Oregon's Outback

At 4800 feet above sea level, Lakeview, Oregon, is the state’s “tallest town.” We stayed five nights 15 miles south of Lakeview at the Goose Lake State Park on our way back to Carson City.  The park sits just off Highway 395, right on the Oregon / California state line, and what’s left of Goose Lake straddles the line.

Highway 395 in this area is part of the Oregon Outback Scenic Byway, which actually extends from the state border all the way to LaPine, just south of Bend. We’d like to take the whole tour someday, but can’t do it this year.

When we asked in town why this was called Oregon’s Outback, we were told that this IS the outback of Oregon. Erl, the store owner we talked to, explained that Oregon is all about Interstate 5 and Interstate 84, and over here on 395, it’s really the outback. (Interstates 5 and 84 intersect in Portland, about 350 miles from here.) So we set out to see this part of the Outback. Here’s what we found:

Of course, this is cowboy country, with cattle ranches and horses and grazing land. These old barns are scattered along 395, along with some sturdy, more modern ones. This country must have been built up in the first half of the last century, and some of it is falling down now. Many of the farm and ranch houses are the originals also, built well before there was any such thing as air conditioning. Most of the older homes were surrounded by immense shade trees to add some cooling effect from the summer’s heat.

Just across 395 from Goose Lake State Park is the tiny community of New Pine Creek. It's not in very good repair:

But there's one fine home, with its own decrepit barn.

Back in the town of Lakeview we saw evidence of local pride in some well-done murals.

Just south of town, Suzy found nectarines and tomatoes, and had to get involved.

As always, there are more photos in our web album -- Lakeview and Oregon Outback.

Life rolls on in ... Our Life on Wheels.