From Arlington to Pendleton.

We are going to leave in the morning but first a trip to Condon, Oregon.

Of course if there is a way to Condon that isn't a paved road we will take it every time. I have been in Arlington three days and already washed the car twice.

The off the path gravel roads always seem to offer more highlights than an interstate.

A stop for lunch and some birdwatching here sure beats a highway rest stop.

Wheat, wind generators and solitude...what's not to like.

Condon, a small farming town was sprucing up for a wild 4th of July party.

I sat outside of the soda shop with a latte watching some young men sweeping the street for the upcoming parade. (quite the farmer tan, eh)

This guy was pretty friendly while sweeping. I did notice he had a tear drop tattooed outside one eye...my understanding is that it means he is a "bad" guy. Donna confirmed so much when came out of the store from shopping and told me the clerk said they are local convicts cleaning the streets.

The Hotel Condon is a National Historic Landmark that is in beautiful working condition.

Time for a little foot soaking in the Columbia before starting off to Pendleton in the morning. Missy and Benji were embarrassed at my Birkenstock foot tan lines.

While our stay at the Casino RV park just east of town is nothing to shout about, our first stop after hooking up was to go downtown and visit the Hamley & Co. You want western wear? They have that plus saddles, harnesses, blankets, boots, jean, shirts and just about anything else to make you look like the dude in "Saturday Night Fever"!

After two previous stops in Pendleton, this is the first time we stopped at The Hamley Cafe for lunch. Our Chicken salad wrap was ok, but nothing to shout about.

I have to say that the cafe looked great from the upstairs tables.

It's kind of funny that most businesses are closed on this hot Sunday. We stopped at the downtown True-Value Hardware store because it was open and Donna loves going into "old" hardware stores probably because she knows more about the hardware than I do. I asked the owner where everyone was and his reply was there wasn't much business on Sundays and he only opened the door from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. I didn't have the heart to even question that move.

It's nearly impossible to visit Pendleton without going to the Pendleton Woolen Mills. My last visit ended in disaster when I went to buy one of their shirts and found it was made in China, but the girl assured me the cloth was woven here...

I do know the blankets are "all" American made and I told Donna that a little color on our cream leather couch would be nice...and we'd be buying American products. We almost gave up looking through all the merchandise until I spotted just what I wanted.

Here's our American heirloom, I like it. Donna wants to know what gives with the sign saying Portland...I assume that is where the corporate offices are.

Benji and Missy approve of the added color.