Continuing East

Pendleton, Oregon: After a surprisingly peaceful night - though we learned/heard a train runs next to the campground, and a group of rowdies pulled-in to the site next to us about 10p and partied loudly for a while. When we woke this morning, we saw wetsuits draped over everything, so assume they had a fun day windsurfing and were ready for a few brewskis. Amateurs. After our bike rack adventure, I needed a martini.

Instead of facing the narrow $8 bridge again, we decided to drive east along Washington Highway 14, a very good road that follows the Columbia River on the north bank. Hood River is the border between the forested part of the gorge to the west and the desert/plains side of the gorge to the east.

It was a pretty drive this morning, with fantastic views of the northeast side of Mt. Hood. When we reached The Dalles, we crossed the (no toll) bridge to the Oregon side of the river and saw a large flock of white pelicans and several Native American fishermen pulling in their gill nets under the bridge.

We are having quite a bit of trouble finding the correct type of diesel for our Mercedes Sprinter! It requires #2 diesel, but currently we can only find #2 as a blend of between 5-to-20% biodiesel. Our engine can only use up to 5% or the fuel filter becomes clogged, plus other issues. The fuel we found today (at the junction of I-84 & Highway 97) was only labeled at “blended with between 5-20%” biodiesel. That is not enough information! At the next truck stop a few miles east we found S15, the correct type we need. This isn’t the first time we have had to search for fuel, and I never thought about not being able to find diesel for a diesel engine. If you are thinking of buying a diesel vehicle, do some research.

We stopped in Boardman for lunch. We found a nice day-use area right on the river and I stir-fried the Sanbeiji leftover from last night. Easy and delicious. After a bit of a rest, we hit the highway again to Pendleton. We found a place to park (okay, it was TWO parking spaces, but no one seemed to care, even the policeman who drove by and waved). Pendleton is a very fun town. Home to the famous Pendleton Roundup Rodeo, legendary Pendleton Woolen Mills, and Hamley Western Wear shop with a skilled saddlery. If you are ever in Pendleton, try to take the Underground walking tour. I took this tour many years ago and was simply amazed with the things I learned about the "other city" living under the city streets (and not just THIS city, but nearly every big city in the west). Opium dens, brothels, card rooms - you will see it all and learn so much.

I can't really say if Hamley's is a retail store or a museum. It is also a working saddlery, making new saddles, repairing old. Making ropes, and producing all sort of other things cowboys and cowgirls use. The Hamley family also have a popular steak house and now a wine bar. My My! (NOTE: the Hamley businesses are now owned by the local Umatilla Tribe.) The statue (above) of Chief Joseph, titled Rolling Thunder, as this was his name as a child. It was cast by famed Oregon bronze artist David Manuel. On our way out of town, we stopped at the Pendleton Woolen Mill shop, but living in Palm Springs pretty-much takes us out of their customer base. The shop also offer tours of the mill, which we have taken previously. It is interesting, but I feel much of their products are no longer produced in Pendleton. (Insert sad face here.)

Interestingly enough, we are camping on the Umatilla Nation this evening. We will be here a few days as they have a nice golf course. (They also have a casino, hotel, shops, restaurants, arcade. truck stop, on and on.)

I served old-school tacos (hard shell) for dinner tonight and will use the rest of the seasoned ground beef in quesadillas after golf tomorrow.

Until my next update, I remain, your Eastern Oregon correspondent.

Campground Information: Wildhorse RV Park - Exit 216 off I-84 just east of Pendleton, Oregon. Nice sites, with plenty room between campers. Pool and hottub, full service paved sites with 30/50 amp. The resort has a golf course, and a very good on-site museum, Tamástslikt, about the history and future of the Umatilla, Cayuse, and Walla Walla tribes. You can walk or shuttle to the casino. Free wifi. Bathhouse, laundry. They also rent tipis! With taxes, we paid $120 per night.

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