I was going to mention AOC and her rhetoric along with the news interviews I've seen while eating my lunch. Didn't want to get too political here, and I no longer actively participate in the club because of 2 particular individuals attitudes and rhetoric so...…
But, with that said, so far, with the local resident and business peoples interviews I've seen today, it may be a very good idea if AOC is not seen in Liberty City any time soon. I'm not sure even the health insurance we pay for her would be sufficient coverage...

 

Good evening Oregon and visiting Ford Fans'.
On the topic of political talk personally as long as there is no name calling I'm all right with it.

 

We have begun making plans for the annual Ford GTG (get together) which we traditionally hold the first weekend in June. It is held at Fabmandelux's - Don, at the old decommissioned US Airforce Radar Station on the mountain top among the windmills (and sage brush) just of Oregon SR 206, 7 miles West of Condon. This year the first weekend of June falls on June 1st and 2nd.

There is room for RV's and tents. No water or sewer hookups, but Don does have a couple of plug ins available that we can run extension cords to. We'll have a breakfast and a BBQ dinner. Everyone always has a blast at an old Ghost Town of a Nuclear Deterrence site steeped in the history of the of the Cold War. If you think you would like to attend, let Chris or I know. If you have any questions about it, get in touch with us and we will answer any questions.

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As is tradition for the Warden and I, we will probably head over a couple of days early. We may stop in Hood River at the Western Air & Auto Museum (WAAAM) https://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=195 and / or (since we did WAAAM last summer) we may just go to the Columbia River Museum and Fort Dalles and the Anderson House Museum Fort Dalles Museum and Anderson Homestead | History Comes Alive! before heading up the gorge to Biggs and then to Cottonwood Canyon. Last year we spent so much time looking at cars and airplanes at WAAAM, we just headed straight on up the freeway to Biggs, with a fuel stop in The Dalles.

We'll head south on 97 from Biggs and then cut off on 206 through Wasco to Cottonwood Canyon State Park. If anybody cares to spend a leisurely & scenic day or two heading up the Columbia and / or just meet up for a very relaxing night or two on the John Day River at an old cattle ranch let me know and we can coordinate. The more the merrier. We'll head on up the mountain around 1300 or so on Friday and should be at Don's around 1400 or so Friday afternoon.

Cottonwood Canyon State Park https://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=195
As mentioned and depending on how sidetracked we get heading up the Columbia, we might possibly spend Wednesday night, Thursday night for sure at Cottonwood Canyon State Park on the John Day River. This is a wonderful scenic area (even if there is a lot of sagebrush) on an old Cattle Ranch that was donated to Or. State Parks and is kind of nostalgic for the Warden and I as it reminds us of how we were raised and takes us back to our roots. With lots of hiking and bike trails that follow the banks of the river and travel through old ranching and farming equipment and buildings. The camp ground is small, first come first served so there may or may not be a camp site available. They do have a parking lot up by the day use / barn, horse and cattle pen area which they have used for overflow camping. This lot is also adjacent to a fenced in 2 or 3 acre free roam dog area. Two and three years ago there were camp sites available, last year we stayed in the parking lot they were using as an overflow area. If anyone wants to meet up here on Thursday night, just let me know.

Just a point of interest...
As a point of interest for those of us who are retired or are in no hurry to get home....
After the G2G, when departing, if you have time and don't have to head straight back to the "real world", it is easy and direct to routes to the Oregon Trail, Fossil, the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Thomas Condon Paleontogy Center, Cant Ranch and other scenic / historic avenues and areas. The Warden and I have no idea at this point what our post G2G plans are. We try to do something a little different every year.
Two years ago we spent 6 days touring the Fossil Beds including the Painted Hills, the Ochoco's, a night at the Prineville Reservoir, Erickson Air Museum in Madras, a couple of nights in the forest along the Deschutes South of Bend, Big Lake and other sites finishing up with a leisurely trip down the Santiam to home.

Last year we ended up in John Day, the Chinese Museum, Sumpter Gold Dredge, Grant County Museum, Malheur Wildlife Refuge, French Glenn The 'Long Barn" and The Round Barn from the Cattle Barron days that a cousin of mine designed-built along with many of the historic barns and buildings in the area of which only a couple are left. This relative was a brother to the relative that filed the donation land claim and started the chain of succession that eventually ended up with my folks inheriting the farm and ranch we still have.
From there Malheur and Diamond we got fuel in Burns and made a beeline for the campground at Paulina Lake and the Newbery National Volcanic Center. We spent some time around Paulina Lake and East Lake, hiked the Obsidian Flow and the trekked to the end of the Lava Tube, toured the monument headquarters and Cinder Cone then headed out to Sisters and home.

The possibilities are endless, depending on how much time you have, to turn the fun G2G into a real adventure. While we have no firm plans yet for this year, we're toying with the idea of heading on over to Baker City via Sumpter to visit with an old Partner of mine from my days at McMinnville P.D...

 

 

Morning Evan, what's wrong with 3am amd 6:30am I was awoken about those times too.
Jim I think from the time stamp on your post it was goodnight.

 

Good morning Oregon and everyone everywhere else. 36, wet, overcast with an itsy bitsy hole in the clouds showing blue sky that most likely is going to go to the north of us and not get any closer.

Evan has his kids, I have a 14 going on 15 year old blind diabetic dog with a cold wet nose....not to mention a wife with a sharp elbow

 

Good evening Oregon and Visiting Ford Fans.
Going to try and get some rest tonight, tomorrow will be a rough day with uncle's memorial service.

 

Looks GREAT Jim....... Happy for You.

 

Morning Roy and those to follow.

 

Take care Chris...... Have some fun today....

 

Not much fun today have a memorial service for an uncle today, he was only 62.

 

 

That's way too young Chris, sorry to hear of your loss

 

Good morning Oregon..

 

Good morning Oregon and everyone everywhere else. Daytona 500 today along with a little plumbing project. Need to make a quick trip into 'big' little city and pickup some parts at Lowe's that I thought I had, but obviously don't have.

Thanks Roy. We're just a little excited. Already have the first trip with it and the boat planned. The only thing to firm up is the delivery date from the factory.
Glad to hear you are going to get the barnacles put back in their place next week and hopefully take care of the problems. Dry dock ain't so much fun these days. Hopefully you will be afloat again in time for summer boating and RV activities.

I got back from the VAMC in Portland Wednesday. Was hoping to be moved out to a year, but still have some healing to do from one of the surgery's so the Doc wants me back in 6 months to run a camera in their and check the progress.