HOT LAKE

It was a quick trip this morning down to La Grande, Oregon and our home for the next two nights, Grande Hot Springs RV Resort.  It was an easy 50 mile drive down the beautiful Hells Canyon Scenic Byway.  Lots of ranches and farms with fields of wheat and hay in every direction you looked.

The Native Americans lived here in harmony and named the area the Valley of Peace.  In the 1840's settlers passed here en route to the Oregon Trail but by the early 1860's began to establish farms and settlements.  Early visitors flocked to the area around Hot Lake for the benefits of the fresh air and mineral water.  By the 1930's the area around Hot Lake Springs was known as the Mayo of the West and many hotels and clinics were built.

Our RV Resort is adjacent to the Hot Lake, but right now it looks like a lily pond there is so much growing on top of the lake you can't see the water.  No one here has ventured to the Hot Lake because it's supposed to be full of mosquitoes.  I've been out looking for wildlife but have seen nothing but other doggies, I think there might be some gophers in the dog walk area but more on that later.

Kathe and Jim went out to the big museum in the town of Union, just down the highway. Jim was really impressed and said later that it was one of the best museums they had ever visited.  There were several rooms of furniture and antiques from the early settlers.  Here's a picture of the kitchen and all of the rooms were this well done.