Joseph, OR and Wallowa Lake...

Got the van tuned and lubed, the tire pressure checked, most of the un-needed stuff into storage and waited until the cool of the evening, and after dinner at R&C's of course, to begin the drive to Joseph, OR.  Several people have told me it is so pretty there, and many more said, "I have heard it is beautiful, but I have never been there."  To those who haven't been... it IS beautiful.

So, I am on the road again...

It was over 400 miles, which was longer than I thought it would be.  I stopped for some night hours behind a big rig at a rest stop in the small town of Seneca, then took off again early in the cool hours.  When I passed through John Day, I spotted a few things...

 Isn't this nicer than a standard looking sign?

Look!  A door above the van that opens up to air!  lol

  I stopped to walk a historical trail and I listened to the birds, and smelled the fresh morning pines...

After another hour or so of driving, I was really tired, so I pulled into a shady pull-out and took a nap.  Vehicles just zip past and no one bothers you.  When I began again, I found this place for a pit stop:

 

And learned something new...

I made it into Joseph in the early evening hours, stopped at the Visitor's Center.  Remember this should be the first place you check out any time you visit a new area :)

Chief Joseph of Nez Perce, bronze statue...

I made my way past the lake to the Wallowa Lake State Park.  It was full.  Of course! it's 4th of July weekend!!  So I found another campground and ended up paying $27... 5 times more than I spent on my whole 6 weeks on the coast to stay over.  Am not doing that again.  But it was cool and I did some cleaning, and opened the door for the Van Rats to come out and explore... and discovered they are both Big Chickens!

 

Now, I'd like to make comment on some of the mess in back.  Believe it or not, it is organized into category, and I was planning to get some plastic storage containers I have found at Walmart.  But I am kinda mad at Walmart right now for ditching Paula Deen over this whole ridiculous fiasco, so I have to now look elsewheres  for what I want.  This is the area behind the driver's seat and the passenger's seat.  This still allows me half the van's width of free space from the door to the bed.  There are still more things I wish I had not brought along, and now have to decide what to do with them. 

On July 4th, I went into Joseph for breakfast, and found a farmer's market.  I purchased some goat's milk soap," So 60's" I believe it was called, from Wendy of Sally B. Farms who raises her own goats.  (I later gave it to my cousin and she said it was wonderful!  I need to purchase some more for me now too!)  I also got a huge plate of strawberry shortcake from a fund raising booth.  I ate it in the rocking chair on the porch of the Chamber of Commerce :)   Before too much of the day got away from me, I  found a spot along the lake to watch the fireworks because I wanted a good spot.  The cats and I napped for most of the time.  I had the door open for the breeze and kept an eye on my Van Rat aka Chickens.

 

I watched Tirzah take a step down as I was reading, but I didn't think she'd go anywhere.  Suddenly I realized she was gone!  I jumped out the step, and looked under the van, and down the hill to the lake.  I didn't see her anywhere!  I checked back in the van, and of course, asked Yarikh where Tirzah had gone, but he didn't give me a very good answer.  So I went around the van, and called her and clapped my hands.

Mind you, I am parked in a pull-out on the 55mph road along the lake.

I called her again, and I could hear her meow.  I looked and looked, and hollered, "I can hear you but I can't see you!"  (I must be a real Cat Lady huh? the way I talk to them!  oh well... it is what it is.) She meowed again.  Then I noticed a couple in a car two back from the van looking across the road.  I look over, and there the little twirp is!  about 40 feet up the slope on the opposite side of the road!  How she managed to get over there without getting run over is beyond me!  I crossed the road and she came sliding down to me.  I grabbed her scruff and carried her tightly across the road and back to the van.  I was not happy.

I don't know what she was trying to do, and I don't think she knew what she was trying to do.  At our little green house they might get out and cross the road and end up in the field.  I think she figured it out that things were not the same when she had to climb UP.  Stupid cat!  Scared me to death!  I put a tight rope on her now since she has learned how to get out of her harness.

I was still growly when we watched the sunset...

And then the fireworks...  I sat in my driver's window looking over the van.  I tore my favorite shirt trying to twist into position, but it was a great view...

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Independence Day!  God Bless America!

:)