Walla Walla, WA to Dayton, WA -- 36 miles

It was a short day of riding and the weather was beautiful. Most riders, hung out in Walla Walla, WA most of the morning checking out the sites before hitting the road to Historic Dayton, WA.
Marnie R, Rich G, Bill K, Dan K, and I rode over to the Fort Walla Walla Museum, to see what Walla Walla Fort Days was all about. The museum was interesting. It is all new since the X-C trip in 2008. It now costs $7 to get in, but there are discounts, AARP, AAA, etc. and I only had to pay $6.
I took a few photos and walked around the exhibits and then I rode back to the hotel to move the support vehicle to Historic Dayton, WA.

Dan K and Bill K listen to a Blacksmith explain his craft.

There were several original handstiched quilts on display that were just beautiful.

Rich G looks into one of the pioneer cabins.

The Reenacters, including some soldiers and ladies of the era pose for a photgraph, prior to the start of the reenactment of the defense of Fort Walla Walla.

The jail cells were serious business in 1886 and the prisoners had no [or very few] rights. Could you imagine having our inmates of today being forced to do something like this?

I suspect that it could get a little tight in these quarters...better hope you get along with your roommate! Can you find the toilet?

Joan D tries to get inside the bars...most people try to get out!

This stagecoach is amazing considering the length of travel one did across the vast barren lands of middle America...I can't even fathom it...no a/c; no radio; no GPS; no OnStar....

I just think it is so amazing that a tree could live that long...

On the way back to the hotel from Fort Walla Walla Days, Marnie R and I found soda machines that dispensed Coca Cola Zero and Diet Coke for 25 cents a can and 50 cents a 20 oz bottle...it was in the parking lot of the Coca Cola Distributorship in Walla Walla, and surprise, surprise it even worked and took dollar bills. The amazing thing was that we only had 2 dollars between the both of us...it was out of Diet Coke, but Marnie was able to get several cans of Coke Zero and we had them stashed in our jersey pockets and bungied to our bike racks... you can't let a deal like that pass you by....

After a wonderful morning checking out Walla Walla, WA, I went back to the hotel and got the support vehicle and drove it over to Dayton, WA. Once there I got on my bicycle and took off on a wonderful ride around the town and countryside. I went to a Heritage Site that was very interesting and pedaled past pastures and farm land for as far as the eye could see.

These silouettes guided me to the Heritage site several miles outside of town

Just when I was wondering if I missed a turn, another guide would appear and point me in the right direction. 

 Tbe silouettes depict the Lewis and Clark encampment

This is another view of the encampment depicted by the sillouettes.

The historic Dayton Train Depot.

This bronze statue is located at the historic Dayton, WA Train Depot...notice that the dog is sitting on several steamer trunks...

Placque detailing the move of the train depot from across the Touchet River in 1889.

Bronze statue of Sacajawea depicting her arduous journey.

Placque explaining the Sacajawea statue.

Tomorrow it is onto Lewiston, Idaho.

Umatilla, OR to Walla Walla, WA -- 55 miles

Today was a relatively short day; only 55 miles on one road with a significant tailwind. The scenery was wonderful as the route folllowed the river for more than half of the ride before turning inland toward Walla Walla, Washington. We have finished riding through Oregon -- so it is one state done and only 16 more to go.

There was only one assistance request today...Jeff and Sue M blew out a tire and needed a replacement tire which was located in the support trailer. Once help arrived Jeff and Sue were on their way. Jeff and Sue were so appreciative they brought me a 6 pack of Coors Light Torpedoes...Thanks but you didn't have to do that. :-)

I stopped at the Frenchtown Historic Site, which includes the St. Rose Cemetery and Mission and also encompasses the Battle of Walla Walla.

This is what I learned:
On December 7, 1855, a four-day battle began between Oregon volunteers and the Walla Wallas and other native american tribes. That year, many of the Native American tribes of the interior Pacific Northwest were restive. Some had been coerced into signing treaties that granted most of their ancestral lands to the United States, whose citizens were beginning to crowd into the area. The Yakamas, under the leadership of Kamiakin (ca. 1800-1877) and others of his family, were in open defiance of the encroaching whites and battled with volunteer territorial militias. When their resistance was reduced, the territorial volunteers turned to other tribes that had been asserting themselves, including the Walla Wallas under their chief, Peo-Peo-Mox-Mox. Marching into their stronghold in the Walla Walla River Valley, the First Oregon Mounted Volunteers defeated the Walla Wallas and their allies in a four day running battle. Before the fight, Chief Peo-Peo-Mox-Mox had been taken hostage and, during the first day of the battle, he and other hostages were killed. The Walla Wallas never fully recovered from the campaign. The next year, federal troops took over the fighting and, following a series of battles during 1858, most Indian military resistance in the interior Pacific Northwest was broken.
The view from the high point makes one ponder the tactical finesse of the Indians and the Oregon Volunteers

Also located at Frenchtown was a St. Rose Mission Memorial. I have included several photos of the area and the informational signs.

I have included several other Frenchtown Historical Site Signs which tells the rest of the history of this area:

 The Ground Speaks

 The Lower Frenchtown Site

 Landscape and Wildlife

 St. Rose Mission

 Frenchtown

Local Tribes

After arriving at the Best Western, Walla Walla, Washington, Marnie R, Vicki L and Frank H rode to The Green Lantern, an establishment which was recommended by the bicycle shop. They were right on the money with their recommendation..

 Nice Sign

Marnie R, Vicki L and Frank H pose for a photo which enjoying lunch at The Green Lantern, Issacs St, Walla Walla, Washington.

Biggs, OR to Umatilla, OR -- 86 miles

Today the riders took off from the Three Rivers Inn in Biggs, OR and immediately crossed the bridge into Washington State.

Three Rivers Inn sign, Biggs, Oregon

Looking back from Biggs, Oregon you can see Mount Hood in the distance 

We are on the Oregon Trail !

Bridge to Washington State looking from Biggs, Oregon

A closer view of the bridge to Washington State looking from Biggs, Oregon

Yeah!
Once you crossed the bridge into Washington State, the first seven miles were a bear of an uphill, but all managed to get up and over without any difficulty.

The road to Stonehenge is alway UP!

A view on the way to Stonehenge

Looking back on the climb to Stonehenge

I stopped at Stonehenge which was located at the top of the climb at the intersection of Washington State Routes 97 & 14. To actually get to Stonehenge you had to go down the side of the mountain that you just climbed up...In 2008, I made it to the top of the climb but I was not about to go down the hill to see some rocks so that I could climb back up the hill and then continue an additional 80 miles to reach Umatilla, OR. This year, I did ride down to to Stonehenge and it was well worth it. The view was spectacular and the wars memorial was very interesting.

I can see Stonehenge in the distance! 

Stonehenge 

Stonehenge up close 

Stonehenge information sign

Stonehenge informational sign 

Stonehenge Informational sign up close 

Stonehenge informational sign up close 2 

Wars Memorial

Just as an aside:

During my ride today I came across this water wheel which was just off the road a piece...I thought it was interesting, so I stopped to take a picture only then noticing that this water wheel was attached to a cabin...sort of looks like a cabin that was transported en toto back to the FBI Forensics Lab in Quantico, Virgina...talk about having little or no carbon footprint and living off the grid...could be just a wee bit scary...

Working water wheel

A "cabin in the woods" ? Area duly marked 'no tresspassing' ....

Additionally I saw several rock outcroppings that were very interesting:

Do you see a begging dog or a man's face?

Is the man sleeping and is there a dog on his back?

Do you see anything weird in this?

What about this one?

I just thought it was interesting that west bound emigrants are depicted by an oxen yoke ???

And then we arrived in Umatilla, Oregon...

Tomorrow we are off to Walla Walla, Washington!