Oregon Trail and Vintage RVs

Conestoga Wagons

Yesterday we traveled backward - going east on Interstate 84 towards Baker City (not far from Idaho border) where the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located.  Since we had visited the National Interpretive Trail Center in Casper, Wyoming a couple of summers ago and learned about the Mormon, the California, and the Oregon Trails and also the Pony Express where they all passed through Casper and from there broke off into different destinations - wanted to see the Oregon portion of the trails and learn what we can.

The Wow factor was not there because we were so impressed with the National center in Casper - nothing could compare to that center.  Was  impressive in it's own right, tremendous actual documentation of pictures and journal entries of those who trekked the road, very nicely done. As Dave said later - what a sad story for so many trying to get to Oregon, the hardships they faced and the deaths of so many people and livestock.  Every 80 yards was a grave.  Accidents, Indian attacks, rattlesnakes, starvation, those that turned back, those that got lost, criminal activity, and the list goes on as to how so many lost their lives on the 2,000 mile trek between Omaha and the Willamette Valley of Oregon to a better life in Oregon.  There are only chancy estimates of how many took this trail from 1812 to the1870's - anywhere from 200,000 to 600,000!

On the way back from Baker City, crossed through the Blue Mountains - pretty, reminded us of the Smoky Mountains back east.  Stopped at the Emigrant Springs State Park where there were markers and interpretive signs regarding the Oregon Trail.  Pretty little park. Ironic that I am reading a book about the Astor Fur Company and talks about the mountain men passing through this area.   We learned at this park of an Ezra Meeker who as a young adult traveled the Oregon trail in 1852 seeking a better life, and then between 1906 and 1908 he traveled the trail again to dedicate it and set markers along it to commemorate the route.  He retraced the route again in 1910, the again in 1916. He was instrumental in getting Congress and the President to dedicate this Historic Trail in 1923. He rode the trail again in a biplane in 1925 and was planning another trek in 1928 when he passed away (at age 97).  Now that's a wow!

Vintage RVs

At our campground last evening we got a really big kick out of some vintage RVs that came in - 9 of them - and I had to be nosy and went over and chatted with one woman.  Sisters On The Fly is a name of an organization that is for women only, rules are no husbands, no pets, no kids, and to be nice - to camp and have camaraderie with other women.  Can bend the rules and not have a vintage RV, but those were so cute - if I ever did this, I would have a vintage RV like these sisters.  How adorable - each were named and there was a theme with each - for example: one was the "disorientated express" and was in railroad motif.  Another was called Gypsy Rose and had roses as it's theme.  Another was Eggroll and looked like an eggroll and decorated as such.