Looking around Bend

A glorious morning
Relaxed with coffee and light breakfast.
Drove into Bend and found my Second Cousin Mary at work.
Had a short chat and decided to go out to eat tomorrow night.
Had a good time looking around their store and seeing all the neat fireplaces.
After we found McMenamins here in Bend and enjoyed Fish n Chips and a great clam chowder.

After we did some shopping at a converted lumber mill. 

Was hard to know it was ever an industrial site.

Developer did a great job updating and adding new.

Going to eat there tomorrow night.

Then Millie decided to take a nap as her birthday present, or she was tired!

I drove out to Paulina Lakes and up Paulina peak.

Did not get all the way to the top as at about 7000 feet the clouds had moved in and couldn't see.

Turned around and headed home.

On the way back down found the "Big Obsidian Flow" 

Yes that is what it is called.

This piece was about the size of two concrete block and probably weight over 100 lbs.

Besides being against the law and over 6000 feet of elevation, I had to get me back to the truck without the sample.

OK at those elevations if doing little manual labor.

Many of you know about "Flat lander syndrome".

That's about it for Friday.

More tomorrow.

Hugs

Tom & Millie

Painted Canyon

Good morning all!
Yesterday was mostly a travel day.
Left Pendleton about 10:30 and drove one curvy road after another.
Lost count of how many passes we went over.
And oh, the beauty of Central Oregon!

Starts out like above, south of Pendleton.
And quickly goes into hills and trees.
Rocks and canyons.

Made a side trip into the John Day Fossil Beds to see Painted Canyon.

 This is a lot of how we turn a 4 hour trip into 7 hours.
All most always worth the diversion.

Travel days are not very exciting and the diversions help us keep going.
As you can see Millie and the "fur kids" are doing fine and enjoy the little hikes.

Made it to Bend about sunset yesterday. Got set up, ate and walked for a while then off to bed.
Today we have to decide if we are going to stay here and possibly lose the opportunity to cross the Cascades to the west or go today. Would like to rest and see some of the Bend area.
Guess we will let you know tomorrow what we decide.

Hugs and make good choices
Tom & Millie

Pendleton Underground

Yesterday was fun and unique.
Went on the Pendleton Underground tour.
OK, it was mostly basements and just the amount of commerce that took place below street level was pretty amazing.
Not only commerce, but people lived and work in the basements and tunnels.

They partied, slept and ate in saloons/hotels.

Chinese laundry and Tailor.

Candy store, worker sleeping areas.
Butcher shop.

The "Old Ball and Chain........







Opps,

The real ol' ball 'n chain.

The lighting in many areas was prismatic glass in the sidewalk above.

And of course the Bordello.
This is the parlor/ receiving room.













And madams living area.

And the kitchen.
Now doesn't this make you want to go retro?

After a stop at the chocolate store for a few free samples.
Seriously we could not afford to buy any no matter who's birthday is coming up!

Back to the big white box and packing up to leave in the morning.
Started raining and Lefty made cause for a laundry run.
Thank goodness the RV Park has a nice one.
Showers and to bed.

Hugs to all and make another great day.
Tom & Millie

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Pendleton Woolen Mills

Fun day today.
Went into town to shop and tour Pendleton Woolen Mills.
Great place and yes we spent some of our retirement money!

This is one of the many machines that "card" the raw wool.

Some of the bobbins

And some of the blankets, still on the roll.

And the machine that sews them together to send off for finishing at another location.

Apparently there is less loss if in a big roll than as individual blankets.

After we went thrift shopping, gun shop and out to eat.

The Prodigal Son brew pub. 

Good food and really good beer.

After we went back to the campground and hung out at the site.
Was a tiring day and we needed to recharge.
Now Elska is getting better and Lefty has the "tummy" troubles.
Hope he recovers fast since he is young.


Hugs
Tom and Millie

Pendleton

Finally left Lake Wenatchee State Park.
Raining when we left, but by the time we got east of the mountains, skies cleared.

Then on down to the Columbia River and the Petrified Forest.

.



































And of course Millie' eye steered me to this.
Hooked up to a single bottom plow.
Guess it was a tractor!

Then along the Columbia where Millie spotted and photographed this RR bridge.

After filling up in Richland, WA we headed for Pendleton, OR.
Along the way the traffic was backed up for nearly an hour.
A motorhome had burned on the shoulder.
4 or 5 Law enforcement and 5 fire trucks and thankfully no ambulance at the scene.
Looked like only a property loss.
Still tragic for the family.
I think what we have in our trailer and what would be lost even if no injuries or puppy loss.

Rest of the day was uneventful.
Made it to Wild Horse RV Park, Resort and Casino.
Full hookups and nice showers and laundry!
Off to Woolen Mills and other sites in town.
Maybe a few groceries.

Hugs to all and make your day great!
Tom & Millie

Wow! Twice in one day.

Spent an extra day here because the Weather Guesser said there would be sunshine. 

OK, it is the Pacific Northwest and they are usually wrong, like today.

Made the most of it anyway

Millie stayed at the site and worked on organizing a scrapbook to corral all the papers and info.

I decided that the colors are great and went with the mood.

Drove up the White River valley a ways.

Way back into the mountains and even was in 4 wheel low to climb the road, not this road though.

This is the White River. It feeds Lake Wenatchee which is the headwaters of the Wenatchee River.

The valley floor just above the lake, looking up the White River Valley.

It was a good drive and did talk to some hunters on the back roads. They enjoyed the idea that I was only shooting with a camera. Bunch of nice guys, yes there were no women with them. Although they had not seen a deer for several days, they were still optimistic.  Only 2 days left of deer season.

When back at the camp, laid down on the picnic table and tried to record the tall pines. 

Showers tonight with snacks and wine for supper. A little packing for tomorrow.

Then load up and head for Pendleton, OR.

Hugs to all

Tom and Millie

Lake Wenatchee State Park

OK, I'm back! Been doing laundry, seeing the sites and finding good wine and food.
We arrived here Friday late afternoon and got set up.
We planned on staying 2 nights and found it such a great place decided on a third.

This is how crowded our view has been the entire time.
Last night we had a few neighbors, but would have had a hard time hitting their site with a rock.
Good spacing Washington State Park system!

Yesterday was off to Leavenworth, WA and old world styled Bavarian Village.
Crowds were there and we are glad this was not high time.
Pretty little tourist (trap) town.
Lots of shops, wine tasting rooms and bistos.

We ate at a simple bistro and the food was good and reasonably price.
Did not do any wine tasting here, on our way we stopped and did some laundry.
Little town of Plain, WA and found a winery there and bought our most expensive bottle yet.
So we had to be frugal picking a place to eat.

While walking around we were treated to Polka band and just lots of people.
Found this family trying to get photo of their boys.
Thought it could be fun and the little guy made the shot.
Caption "Hey buddy, you mind, trying to get a photo here!"

So all in all, it was a great day.
Back to the camper for wine and a nice fire.
A good sleep then up with the sunrise for dog walks.
Going to poke around in the park a bit and look for some photos.
I know they are out there calling to me, just wish would have some sun.
But we are in the Pacific Northwest, wear your rain gear.
Just have to get in the mood for this type of light and see what happens.
Oh, by the way,

HE IS REAL!
and he has his own store!

Hugs to all
Tom & Millie

On our way again.

Was really hard to leave Lee and Gaye's. They are such gracious hosts and a lot of fun.
Our puppies are suffering a bit of separation blues.
They really liked Gaye and she just adopted them right in.
Left Osoyoos ( Oh-sue-yoos) about 11 AM and headed for the border.
A bit of a line at the border station, wait about 15-20 minutes.
Agent talked so fast it was hard to understand him, but was courteous and efficient.
Then on our way.
Elska has not been feeling well and we are hoping tomorrow will be a better day for her.

Recommended that we visit Leavenworth, WA.
A small Bavarian architecture town in central Washington Cascades.
Got there about 4pm and the town was packed. OK, it is Friday night.
If it is not Octoberfest then just a regular late season weekend.
Too crowded for us so we went further into the mountains about 15-20 miles.
Lake Wenatchee State Park and are at a really nice campground in the tall pines.
Not crowded, but do have neighbors.
Nice part s the sites are really spread out and feels roomy.

Opened a bottle of the Silver Sage Merlot. WOW, is all I can say.
So tomorrow we will try Leavenworth again, with out the big white box.
Easier to get around an find a place to park.
A few photos are required from there.

Here is a shot along the Columbia River on our way to Wenatchee.

Here is our campsite from our door. Yellow is porch light and white is the moon.

Have a great night and make the most of your day tomorrow.
Hugs to all who need them.
Tom & Millie

Hello one and all!

Had a nice drive Wednesday and got a few photos, Visited Penticton, watched para surfers, visited a brew pub and had a great day with Lee and Gaye.

Here is Millie in the Japanese Garden.

And "Sweet Ruby" 

More adventures today with downtown Osoyoos and off to wine country,
Tom & Millie