Bend to Alturas

our squat blue car sped along highway 31, the gas pedal on cruise. the morning was ear freezing cold, but only if you didn't put on your hat. we were prepared for all kinds of contingencies--tools to fix the car, new relay 109, warm jackets, boots, camera, motorcycle helmets, snorkling gear.

ranch fields fenced by barbed wire were intersperced with evergreen forest. in one field two deer munched on the calf-high grass. as we approached the intersection to fort rock, there appeared a flock of ravens. then two golden eagles launched themselves from 15 feet off the road to our left. on the horizon we saw the pale gray clouds were dropping to road level. snow was on the way.

the small town of silver lake arrived on the road. along with some cows. a man on a horse with two dogs was herding the faster bunch of cows with a woman behind the slower cows. keith waved at the man, then the woman, and they raised thier gloved hands in return. as we moved away at 5 mph from the man, he turned in the saddle. perhaps he wondered if he knew these people in the car or why they waved. but who did he know that owned such an impractacle vehicle as a foriegn made car?

the snow began to fall and collect on the road. the back windshield wiper was utilized to wash off the snow spray and the gray dust of road travel that had collected over the last several months. a herd of antelope watched us as we passed. they were content to eat next to the now dormant sprinkler system.

as we neared paisley, the snow picked up into a definate storm. we stayed on the road, slowly driving on, trusting the studded snow tires and brakes. on through lakeview the flurries followed us. just before the border several deer bounded across the road in front of the vehicle before us. even the deer just born this year effortlessly cleared the fence.

at alturas the snow was still falling and we were hungry. we made it through town without noticing anything exciting enough to stop the first time around. at the end of town, keith started his u-turn with the steering wheel and finished it with the emergency brake. the road was slick enough for some fun. at the black bear diner we ate burgers (vege and massive cow) with mounds of french fries. outside the weather was warmer and the roads a bit clear.