Pendleton Round-Up arena, local history, picnic in the park

Changes are if you don't have your tickets already for the 2011 Pendleton Round-Up, 
Sept. 14-17, you are flat out of luck. Loyal fans grab up tickets months in advance.

However, if you want tickets and feel lucky, call the Round-Up office at 1-800-457-6336. On occasion folks will return tickets they don't plan to use.

Whether you attend the Round-Up or not, one free short stop you can make if you are traveling through Pendleton, Ore., is for a picnic lunch in the Roy Raley City Park, next door to the arena.

After eating, mosey on over for a peek inside the fabled rodeo grounds and imagine the excitement of bucking broncos and roar of the crowd.

Pendleton Round-Up Grounds:
1205 SW Court Ave.

Pendleton, Ore. (view map)

Immediately across the street from the arena is an Albertson's grocery store. This is a convenient place to park an RV for a brief time (and maybe a little picnic grocery shopping).

Roy Raley Park
1205 SW Court Ave.
Pendleton, OR

(the map link above, also shows the Roy Raley Park to the right of the Round-Up grounds)

A great place for a snack or lunch, this park is also "called Round-Up by locals because of its proximity to the Round-Up grounds." It is one of Pendleton's oldest parks, with a grass amphitheater, stage, restrooms, basketball courts, picnic tables and drinking fountain.

While you are in town, if you have a few hours to explore, learn more about local history at:

- The Tamastlikt Center
47106 Wildhorse Blvd.
Pendleton, OR 97801
(541) 966-9748

"Immerse yourself in the history, culture and hospitality of the people who have lived on this land for more than 10,000 years."
Hours: April-October: Daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
November-March: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: $8/general; $6/Seniors, children and students; $17/Family - up to 4 people; Age 5 and under/Free

- The Heritage Station Museum
108 S.W. Frazer
Pendleton, OR 97801
(541) 276-0012

"The region’s varied terrain and abundant natural resources attracted people whose diverse traditions, ingenuity and perseverance have made it their 'home.' Indian tribes, mountain men, missionaries, and emigrants have all made their mark on this region."

Regular hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday.

Admission: $5/general, $2/students, $4/Seniors, $10/family.

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Photos: Top: Pendleton Round-Up arena; Middle: Albertson's parking lot across from the arena; and Bottom: RVer Jimmy Smith of Spokane, Wash., spreads out a picnic lunch in the Roy Raley Park. Pendleton Round-up arena is featured in the background. (Julianne Crane)

Mitchell, Oregon--Painted Hills Country

Our slow way home from The Rally last Sunday in Central Oregon, took us from Redmond along State Hwy 126 to Prineville. Once in Prineville, we followed US Hwy 26 northeast through the scenic ponderosa pine forests of the Ochocos Mountains.

About 46 miles from Prineville, we stopped off in the small town of Mitchell hoping to find a tradition breakfast with biscuits and hot coffee. We found just that at the Bridge Creek Cafe on US Hwy 26, just west of town. The cafe seems to be the favorite of motorcyclists who tour along many of the two-lane highways in the region.

Mitchell, population around 160, was established in the 1860’s as a stage stop along the Dalles Military Road. The town was named in 1873 for John H. Mitchell, a former Oregon Senator.

It is also the Gateway to the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and hosts the Painted Hills Festival every Labor Day weekend.

The Painted Hills Unit contains 3,132 acres of scenic marvels unique even in the Pacific Northwest.

It is said that the Painted Hills were formed "over millions of years, the weathering of volcanic ash under varying climate regimes resulted in vividly-hued rock layers of red, pink, bronze, tan and black."

They are a favorite subject of photographers and painters and definitely worth the drive. Outdoor exhibits and a picnic area are also available for visitors.

Photos: Top Bridge Creek Cafe. (Julianne Crane). Bottom: Painted Hills (NPS)

Discover Redmond, and Bend, Ore.'s Deschuts River Walk

If you plan on attending The Rally in Redmond, Ore., today through July 17, 2011, and want to stay a few extra days in the region, one place to discover the local vibe is by clicking here.

Located on the eastern side of Oregon's majestic Cascade Range, Redmond and Bend offer easy access to a multitude of recreational (vehicle) opportunities including camping, hiking, fishing, bicycling and golf.

Traveling through Central Oregon is always a relaxing pleasure during the early summer when the daytime temperatures fluctuate between the mid-70s and 80s.

That is perfect weather for day hiking or strolling along the Deschutes River Walk near downtown Bend. (Check out this short 12-second You-Tube video below.)

Another online source for "What's happening in Oregon" is 541Live.com. The site highlights "great places to go, people to see and things to do."

For nearby RV campgrounds, one place to check out is the Bend-Sunriver RV Parks and Camping page. You can also click on the Deschutes Ochoco National Forests Developed Camping page.

Carbon County—It’s Got Great Bones!

If you’re driving along U.S. Highway 30 through Medicine Bow, Wyoming, you’ll want to stop and take a few photos of the Como Bluff Fossil Cabin Museum. Even though the museum is closed, look closely at the walls and you’ll notice the low square building is actually made up of more than 26,000 pieces of dinosaur bones, held together with good old mortar. The building was dubbed “Oldest Cabin in the World” by Ripley’s Believe It Or Not.

Just ten miles east of town, in the ridge called Como Bluff, lies one of the world’s most famous dinosaur fossil sites, first discovered by workers on the nearby Union Pacific Railroad in the mid 1870s. The remains of 247 out of the 250 known Jurassic-era creatures of the North American continent have been unearthed here—26 new species of dinosaur and 45 new species of Jurassic mammals to date. The 82-foot-long Diplodocus that greets visitors in New York’s American Museum of Natural History hails from Como Ridge.

For great camping, the nearby Medicine Bow National Forest offers numerous opportunities for RVers. Learn more about Carbon County, Wyoming.