Spent the evening at Bob’s Texas T-Bone in Rufus … in the midst of a bevy of big trucks. Bob’s is a family run operation, and from the number of trucks around, the food must be great! We arrived late, so we’ll be stopping to eat here on the return trip! Rising early, we climbed to the high plateau next to the mighty Columbia. Gotta love the dawn at 3350 feet up!

Too early to get gas, though. We’ll continue to Shaniko, amid the sagebrush and junipers … population fewer than 40 hearty westerners.

Maybe I can strike up a conversation with the locals. they seem kinda stiff tho …

Friendly … this one is giving me all the details for local dining.

Dawn in the desert … sunrise in Shaniko … time to reflect about travels, etc. Life is very good as a traveling tortuga.