Oregon - day 4

Day 4! I awoke to snow falling gently on the mountain at the Cornucopia Lodge. Kaitlin, again, made an amazing meal for breakfast... these things called ebelskivers. They were so good. I definatly overstuffed myself. But hey, when does anyone ever get to eat homemade ebelskivers on an isolated mountain made by a great chef? Yeah, see... 

So we ate, I packed and got my things ready but we decided to play around in the snow and get some more photos before I left. So we did.... all on my phone tho. haha I didn't want to bring my Nikon outside while it was snowing. So yeah. Just imagine that perfect kind of quiet that snow brings, plus more because you're on an isolated mountain. It was good. 

But, it was time to go to my next destination... La Grande. So off I went! I headed back the way I came from and drove by the Oregon Trail ruts again, so I stopped because the weather had been so nice, it had been raining and the clouds were big and fluffy.

Also decided this was another good opportunity to take a photo of another cool product made in Oregon - ShwoodShop Eyewear - These frames are the "Belmont" in Zebrawood. Most of their frames are made from sustainable wood and have Zeiss lenses in them... they are awesome. & hey, I would freakin know! Im an optician! These sunglasses are awesome. I actually really think people should own a pair of their own. They are very VERY cool.

I continued to my destination... La Grande. It was waiting for me. This is the view to my left when I first got there, and then to my right it was all blue with white fluffy clouds and it was sorta raining somehow which didn't make sense to me but I liked it because it was total magic and whimsy. 

I met up with three really wonderful gals, Alice Trindle, who is the executive director of the Eastern Oregon Visitors Association as well as an incredibly welcoming and friendly person, I liked her a lot and I actually want to go back and tour more with her because she's so dang nice! Haha!; Anita Metlin who is apart of North East Oregon Cycle, she is incredibly passionate about bike tourism and the economic  development it can (& will & does) bring to her home zone; & last but not least, Kristen Dollarhide who is the Executive Director at the Union County Chamber of Commerce as well as one of the funnest people I've ever hung out with maybe ever, we became fast friends. We all had lunch, and discussed the bicycle scene in Oregon. I really have no idea about bicycling, but what they told me made it sound quite amazing (&fun). Oregon is one of the most bike-friendly places on earth and home to an endless network of highways and backroads. Oregon is also the only state with official Scenic Bikeways. (they were also the first to pass a Bicycle Bill in 1971!) You can visit RideOregonRide.com to check out all the information you might need to plan and state your own cycling adventure! I really want to help Anita build on the North East Oregon cycling scene guys! I am in love with that area and I loved driving through that entire zone in my car... just imagine on a bike. OMG.

After lunch and talking we said goodbye to Anita and the rest of us headed over the the most adorable museum ever. The Union County Museum - it is filled to the brim with amazing artifacts, information and memories. I loved looking at everything, the history is SO rich in Eastern Oregon. 

I got zero photos of the things I just went over because I was so engulfed in what was going on I totally forgot about my camera. Just go see for yourself, duh. 

After the cute amazing museum, Kristen and I headed over the Ladd Marshes. The Ladd Marshes are incredible. I saw so many different types of birds and the weather was just... yeah. More than 200 species of birds, 40 species of mammals and 10 species of reptiles and amphibians live permanently or visit during migrations. Its truly beautiful! These photos here are of a bird... I can't remember the name of it. I don't know how we managed to see these birds, but alas there they were. Super cool and pretty big. (you can probably zoom in and see them better if you want) and then they started walking, so I had to get out of the car and take another photo cause they were doing some weird dip thing with their necks and flapping their wings, I couldn't react fast enough because I was too busy watching with my own eyes haha. The field was pretty big too so it was hard to find them again after they walked for a while haha.

Then we made a quick pit stop... At Hot Lake Springs. This place was SO awesome and also just so bizarre to me for some reason. I can't even put it into words. Its just so old and the history here is apparent just by standing there. You don't even need to know the actual history, you just stand in that space and know its got stories. Theres a bath house outside right over and next to the hot springs and right by the lake, thats the first thing you want to look at even tho there's a giant building in front of you, mostly because of the steam constantly rising from the hot springs. But go to the website and read the history timeline, it's totally cool. We took a tour inside quickly, and OH myyyy... Its so weird you guys!!! I loved it!!! Super old everything and medical equipment left there from long long long ago, you get an eerie feeling being inside the building but you can't stop because you HAVE to see more. I took no photos of the inside, because you need to go see for yourself. These are some photos from around the property - 

and, I wanted to get the whole building of Hot Lake, but I wanted to keep it as old school as possible, with out the influence of anything new. So I just shot halfway up the building and beyond instead. Giving it a certain appeal. The building is huge, but like I said, I didn't really want any new items being in the photo - like cars or new hand railings or anything. It's all very well put together considering how old it is tho, I just felt that I didn't want to feature the bottom portion haha. I loved it tho, you can actually rent a room and stay over night! *if you're daring... I personally am too big of a wimp to do it!!! Kristen said "what if we had booked you to stay here overnight?" I said "I would have slept outside." hahahaha. 

After our quick tour, we went to see some more of the Ladd Marshes (Hot Lake is located within the Marshes) before the storm came in - we went just in time! 

Amazing. Amazing!! I loved this fun weather we got, it made the experience more fun to me. But, that was the end of the touring. Now it was time for Kristen and I to go get a bite to eat and relax for a while. She is so funny and so much fun to talk to. She is so full of energy and positivity I'm really glad I'm able to call her my friend now. We had a really fun night together in sweet little La Grande! But, my trip was winding down! While I was in La Grande I was staying at this house called "The Washington House" - all to myself! I wish I had had more time to spend there; it was so cute and the furnishings were so nice. But every time it was time for me to head back to where I was staying, I was always way too tired to even take photos or take advantage of the awesome space I had! Oh well, next time right? That wraps up day #4... almost done guys! *sad face* haha

OREGON

Where the heck do I even start?

I suppose, from the beginning. 

Months ago I got an email asking if I wanted to go to Oregon. I thought it was a joke. Who ME? No one asks ME to go somewhere or do things. I don't have a million followers on Instagram... I'm not someone in the spotlight... my mind didn't know what to think. But I jumped on the opportunity. Who the heck wonders about HOW when its already been established?! So it begins... my journey toward Oregon. 

The Wallowas. 

Travel Oregon - they picked me to go to the Wallowas. I hadn't even heard of this place. I googled it, and saw the images and was astounded. They wanted me to go to this magnificent place? They wanted to send me there and adorn me with Oregons best? Sold. Out of the 7 Wonders of Oregon, they wanted to send me to the place that makes the most sense to me? That's called fate.

I began my adventure to Oregon. 

I woke up that day, April 1st. I was waiting for the "april fools sucker!" call or something. But it never came, so I ran to the airport & boarded first class onto Alaska Airlines and hopped on over to Joseph, Oregon.


Wait, it wasn't a hop. Let me be real here, it was a grand drive into the little town of Joseph - cozily nestled at the base of the Wallowas. I drove down Rattlesnake canyon, in my cute little Ford Escape. I zipped around corners and my eyes could barely keep up with the scenes. 

I stopped at Chief Joseph Canyon viewpoint  -

Saw the area where the Nez Perce spent their winters - at the bottom of a canyon by the river. It was pretty exciting to me, knowing this was an area where a group of people lived and survived - for thousands of years. Seeing it then, was mixed. They aren't there anymore. They were not down by that river, surviving the winter. I was sure to take a few photos while I had some moments to myself with the cold wind blowing & birds drifting on the wind above me. Wondering if the quiet moments like the one I was having, was something they experienced often during the winters there. 

I continued on toward Joseph.

I saw elk along the way. Some buffalo. I rolled into town just as the sun was fading into the west, I saw the cute town just before dark. I made it to my new bed for the night: The Bronze Antler. It's an incredible B&B with a view of the Wallowas. I was floored when I saw my room. I stayed in the Mirror Lake room. I felt like I had been living under a rock my entire life, the room was decked out with the best of the best. The bathtub. Oh me oh my. It was sensational. I speak highly of this place and I seriously recommend it to EVERYONE. GET THIS ROOM! Spoil yourself. No joke, its absolutely worth it. I could have spent my entire trip in that room. YUM.

There was a big ol' duffle bag waiting for me in the room as well. FOR MEEEE?!?! I opened it. Yeah, I jumped up and down and spun around in circles and muffled my own shrieks of joy. I ripped it all out and quickly scanned over it all. I didn't know what to touch first. So I grabbed the box. OH YEAH, the box of brand new Danner boots in my size, BRB OMG. I threw them on because I had to go get some dinner before places closed for the night. So comfy. Warm, cozy, squishy, badass. I looked at myself in the mirror and was like "yes". 

I waited to twirl around holding the other items in the bag until after I got back from dinner.

I went down to get some sustenance at Embers Brew House. Got some pizza & a local brew from Barley Browns Brewery, I think it was a Vanilla stout. T'was amazing. I could have cried when I took the first bite of my pizza. Like, food this good after seeing the most lavish room just for me? Someone pinch me. NO DON'T. 

Afterwards, I decided to go to the Stubborn Mule - my hosts at the Bronze Antler told me I should check it out, its a local pub they said. So I did, got another local brew. Sat on my own and watched the locals play pool & talk. I could tell I was an obvious outsider - even with out them looking at me like "a blonde girl in a leather jacket... what is this?" but I sat and sipped. Then a girl came over and sat right down across from me. Abbie! I made a new friend within minutes! Who knew? Clearly this girl was intimidated by me, which was great. Because from what people tell me, I am intimidating. *I do not agree with this, but what do I know I'm not sitting across from me* She was super nice, and knew I wasn't from the area. She asked about me, I asked about her. Soon her friends trickled over. A few guys in tight wrangler jeans and plaid button ups. Well hello there. It was fun being involved in their conversations. I am so glad I met them.

I went back to the Bronze Antler, I flipped on the water and let it fill up with warm inviting water. I am not much of a bath person - but how exactly are you gonna refuse to use a giant amazing bathtub that has lights that change color and jets & all that? Thats right, you can't refuse. I almost fell asleep in that tub. I slowly dragged myself out & over to my enormous bed. PLOP - SEE YA! 

I woke up and got my things together. & then cautiously entered the shower. It could have been a time machine for all I knew! But alas, it was not. Thank god. Because that shower was fantastic. Water came from all over the place you guys! I was giggling and getting all ridiculous turning the knobs over and over again. Oh and listening to the radio inside the shower & trying to decide which color light I liked best. Yeah, I KNOW. I finally made it out & pulled it together in time to meet my new friend Joe for breakfast upstairs. Heather (the owner of Bronze Antler) made us delicious food and woowwww she's good.

But hey, that means its a new day. You only get one day per blog post! See ya later for the next one ;) It gets better, trust me...