Portland to Bend, via Madras - poetry and eclipses

Today we left Portland to make our way to Bend, where we will stay for 2 nights.  We passed through Madras, which will be our viewing site for the eclipse. 

Our first stop was at Timberline Lodge - another New Deal project to employ workers during the Great depression. 

The Lodge was built right next to Mt Hood, another active volcano.  That is not snow, more like glaciers.

This is the other volcano we saw - Mt Jefferson.

One of the joys of an eclipse tour is that it takes you to places that are not on the main tourist trail.  Places such as Bend.  Coming out of dinner, we saw this young man, sitting on the sidewalk (sorry, footpath) writing poetry as requested.  People told him what they wanted a poem written about, and to whom, and he tapped it our on his typewriter - YES - typewriter.  Then he would read it out - and for a donation.  One of our group requested a poem for a young mother - his daughter.  It was very touching.  (I did wonder where he got his ribbon supply from.  Haven't seen them on sale at Officeworks).

Eclipse fever has hit town.  We went past a huge caravan city - KM has some pics.  Some public services have had to protect their carparks!

Tomorrow is a 4am departure to drive to Madras, our viewing point on the school oval.