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.
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