Harney County, Part II

Part I of Harney County was climbing into the Steens Mountains and taking in amazing views. 

A bit of confusion was caused because Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is in Harney County, not Malheur County.  Just outside of Fields, we were thinking we were crossing into a new county, which was our goal.  It worked out OK, but my gubernatorial support may be dictated by the candidate that will change that name to Harney National Wildlife Refuge. 


Milkshakes inside


Fields: It was a 9 year old girl birthday day and the party consisted of getting a shake at the Fields General Store.  "The best burgers and shakes within a 100 miles." Knowing the remoteness of the place really enhances the slogan.  The shakes were great.

Clean living!

Alvord Hot Springs: This is a roadside attraction not to be missed.  We had the place to ourselves.  Long ago, someone constructed concrete pools and piped in hot water in.  There is a changing area clad in corrugated sheet metal and an indoor/outdoor pool (indoor also clad in sheet metal).  After several days in the desert, it was very refreshing to clean the dust off.  The 'seats' in the pools were upside down washing machine drums.

Alvord Desert

Alvord Desert: An old dried up large lake bed provided a safe place for our 3 kids (ages 13, 11, and 9)to drive under heavy supervision.  The 9 year old birthday girl was first and she sat on my lap.  She was content with driving maybe 100 feet.  The oldest went next and she was white-knuckled and topped out at 25 mph.  The middle child (the boy) was the most comfortable with driving and went as fast and far as we would let him.  The oldest child was white-knuckled in the backseat and wanted him out. 

Imagine a day being a kid that begins with milkshakes, then hanging in hot springs, followed by driving on the desert?  I never had a day like that, but my kids did!