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Columbia River Gorge & La Page Park....

9/14/2015

( Writing this on Tuesday, September 15 from the La Page Campground near Rufus, Oregon. This camp is an Army Corp of Engineers Campground located four miles east of the John Day Dam on the confluence of the John Day and Columbia Rivers. It has full hook-ups for a daily fee of $22.00/ $11.00 w/Golden Age Pass. )

Passing through beautiful farm land yesterday, it was only about a 200 miles drive from Wallowa to La Page Park near Rufus.

Approaching the exit for the park we could barely see Mt. Hood in the distance.

After our private camping spot at Ollokot, it seemed strange to be so close to other campers again.

As you can see it gets a little windy along the river.

We had a great sunset, something we missed being in the forest all summer.

Today we left camp for a drive west on US-30 along the Columbia River Gorge.

From the scenic overlook you could see all the salmon fishing boats.

This is the Bonniville Dam and Locks. We toured the Bradford Island Visitor Center located here, as well as, the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center in Stevenson, Washington. We will save those pictures for the next blog.

We miss Carla and the Imnaha, but it's also fun to be on the road again to new adventures. Living the dream!

Good night to all, love B&D.

P.S. Thank you Diane for all your art. I have been enjoying these two pieces for almost fifty years. Wow!

Last Days At The Imnaha River....

9/13/2015

( Writing this from Wallowa, Oregon on September 13. )

Yesterday, September 12, we moved down from the Imnaha River to the town of Wallowa. We are enjoying two days at Mule Days in Enterprise before heading for the Columbia River Gorge and west to Portland. During the last days, we drove around the area exploring little roads we hadn't seen yet. Of course there are many more for us to explore next year when we come back to camp host again.

Finally got a picture of these rocks on the 39 road.

Even got a bonus wildlife shot.

This huge outcropping is right in site #1 at Hidden Campground. There is always someone camped there and it took me all summer to get a picture. A past camper carved this log stair so the rock could be explored.

Not far in miles, from Ollokot, but over 2000 feet higher is Harl Butte Lookout Station. In June, the volunteer that mans this station brings four months of food and supplies with him.

All summer he watches this gorgeous land for signs of forest fires.

The road construction on the FS-39 road ended at the end of August with beautiful results.

We went to our first rodeo in Halfway.

Today at Mule Days,
our last day in
eastern Oregon,
I got my first Cowgirl hat. Actually, the 92˚ temp
drove me to it.

Sometime the mules are just as graceful as horses...

... other times they stop dead in their tracks and refuse to move. This rodeo was lots of fun.

McDove, as usual, was thrilled.

All ages participated.

We learned lots at the Dutch Oven Cook-Off.

For a one dollar donation, we got to sample, Yum!!!

Meanwhile, back in Michigan, this summer Gramma Bridget caught her first fish. So many firsts this year, fun!!!!
Night all, B&D

Love you Mom!

Lostine and Forest Fires....

9/3/2015

( Writing this from Enterprise, Oregon on September 3. )

On the west side of Enterprise is the town of Lostine. There is a corridor of campgrounds there off Hwy-82. they are rustic and primitive sites like our camps on Hwy-39 east of Enterprise.
Last week we went to check them out, and of course found them to be not nearly as wonderful as ours. Ha! Ha!

Actually their scenery is breathtaking, but our campsites are nicer.

At the trail head, the three person trail crew were just coming back from their day of trimming. They are solely responsible fro trimming the hundreds of miles of tails in this district. The forest service budget only allows for one crew.

The new and the old of Lostine dining.

I have afew pictures of the smoke that fills the air around Enterprise from the nearby forest fires that started in the middle of August in Wallowa County from lightening strikes. They are mostly contained now after nearly 60,000 acres of burn, the loss of homes and buildings and the hard work of up to 800 firefighters.

This is a cloud of smoke from the fire in Troy, Oregon.

August 25

September 1--We can see the mountains again.

Have a wonderful night. XOXO, B&D

Powder River, Baker City and Forest Fires....

9/1/2015

( Writing this from Enterprise, Oregon on September 1. )

Liam and Rosie waiting for dad to come home.
( Expect to see this picture often, I love it!!! )

The summer and our camp hosting job are coming to an end. September 7, Labor Day, is our last day of work. We plan on staying until the end of that week for the Enterprise Mules Days at the county fairgrounds. We want to see the Dutch Oven Cook-Off and the mule and horse shows. Weather permitting!
When we leave here we are going to follow the Columbia River Gorge Highway to Portland and then head to Astoria, Oregon on the Coast. The colors here started changing in the middle of August, so the coast should be gorgious in September.

August 14, on the drive to Baker City ( 85 miles from camp) we stopped at the Hole In The Wall Lookout on the Powder River.

The next stop before Baker, was the National Park Oregon Trail Interpretive Center where we saw a great show of the Traveling Medicine Man.

Would like to come back and spend more time here.

McDove agrees.

Baker City has over fifty historical buildings and we heard the museum there is great, have to come back here, too.

Had dinner at Mr. Ed's. Train running through out the dinner and great food.

I liked the wait staff pouch by Carhart that they had personalized.

The sign says "Extreme Fire Hazard" Can you make out the smoke coming from the tree line?

Usually the mountains are totally clear.

Love the road side decor.

Back near camp, you can see the color changes on August 14.

Mama and baby can't decide which way to get off the road.

Good night and love to all, B&D

Columbia River Gorge & La Page Park....

Last Days At The Imnaha River....

Meanwhile, back in Michigan, this summer Gramma Bridget caught her first fish. So many firsts this year, fun!!!! Night all, B&D

Lostine and Forest Fires....

Powder River, Baker City and Forest Fires....

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Meanwhile, back in Michigan, this summer Gramma Bridget caught her first fish. So many firsts this year, fun!!!!
Night all, B&D