Wallowa Lake and 2016 NROA Rally Trip

This is a trip we have done for the last three years.  We meet friends at Wallowa Lake near Joseph, OR prior to the Northwood RV Owners Association for a few days to a week.  This year we are spending 11 nights at Park at the River near Wallowa Lake.

We left on June 8th and traveled to Winnemucca, NV for the night and proceeded on to La Grande, OR the next day.  At Baker, OR we took a side trip to the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center just east of there.  It is located on top of a hill overlooking the valley.

When I was still working I used to drive by the site on my way to call on a customer.  There was a huge building being constructed on top of a hill that could be seen for miles.  I couldn't guess what it was for.  So on one trip I drove up to it and a sign indicated it was going to be the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.

I have been by it many times but didn't have the time to go actually see it.  Two years ago at the Rally there was a tour to it that Linda went on but I didn't go.

Looking out on the valley you can see the wagon wheel ruts made by the wagons on their way into Oregon.

After spending the night at Grande Hot Springs RV Resort (formerly called Eagle Hot Lake RV Park) we went to Thunder RV to take care of a couple maintenance items.  That only took took about an hour and we were on our way to the lake.

Some views behind our campsite of the Wallowa River.  The building is an RV Park room for meetings and gatherings.  Last year there was a wedding near the river and the reception held in the cabin.

Sadie likes the area.

Our first night we went across the road to Vali's Restaurant for chicken pot pie.  It was fantastic.  They only serve one menu item each night and on Saturday and Sunday mornings they make doughnuts and pastries which are also great.

On Thursday nights they serve Chicken Paprika with Spatzle which we had last year and it was delicious.  When I asked about it Mike, the owner and chef, came out with a plate with a few spatzle and some sauce on it when he brought everyone else's meal.  Then he brought my chicken pot pie.  Before we left he handed me a takeout box that was filled with spatzle and sauce.

Saturday was the quilt show and downtown a car show.  The ladies did the quilt show and the men checked out the cars.  These are two of  Linda's favorite quilts from the show.

The ladies joined us for lunch and along the way we spotted a pickup with four Border Collies, pups to adults.  We couldn't pass up petting and talking to their owner.

Some views around the lake.

Resting from serious shopping in Joseph,

Pauline cutting blocks in the meeting room.

Sheryll working on her project

Pauline starting a new quilt

Linda with a quilt she is making for a granddaughter.

It had been cloudy with rain on and off most of Tuesday then cleared before we went to dinner.   As you can see, it wasn't raining up on the mountains which are up to 10,000' high.

We had dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Joseph called La Laguna.  Maybe the waiter is Linda's new boyfriend.  Of course he hugged and sang to each of the ladies.

The weather has been cold with showers on and off but by the weekend it is supposed to be sunny and warm.