Yakima, Washington to Pendleton, Oregon - August 13

We began this morning with cold, fresh peaches we bought yesterday in the Wenatchee Valley – what a peachy way to begin one’s day.  We’re starting our way back to Boise heading southeast on Interstate 82 out of Yakima.  Only we decided to take back roads as I usually try to avoid Interstates when I can.  We started on the Yakima Valley Avenue which took us through small rural towns and orchards galore.  The Yakima Valley is a wide, fertile expanse of apples, peaches, apricots, cherries, grapes, corn and many other crops, some we did not recognize.  Many famous vineyards are located here such as Hogue and Columbia Crest.  

Eventually we hooked up to the Interstate highway and passed Richland (where atomic weapons are manufactured) and Pasco on our way to Walla Walla.  We followed the Yakima River most of the morning then crossed the point where the Snake River empties into the Columbia River and where Lewis and Clark journeyed in the early 1800s.  

Near Walla Walla we stopped to see the remains of the Whitman Mission, created by Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife Narcissa in 1835 on the Oregon Trail.  The intention was to civilize the Cayuse Indians but in 11 years they wiped out half the tribe with measles.  In 1847 a group of Cayuse attacked the mission and killed most of the palefaces.  

We stopped in the pretty town of Walla Walla and had lunch at the Backstage Bistro.  Rita enjoyed her Fat Tire ale while I tried a Ninkasi (Eugene, Oregon) IPA ale which tasted good in the heat.  We saw temperatures climb to 106 on our car thermometer today.  After lunch we walked around the town reading historical markers and enjoying the tidy town.  There are many wineries in this area as well.

We continued south, crossing into Oregon, and arriving at Pendleton where we had reservations for the night.  First we visited the famous Pendleton Wool Mills then headed into downtown where we had a big delicious dinner at the Hamley Steakhouse.  Hamley and Company started making custom saddles in 1883 and moved to Pendleton in 1905.  Recently they opened up a beautiful western saloon and steakhouse which is the pride of Pendleton.  I had a delicious prime rib while Rita had pasta (and some of my steak and baked potato) and we each had a glass of local Walla Walla wines.  After dinner we walked around town and found the Working Girls Hotel, an old brothel still used as a B&B today.

Back to Boise tomorrow.