Day 4: Burns to Home.

Route, (a long day!):


Miracle of miracles, Kricket and I woke up before the kids and headed in to the hot springs for an early morning dip.



With the exception of one other guest, and a family of ducks, we had the springs to ourselves.



We had spent the night in a couple cabins: Grammy and Abigail, (who got her own bed!) in one cabin, Kricket, baby and I in the other.





Back into Burns, where we filled up with diesel, cleaned off the windshield, grabbed some food to go, and headed north on 395. I rode in the back with the girls, and we had a good time. At Long Creek, we headed west toward Spray, eventually stopping at Service Creek for a break.










We dropped down 207 to Mitchell for burgers and shakes. Maybe it's me, but things are a hell of a lot more expensive in Mitchell than I remember. I'd say hold out for Prineville or John Day, depending on which way you're going.

We took a quick break in the park.




And then headed up to the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, which is always a treat!



We headed north back up 207, then on to Fossil, Antelope, Shaniko, and finally Biggs Junction, where we picked up I-84. We stopped in the Dalles for dinner, then pressed on into Portland. The fuel light came on at about East 181st, but we made it home just fine: glad to be sleeping in our own beds and plenty tired.