Everything is fully charged so we decide to head out – a bit reluctantly. We really like Pendleton. It has proven to be very friendly. The energy is comfortable. The difference between Pendleton and Idaho City is amazing. We didn’t care to hang around Idaho City at all and could linger in Pendleton even longer. There isn’t a burgeoning growth but a feeling of being very settled and content with minimal growth.  It is an old town with beautiful old houses and buildings, simple plain houses,  nice stores, and a bustling downtown all emitting an easy, friendly, and happy energy.

Climbing back into the bus, we are surprised at the temperature! The day has warmed up while we were enjoying our visit at Starbucks. Inside our camper is about 120’ after being closed up so long.  Once on the road, though, with the wind blowing through the open windows, it cools off to about 105’—still pretty hot in a VW Camper Bus with only open windows for air conditioning!  So much for needing a blanket–and here we are with our new Pendleton Woolen Mills specialty. Oh well, it is still a great souvenir!

Heading west, we drive through the dry land farming area around Pendleton. The heat of the day makes this all look hotter and dryer and more endless than it probably is.

Dropping down another hill into the Umatilla area, we are out of the dry land farming and into the irrigated farms.  Also along here is the Army Depot where munitions are stored underground in mounds covered with earth. It looks like earthen hay stacks.