MCCALL - BURGDORF - WARREN - SPARTA - BAKER CITY

It was as I was about to pull out of the hotel parking lot I realized I had left my cup of coffee on the roof.
A peaceful early morning on Payette Lake.
McCall is a resort town with a nice lake for recreation in the summer and skiing in the winter.
And it is located in the Payette National Forest.
But no such recreation for me. I'm off again looking for ghost towns.
Although this wasn't really much of one if at all.
While there are some old structures, Burgdorf is more of place of hot springs. That's where the steam is coming from.
It was a bit of a long drive on an unpaved road to see not a lot, but there was some scenery along the way.
Hopefully there would be more in...
...Warren, Idaho.
There is a small population in town but probably no more than a few dozen.
I was there a little before 9:00 in the morning and it was very quiet. What few residents there are were not out and about.
The road to and from Warren was sometimes paved and sometimes not. This stretch through the mountains was not.
Leaving Idaho for the first time on the trip. I would be in and out of the Gem State several times. Crossing the Snake River into Oregon.
Many times I was stopped by these machines where there was roadwork going on.
Oregon is a pretty big state with different regional landscapes. In the east you can have mountains, canyons, farmlands and ranches.
I never expected to see a longhorn in Oregon, not unless the University of Texas was playing a road game against the University of Oregon Ducks.
Not a lot of places to visit on this day. On the way to my hotel for the night was Sparta, Oregon. All I got was a picture of this house. There is also a schoolhouse somewhere in the area as well, but without cell coverage I could not search for it.
I tried to head up the dirt road a little farther in search of something, but I eventually turned around and headed back out. Lot of picturesque tall trees though.
Even without specific things to see one can take in the natural beauty.
And there are often barns to take pictures of.
Or just the odd broken down building.
Time to head toward Baker City, Oregon.
The Oregon Trail ran through this area in the mid 19th century.
I was getting to town fairly early, so a stop at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center was in order.
Of course, any time I think about the Oregon Trail I recall the old computer game. There is actually a new version of it in the Apple app store. I've played it and it's pretty good.
That Native Americans on the left looks concerned about the white man coming. "Hey, Sits With Legs Crossed. Get a load of these pale faces!"
Any fan of the old game knows how this person died. They died of dysentery.
"Jimmy, stop taunting the goat!"
The bison insisted I that the photo be taken on his good side.
A German-made violin of maple, spruce and ebony, circa 1790.
"While my husband is haggling over a price for that half a fish, I was wondering if you have these moccasins in a size 5?"
"No, I've never seen Brokeback Mountain, Steve. Why do you ask?"
A child's doll, c. 1845.
There are old original ruts carved by pioneer wagon trains down there. Tens of thousands of migrants passed through this area in search of a new life.
They had a few outdoor exhibits and trails around the interpretive center, but it was too hot and sunny to deal with them.
I reached the Bridge Street Inn. It is a basic motel. The sign highlights the continental breakfast, HBO, microwave, fridge, guest laundry and wifi. I used the wifi and briefly the fridge.
I got one of the recently refurbished rooms.
Downtown Baker City is on the National Register of Historic Places. And you know how much I like old western architecture, particularly when there are signs that tell me what the buildings are and were. For example, this one was built in 1910 by the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph for its exchange and offices. it is now a realty office.
To be honest, I don't think I have ever heard of the Fraternal Order of Knights of Pythias. Whoever they were, they built their Pythian Castle in Baker City in 1907. There is a craft brewery there and probably some office space there these days.
The former Antlers Hotel is now office space and apartments. But back in the early 1900's the hotel had a fine restaurant, a bar and an elevator! And don't miss the ghost sign.
Sure the Antlers is nice and all, but the Geiser Grand Hotel  (1889) had the reputation of being the finest accommodations between Seattle and Salt Lake City. The city issued a demolition order in 1993, but fortunately a complete restoration began shortly after. An interesting fact. Baker City was the headquarters of the musical comedy Paint Your Wagon.
The Shoemaker Building (1906) Early building tenants were a business college and legal offices. Interestingly, no shoe makers.
The Mann Block (1890) originally had a saloon on the first floor and a bawdy house and gambling rooms above. Yes, bawdy house means what you think it means.
The Jett Building (1901) was the first in town built from volcanic tuff, damn strong stuff. Many commercial and public buildings were made of this in the early 20th century.
J.P Bowen (1886) on the left and Bamberger (1888) on the right.
The Mint-Fox Building (1888-1889). I read on some of the historical markers that some buildings had plaster fronts that were removed and the original facades restored. I guess maybe they were plastered over because of decay, but why not just keep it up rather than cover it?
The Basche-Sage Hardware Company Building looks a bit different from the others I photographed. That's because it is a bit newer, built in 1926 to house the executive offices and retail store for the Basche-Sage Hardware Company. They were the last independent hardware wholesaler in Oregon.
Yes, I know you are probably bored with all the pictures of buildings by now, but here's yet another former Masonic Temple.
The Ison House was built in 1887 by Baker County judge Luther B. Ison. It is now a bed and brew pub. Had I known about this place I might have booked it for the night.
The Adler House (1889) is now a museum. It was the residence of local philanthropist Leo Adler, who lived there until he died in 1993 at the age of 94.
The Wisdom House (1878).
Alright, enough walking around downtown, taking pictures and dodging the blazing sun. Time for dinner at the Latitude 45 Grille. I had a nice smoked salmon pasta and a delicious Strongbow.

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