Good trip. Had three rigs back out due to fire and health concerns. Drove from Washington to Nevada without ever seeing the sky. Alternator went out on me at the California border, but i brought a spare. Had to backtrack 20 miles to find a garage with an air impact so i could swap the pulley over though.
Spent the first night on the playa. As we were driving in we could see laser lights in the distance from the left over burning man crowd. We were treated to EDM music all night at camp too. In the morning we took off across the playa and discovered that our DJs were a good 3/4 mile away. Drove across the black rock and headed up high rock canyon where we stayed by steven's camp. In the morning we slowly headed towards the closest place that had fuel for the V8s, then went onward to the Sheldon Wildlife Refuge. Spent half the day meandering through there and ended up at CC Camp for the night. We were going to drive right by it, but one of the defenders had a failed ignition rotor and coasted to a stop there. Free camping and a pool and showers fed by hot springs. It was an oasis after a couple days of dusty driving.
Next day we headed north back into Oregon and the Alvord desert. Its definitely on more people's radar now. Stopped at an old Borax hot spring. Continued north towards the Steens and took a hunting road west up over the mountains, known as Stonehouse Road. It was a fantastic climb to the top. A good couple thousand feet in a short distance. From the top it was two track trail across prairies and hunting grounds into the town of Diamond. It had been a long day, so we powered on to another hot spring in Crane for the night. It was fancier than our taste, but they still had dry camp space in the back. Also happened into a 109' ambulance camping there as well.
With our sights set on home, but not ready to quit exploring, we fueled up and went in search of Malhuer Cave only to find its been recently gated by a local Elks Lodge. Went onward north through a not so happy land owners property. Its marked as a road, but i think its one of those situations where its so rarely used that they're claiming it as there own. A long day of dusty gravel roads that go up, around, and nowhere slowly. Like 30 miles (as the crow flies) in 2 hours slow. Ended up on the middle fork of the John Day for a dip in the creek and hotdogs. Next day powered home.