One Saturday in July we decided to check out the back country of Deschutes County, where we live. In the past when we wanted to go out into the High Desert of Central/Eastern Oregon we would go to Burns and out into Harney County. But this day, we wanted to see what was in our own back yard. Obviously, lots of sagebrush, juniper trees and views.
We drove on various dirt and gravel roads and took a picnic lunch along. We found that most of the land was fenced off and posted private, no trespassing, which surprised us. We didn't know so much of it was privately owned, since it is mostly desert space. We found several old homesteads, long abandoned and derelict, but with a kind of haunting beauty of their own. This one was in a fairly green valley with several little springs of water dotting it.
We found this big barn, really large by High Desert standards. It looks pretty good from this side...
but not so good from this side. We got out and walked around it, and admired the original workmanship. It won't be standing too many more years.
There was a nice little spring just down the road, and we could see where they got water in the 'old' days.
Many dreams and stories are abandoned out there, and the trees were quick to invade this little house and call it their own.
We did find one nice large farmhouse, still housing a family and farm, far from 'civilization'. Shady and green in it's little valley it seemed an oasis in the midst of sagebrush. We also encountered a sheriff deputy, who pulled up alongside us and seemed glad to chat about the area. He said that the land owners wanted a law enforcement presence known, to quash any vandalism or theft, so routine cycles were driven once a week or so. Interesting. Oregon is a state of such diversity. From the ocean, to the fertile rain-filled Willamette Valley, to the High Cascade Mountains, to the High Desert.
We are planning another trip out to view another section soon as we love exploring our state.
We'll take you along too....
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