Oregon Trail (7.5.25)

Jonny's family, as well as Dave and I, dashed north as soon as we welcomed Sophie home on July 4.  We stayed the night in Boise and then, on June 5, 2025,  trailed each other northwest through Idaho to the Columbia River Gorge, and on to Manzanita, on the Oregon coast.  During our drive, we made a rest stop in Pendleton, Oregon, and visited the factory store for Pendleton Woolen Mills.  Jonny tried on a wool, Native American pattern coat.  Jenny was obviously impressed!

Sam checked out the huge collection of Western clothes and blankets.

These striped blankets, based on the Hudson Bay blankets that the early fur trappers used themselves and traded with Native Americans, brought back memories to me. My father loved wool blankets, and we had Hudson Bay style blankets at our house, as well as piles of Scottish tartan blankets.

Henry joined me in watching a video about how many Pendleton blankets are still designed by Native American artists.

Pendleton is a quaint Western town with an old time Main Street and bronze statues of community heroes.

Dave and I had lunch with Jonny's family at Sisters, a local cafe.

Our next rest stop was to be at Multnomah Falls, outside Portland.  We discovered that we had to buy timed entry tickets to walk near the falls, and they were all sold out for the day.  My photo, taken from a distance, catches the idea, anyway! Another time.

When we arrived at Manzanita, Mike and Heidi were already there, with Audrey and Calder.  Mike, who was in charge of accommodations, showed Dave and me our room.  The house was exactly what we needed for the reunion--bedrooms for Dave and me, Mike and Heidi, and Jonny and Jenny, a bunk room in the basement for Sam, Henry and Thomas, and a big kitchen and family room.  Lisa's family and Camille's family each had separate houses. Thank you, Mike!

We were greeted by this cute girl, already in her pajamas, but still ready to have a dish of ice cream and start the party.