Day 1 - Redmond, OR to Burley, ID

Out of the house and on our way at 6:50 pm. First order of business was three honks of the horn as we passed Neal and Phil’s house. Then a quick stop at the Starbucks in Redmond and on to Highway 20 across Oregon. I can tell you this is mostly a boring drive. There just isn't that much to see in Central Oregon and Idaho is about the same. It's not for a lack of space to contain interesting stuff. There is in fact as much space there as anywhere, it's just that there is not much in it. Not that it's empty of course; there is a heck of a lot of sagebrush for one thing. And dirt roads going off to somewhere. Towns are scarce as are rest stops. Starting the drive with a large anything from Starbucks is problematic.

For those who have never traveled highway 20, there are only two towns of any size. Hines (population 1,623) and Burns (population 3,064) and they are right next to each other. I mean right next to each other. Where one stops the other begins. Go figure.

Weather was pretty nice. Mostly sunshine and 28 degrees, but warming to 66 in the afternoon.

The farmland around Vale, Oregon and on into Ontario, Oregon is a pleasant change from the high desert sagebrush and crossing the Snake River is a nice welcome to Idaho. We had stopped a few miles earlier at a city park in Vale, Oregon for a picnic lunch.

The remainder of the drive on Interstate 84 to Burley was uneventful. Our accommodation the first night was with Fairfield Inn and it was free, which is a very good price. Of course all the prior stays needed to receive that free night...oh never mind.

Dinner was at Garibaldi’s. Sounds Italian, wasn’t. Beef burrito, chicken enchilada, two Dos Equis Amber and very good.

Ok, time to say some nice things about Idaho. Great potatoes. 75 MPH speed limit. Exceptional rest stops. 512 miles today.