Well almost never!
We spent the day relocating from Sisters Oregon on the East side of the Cascade Mountains to Detroit Lake near Salem on the west flank of the Cascade Mountains. We are meeting our daughter, Renee and Neil and their daughters Georgia and Mathilda. We drove over US 20 to Sweet Home. It crosses Santiam Pass at 4751 feet. It was raining hard as we approached the pass. Then suddenly it was snow.

We decided against the shorter route using US 22 from Santiam Junction to Detroit Lake because it stayed high in the mountains and had restrictions against long trucks. What we didn’t realize was the highway 20 had two passes, the first was Santiam at 4751 ft. We had to run that gauntlet either route. What we didn’t know was Highway 20 had a second pass another 20 miles west that is 4251 ft high. By the time we got there the snow was starting to stick and make slush on the road. There were a few tense minutes until we were able to get back below the snow line.
This internet is really neat. It tells you all kinds of things you really don’t want to know. For example I looked up a climate site called Mesowest. Just Google that name and you can see where the heaviest rainfall has occurred in the last 3, 6, 12, and 24 hour periods. What I really didn’t want to know is Detroit lake has had a inch and three quarters of rainfall in the past 24 hours. Snow is not predicted, we are at a more comfortable 1500 feet elevation, but the rain looks like it will be with us for our entire weekend. Perhaps it will turn to sunshine on Sunday as we and our daughters family leave.

While we were in Sisters Oregon we stayed in the City Park and campground. It is very nice and at $30 for a 30 amp site at the “senior” rate it is relatively inexpensive. You can also go for 50 amps or no amps and the price changes accordingly. While we were there we strolled along the downtown shopping district. I ran across a guitar shop and dropped in. What I stumbled onto was the Thompson Guitar factory. These guitars are held in high regard among the Bluegrass crowd. Very much on par with the Martin guitars that are so prevalent among the players. Of course we are talking $6,000 each and up. Each guitar is hand made to order. We were given a personal tour of the workshop, but alas, again they didn’t hand out free samples. I did get to sit and play several models that were on display.
Judy says I can have one when I get good enough. This begs the question. Would I sound better playing a $6,000 Thompson guitar than I do playing my $600 Fender? I suspect that I would sound about the same, and I probably would be afraid to take it around the campfire. I think I will stick with my Fender.
So if you ever pass through Sisters, be sure and stop by the world headquarters of Thompson Guitars. Stop in and watch them creating one of these masterpieces. Oh yes, be sure to tell them that Gary sent you. Of course they won’t know me but the effect could be interesting if a dozen or so blokes stop in and say Gary sent them. Then next time I come through and say “I’m Gary,” I will probably get “who?” in response.
Gary and Judy