Outskirts of Bend, fun flows over! (post race)

After the exhaustive travel on Friday to get to Bend. Then the 8 great miles of a 14 mile trail race which was touted as a 13 miler... I finally got back to catch some zzzz'z early in the afternoon. I plopped down and watch the Gators as they handled Tennessee while rolling side to side intermittently in the cool sheets while rain pattered outside. Nothing like a solid nap after a physically demanding morning!

Rails to Trails! An old logging area reclaimed!

I travelled south in my rented Corolla (some unnatural green color) and arrived at the Lavalands visitor center. In keeping with the trip, they were closing in 5 minutes and then I knew what the purpose of this trip was. To adjust to whatever surprises came at me. Because, they were all there!

I'd been doing this all along I guess to some degree of success, now though I was taking it to a new gear. I laughed, asked where I could hike and soon found a sweet trail with no fee! It ran in two directions so I ran amok over lava rocks and then down the river to see a fairly impressive series of rapids on the Deschutes River. Here are some visuals from my 2 hours exploring!

The Deschutes River in the Rain

Oregon Trail... (it was bound to happen.)

The river changing its mood.

The Sean and The River.

Stop. Sit. Wait. Listen.

A gigantic ancient tree... now gives life itself!

Lava

The Audacity of Hope...

Lost. In. Space...

Inviting?

Fee Free!

I like wild-colored mosses.

If you can think here, you can think anywhere...