Thursday, May 26, 2011

R and R

Last week the insurance guy and I took a few days break. Since we have been scurrying around like busy beavers, we needed a little 'hibernation'. We headed over the Ochocco Mountains, through the little towns of Mitchell and Dayville, through John Day and over to Baker City on the eastern edge of Oregon. We found a nice motel, with a great view of the Blue Mountains. The view also included this larger-than-life replica of a gold pan, saluting the area's hey days as a gold mining town.

The reason we chose Baker City was to visit the National Interpretive Center for the Oregon Trail, something we have been wanting to do for several years. It is on a bluff about 5 miles east of Baker City. As you can see, we had wonderful weather that day.


One of the highlights, for most everyone I suspect, were these huge picture windows overlooking the original Oregon Trail. The track was still clearly visible winding around at the base of this bluff, and entering the valley, turning north towards the Columbia river. So many wagons, to create a track to last more than a century.


Outside, they had a circle formed of replica wagons, showing how the pioneers would camp at night. Very interesting to all the kids who loved climbing on the wagons.


A shot of the mountains, and of the valley the emigrants entered. They must have been delighted to find a grassland, after the miles of juniper and sage.

After lunch, we visited the Baker City Museum, at the old 'Natatorium'. They had a wonderful collection of rocks and gems that particularly interested the insurance man.


Baker City also has a grand park, right next to the Powder River. It has a lovely gazebo, and flowering trees. We spent a little time walking there. The city is trying to raise enough money to build a band stand, and if ever there was a park that needed one, it was that park!


A final shot of the sunset behind the Blue Mountains, that ended our nice day.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

What a fun trip and beautiful days. Thanks for sharing.
Kathy