We made the trek to Bend today.  About five hours in the air and then another 3+ hour ride to Bend from Portland...with 3 teenage/pre-teenage boys.  From 5am this morning until now (about 9:25 EST) has been a long day.

I didn't mention the 3 hours we waited in Portland for our carmates to arrive.  Wagner and James were gems and the time went by very quickly.  They both kept me fairly entertained.  One day James will grow beyond being too cool to smile for a picture.  Well, that's not actually fair.  He doesn't think he has a good smile.

It was a beautiful drive to Bend.  For the first part of the trip, we could see Mt. Hood, an absolutely gorgeous volcano.  Keith and I rode to the summit (almost) many several years ago to have dinner at Timberline Lodge.  I just love looking at it.

Once we got beyond Mt. Hood, we could see Mt. St. Helens.  Her top is still gone, but it sure looked to me like another cone was forming.  I was telling the guys (amongst their boy talk) that when Keith and I went to see it we were amazed at the utter destruction of the area around it.  It was just crazy how it destroyed everything for miles.  We could see other peaks, but those were the only two I could identify.

Tomorrow morning is another ride - the poor guys had to jump out of the car, throw on the kits and leave for a ride - and then packet pick up.  It's getting really close now.