JOSEPH TO THE DALLES

We had wanted to spend time around Wallowa Lake but as the weather was not good and the Dodge was dodgy again (see later) we left early next morning and stopped for photo shoots in Joseph. With its spectacular backdrop of snow-capped mountains, sadly clothed in cloud, we walked the Main Street with its bronze sculptures of cowboys, animals and of course Chief Joseph, the Nez Perce leader.

WALLAWA LAKE - OLD CHIEF JOSEPHS GRAVE

WALLAWA LAKE

STATUES IN JOSEPH

CHIEF JOSEPH

QUOTES MADE BY CHIEF JOSPEH

 Wallowa Lake area was originally the home of the Nez Perce tribe until 1877 they were told by US Government to leave this beautiful area or be driven out by force.

We took the high road over the Blue Mountains then it was downhill all the way to the Columbia Gorge. We started the day at 3oC and ended at 24oC – you certainly need a variety of clothes in the States!

IN JOSEPH

NO ROY! WE CANNOT GET OVER THIS ROAD!

COLUMBIA RIVER

What an eventful day Wednesday 7^th May turned out to be.

The Dodge was fixed a week ago but had developed a noise, Roy spoke to man and he suggested we call in to a garage and ask them to listen, we did this in Pendleton (famous for the Pendleton rugs) and he suggested we put some additive in, Roy checked back with the company that did the job and they said fine. The sqeaking noise disappeared, however after about 80 miles as we were happily driving along the Columbia Gorge a dreadful noise appeared, we pulled off the I-84 and the axle was red hot. Phoned the man again and he said let me know when you get to the campsite. It was 11 miles away but we had to drive at 20 m.p.h to stop the noise happening – seemed to take forever but we made it to the campsite. The man had arranged for the vehicle to be picked up next morning and taken back to Bend! So we were stranded at the site at the side of the interstate. Typical – this was the only site with no hiking trails, still got lots of cleaning and sorting done.