We left Burns just as the rain began. From the town of Sisters, we took a scenic drive across the Pacific Crest to the McKenzie River Ranger Station. After a short visit with the ranger, we took a hike along the McKenzie River (a National Scenic Trail). As we put our boots and rain gear on, the sun tried to peek through the clouds. The trail is beautiful and lush. Here I am beside an old-growth Douglas Fir:

 

The Pacific dogwood is slightly different from ours at home. Some blossoms have four petals, some five. And the petals are sometimes rounded, sometimes sort of pointy like these:

 

The wild rhododendrons are beginning to bloom:

 

The area gets a lot of rainfall. Here is an old tree stump sporting at least 4 different mosses:

 

Not sure about this, but it looks like a variation of staghorn fern. It was everywhere:

 

The McKenzie River roared along the trail:

 

After a 5 or so mile hike, we headed to the coast for the night. It is chilly and raining off and on, but the water is beautiful, and the sunset may be too (check tomorrow):