Oregon

Halfway

We camped near Halfway on the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway.

We had the camp to ourselves. 

At dusk the mule deer came out.

Next to the camp is an unusual structure. It is a Wigwam burner, used for burning scrap timber from the Ellingson Timber mills.

I walked up to investigate and heard loud noises so I gingerly approached an opening when a mule deer sprang out in full flight. It scared the s**t out of me.

Inside apart from the deer there were several barn owls.

Hells Canyon

Hells Canyon is the deepest canyon in north America and one of the deepest canyons on earth.
It is deeper than the Grand Canyon. 8000 ft above Snake River compared to the Grand Canyon 6000 ft above the Colorado River.
I must add that it is no where near as spectacular as The Grand Canyon.

Unlike the Grand Canyon a road takes you down to Snake River then follows the river to Hells Canyon Dam.

Elgin

Elgin Stampede

The ladies barrel race.

I love the rodeo's, especially the bull riding.

Enterprise

We arrived at Enterprise per chance on the day of their Soap Box Derby.

Enterprise is a charming middle class town.

Town square.

Main St. Motors put on a car show along with food and giveaways.

The locals put their classic cars on show.

The day was all about the Soap Box Derby.

 Lots of work went in to the carts.

It was on for young and old.

Some in it for fun.

Some were out to win.

Joseph

Joseph is a spectacular gem of a town we decided to visit.

Referred to as "Little Switzerland of America"

It is nestled in a valley amongst the Wallowa mountain ranges and at one end of Lake Wallowa. 

The crystal clear waters of Lake Wallowa.

Joseph is an "arty" town with plenty of galleries and a fantastic collection of bronze statues adorning the streets.

The bronzes are manufactured in the the Valley Bronze foundry.

We did the Valley Bronze foundry tour.

Now I know where the bronze eagle in the town square of Enterprise came from.

Pendleton

Pendleton Underground Tour 

The Pendleton Underground Tour is a tour of Pendleton's red light district. The illicit businesses were driven underground in a series of tunnels built by the Chinese directly under the city. The tours subject matter is about gambling, bootlegging and prostitution over 100 years ago. It includes the Cozy Rooms Bordello, gambling rooms, bars, Chinese jails and an Opium Den. 

The tour guide at one of the bars.

(Mannequin on the bar)

Gambling den with mannequins.

Opium den.

Butcher shop. 

One of the legal underground businesses. 

The legitimate businesses often had hidden doors leading to the illegitimate  businesses.

The business owners had an extensive signal operation warning of impending police raids.

Opium den.

One of the rooms in the Cozy Rooms Bordello.