Going to the Pendleton Roundup!

Howdy Partner!
Yippie! We are heading to the Pendleton Roundup Rodeo in Pendleton, Oregon. I can hardly wait to get there! We spent Labor Day weekend in beautiful Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. Had a great campsite with lots of grass for me to roll around on. 

As it was a busy week-end we spent most of it at the campsite. Took a quick trip into Spokane, Wa. to buy a topper for our air conditioner that somehow blew off when we were crossing the mountains in Montana.

Mom and Dad had lunch by the beautiful lake in Coeur d' Alene and walked around to see some of the boats and flowers

  

After Labor Day we headed to Steamboat Rock State Park located on the huge Banks Lake just south of Grand Coulee Dam. Here we are approaching the park. 

The campground is where all the green trees are.

Our campground is close to the lake, lots of grassy areas for Yuki and me.

With no internet or phone service, Mom and Dad caught up on their reading. 













I was so excited to see the deer and turkeys visiting next door.  I didn't even bark so I wouldn't scare them away.

We took a drive to look at Grand Coulee Dam. It is one of the largest concrete structures in the world and the largest hydropower producer in the United States. 

 

We finally made it to Pendleton, Oregon. We were looking forward to meeting up with all of our friends from the Monaco Romers club. There will be 30 coaches and 60 couples at the rally.

The RV park was nice and very scenic at night. I loved the views from my window.

Every night Mom and Dad would leave us to join their friends for drinks and dinner.

Dad was one of the bartenders.

Did you know that "real cowboys" wear pink? As soon as I found that out I had Mom hunt for my pink bandana.

Now all I need is my cowboy hat. Oh, here it is.

Wait a minute, who turned off the lights?

Okay, that's much better - now I am ready for the rodeo!

The Pendleton Roundup began in 1910 - and ha been going strong ever since. It is always held around the second week of September.

I was excited to get into the arena to wait for the rodeo to begin, Mom and Dad stopped for some Bloody Mary's made with Pendleton Whiskey at the "Let Er Buck Room. 

Then it was off to the rodeo! 

I couldn't believe how brave ( or crazy) those cowboys were to ride those bucking horses and bulls.

I was really impressed with the two cowgirls who rode two horses standing up!

The day after the rodeo Mom and Dad joined their friends to take the Pendleton Underground Tour.
Underneath the city streets, there were hidden tunnels and a red light district built at the turn of the century.  

 It was discovered when potholes started showing up in the streets in the 1980s, the tunnels were used in the early 1900s primarily by the Chinese to avoid interactions with the locals, and other people taking part in less than legal activities including prostitution, bootlegging and gambling. There was even a laundry run by Hop Sing

They also toured the Pendleton Wool Mills and watched how the wool was made into blankets.

 

Yuki got sick so we had to miss the parade, but we found a great veterinarian in town who took good care of him and he is feeling a bit better every day. I have to tell you, this blogging is exhausting! That's all for this trip - hope to catch you on our next adventure - nap time for me! Heading to Walnut Creek to take care of Nana.

Adios,

Brody & Yuki

Brody Loves Montana!

Greetings from beautiful Montana,

On our way to Montana, we stopped in southeastern Idaho and toured the Idaho Potato Museum

It was interesting to see some of the old equipment like this potato planter

and potato sorter. 

Lucky for me, visiting the museum made Dad hungry for a baked potato so I got to have some for dinner too!

Our next stop was Bozeman, Montana. Yuki had been there with Mom and Dad in 2009 and he told me the city had really grown, but still has that western charm. 

 One day we packed a picnic lunch and took a drive through the  Gallatin Valley.  It was a very scenic drive along the beautiful  Gallatin River where Robert Redford filmed "A River Runs Through It"

We drove on to the Big Sky Ski Resort stopping to get a view of the imposing Lone Pine Mountain

Big Sky is a huge and beautiful resort complex, lots of money here!

Big Ski is known as "The Biggest Skiing in America" - and I agree!

This gondola goes all the way to the top of the 11,166 foot peak. They were offering free rides today - but no dogs allowed.

 

I was so excited to get there as Yuki had told me the last time he was there he got to run all around the meadow. Too bad there were too many people for dad to let me run free like Yuki did. I had to be content with the leash.

 On the way home we stopped by the river for, you guessed it, my favorite thing - a picnic! Hey, where is the food?

That's more like it,

After lunch, we watched a trio of rafts launch into the river

 I jumped down on the rocks to get a better view but I thought I saw a lizard, so that was much more interesting.

A great day!

Dad was happy to visit two of the many breweries in Bozeman. First stop was Bridger Brewery. 

 They had the most delicious pizza  1/2 buffalo sausage and the other 1/2 lamb sausage. Makes me hungry just to look at it. Luckily they brought back some to share with me.

 Yuki and I had to stay home when they visited the MAP Brewery.

Dad said it was the most scenic brewery he has ever been to. This was the view from the patio. Hey, wait a minute, is that dogs I see? No fair!

 I loved our views from our campground at night.

 Our next stop was Missoula, the home of the University of Montana - a great college town in a beautiful setting between the mountains. The Clark Ford River runs right through the town.

I am ready and waiting to go on our drive the Bitterroot Valley

  stopping to visit St. Mary's Mission, founded in 1841 by Fr. Pierre De Smet,  a Jesuit priest.

I was looking forward to another picnic - but Dad had other plans for lunch.

Maybe he will sign up for the Yoga class. Ha HA!

However, my favorite part of Missoula was our campground.

 There was lots of grass and plenty of room for our coach

and best of all a huge playground for kids and dogs!

Hey, how did I get up here

It sure looks like a long way down.

Yuki and I really liked Montana and can't wait to come back.

Mom, Dad Yuki and I want to give a special shout out to our dear friend, Rosalie.

 We think about her every day and send her our love.

Adios, 
Brody & Yuki