We left the HS late, 0930, not having slept well. I woke John coming back to the van from the bathroom at 0230, he didn't sleep well after that and neither did I. We had our coffee when we got up about 0745, John went back to the mineral pool while I was getting ready to leave, we decided to have breakfast - or brunch - when we found a restaurant. It was still cloudy and drizzling rain, no sun!
We drove about 10 miles when we came across the Summer Lake Inn with a restaurant which was open, so we stopped. Breakfast was delicious, buckwheat pancakes, we were hungry! We chatted awhile with one of the owners re the weather, etc., very nice people and place.
We left in the rain, driving north on Highway 31, rain fell off and on all the way to La Pine and Highway 97. Eastern OR is so lush and green, just beautiful, unlike it's usual brown spring and summer tones. We filled the gas tank in La Pine but found out later is was cheaper in the boonies in Eastern OR. Oh Well!
We took a 'short cut' to Highway 26 traveling to Prineville. We stopped at an overlook which overlooked the Ochoco Valley where Prineville is located. A lovely setting in a valley ringed by abrupt edged lava mesas and the Prineville River running through the town. And of course, all green!
Continuing on we drove Highway 26, we had planned on visiting the John Day Fossil Bed area. The drive was through lovely pine forests, ponderosa mainly, we went through the Ochoco pass and downhill for several miles. The entire way it rained.
We drove a 6 mile detour to visit the Painted Hills Unit of the Fossil Beds, although we had light rain and muddy roads, it was a great site, we took pictures and drove back to the main road.
By this time it was late in the afternoon and raining, we decided to find a motel and not camp in the rain. The next 'town' was Mitchell, a nothing place, but the highway sign indicated a hotel and cafe. We turned off the main road and the hotel was a couple blocks from there, it was an old restored hotel, only 3 rooms have private baths. The rate was 50.00, there are no amenities, the room was rather nice although bare, the couple that now owns it has only been here a year, they are slowly adding niceties. There was a lovely lilac bush outside our window which made the room quite charming.
When we checked in the room was not cleaned so we went to the only cafe and had a sandwich, about all they served! When we returned the room was ready. We chatted with the wife of the owner, had a game of Scrabble in the lobby, then John stayed downstairs to read since there was more light. I went up to the room to write in the journal. It was still raining!