in getting out of our way.

Further down the road, Zach began to feel ill. We pulled over so that the steak from the night before could be set free to go commune with nature and run wild. While Zach was occupied and Vera was helping, Heather and I wandered around on the opposite side of the deserted road to look at the desert.

An old power pole in the middle of nowhere.

A few panoramas of the desert.

May 25, 2013June 16, 2021

Summer Lake Hot Springs

After a wonderful dinner at the Cowboy Dinner Tree, the voyagers headed further into the Oregon Outback to the Summer Lake Hot Springs. We arrived after dark. In the morning we woke up to a sunrise and the view you see above. My oh my what a gorgeous and stark landscape!

This is the original soaking pool, enclosed in an antique barn. The hot springs come out hot and clear, and with a slight smell of sulfur.

Another view of the hot springs grounds. There are cabins, trailer sites, and tent sites available at reasonable prices and with access to the hot springs.

Looking toward the collection of cabins, campers, tents, and the hot springs.

After a morning dip, we set out the towels and swim suits on the expedition vehicle to dry.

Inside the bath house. The sign reads “Respect these healing waters.”

The main soaking pool.

The entire voyage staff in one of the outdoor soaking pools. As was fashionable at the time, the males were pale and pasty while the women were tan.

The outdoor soaking tubs.

The barn with Summer Lake far in the distance.

Sunrise on the high desert.

May 24, 2013July 17, 2013

Steaks at the Cowboy Dinner Tree

The voyage arrived at the Cowboy Dinner Tree outside of Silver Lake, Oregon. This interesting restaurant has long been a favorite of mine. Not only do you have to call weeks or months in advance to get a table but you also have to select either a chicken or a beef dinner. The only other choice you get is between coffee, iced tea, pink lemonade, or water. What a delicious hidden restaurant in the middle of nowhere!

The rustic restaurant is more of a ramshackled shack than a fine dining establishment. Don’t be fooled! This is a world-class steak house.

The second biggest decision you have to make at the Cowboy Dinner Tree is what you should drink. Your choices are water, iced tea, pink lemonade, or coffee.

The first course was a family-style salad. Vera gives it the thumbs-up.

Next is a cowboy stew and huge dinner rolls. Yum!

The next course is a massive steak or an entire chicken. Everyone at our table chose steak. It was a wise decision. And yes, that is a MASSIVE baked potato with sour cream.