Driving the Barlow Pass Portion of the Oregon Trail

I am not going to do a full BLOG with pictures tonight because it is 10:30 PM and I just sat down at the computer. I will give you a brief description of what I did today --- it was mostly driving!!!

I left the RV Park at about 9:30 AM, drove to The Dalles, Oregon. Then I got on the existing highway which follows the route of the Barlow Pass portion of the Oregon Trail. It goes through Dufur, Oregon (where I saw a nice small town Museum); Tygh Valley, Oregon; Barlow Gate (which I couldn't find); Barlow Pass (which I couldn't find); Government Camp, Oregon (which is a Mount Hood Ski town); West Barlow Tollgate (which I couldn't find); and finally to Sandy, Oregon at 4:05 PM (which has a good Oregon Trail Museum that closes at 4:00 PM!!!)

I saw some great outdoor views, but today didn't turn out the way I wanted (Few Museums opened and the sites to see were not where I looked!!!). So, I basically had a 10 to 12 hour drive in northwestern Oregon.

I came to the conclusion that I may be trying to do and see too much!! The rest of the trip will be more calculated as to where and when I will be in places and what I will see there --- Ya, right!! It hasn't worked for me before, so why do I think that plan will work for me now!!??

Oh, well, EASTWARD I GO!!!!

I will fill in this BLOG and the previous few tomorrow while I do laundry (I am running out of clean clothes!!). I will keep you in touch.

Jon



Well, here it is, Sunday, May 26, 2013 and now I will fill in this BLOG for May 25,2013.

As I said above, I left the RV Park at about 9:30 AM, drove to The Dalles, Oregon. On this drive, I came across some great views and got to thinking that this is what the pioneers saw when they reached this part of the country (some what - the modern stuff wasn't there!!??) Here are a few photos that I took ---

Then I got on the existing highway which follows the route of the Barlow Pass portion of the Oregon Trail. It goes through Dufur, Oregon and I stopped at the town museum that mainly showed the life in that area and how the people lived ---

 

But they did have an exhibit about the Oregon Trail ---

 

 From Dufur, I drove to Tygh Valley, Oregon. This is what the countryside looked like to the pioneers (kind of!!) ----
 

 

 And Tygh Valley itself looked very good, at first, but it was small and the number of travellers wrecked havoc on the grasses and such ---

From here, the pioneers neared the Barlow Gate (which was a toll gate set up by Barlow because he built the road --- sound familiar???) ---

But, I couldn't find the gate or the site of the gate!!!???

From here  looked for Barlow Pass (which I couldn't find) then drove on to Government Camp, Oregon (which is a Mount Hood Ski town). The guide said that I could see a replica of the West Barlow Tollgate, but I couldn't find it. Finally I drove into Sandy, Oregon at about 4:05 PM (which has a good Oregon Trail Museum that closes at 4:00 PM!!!). Now, I know I was driving the route of the Oregon Trail because I did come across these signs near Sandy, Oregon ---

From here, I drove the 3.5 hours back to my RV Park in Pendleton, Oregon. I was tired and wondered if I had done this portion of the trip too fast. All I can say is onward and EASTWARD I GO!!!!

So, I'm going to go for now, but I will see you all again tomorrow. Again, to quote that great comedian, Red Skelton, "Good Night and May God Bless!"


Happy Trails ---- Jon