A Day Late and a Dollar Short

I’m not quite sure what that means but my mother used to say it when she didn’t get something done on time so I’m using it tonight.

As you have probably figured out by now, I am way behind on blogging about our journey.  Several reasons for that…sometimes I didn’t have internet and sometimes I didn’t have time…and sometimes I just plain was not motivated!  I haven’t been feeling all that good on top of everything else.  How’s that for telling it like it is?

So we are home now, and I still want to blog some about Madras and the Crooked River and the rock place and Sisters, but for today, I just want to blog about …today.

I confess, it has been a struggle being home.  I did not want to quit traveling this time.  Everywhere we went we had a million and one things we wanted to see and do and we only got maybe 4 or 5 (or fewer) of those goals actually accomplished.  I guess it is better to want to go back than to get burned out on an area.

I haven’t been doing well with my back for several weeks and just can’t seem to get rid of the (hate to use this word but…) PAIN.  So I’ve been a little discouraged and grumpy.   We’ve been doing a thorough cleaning of Therapy and LOADS of laundry.  Today we decided to get out with the doggies for a bit.

We took them to Valley River Center to walk along the river walk.  There is one really easy place to get down to the water and Rusty was loving it.  We liked the looks of these trees growing on their own little islands.


That’s a pedestrian/bike bridge in the background.  One thing about Eugene, we sure have a lot of pedestrian/bike paths and it seems there are always more going in. 

I don’t know what this tree is growing by the river but I liked the contrast of the purple and green leaves, the white berries and the cloudy sky.



And this is just a weed seed pod but I liked the shapes and the way the sun was lighting all the little tendrils and seed pockets.















We saw a TON of school kids walking the path, broken up into groups of 20 or so.  We were very surprised when we got out of the car just as our granddaughter, Cailin, was walking by with her group.  She saw us before we saw her and we got to give a big wave and howdy but she had to stay with her group.  One of the adults said there were about 400 kids out walking – must have been the entire school – I don’t know what it was all about.  As we were headed back to the car we saw these two stragglers at the end.  They saw us looking at the hat and the boy that didn’t have the hat on called out – “That’s MY hat!”  I told him it was a great hat and asked if I could take a picture.  “Sure,” he said as he snatched the hat off his friend’s head and placed it on his own.  They were having fun.



After that we wanted to check out the Delta Ponds as they have been doing some work there.  The ponds were lower than I can ever remember seeing them.  We were tuckered so we didn’t walk far but we did find this great Buttercup.


Hard to believe most of the flowers are gone for the year but the fall colors will be here soon to compensate.  The pond was calm today, providing a great opportunity to capture the reflection of the sky on the water.



It appears the city has been working on the path.  We saw new concrete and a new overlook.  I think the path is being extended to go all the way to Valley River Center, thus connecting it to the main Eugene/Springfield bike path.  Cool!!

That’s all we did today other than more cleaning.  I am doing semi-annual stuff like oiling all the wood, putting a seal/polish on all the counter tops and on the shower walls, and washing all the rugs and blankets.

I'll write some more about Madras and Sisters in the next several days.  We did see some neat things in that area.  Don’t know when our next trip will be but you can be sure that whenever we can, we will be in Therapy!


P.S.  Almost forgot...Got this in an email from an old friend the other day and thought it was funny...hope you get a laugh out of it.

Yesterday I was at my local COSTCO buying a large bag of Purina dog chow
For my loyal pet, Jake, the Wonder Dog and was in the check-out line when a
woman behind me asked if I had a dog.
 

What did she think I had an elephant? So since I'm retired and have little
to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the
Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in
the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an
intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in
both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a Perfect Diet and that the way that it
works is, to load your pants pockets with Purina Nuggets and simply eat one
or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it
works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that
practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care, because the dog food
poisoned me.  I told her no, I stepped off a curb to sniff a poodle's
butt and a car hit me.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was Laughing so hard.

Costco won't let me shop there anymore.

Better watch what you ask retired people. They have all the time in the
World to think of crazy things to say.

One Day at a Time

The time has come to leave our wonderful camp site at Wallowa Lake and begin the journey towards home.  Russ is happy to be back in the driver’s seat but I am reluctant to bid farewell to this wonderful area.



Our goal for the day is John Day, Oregon. It’s a fairly easy drive but as we pass through scenic areas and towns where we would like to stop, we wish we had more time.  We are charmed by what we see in Baker City as we drive through.  This is definitely a place we want to explore more fully next year.  Laurie and Odel are there now and have an interesting blog on the area. 

For us it was onward and upward.  I erroneously thought that the John Day Fossil Beds would be close to the city of John Day and we wanted to arrive in time for a side trip.  Alas, ‘twas not to be for the fossil beds are actually closer to Dayville on down the road.  Oh well.

I had scoped out a place to stay online and knew that the Grant County Fairgrounds would be our resting place for the night.  At $20 a night for FHU, how could we go wrong?

Aha,  you thought I was going to have another tale of woe here didn’t you?  Not to worry, the campground turned out to be better than expected.  It’s not top tier by any means but for an over night it is quite acceptable.



There was a lot of grass nearby and that helped cut down on the dust.  The sites were all gravel, fairly level, and lots of shade.  No Wi-Fi here but it’s fine for one night.



The John Day River runs across the back of the campground but is not visible from the sites.  There is a river walk (gravel) that seems to be a popular destination for joggers and walkers.  Not disturbing in the least.

Russ got up early the next morning and got a few pictures of the campground.



The quail seemed to like it here!  This is only a small part of the covey that Russ encountered.  Must be good pick’ns around here as these birds are quite round.



There was a mobile dentist parked in one of the spaces (no picture) and it seemed to be a permanent resident.  We saw kids going in and heard some equipment running.  Nothing like the soothing sound of a dentist’s drill to calm your nerves!

This also seemed to be a permanent resident – for quite a while I would say.



But the best shot of the day was this last bit of summer Russ found on his walk.  The morning sun set this bloom ablaze with color.



Well I guess I have to admit this is a pretty boring blog but sometimes you’re the windshield, and sometimes you’re the bug!  Not that John Day couldn’t have been interesting but, for just one night at the fairgrounds, there is just not a lot of blog fodder.  Besides, I think I am tired and getting goofy.  Tomorrow should be better!

Until then, keep smiling and tomorrow we’ll head to Madras and the Crooked River on a REALLY crooked road!

Historic Imnaha and an Indian in Enterprise

We had heard of the little town of Imnaha (m NA ha) and took the 30 mile drive to see it.  The scenery along the way was enough to make the trip worth while.



The road through this canyon was narrow and twisting and these terraced rock walls rose on either side.



Here and there were ranches and farms with cattle and horses grazing peacefully.



Imnaha itself was a surprise.  I knew it was going to be small but this was Small!  The road almost disappeared as it made a sharp left hand turn and then looked like it just petered out.  There is only one paved road into Imnaha.  There are two dirt roads if you want to continue.  One goes to Hat Point Lookout, where you can look down into Hell’s Canyon and see the Snake River at the bottom.  The other is a similar dirt road called Dug Bar Road which also leads to the Snake River.  The nice lady at the visitor’s center in Joseph assured us the scenery was spectacular but the road was rough and in places had a 16% grade!   We opted to stay on the paved road!  Our little Fit does not like rough surfaces.

There was a store and tavern in Imnaha where, thanks to advice from Laurie and Odel,  we skipped the deep fried chicken gizzards and just bought ice cream bars.  It was in large part due to Laurie's blogs on the whole Wallowa area back in June and July of this year that I knew we had to make this entire journey.  Thirty plus years is too long to be away from this magnificent scenery...but I digress.



The parking was steeper than it looks here.  Not only did I feel like I would roll right into the store, it also felt like the car was about to tip over onto the passenger side!  I parked down the block where it was a little more reasonable.

There was a bar/restaurant that looked like it was in the process of being painted.  However, if you looked closely, the “new” paint had as many webs and dings as the old paint so not sure how long the process had been ongoing.  How long since you have seen one of these signs?



There was also a small post office.



While we were reading the sign pictured below, an older couple drove up and walked over to the sign.  The lady said her grandfather was the first owner of the store where we had purchased our ice cream.  He also ran the post office and once a week had to make the trip to Enterprise for the mail.  It was an overnight trip on horseback in those days.

Click on the sign to enlarge and read a little about Chief Joseph and Imnaha.



The Imnaha River flows through town right next to the post office.  Other than a building that said School and Library on it, that appeared to be the only commercial buildings in Imnaha.  Like I said…Small…but an interesting tour.



Next we visited Enterprise, which is only 6 miles from Joseph.  Enterprise is somewhat larger than Joseph and even has a Safeway!!  Russ loved the look of some of the buildings in town.



The Wallowa County Courthouse is located in Enterprise and it is a beautiful and well kept building and grounds.


This is the back of the courthouse grounds.



No doubt this is a site of many summer activities in town.

As Russ was shooting the courthouse, I heard a shrill whistle.  I heard Russ say “I got you.”  Then  Russ went across the street and talked to a man.  He later told me the fella whistled and then hollered at Russ to take his picture.  It seems he had just purchased a new jacket of which he was very proud and he wanted to show it off.  He bragged that he had only spent $40 on the jacket and it was indeed a beauty.  He said his Indian name was Badger and since he referred to himself as an Indian, that is the way I refer to him in this story.  He was quite proud of his heritage and "Indian" was what he wanted to be called.



Don’t you just love that face?  Lots of character there.  We were in Enterprise a couple of times and we always saw Badger sitting in the same place across from the courthouse.  He was always with other people and they seemed to be enjoying talking and just hanging out enjoying the nice weather.

I sure wish I could find a jacket like that for $40.  And I sure wish I had more time to talk to Badger.  I bet he has some stories to tell.

Next, we leave our wonderful Wallowa Lake and journey to John Day Oregon.  Yup, heading slowly home!

A Grave, A Valley, and a Whole Lotta Fish

Just outside of Joseph on the way to Wallowa Lake is grave of Old Chief Joseph.  Although Old Joseph was originally buried near the town of Wallowa, his grave was robbed twice and so his remains were relocated to this cemetery in 1926.




One of the reasons Young Chief Joseph was unwilling to relinquish his claim on this land was that his father was buried here.  Young Chief Joseph had made a promise to his dying father to not sell the bones of his mother and father. 

This is the view from the cemetery.



This is the monument and gravesite.



All around the gravesite and on the adjacent tree, people have left gifts and trinkets for Chief Joseph.



On Hwy 3 about 3o miles out of Enterprise,  there is a viewpoint for Joseph Canyon.  There is a great overlook there with plenty of parking and restrooms (I always like to know that information!).  This is where the Nez Perce would winter.



If you click on the picture below to enlarge, you can read about this canyon and the Nez Perce.



The canyon is huge and it cannot be seen totally form the top.  You can only get an idea of how large it is.  It seems like a well sheltered place to spend the cold winter months.




Back at the campground, we took a walk around the river where it flows into Wallowa Lake.  I love hearing the gurgle and splash of moving water.



It wasn’t long before I saw fish jumping out of the water…then I noticed, it’s spawning season.  I believe it is the Chinook salmon that are spawning right now and the river is teeming with then.   The water is so clear that it is easy to see the red of the salmon just under the surface….but it is hard to get them to stand still for a picture!



Many of the fish have their skin rubbed raw from fighting the rocks as they make their way upstream.



I thought this would make a nice modern art print!!



I remember a few years ago, we were in Skagway, Alaska.  We rented a car and went out to tour the country side.  We asked the car rental guy where we could see salmon and he said just a few blocks over at the creek.  “Plenty of salmon there,” he assured us.

We found the creek and just like the man said, there were plenty of salmon.  The problem was, spawning season was over and all the fish were dead!  The creek and its banks were littered with plenty of dead salmon in varying degrees of decay.  Most must have already been eaten by predators as the ones that were left were in pretty bad shape and looked like they had been gnawed on!  I bet that fella at the car rental place had himself a good laugh at our expense.  Dumb tourists!

One last bit…if you are offended by nature don’t watch this clip.  It shows the activity of the salmon in the river.  I thought it was just like National Geographic but my son thought it was yuk LOL!!!


http://youtu.be/2BOdvPIMNI8


Next a visit to historic Imnaha and an Indian in Enterprise.

Joseph, OR

Located at the south end of Wallowa Lake, Joseph, OR and its 1054 permanent residents, welcome you to one of the most peaceful and beautiful places in Oregon. 
I’ve already written about the lake but the small town of Joseph is equally as enchanting.  While it avoids the smaltzy tourist trap feel, it has everything needed to cater to those tourists.  There are restaurants and stores and bakeries and a museum and a tribute to the Nez Perce who once inhabited this area.  I only saw one “gift shop” but we didn’t go in.  The abundance of restaurants assures that everyone will find something to their liking.  We spent a couple of nice afternoon at the Embers Brew Pub.  The food was excellent and they boast 17 different micro brews on tap.  Can’t tell you anything about those as the strongest thing we drink is Diet Coke but others seemed to be enjoying the fare.  There is outdoor seating here and dogs were welcome.  We were glad of that as I got my fur fix while wolfing down an excellent pizza.  They also provide free and FAST internet.


Joseph has a thriving artistic community and bronze seems to be the medium of choice.  There are foundry tours available but we did not take advantage of that.  The town is adorned with many bronze statues at varying intervals.


Near the center of town is the Nez Perce Homeland Exhibit.  Although small in physical size, the exhibit is larger than life in the impact the photos and printed matter have on those with an open heart.  The goal of this project is to build a long house and a gathering place for the Nez Perce in this area.  It is certainly worth the time to stop and have a look.  The exhibit is free though donations are accepted. 







It would take a heart of stone to explore this exhibit and remain untouched by the images observed.

Joseph is a town rich in history and art and we thoroughly enjoyed every minute spent in this charming village.  Here are a few snapshots of the area in and around Joseph. 


I liked the contrasting colors on this pic so it gets its own space outside of the slide show!!


Next time, we visit the grave of Old Chief Joseph and take a ride out to see the Joseph Overlook on Hwy. 3.

Wallowa Lake State Park and area

Wow is the word that first comes to mind when describing this area.  As you leave the small village of Joseph, it is only a couple of miles until you go around a bend in the road and there sits Wallowa Lake.  It is not a large lake but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in beauty.  This is an alpine area and, although I am sure it is breath-taking in winter, I’ll confine my visits to the warmer months.

Russ took these photos from the south end of the lake.  There is a county park with picnic tables, swimming area, boat launch, restrooms, and a bus stop!  During the summer you can catch a shuttle for $1.50 at one of several stops around the lake and go to Joseph or Enterprise. 



Yes, it really is that clear and pristine.  If you look closely near the bottom of the next photo, you can see the rocks on the bottom of the lake.



The Wallowa State Park has both camping and day use areas at the north end of the lake.  The day use is adjacent to the campground so it is easy to walk through and enjoy both areas.

A small herd of deer inhabit the park.  We noticed two does and three yearlings that seemed to hang together and another doe who was always a ways off form the others.  There is also a fine buck that roams around and beds down near a small viewing platform.  He is totally unafraid of humans and just goes about his business as if you were not there.



I think Russ caught him with a mouth full of grass!  Next day, he was walking through the campsites – eating again!  Just like a guy!


I think he was telling us to quit interrupting his breakfast.

We have a great campsite on an outside loop, with a hill and then nothing but forest in the back.  Very quiet.



We are just kicking back and enjoying this wonderful area.

 



Tonight I caught Russ in an indiscretion!  I thought I was married to a real outdoorsman.  He tried to hide it but I caught him using egg cartons and fire starter to get the campfire going.



And then to ad insult to injury, he didn’t even use a real match!  Can you imagine?



But the end result was worth it so I guess it’s okay.



Meanwhile, the steaks were sizzling on the grill.  Don’t ask me about the meat I tried doing over the fire a night or two ago!


And although it looks like the tablecloth is on fire, I assure you we are a safe distance away, enjoying our steak and tater and basking in the warmth of a warm fire.


Life is definitely good!

Join us here tomorrow, same time (if I can find internet, that is), same station, for a visit to the charming village of Joseph and a visit to the grave of the Old Chief Joseph…and coming soon, it’s spawning time and the river if FULL of salmon.