Four days in Bend and a Summer Festival

Four days in Bend and a Summer Festival

In the Wild West, cowboys ruled the land. Ten gallon hats, spurs and cowboy boots, pistols and big belt buckles, and a grizzly five o’clock shadow. A stallion tamed from some wild plains or desert. They ride into town staring every man down and ride out of town into the sunset.

In this day and age, the spirit of the cowboy lives on. Dan shaved himself a handlebar mustache to look more rugged and has enjoyed the reactions he is getting with it. We have replaced cowboy hats for bike plastic helmets and spurs have turned into shoes with cycling clips. We ride on carbon-aluminum steeds and go where we please. Sure, our clothes are a bit tighter, but we still get saddle sore.

Bend has a cozy and relaxed atmosphere. Dan and Will were both reminded of Boulder, although the thought made them miss Colorado. A tea house downtown became our watering hole during our four-day stay and the duo were able to catch up on quite a bit of work. This was the longest we had been in one place since Hood River.

Smith Rock State Park, 20 miles north of Bend, Ore.

Smith Rock State Park, 20 miles north of Bend, Ore.

The town of just over 80,000 people live and breathe the outdoor lifestyle. Smith Rocks State Park, a 20-minute drive north of Bend, is home to some of the best sport climbing in the country. Nestled on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountain Range, Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson and Mount Washington can be seen along the western horizon. Rivers and streams run like veins throughout the lands, which means a multitude of adventure sports are available at the fingertips of every resident.

We arrived during the weekend The Bend Summer Festival, where dozens of vendors lined the streets of downtown, hoping to sell their hand-crafted goods to the people along the promenade. Dozens of tents lined the streets and live music had the entire town in an electrifying mood.

While Dan and Will made phone calls and set up meetings in the tea house, a constant, bustling crowd moved seemlessly outside. I was tempted by the atmosphere and set out with my camera to capture the  sights, sounds, tastes and smells of this twice-a-year event.

A vendor shares a laugh with a customer after a Congo drum session

A vendor shares a laugh with a customer after a Congo drum session.

The sound of Congo drums pulsated from one tent, while the jingling of wind chimes and wooden instruments emitted from another. Local food vendors and wineries laid out samples along tables, and people passing by could try home-made sauces and delicious cabernets, freshly made throughout Oregon.

During our stay, Will met with and signed Smith Rock Rock Climbing Guides, First Ascents Climbing Services, Chockstone Climbing, Cog Wild Bicycling Tours and The Patient Angler. He also spoke with Gourmet Flyfishing Adventures, Fly and Field Outfitters and Halligan Ranch Llama Adventures.

Dan signed Wanderlust Tours, Sun Country Raft Tours and spoke with Ouzel Outfitters. What an eventful four days!

Bend is a gorgeous town, full of life and energy. Big N and Pettibone made it difficult to say good bye, but alas, like modern-day cowboys, we had to ride off into the sunset. Next, we ride on to Crater Lake, down into Grants Pass and Ashland, before we head west back towards the coast and on into California. I am slowly catching up on our adventures, but if photos are more your style, check out our trip so far at www.flickr.com/photos/swae_sports. Until then, keep riding!

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