Union Crk USFS CG, Phillips Reservoir, OR
When I exited Mount Ranier National Park I stopped at the Little Naches Campground. While walking to the nearest outhouse I noticed something I don't recall seeing in 53 years of fishing & backpacking in the mountains of California: a carpenter's ant nest on the ground rather than in a downed tree.
Zooming in, it appears some of the carpenter ants have reddish body parts. While I've thrown many of them out of my sleepings bags over the year, on awarm autumn night one wandered onto my eyelid while I was sleeping. When I opened my eye it trapped him in the folds -- and he clamped down with both jaws. After throwing him into the darkness followed by a few invectives, the lid he bit began to hurt almost immediately. Two applications of water didn't stop the pain; however, some Old Grandad did. [So, instead of calling it snake-bite medicine, call it proven ant-bite medicine. :-)>]
A veiw down the Little Naches River at the WA410 bridge. A sign nearby warned visitors not to harrass the spawning chinook salmon.
A look up the Columbia River at the seaport of Pasco and the girders of a bridge from Kennewick to Pasco from the edge of Sacajawea State Park.
Turning left, here's a photo of the wind turbines which likely provide power of Richfield.
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Driving from Walla Walla, Washington, into Oregon, I headed for Pendleton, where distant cousin Richard "Dick" Lemmon lives. [I call all cousins who are not 1st cousins distant cousins -- saves time.] Once there, we talked principally about our respective branches of the Lemmon family and were joined by Dick's daughter Diana as well as his wife Dona. Dona maintains an excellent genealogy scrapbook.
They invited me to stay for dinner, which was excellent -- expecially the fresh strawberries, something I have eschewed for some time in order to pay for gas. After checking e-mail using my laptop at McDonalds, I spent the night behind the Pendleton Walmart.
I thought the country near Pendleton was going to be like that near Pullman, WA, and Moscow, ID: wheat country. But, as Dick had told me, the Blue Mountains are south of Pendleton on the way to La Grande.
This first shot looks from a Vista Point on the climb out of the Umatilla River back toward Pendleton and SE Washington. The dark green across he center of the photos is from the many trees planted by Pendleton residents as well as trees growing along the Umatilla.
Panning left...we see wheat fields; in the foreground: blue lupins.
Panning left again....
A birds-eye view of a farmer or rancher who clearly has his own water.
Near the town of Perry, the modern version of an earlier concrete span which bridged both the railroad and the Grande Ronde River.
A plaque explaining the importance of US30 not only to NE Oregon but also to the Columbia River Gorge. [Click once to enlarge; pres ESC to return here.]
Since it was raining I rolled down my window and took this photo of a plaque explaining "Historic La Grande." As you can see, the original town was on the Oregon. Now the larger town is near the primary Interstate (84) to Boise, Idaho's capitol and largest city.
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Our next-door neighbor for 33 years on Van Ness Avenue in Santa Cruz, California, was Jeannette Wheatley Rowland, who grew up in La Grande and taught girls PE at the high school there after her graduation from the University of Oregon.
Here's an obituary for her mother, Christina Purvis McLaren Wheatley and an article and death certificate extraction which outlines the death of her father, William Lawrence Wheatley. Both died accidental deaths.
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Christina Purvis McLaren WHEATLEY
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Obituary
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Monday 6 March 1933 La Grande Even Observer, Page One
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Fall Fatal To Mrs. Wheatley; Dies Saturday
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La Grande Woman of Advanced Years Will Be Buried Tomorrow After Service at 3:30 p.m.
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Mrs. Christina Purvis Wheatley, of 2010 Adams avenue, who suffered serious injuries a week ago Sunday morning when she fell on her way to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she was a member, died at the Grande Ronde hospital Saturday night. Death was caused by a broken pelvis and the shock. With her advanced years she was unable to rally.
Funeral services will be held at the Snodgrass and Zimmerman mortuary Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., with Rev. W.H. Hertzog in charge. She will be buried in the family plot in the Masonic cemetery.
Mrs. Wheatley was born in Glasgow, Scotland, March 12, 1858, and was 74 years, 11 months and 20 days of age. She had lived in La Grande for the last 28 years and had a host of friends in this locality. She is survived by her widowed husband, William L. Wheatley; the following children, Mrs. Elizabeth Harris, of Marshfield, Ore; Mrs. Jeanette Rowland, of Santa Cruz, Cal.; Scott Wheatley, of Ashland, Ore.; Mrs. Christiana Duncan and Mrs. Miriam Ott, of La Grande; the following brothers and sisters, Mrs. Frank Emerson, of Cleveland, O.; Arthur McLaren, of Victoria, B.C.; Alexander McLaren, of Hollywood, Cal.; Miss Grisell McLaren of Claremont, Cal., and other relatives.
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William Lawrence WHEATLEY
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Article
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Saturday 4 May 1940 Baker Democrat Herald, Page One
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La Grande Man Is Killed By Train
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LA GRANDE, May 4--(AP)-- W.L. Wheatley's luck ran out the second time his car stalled on a Union Pacific grade crossing here.
He was killed instantly as a passenger train struck the vehicle. Last fall his car stalled at the same crossing and was struck by a locomotive, but he escaped serious injury.
Officers said he was hard of hearing. He was a resident of La Grande.
[Source #1]
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Abstract of Union County Death Certificate #49
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Place of Death: 4 mi east of LaGrande, Oregon (at RR crossing)
Date of Death: Abt 4:30 p.m. 3 May 1940
Cause: Hit by train while driving car crushing skull; poor vision on part of driver.
Burial: 7 May 1940, Masonic Cemetery, La Grande, Ore.
[Source #2]
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Sources:
1. Saturday 4 May 1940 Baker Democrat Herald, Page One
2. Union County Death Certificate #49 dated 7 May 1940
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Links:
- Wikipedia article on the Tri-Cities Area of Washington
- Wikipedia article on Pendleton, OR
- History of La Grande, OR
- Van Ness Neighbors pages for William L. and Christina Wheatley
M 25 Jun Actual Route: Union CG - Sumpter - John Day - Grant County Fairgrounds RV Park
T 26 Jun Actual Route: Grant County Fairgrounds RV Park - John Day - Seneca - Idlewild USFS CG
W 27 Jun Route: Idlewild CG - Burns Lib - Burns P.O.
Finding Campgrounds:
- RV Campgrounds from TrailerLifeDirectory.com
- Family Camping Directories from Woodalls.com
- Free campsites website
- Info on finding BLM Campgrounds
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