June 24, 2015
We took advantage of the nice weather to investigate Baker City just a bit more! We had brunch at a local restaurant that could be considered a diner but isn't. We also walked along the Powder River on the Leo Adler Memorial Parkway. Then we headed to the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, the number one tourist spot that has been recommended to us by many of the locals. We are so glad we listened because the Center does a fabulous job of depicting life as an emigrant and life on the Oregon Trail. For dinner, we headed to a restaurant recommended by the folks in Caldwell, Idaho, Barley Brown's Brew Pub, which ironically enough is also one of the "top 9 spots in Baker City" per TripAdvisor! Unfortunately they do not bottle their brews just yet and their "refillable jugs" are recommended to be consumed within 48 hours!
Tonight we are watching the College World Series final game and a new champion will be crowned! We are cheering on Virginia, the underdog. I hope I didn't just jinx them!
Later this evening, we will be watching Big Brother 17 and watching our dear friend Elizabeth Silverman's niece, Liz Nolan, walk through the door of the Big Brother house! We will be cheering her on this season and hope she makes it to the finals!
POWDER RIVER/LEO ADLER MEMORIAL PARKWAY
Powder River: 153 miles; once home to Chinook salmon and steelheart trout coming from the Pacific Ocean.
Breakfast Special: 2 pancakes, 2 sausage, 2 bacon, and 2 eggs: $5.95!
This city is rich in mining and Oregon Trail history!
This is the largest head, neck, chest of a deer I have ever seen hanging on a wall!
Thom is so patient as he waits for me to set up my shot so I could get the "world's largest map of the Oregon Trail" in its entirely! Hey, it's the world's largest and I have a small camera!
We don't think the last bit of snow on the Blue Mountains will be there after Friday. It is expected to reach 100 plus degrees this weekend and into next week!
We loved seeing this and then later on seeing the folks setting up tables in the park, in the shade, for the kids!
And, this was great to see, too - outside park, no smoking!
How appropriate to have a wagon as a park slide!
The Baker City Library sits along the banks of the Powder River with a walking bridge from the library to the park.
It looked like someone stamped this on the tree stump or burnt it into the wood.
We have no idea what type of berries these are.
Or these berries!
Or this! Crab apples perhaps?
Always look "up" because you don't know who is watching you!
This river is filled with many small waterfalls, the sounds of which are so soothing.
The ground was layered with this white "stuff" that we think is from a tree or bush and is perhaps bird feed and/or will re-plant. That's our story and we're sticking to it!
We believe these are cherries; this area is known for their cherries!
OREGON TRAIL INTERPRETIVE CENTER
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, a road we were not able to explore because it is such a long trip. We would have if we were able to catch a ride on the speeding tour boat 2 hours away but was booked! Next time.
Trees and rocks here are covered in lichen of different colors. It is quite interesting to look at.
Inside the interpretive center. The animals and models look real but aren't.
I had to share a zoomed in photo of this emigrant's face. I wonder if Disney had anything to do with the models, so lifelike!
Personal journal, circa 1863
I am going to keep this near me after we leave here on Friday because the temperatures are forecasted to reach a high of 110 while in Pomeroy, WA, on the other side of the Blue Mountains!
There is a movie offered before you take the tour. After watching the movie and seeing the center, I told Thom we need to go to Independence, MO, where the Oregon Trail started.
Ummmm ... not me, not today!
On our way here, we did not know the importance of Farewell Bend; now we do!
"Oregon Trail emigrants traveled through the Snake River country for over 300 miles. Hardship and danger were constant companions, and death, particularly at river crossings, was not uncommon. The river also sustained life, however, providing water and fish in abundance. For many emigrants along with Cecilia Adams and Parthenia Blank, emigrants of 1852, bidding
"farewell Snake" at this site, parting was bittersweet."
"The place called Lone Tree is a beautiful valley in the region of Powder river, in the centre of which is a solitary tree quite large, by the side of which travelers usually stop and refresh themselves."
---Narcissa Whitman (August 26th, 1836)
"This noble tree stood in the center of a most lovely valley about ten miles from any other timber. It could be seen at the distance of many miles, rearing its majestic form above the surrounding plain, and constituted a beautiful landmark for the guidance of the traveler. Many teams had passed on before me, and at intervals, as I drove along, I looked up as usual, the tree was gone........That brave old pine, which had withstood the storms and snows of centuries, had fallen at last by the vandel hands of man"
---Peter H. Burnett (September 27th 1843)
Horse saddle, circa 1900
In the movie, it is narrated that the stories about all the fighting between the Indians and the emigrants were exaggerated for many years.
There are these very subtle yellow flowers all along the outside trails. We need to get a wild flower brochure!
Out there lies 14 miles of protected wheel ruts made by the wagons as the emigrants made their way west to Oregon City, their final destination. Thom said at this point he would have stopped and called it home!
See photos below.
We asked someone associated with the center about what looked like a mine in the distance. It was confirmed that it is an actual working gold mine (Cliff Mine). See below! It also mines quartz.
I had to really zoom this in but I believe you can see the shaft in the mountainside.
Mine shaft - see photos below.
Inside the mine shaft.
Looking out where the rail tracks went off the side of the mountain.
The center is a mile up a mountainside. This is just one of the many scenes from atop the mountain!
The center has on view two wagons that made the trip on the Oregon Trail.
This is all the room they had and it was used to carry their many personal belongings not to mention food and medicine, which along the Trail along with the bones of dead working animals, the personal effects had to be discarded. Many left notes to take what was left behind, but many also destroyed their possessions to keep others from taking them! Most of the emigrants walked the 2200 mile trail and did not have the luxury of being a passenger.
Here are some photos on our drive to dinner and back to the ranch!
If you think this is funny, the other side of this sign reads: "FUR SALE"!
Thom's chicken fried steak came drenched in a mushroom gravy, which their menu does not state. Thom is allergic to mushrooms so his had to be re-cooked. Beer was good though, as was the wine! I shared my chicken fajitas with Thom and still took some home!
The restaurant on one side of the road has these brew vats; across the street is a bar, also Barley Brown's, with 22 beer vats, 19 of which are unique (so said the waiter)!
Lot 126 - Home Sweet Motorhome!
CONGRATULATIONS VIRGINIA!
Until next blog ...
