I think you are on the right track. Lake Albert would be OK to just park and sleep but it is a barren, alkaline lake with zero appeal. Goose Lake is much nicer.
Re Burns: We are former long time OR residents (like 60 years). When I was looking for jobs fresh out of graduate school there was a possibility of one in Burns. My new wife said she would follow me to anywhere in the US--but not to Burns!!! Go figure... If you've been there you will make your own decisions about the town in the middle of Oregon and at least a 100 miles to more than a grocery store. At least that was true 50 years ago. LOL.