P52 - Week #21 Hardy Road

One advantage of living in a rural area is the opportunity to travel multiple country roads that take one to all corners.  I have driven many of them multiple times; visiting during the different seasons provides the variety. One road is Hardy Road, so named because much of the land bordering the road is owned by members of the Hardy family. It's a dead-end road, so driving in also means turning around at the end and driving back the same direction.  No loop road here.  The yellow lupine was in full bloom, as was the arrowleaf balsamroot.  Probably the main attraction on this road, other than the late spring bloom, is a very old Ford pickup, maybe from the 1930's.  The last date on the license plate is 1947, and I know it has been sitting in that field for a very long time, subject to all the elements.   Another big attraction this county road provides is a beautiful view of the mountains at the far south end of neighboring Grande Ronde Valley, with Mt. Harris and Mt. Emily in between.

P52 - Week #21

The dry bank beside the road was loaded with lupine and balsamroot blossoms; I acquired my first (and I hope only) tick of the season by crawling around with my camera.

The ancient Ford pickup; 1934 sticks in my mind, but I would have to confirm that with the owner. (The pickup is a 1927 model.)

The view south, Mt. Harris on the left and Mt. Emily on the far right--"guardians" of the north end of the Grande Ronde Valley.

 Mt. Harris

Most probably the Elkhorn Mountains in the distance.  Indian Valley and the Grande Ronde Valley are hidden by hills.

Truly Miscellaneous

I'm behind with my monthly blog post...so this one is a mix of photos without a real theme.

 A road on the south side of Cricket Flat outside Elgin, Oregon...from the east toward the west, looking toward the Blue Mountains

Whitetail does 

A dry leaf on a formidable thorn bush

 The road into the wilderness

 Baker County....and the magnificent Elkhorn Mountains (east side)

 I think this is the "other" side of the Elkhorns as seen from Sumpter

 An "oldie" near Sumpter  

 This beautiful buck was herding a harem of does

 Back to my "back yard"...and the Grande Ronde River at the edge of Elgin

 Another trip to the summit of the Blue Mountains on Hwy 204

 Snow "fall"...as pretty as any waterfall