Bend Over – California here we come! What I mean to say is that our trip to Bend, Oregon is over, and we’re now headed to Disneyland. My wife has some business in Los Angeles this week and I plan to join her for a long Mickey Mouse weekend. It will be a unique experience to be in the West Coast park when it is decorated for Christmas, like it needs additional flare.

We had a great time in Bend with the dogs. We got in some long walks along the Deschutes River despite the freezing temperatures and icy conditions. We were concerned about getting through the McKenzie pass on the way into and out of the Oregon high desert. After all, it rained all the way there so we had little sense for the beauty of the area. Fortunately, we did not need the tire chains but ice and snow made for tense travel along the winding roads.

On the first morning, I was surprised by the below zero temperatures and icy sidewalks that made running difficult. The next two days, I spent on the treadmill in the hotel fitness center. Once the sun finally came out, we were able to navigate the icy paths with only a few slippery mis-steps and one scary fall. The first afternoon, we took a drive up to Mt. Bachelor and finally saw a mountain peak for the first time through the dense Deschutes National Forest surroundings. It wasn’t until we got to the Old Mill District that we got a clear view of the Cascade Range mountains that make Bend so popular: Bachelor, Broken Top, the Three Sisters, 3-Finger Jack, Washington, and Jefferson. We thought a five-peak day in Portland was spectacular! This was truly Peak Performance!

We enjoyed lunch with the pups under a blue sky, with a nearby fire pit ablaze and lots of activity along the riverwalk. The dogs were showing off their new flannel-lined raincoats that my wife bought the day before at one of the quaint downtown boutiques while I stayed in the room to watch football. I got my share of sports and she worked-out with the credit cards without too much damage. The dogs then waited patiently in the car while we had a great dinner at Ariana.

After I did my treadmill workout on Day 2, we again walked the dogs through the neighborhood around our TownePlace Suites Marriott hotel. Pets were welcome there and it seemed like most of their guests brought their furry children with them. It wasn’t until the final day, of course, that we found the best walking paths along the “bend in the river.” The night before we had dinner at Bos Taurus, another of Oregon’s finest restaurants. For their wait in the car, the pups got some bites of my medium-rare rib eye.

As we drove out of Bend today and back to Portland, we realized how much beauty we had missed that was hidden behind the dark rain clouds on the trip in. The twisting mountain highway was lined with snow-capped peaks and babbling brooks as we passed through scenic towns like Sisters, Detroit, and Indanha. Although the roads were packed with Thanksgiving travelers like us, there were few delays on the way back into our Portland home.

It was a memorable Thanksgiving getaway for both of us, ranking just behind New Orleans years ago. My wife prepared our turkey dinner at home so we could enjoy it in our hotel room once we arrived. There was no hassle with family, but we all stayed in touch, despite our seperate agendas, with photos and phone calls. Bend Over – next stop Disneyland.