The high desert is brilliant blue and vast. It is as cold as it is old (in late February anyway) and here is where I go looking for diamonds! My definition of 'precious stone' is a bit metaphorical, as is most things in my Pisces vision, but I digress.
Crystal Crane Hot Springs are certainly a diamond for the soul and a decent hopping off point to go find more.
Eastern Oregon isn't really close to anything (except for Idaho, and that doesn't count) but wow, the things out here are....just so gosh-darn-NEAT! ;)Like the Peter French Round Barn! This structure was built in the early 1880's by John William 'Peter' French and his employees. The round design was a hit in the Midwest and was fairly popular at the time. It was used in winter to train wild horses to carry freight to Oregon City. The exterior is composed of local lava rock and is supported by Juniper poles, the center pole stands 25 feet high. The lumber was freighted from elsewhere (Possibly from Burns or Northern California). Wild horses would have been stabled in the center of the barn and exercised around the walls, in the covered track. Hundreds of horses were run through the barn every winter. Today it seems to have gone to the birds, who were definelty out to lunch.
