Baker City, Oregon

Thursday - 26 June 2003: Baker City, Oregon - Hey! We are back in Our Own State! We left Craters of the Moon this morning, fairly early (for us). It was another beautiful, sunny and warm day in Idaho. We drove through sagebrush plains on Highway 26/97 and took a right after Picabo to drive up to Sun Valley for lunch.

We found a huge, gravel parking lot on the edge of town. Several big RVs were parked there - the International Symbol for a good, safe place to dump your RV and tour around in your Toad (tow car). We drove around, reacquainting ourselves with the Sun Valley area - we had not been here since Lisa was in high school. On the surface, the Sun Valley, Ketchum, Hailey areas seem like small towns, with cowboys and hippies living side by side. But, dig a little deeper and you will see L.A.-types walking around the streets with headsets in their ear, making deals over the phone. Impressive galleries are next door to organic bakeries. Oh, there are friendly cowboys in Sun Valley, but they are carrying satellite phones and Palm Pilots. Basically, every car is a Suburban. If someone is on a bike ride - they are riding a $2000 bike and wearing $500 worth of athletic gear.

We had a lovely lunch at Esta's (NOTE: Now closed). We dined on the outside patio, so we could watch the shoppers, celebrities and tourists walk by and also have views up over the ski lifts to watch the para-gliders float above the mountain tops. Even though it was nearing 75 degrees, it was "snowing" in Sun Valley - the "fluff" from the Cottonwood trees was floating all over the town, falling in little drifts on the street. I suppose it is just a big mess, but it was very pretty - watching the bright white "flakes" against the brilliant blue skies. Our waitress moved to Sun Valley last week from Portland, so we had a good chat.

We walked through a few galleries and shops, but soon hitched-back-up and drove back down to Highway 20, past gorgeous horse ranches and farms, trendy resorts and gigantic sculptures in the middle of hay fields, to Interstate 84. We stopped in Mountain Home at The Wal-Mart for fresh-food supplies, as we had no idea where we were going tonight. DT stayed in the motorhome, poring over the maps, while I went in. I only bought a few items and was surprised that not only does The Wal-Mart have Price Busters, they also have Line Busters. While waiting in line, a gal came up to my cart, scanned my items and handed me a card (looked just like a credit card). When I reached the check-out counter, the checker swiped the card, my purchases rang up in one second and I was on my way. My. My. What excitement.

Goldie headed back to the Interstate as we crawled through terrible traffic and road construction in Boise and are now camped in a shady spot in a nice campground in toasty Baker City. Lisa and I are "watching" the NBA Draft together via the phone. We are going up to The Wallowas tomorrow for 3 or 4 days. Possibly no cell service, but if I find a phone line, I will update.

Added later: After a delicious, home-made dinner, DT and I decided to go into town and check-out the famous Historic Landmark Hotel in Baker City - The Geiser Grand. The Geiser Grand is a beautiful, Italian Renaissance Revival hotel, built in the height of the Gold Rush and was famed as being the most "modern" hotel between Seattle and Salt Lake City - in its day. Each room had a bathroom and electric lights! There is a beautiful, curved, atrium up to the second floor, with a stained-glass roof. The rooms have 18-foot ceilings. Quite elaborate for 1889.

The Geiser Grand Hotel lobby

The Geiser Grand Hotel is said to be haunted. Several different ghosts walk the halls. The spirits have been seen by the renovators, the staff and guests. The ghosts do not appear to be harmful, but are sad and seem to be searching for something or in need of help.

We did not see spirits... but we consumed spirits in the nice hotel lounge. There was some excitement - policemen came into the bar! A bust? No. The police came in and talked to the bartender and asked her about the white pickup parked across the street. Something about a fight earlier. They asked her to phone them if they saw anyone get into the truck. Of course, since this is a small town, the bartender knew the policeman - since he was married to her babysitter! And, though her nametag read "Janet", local patrons clearly said, "Goodnight, Carrie" when they left the bar.

RV Park: Mountain View Holiday Trav-L-Park