Pendleton, Oregon
Pendleton, Oregon - Another wonderful day
on the Reservation. We started the day with 18 holes of golf at the
Wild Horse Golf Club. The weather was just perfect for golf and we had a
lot of fun on the course. Play was a bit slow, so I was able to take a few
photos. There are several families of American Coots raising babies in the
ponds on the golf course. We also saw wrens, yellow-headed blackbirds, geese
and, yuck, starlings. I didn't do too well on the front nine, but rallied to
a decent score on the back holes. DT complained, but played very well.
Wild Horse Golf Course
After golf, we went to the
Tamastslikt Cultural
Institute. We have visited many Native American museums, and this is not
up there on our list of the top ten, yet it was still nice. The collection
of artifacts was impressive. The tribes are especially skilled at basket
weaving and beading, and the examples on display are stunning. The building
itself is fabulous. So why isn't this a great museum? No signage. Little
explanation. What tags that do exist only state who donated the item. Weird.
Beautiful things to look at, but it would be nice to know what you are
seeing, especially when the item is a photo. Who is it? When was it taken?
Still, I would advise taking children here, as inside is an entire long
house! The "theme" of the displays attempts to explain Native life before
and after the "Westward Migration", and how the tribe is surviving now and
striving for a rich future.
After this non-memorable Mexican meal at a non-memorable Mexican restaurant,
we drove over to the
Pendleton Roundup
Rodeo Grounds. The 92-year-old Roundup is now only one of two (of 820)
national rodeo grounds with a grass arena. In September, 70,000 people will
come to Pendleton, which usually has a population of 15,000. Besides seven
major PRCA events there is a parade, a nightly pageant, women's barrel
racing, Indian celebrations, concerts, barbeques, crafts, food and of
course, all the excitement of the Rodeo Queen! Tonight, as we were wandering
around the grounds, we stopped to talk to two riders, and their dog, ovaling
the rodeo arena. Turns out Steve Corey is the present president of the Rodeo
Association! How is our luck? Steve, and his wife Susan, told us so much
about the rodeo and encouraged us to attend. He told DT where they hold the
events. (DT really likes watching Bull Riding. Don't ask.) The President was
at the arena to attend to the Rodeo Princess and her court, and their
parents, who were getting ready to head over to the St. Paul (Oregon) Rodeo
tomorrow to represent The Pendleton Roundup. I have no idea why they were on
horse back... maybe their car was in the shop? They were a very nice couple
and it was a pleasure to meet them. (NOTE: We later learned Steve Corey was
George Bush's (the second) college roommate at Yale.)
The King of the Rodeo, with his Queen... their dog... and their horses at
the Pendleton Roundup Arena
It was getting dark and time to head back to the campsite.
When we arrived back, there was a beautiful sunset - a fitting tribute for
our last night on the road. Yes, we will be home tomorrow. What a nice trip
- track & field, family, National Parks, snow, volcanic craters, golf,
lakes, mountains, art and so much history.
Umatilla Reservation Sunset
Added the next day: We are home now! Until
my next adventure, I remain, your Cowgirl Correspondent.