Cove Palisades OR

Sunday, July 12, 2015

We wore ourselves out yesterday, and rain was forecast so we thought a drive might be better than a hike.  We are parked between two rivers, the Crooked River and the Deschutes River.  The two merge just a short distance from us and become the Lake Billy Chinook.

 We had been driving on the mesa or flat area above the rivers.  We started down into the canyon, turned a corner, and there was this no-name waterfall.  At least, we never found a name for it.

 We are on the Crooked River side, huge body of water.  That is a two level pontoon boat and a smaller boat near the center.

 You can see how rugged the walls of the canyon, and what we think may be a game trail.
 

 The dark area looks like normal soil with hardened lava ash above it.

 We crossed a narrow bridge over the river, out to what is evidently an island.  As we turned a curve in the road we saw a pullout and we had to stop and see what was special.

 Petroglyph!

 And, on display, the real thing.

 There very well may have been more up in the rocks, but the area was fenced off, and we do not trespass.

 This plaque is why we decided this was an island.  A Google search revealed that it is called an island peninsula.

 This is the Deschutes River side of the island peninsula.

 It was starting to sprinkle, and the day was getting long, so we decided to head for home.  This is the bridge to the island.  The pontoon boat has moved in under the bridge.

 Another look at the canyon walls.

 Looks like there will be a pretty sunset tonight.
 

 Dusty took this close-up, and it looks like a grass fire.

 The news has reported grass fires, but none in our area, so perhaps it is just the sun shining thru the rain clouds.

The storm has passed, beautiful sunset, great day!