Oregon Outback

Looking across the fields to Table Rock - a beautiful part of our country

The Turbyne Cousins - Rebecca Roth Miles (3rd Cousin to our Jennifer and Will, Robert Chapman and Janette Roth (2nd cousins to Jim) - Do I have it right???

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The Miles Family - Lloyd, Andrew, Becky, Daniel and Katherine (Daniel, Andrew, and Katherine are 3rd cousins to our Catherine)


The next morning we headed directly north to Oregon for our visit with the Miles Family and what a good time we had. Lloyd and Becky and their three children live in a beautiful home between Silver Lake, Christmas Valley, and Fort Rock in the 'Outback' of Oregon and we had a chance to explore all three villages. Becky prepared a delicious venison dinner for the first night and it was such fun visiting around their dinner table and getting to know the kids.


Lloyd and Becky set all their responsibilities aside and the next morning gave us a tour of the countryside. Lloyd showed us the farm - the fields, hay, cattle - and then we drove to the top of Table Rock, another white knuckle drive - fortunately, Lloyd was behind the wheel. This gave us a beautiful view of the whole area and Lloyd was able to point out his various fields. Everything is so huge and open in this part of our country.


Becky's folks, Janette and David Roth entertained us for lunch - delicious soup, bread and raspberry pie! We met another cousin, Robert Chapman and his wife Roberta. And then it was time for the cattle drive - absolutely awesome fun. It was fun watching the moms and babies trying to keep together. That evening we all gathered again and went to dinner at 'The Cowboy Dinner Tree' - what a meal - salad, cowboy smokey bean soup, beef stew, yummy homemade rolls, and then the main course - a HUGE steak and a HUGE baked potato - followed by dessert. Needless to say, everyone left very full and with very large doggie bags.

The next morning, Becky gave Jim a lesson in bread-making - he wants a Bosch mixer just like the one she has! With seemingly little effort, four loaves of bread appeared. We were amazed.

After a tour of the 'Fort Rock Valley Historical Society Homestead Village Museum - a collection of homestead-era structures including homes, a church and a school and another visit with Robert and Roberta, Lloyd and Becky took us to Crater Lake National Park. This five mile wide lake, rimmed by steep cliffs, rests in the remnants of a volcano - it is 1,943 feet deep, the deepest lake in the United States. It was a cold day and we even saw a little snow. Another beautiful sight.

That night Janette joined us for supper and we all reflected on a very busy and enjoyable visit - such fun sharing our memories and our love for Scotland. We are already looking forward to coming again.