From Eugene to Montana

We left Eugene in our Nissan Versa, which is just like the Nissan Tiide we hired in New Zealand, except younger and more expensive.
In a trice, we made up the time we lost after the accident, it seems we'll have surplus time now, and we're not sure how to deal with it.
Here's a picture of us at Mount Washington, before the town of Sisters.

The scenery was beautiful throughout Oregon, snow topped mountains, green valleys, we either crossed mountain passes or followed fast flowing rivers, and in fact, that's how it has continued to date. 

There were some long hills, but not as steep as we have encountered in Europe, and I know we would have coped OK on the bikes.

This is a picture of a lake formed by damming the Ochuko River beyond Prineville.

We crossed the snake river which is the border into Idaho near Richland, then started to become aware of two histories which were signposted along the roads as we went. The first was the Lewis and Clark expedition which found the route that later formed the Oregon Trail, the second the battle the US army had with the Nez Perce Indians, who years before had helped Lewis and Clark. We found both stories moving and absorbing.

This is a picture of the Salmon River near the town of White Bird, which is named after one of the chiefs of the Nez Perce.

This picture near Graingeville, Idaho is also typical of the scenery we've been going through.

It didn't seem that we'd been in Idaho long, when we crossed the border into Montana.

Montana is aptly named, the mountains here are even higher, all snow topped, even though it is now summer. 

All the country we've passed through has had a gold mining history, this picture is in Nevada City, Montana, the buildings look Hollywood staged, but I'm sure they are genuine.

The home made five berry pie that we had in the bakery was definitely the real thing...

Next blog, which will show up soon, will be about Yellowstone, where we've just spent three days.