2012 Team Rust ~ Pendleton, Oregon
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This is my friend George, sporting his brand new, custom made hat. While driving through Oregon on vacation with his family this past July he came across the Montana Peaks Hat Company in Pendleton, Oregon. They take 8 weeks or so to build a custom hat as fine as this one, and he and I drove down to pick it up this past weekend.
It also happens to be the 105th Annual "Round-Up" and the "Let-er-buck" festivities were in full swing; live music, vendors, parades, lots of people, lots of horses and lots and lots of fun.
George dreaming of picking up his hat. Sadly we didn't arrive in Pendelton until just a few minutes after they had closed for the day. We did get back the moment they opened the next morning.
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The proprietors of the Montana Peaks Hat Company own and drive this truck back and forth to work everyday in downtown Pendleton, Oregon. It is an absolute beauty inside and out. Some might think to have it restored and brought back to new, but the engine is like new as is the suspension and given the nature of their business and where they are, this is pretty perfect just like it is. Of course George wanted to buy it from them but they weren't considering it.
Although the "Rainbow Cafe" was suggested as the best breakfast in town, and we tried it, this turned out to be a little more in line with our tastes. The Mainstreet Diner has a 1950's chrome and formica look and a kind of Hollywood theme. The food was really good and the prices were good.
Anyone who has been to Pendleton, Oregon knows of Hamley Steak House and Saloon. Kind of an upscale western place with a retail store attached selling some of the nicest western wear and gear you'll see anywhere. We ate here. Two nights in a row. It was that good. Their steak, prime rib, tenderloin or what ever you choose is just some of the best you will ever have.
The Rainbow Cafe. Likely the most popular bar in town. Opens early and stays open late. George and I found our way in and out and back in this spot several times. Fortunately there are benches just outside the door to rest on before you begin your walk back home.
Part of any trip we take includes looking for Ghost Towns, old abandoned buildings, cemetery's or any kinds of things that link us to our pasts.
Much of the time that includes traveling down roads that are remote, dusty, gravel or dirt and long, long ways away from civilization.
On this trip we went looking for a town we had read about in North Central Oregon called Hardman, Oregon. Settled in c.1860 and incorporated in 1902 and deserted by 1930. Largely a farming community when it was active but without the railroad it soon had to give way to Heppner, Oregon about 20 miles to the north.
The town has many of it's original buildings still standing and people have begun to move back in and take up residence.
This is Sam. Hardman, Oregons default spokesman. We stopped in front of one of the buildings to open our cooler, make lunch, take some pictures and do a little metal detecting. After just a few minutes Sam showed up and told us in no un-certain terms to "stop digging up the F#*%#!@ lawn, there's nothing there anyway. There's been enough of you people through here over the years and every-things already been dug up". So we quit. Then a conversation started and although his language was quite colorful he opened up the main building and gave us a tour and a brief history of the place. He turned out to be a nice fellow with a strong opinion about some of the newer folks that were moving into the town and wanting to clean it up. Not a good idea according to Sam. He likes it as is. Really pretty great guy and we were really happy to meet him.
Heppner, Oregon established in 1888 is a going concern. The train that comes through here is the same train that eventually was the reason for the demise of Hardman. This sleepy little town was very nice, well maintained and friendly. They have a big museum but it didn't look like it had been opened in quite some time.
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Ahhh, and the trip ends. But, unfortunately not without incident. The Volvo had a new axel replaced a week ago and on the drive home, just outside Pasco, Washington (about 200 miles from Gig Harbor) the axel broke again. Not the mechanics fault it turns out but a manufactures defective part.
We were getting off an exit at Zillah, Washington to go check out an old gas station when it broke, making the absolute worst sounds of metal grinding you've ever heard. The good news was that we were off the freeway and on the shoulder just past the exit and stop sign. The bad news was there was nothing here. No gas station, no mini mart, no shade. And it was 94 degrees. And AAA said they could get us a tow in about two or three hours. Then they called us back an hour and half later to say the first tow truck broke down so they're sending another one and it may be another couple of hours. Did I say it was hot and there was no shade? Oh, and while we were sitting there the left rear tire went flat.
Tow truck showed up, hooked up the Volvo and we climbed in for the long (3 1/2 hour) ride back to Gig Harbor. Fortunately the tow truck was like the Cadillac of tow trucks with A/C, huge cab and plenty of room to stretch out for everyone. Even the little Dude.
