So I figured I could make it to the next big town because I was pretty sure I had a spare key, somewhere in the van. So I tell the guy to forget it, and then he returned with another guy, and this guy knows how to open a locked gas cap! Wow, that makes me glad I spent $16 on a locking cap! But in this case, it's a good deal. They are able to open the cap and I filled up. I call the other gas station and ask if my keys are still there, and she says, "OMG, and you're out of town?" Now, if I were someone else I could have gotten really mad, but I said, "Well, these things happen." Lucky for me I have good friends who picked them up the next day and sent them to Joseph, care of General Delivery. They sent them on Wednesday, and they weren't here yet today, Saturday, so I will have to hang around town until Monday to see if they have arrived.
I have been in the library for three hours and they are about to close, so I have to sign off for now. Will tell you all about my tram ride and more next time I am able to hook up to a plug with wi-fi :)
* * *
After the fireworks on the 4th, I found a parking spot in town near the Forest Service and over-nighted there.
Friday, the 5th,I made my way back to the south end of the lake to enjoy the tram ride to the top of Mt. Howard. It was a beautiful day and I enjoyed the adventure immensely.
The story of the Nez Perce people, being made to leave their beautiful land where they had lived for all time is a truly horrific one. Chief Joseph dealt long and hard with the US Government, but to no avail even though they had been given the land in an 1855 Treaty. A truly sad and unjust story.
The Old Chief Joseph's burial site is near the north end of Wallowa Lake near the county park.
The tram ride at the south end of the lake up Mt. Howard was a little pricey, but I am so glad I went to the top! My friend C. has a horrific tale to tell about taking the tram about 5 years ago, but only because she is terrified of heights. So sad she was scared because she missed all the beauty of the area.
I went up by myself and the view of the glacial moraines that create Wallowa Lake were spectacular.
I started walking the trails up there, and met up with a really nice lady, B., and her daughter and niece. We palled around for the the afternoon and I enjoyed their company.
Because you can ride the tram again for free during the same day, the four of us rode down together, then back up again and down again. It was a fun time... we sang songs and played a story making game. B. is a single mom, trying to get a music teaching job, and has her hands full with her pre-teen daughter who was a character. I hope she does well in her endeavors.
After the tram ride, I walked around the little area of Wallowa Lake, had a lazagna dinner watching some biker people play in the water bumper boats. Taking a walk, I enjoyed the smell of lighter fuel and charcoal and bbq coming from the campgrounds. Then I sat and watched families playing miniature golf, smelling the waffle cones from a little ice cream and candy shop, and just enjoyed the sounds of summer.
* * *
The next two days, I strolled along the main street of Joseph checking out the architecture, the small shops and galleries,
and I took lots of pictures of the bronze statues in town.
I'll show you my favorite first...
But all the other bronzes are fantastic as well...
There was a music festival as well going on this weekend. I stopped at a micro-brewery to enjoy the tunes, and seeing that most of the available tables were for 4 or 6 people, I noticed a lady by herself, right by the outside door opening up onto the patio... I asked, "Do you mind if I join you?" and she said, "Not at all, and you can help me eat these onion rings... I can't eat them all myself!" And thus began a wonderful friendship with S. We spent the afternoon talking, and decided to meet for coffee the next morning down the street.
I went back to my Forest Service overnighting spot. It was a holiday weekend and I knew no one would be around so I felt pretty secure there.
The coffee place we met at was so rustic and simple. Red Horse Coffee Traders is a converted house with a nice open porch all around. It reminded me of places I have been like Big Bear or Mammoth Lakes, CA.
The family is from Alaska, and they serve one regular coffee and one decaf coffee each day from different grinds. They also serve these fabulously large Cowboy Cookies that are about an inch and a half thick...
S. purchased my coffee and got me a cookie on a gift certificate she had, which was so sweet of her. We chatted and a few of her friends stopped by, whom I met. She then made me the offer of coming to her home to vacuum her rug in trade for a shower! She said her vacuum was too heavy for her. I said no problem, but kinda thought I wouldn't shower because I felt like I would still be imposing. She gave me her address and we decided to meet at 5.
It was Sunday so I went the Baptist Church in the middle of the main street. It was a good service.
I also ventured back to the south end of the lake to explore the state park area there. I explored the river running into the lake, and the water was gloriously cold!
There were piles of cottonwood fluff in the parking lot too! And, being Sunday, tradition called for a nap :)
When I returned to S.'s house, I vacuumed her rugs, swept her floors, picked up the pile she had swept up into a corner, and admired her little house, an assortment of knic-knacs and pictures of her family. She has a home in Central CA near Bakersfield, a ranch really with lots of cows, that her sons still run. She had seen one husband to his grave, and had a boyfriend for many years, but who now was living in a care facility for Veterans somewhere in California. This place is her summer home to get out of the heat of the valley, and she loves it here but she felt it was too far from family.
The desire for a shower got the better of me, and I enjoyed a hot shower with fresh towels and washed my hair. We had sort of made plans to go out to eat, but she decided to whip up a pot of minestrone instead and it was way yum! Then we settled in to watch a Lucille Ball movie I had never seen, shared some popcorn, and it was such an enjoyable evening! Just friends handing out :)
At the end of the evening I drove back to my place at the Forest Service, and enjoyed an awesome lightning and thunder show and lots of rain.
S. and I met again for some coffee and then she took me to the Wallowa Lake Lodge and we toured the lobby and sat out on their porch overlooking the lake for a while. She said she and her friends often would hang out in hotel lobbies, even though they weren't staying there, and play cards! What fun! I will have to try that :)
We went back into town and tried some Hawaiian burgers at a local joint. She said I could stay for a while if I wanted, but I felt it was time to move on. We parted ways as life-long friends. Such a wonderful, fun lady to have met on my travels.
:)
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