Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Pambling Roads~Beautiful Oregon

 

Pambling Roads ~Beautiful Oregon

Eastern Oregon

Our stay at the Hermiston Best Western was a bit different than most. Everything was fine except one slight issue. The first morning we were there the fire alarm kept going on and off. I slight wobble that was out of their control. They apologized profusely. We understood, although there were some guests who were not as patient with the problem.

The first night, we ate at the Denny’s. The dinner was good, above average service, and excellent desserts. They had a bar/lounge and we planned to return later that evening but ended up going the next night instead.

Pendleton

This was a side trip about a town that we didn’t know existed until we were looking at the pamphlets in the hotel lobby. This town is an historical author’s dream come true. It’s right there just waiting to be used as a setting for a great western novel.

 

Umatilla County Historical Museum -- Heritage Station Museum




This is located in downtown Pendleton and is a great place to start your journey on the history of Pendleton. It is the old Pendleton train station where they have several exhibits from the early years all the way to WW2. There is an old 1930’s fire truck, a caboose, one-room school house, and a cabin on display.

There is a lot of history in Pendleton and we imagine that their galleries are constantly bringing in new and exciting things to see.

http://pendletonhistoricalmuseum.com

 

The Pendleton Underground Tours

 





Underground tour had a note on the door that said they would be open but it was closed. We called, leaving a message, to get a reservation for a tour but they didn’t return our call until the next morning when we were checking out of the hotel.




It was a half hour drive from our hotel but we managed to arrive a few moments late and only missed the video. It was like going through a different world, a hidden town where bars entertained the men, card rooms for those interested in gambling, an ice cream parlor, a meat market, a Duck Pin bowling alley and the Chinese living quarters and opium dens. Above ground, we toured the Cozy Rooms run by Stella Darby and her working girls.

There is so much historical information along with entertaining tidbits from the tour guide. It is so full of history. With every step I took farther into the underground rooms, the more ideas for stories and tales went through my head. It is a smorgasbord of novelty, drama, and history.

www.pendletonundergroundtours.com

 

McNary Lock and Dam




McNary is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Located north of Hermiston, there is a visitor center there that you can see all the different ways the dam is benefiting the area. There is a fish viewing room connected to one of the fish ladders.

http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/mcnary_dam.html


 


We stayed in Grants Pass, Oregon at the Best Western.

Crater Lake National Park




Besides seeing snow on the ground at the end of June, Crater Lake looks exactly like all the pictures we have seen. I always believed that these photographers adjusted or “photo-shopped” the blue in the lake so it would look like a deeper, more striking blue.

They don’t. It is that blue!

Not all the roads were open for us but that was fine. We still spent an afternoon walking and enjoying the sight. Our camera broke, froze as we were taking pictures. A wonderful couple, on their honeymoon, realized what happened and offered to take a picture of the two of us together. They did and then sent it to my email address. We really appreciate them doing that for us. We chatted for a while and then went our separate ways.

They have a boat tour, swimming is allowed. However, snorkeling, scuba diving, and long distance swimming is not allowed due to possible disruption of the natural habitats and aqua life.

My husband and I had our first snowball fight. He thought he would surprise me by having some in his hand when we got in the car. Almost, but not quite. He sure was surprised when I dropped snow down the back of his shirt…I won.

We did not stay at the lodge at Crater Lake. However, it looked like it would have been a great place to stay.

www.nationalparks.org/explore-parks/crater-lake-national-park

http://www.craterlakelodges.com/lodging/crater-lake-lodge

 

The Oregon Vortex

Picture one: It is obvious that I am shorter than my husband, Ray.   Picture two: Same place, only we switched places. I know look the same height as Ray.

The Oregon Vortex is in Gold Hill, Oregon and was far from a disappointment. It is a small area where odd gravitational fluxes occur. If the reader has ever heard of the odd occurrences around the Bermuda Triangle, this is the land version of strange happenings. The vortex has been debated and tested by renowned experts and no one, so far, has been able to explain the phenomenon. They have plumb bobs that you can move and attempt to make it look as if it is going perfectly vertical and it will appear to lean at a 30 degree angle.






     I thought the orb on the right was quite fascinating. There are a few more pictures that have the orb in different places in the house but this was the best picture, defining the orb without any question as to what it is.

As you stand in certain areas, you can feel the pull, your body fighting against an unknown force. We noticed the other people on the tour appearing to lean at 45 degree angles, angles that would normally make someone fall but they weren’t leaning, it just appeared as if they were. We watch a ball roll uphill, or I should shay appear to roll uphill. We did the platform test and you can see for yourself how appearances are deceiving. Your height can appear to change in front of everyone’s eyes.





The area is only approximately ½ acre but the whole time you were there, you can feel the force of the vortex.

www.oregonvortex.com

So far we have written articles about ~~ New Mexico to Arizona ~~ Texas ~~ Louisiana ~~ Alabama to Florida ~~ Ohio to Mississippi ~~ New Hampshire to Niagara Falls, CA ~~ DC to RI to Maine ~~ Williamsburg/Jamestown, VA ~~ Washington, DC ~~ Georgia and South Carolina ~~ West Coast of Florida ~~ Key West 

Thank you for taking the time to read about our adventures traveling the United States. Our goal? The 48 states! I tried, really I did, I tried really hard to get my husband to agree to drive to Alaska. I didn't win that one. Maybe the next time.

It has been a great adventure, meeting the Americans, and meeting people from all over the world. Share with us, we want to hear all about it! 

Have you been to any of the places I have mentioned? Do you have stories to tell as well? Take advantage of comment section below and tell us your stories.  

Pam’s website www.pamelaackerson.com

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Visit Pam’s website www.pamelaackerson.com

Friend/Follow Pam on Facebook - www.facebook.com/pam.ackerson.7

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These journals are for you!

Pages for you to fill in the blanks.
A personal journal with tidbits and trivia about Oregon.
Lined and Unlined for your convenience.
Journaling and diary writing improves and encourages positive attitudes, provides a creative outlet, and is a perfect place to record life's precious events.

Grab your Pambling Roads Oregon Journal today

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All the journals: (Journals do not have images in them.)

Alabama    Arizona    Arkansas    California    Canada    Colorado    Florida    Georgia    Idaho     Illinois     Indiana     Iowa    Kansas    Kentucky    Louisiana     Maine    Maryland    Massachusetts    Michigan    Minnesota    Mississippi    Missouri    Montana    Nebraska    Nevada    New Hampshire    New Mexico    New York    North Dakota    Oregon    Rhode Island    South Carolina    South Dakota    Ohio    Oklahoma    Tennessee    Texas    Utah    Vermont    Virginia    Washington    Wisconsin    Washington, D.C.    Wyoming

and Fortune Cookie Wisdom

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