Earthy Suburban Journal: Pendleton; And HOME!

[This post belatedly covers Friday 9/4 - Sat 9/5]

The drive from Ogden to Pendleton was long, but manageable. We stopped outside of Twin Falls, ID to briefly checkout Shoshone Falls Park on the Snake River - a beautiful spot where we might have lingered a while if we weren't getting anxious to be home.

Shoshone Falls; looks like some great kayaking on the river below; Evil Knievel's failed crossing was less than a mile downstream

Drove another 5.5hr, through Boise, ID and on to Pendleton. Like Ogden, Pendleton has an old-west feel, aided by the 110-year-old Pendleton Round-Up rodeo. Main Street is lined with western shops - where you can buy cowboy boots, a new saddle, western antiques, locally made wool blankets, etc. - plus several inviting bars and restaurants. We checked in at the Best Western, walked through town, then had a cocktail at Hamley's Steakhouse and Saloon while waiting for a table at Oregon Grain Growers Brand Distillery - both great spots.

Early to bed again, grab-and-go breakfast at the hotel before starting the final, 5-hour drive home. We took a few remote, 2-lane roads through southeast Washington farmland before passing through Yakima and hopping on I-90 West and heading over familiar Snoqualmie Pass. Hit mid-day-Saturday-on-a-holiday-weekend traffic in Seattle, but not too bad. Pulled into the driveway around 1:15pm - very excited and happy to see our daughter, Victoria, who had held down the fort for 3 weeks (while starting her freshman year of college, remotely, at University of San Diego) and dog, Jack.