Day 34 Mile 422-438

Into Harper

A few miles into walking today I met Joe who was taking Route 20 to Yellowstone. Joe, from Salem OR, had done parts of the Pacific Crest Trail and was an outdoor enthusiast. He ran his own medical supply business which gives him the flexibility to do several of excursions a year and he has found that its not worth working if you don’t take the time to enjoy life. He told me Eastern Oregon has over 200 hot springs and about all the wonderful trails and recreation spots Oregon has to offer. I was excited to get to the drinking fountain out along side the highway. It was natural and cold spring water which was very good and refreshing. I rested and drank and wrote and read all the initials on the painted rocks. Continued along the beautiful river and then came into another valley and stopped in at Coleman’s which was the town’s store, tavern and gas station. Brian the proprietor was quite the gentleman and had a fun sense of humor and introduced me to everyone who came in and told them what I was doing. I ate a whole pizza right there in the bar and visited with some of the regulars. Thank you to Colby for buying me some snacks for the road. Mike who had just been elected to the school board in Harper told me to have and opinion and live it!... or you are just a wishy washy liberal:-) He thought is was great that I was out here listening and learning as long as when I was done I formed opinions and stuck to them. All I could do was recall Pastor Linda from Lebanon and the phrase “Siempre Gumbee”. I went out to the school yard where Brian had told me to camp. They were having mother daughter tea in one building and a middle school dance in another. Even though Harper only has one store, their is an old downtown and I get the feeling that things will start opening up again here in the future... it is a good size community with a good size school and things seem to be picking up.