This stretch of I84 was very scenic with a 7 mile 7% grade with not one, but three warnings! It was very hazy, so I wasn't able to get any good photos of the panoramic views of the farmlands stretching away as far as you could see to the horizons in three directions.
Next stop was an Oregon Trail Interpretive Center three miles off I84 with a nice walk through cool and fragrant pine trees to the ridge where the Oregon Trail passed. They had a reproduction of a covered wagon and few storyboards that documented the rough passage through the Blue Mountains the travelers endured. It was a great place to have lunch and short nap.
Next up was an Indian museum just west of Pendleton called Tamastslikt Cultural Institute. We thought it would have been a quick 15 minute stop, but it was a huge building and we spent over an hour exploring the many exhibits and short films learning about the Umatilla, Cayuse and Walla Walla Tribes of the area. No photos were allowed inside, but we could take pictures of the outside exhibits of traditional teepees and sweat lodges.
A mile or so away was a nice-looking casino with a high rise hotel and an RV park that were all filled with cars and RVs. This area has an upscale, successful look compared to the downtrodden Indian reservations we had seen in South Dakota. The museum told the story of how they were cheated out of their lands and their way of life, but the emphasis was on the many successes they have had in bringing back the water that had been stolen and starting a salmon hatchery. They are actively teaching language and traditional culture to the young people, instilling pride in their heritage. Very impressive story.
We tried to visit the famous Pendleton woolen mills, but we missed the last tour of the day, so we continued on to our campground 1/2 hour west. Nice park with paved sites. Still warm here with 80 degrees at 10pm. It is dry, so we were able to open the windows and put on the fan and be comfortable.
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