Baker or Baker City?

We went on a four day vacation again. This time, to Baker City and La Grande. (Actually, three days since we're back and recovering...)

At first, we thought we'd go to Boise, but after a couple days of mulling over what a long drive that would be, I turned to Linda and said, "Wouldn't you rather go to the coast? There is a bookstore in Newport we've been meaning to visit."

So that was the plan for another couple of days.

But Linda seemed less than enthusiastic, so finally I said, "Honey. Really. Where would YOU like to go, I'm easy."

"I'd rather go to Baker City again," she said. So we booked a room. She mentioned later in the day that there was a bit of trouble getting rooms because of the Shriners.

"Whoa. Did you say Shriners? Do you remember the time they had a Shriners convention at that motel we stayed in in Portland for a comic convention? And that they were partying until 3:00 in the morning?"

I went online and found out it was the East/West Shriners Football game, and a Shriners Parade.

"Babe. Think Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble at their lodge. Party crazy."

"Fred Flintstone drinks?"

"Um. Well, they partied as if they drank, that's what I remember. Yahoo city."

So we booked a room in Rodeway Inn in La Grande, instead.


We checked out the Painted Hills, first. Took lots of pictures. I started to notice that Linda and I were often taking pictures in the opposite direction as all the other tourists. We tend not to take the obvious views. What are we ever going to do with all these pictures?

We came up north from John Day, through Ukiah. Linda had a childhood friend who told stories about how beautiful Ukiah was, so when we reached it, it turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. Another small, rural town struggling to survive.

Still, we were exploring new territory. There are all these roads that run between the major hightways that aren't used all that much, but are incredibly scenic. We stopped along the perfect skinny dipping spot, and thought about it, but I laughed and said, "We'll probably find out that the Scenic Overlook is just up there." Sure enough, within a couple hundred yards we came across a major campground.

It was quiet and beautiful and serene, and just high enough in the mountains to be the perfect low 80's temp. Large firs, and ponderosa pines, and rolling hillsides that I doubt have ever had humans walking on them. Saw at least 5 different batches of deer.

Got to LaGrande. The motel sucked. Tiny, run down, and the worst beds ever.

Linda wanted to go to church in Baker City, so we drove on down. This time we booked a room at the Geisler Grande. A little more fancy than we usually try, but I'm trying to loosen up about these things and I could tell Linda really wanted to do it.

So, we can't check in until 3:00, so I'm writing this at a roadside stop while Linda is at church, and then it's on to Joseph, probably. So we'll end up driving as much as if we went to Boise, afterall.

Tomorrow (Monday) we'll visit as many bookstores as we can find, and check out the Baker City and LaGrande downtowns. Maybe, if the Grande is super cool, we'll stay another night. Or head back and take it easy on Tuesday.

Promised Linda I would't run down the battery on her laptop, so that's it for now.