My sister and I once a year get together and go visit our mother in Dayville Oregon. This year the trip started with snow. I was not looking forward to going over 2 mountain passes in the snow, but that is why I drive a Jeep.

My sister lives in Salem and I live in La Pine this is about 175 miles apart from each other and Dayville is in Eastern Oregon. We decide to meet in Redmond and will drive together in my car from there.

We both always carry a camera it is a must when you live in and travel through such beautiful country. This trip would prove to add to our photo albums and provide us with even more reasons for others to visit our great state.

Evonne and I both love Oregon and all it has to offer, finding beauty is pretty simple here. This photo was taken from the parking lot of Wal-Mart.

As our journey started the clouds cleared and it was a perfect day for a Sunday drive. We locked and loaded the cameras and set out for Dayville. Along the way we found the springs to be overflowing and rushing towards the larger rivers and reservoirs. The snow had melted and to some it might have appeared beautiful but to us, this year seemed like a bust for photos.

We got to our Mother's home, had lunch talked a little and started back. We were both a little down as we usually have some great photos by now and the trip home is never as eventful as the trip there.

This year was different! As we come through the little town of Mitchell, heading toward Prineville my sister whips in to a drive way - and follows it down a ways. Now for those of you who have seen the movie Deliverance you may be able to picture where we are heading. The drive way is muddy, there seems to be abandoned recreational vehicles here and there, I am a little worried. She stops and says there... there.... I see this every year from that last corner and just had to know what it was. She thought she had found an old mine.... Only to find it is now a horse barn. There was at one time a lot of mining in the area.

We drive a little bit further and there is a heard of antelope it is not uncommon to see one or two on this trip but 30 plus is another story.

As we come out of Prineville we realize we can make it to Smith Rock before the sun sets. Smith Rocks at Sunset is a sight everyone should see; the rocks take on a life of their own.

Day trips can be great fun - so glad we got a few of these photos to share with you.