Bend Oregon

Well here I am in Bend Oregon. I got here last night. It is, in their words, "high desert". And yes indeed it is. If you've ever been to Casper Wyoming you've been here. Some mountain ranges around it. More scrub brush than trees. Desert.

To get to Bend Oregon from Brainerd Minnesota involves three planes, four airports and a 15 minute drive. I left Brainerd at 7:45am and arrived in Redmond at 1:45 (3:45 central). There was a lot of hussling from one flight to another. The flight into Redmond was very bumpy on the small twin prop plane. But at least my luggage was here when I arrived.

Last night I found a nice Italian restaurant that had just opened the day before. It was called Johnny Carino's. It's a chain with restaurants in 29 states (not Minnesota). I had a twelve dollar glass of wine that would have cost $7.99 A BOTTLE at home. But the meal was awesome. They serve you bread with dipping oil right off the bat (must be one of the reasons I love Italian). Then I had a house salad with Sun Dried Tomato Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing (nummy) and then their Angel Hair with Artichokes (Artichokes, fresh roma tomatoes, garlic, capers, basil, black olives and parmesan cheese tossed with angel hair). I tell you it was incredible. If you ever run across a Johnny Carino's I highly recommend it.

Well there's snow in the forecast for tomorrow night into Friday morning. Hopefully I can still get out of here to get home for deer hunting Saturday am.