A California Girl's Rideabout in Washington & Oregon
- Thread starter Tyler
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escapefjrtist
Searching for Dry Roads
Luv'n it Tyler!
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Niehart
Pie Smuggler
Yes, yes we did. Was a awesome day, fun bunch to ride with.
Panman
Well-known member
A great crew to share the day with!Dave took things to the extreme...
Great shot of pop's Tyler
Tyler, you do a great ride report!
We got a jump on the morning's start to avoid some of the day's heat... rode along the farmlands of Washington where Mother Nature had created varied pallettes of color and patterns for as far as the eye could see... while the roads were straight and not real challenging, the views of the land kept us awake and alive...
Finally, we could hear the grumble of our tummies over the growl of the engines so it was time to stop for some breakfast... we had gone through several small towns where everyone must've been in church and there was no place open to be found until we stopped in Sprague for gas and I asked the attendant where we might find a place for breakfast... she pointed across the street and said, "That's all we got." And that was just fine with us...
Interesting reading material to pass the time...
Not to mention the restroom door art...
And ice cream cones as big as your head...
Sated we headed back out for more nature's eye candy...
And found ourselves crossing another state line...
Finally, we could hear the grumble of our tummies over the growl of the engines so it was time to stop for some breakfast... we had gone through several small towns where everyone must've been in church and there was no place open to be found until we stopped in Sprague for gas and I asked the attendant where we might find a place for breakfast... she pointed across the street and said, "That's all we got." And that was just fine with us...
Interesting reading material to pass the time...
Not to mention the restroom door art...
And ice cream cones as big as your head...
Sated we headed back out for more nature's eye candy...
And found ourselves crossing another state line...
A little impromptu side excursion on Old Winchester Grade Rd. proved to be most excellent...
The rest of the crew headed for the hotel and I decided to run up Old White Bird Hill Rd. which I had done part of with my pal, Donna, last summer on our way up to Canada... it's a great little side jaunt with some stellar views...
As the road descended toward Riggins, our destination for the evening, it got hot... and then it got hotter... and hotter... and hotter... 105 degrees hot... gack! It was a blessing to arrive at our air conditioned hotel where the group was holed up with cold beer... that shower was one of the top 10 bestest showers ever!! Can't remember who recommended this place but thank you!
We moseyed next door to Shelly's for dinner...
Unique menu choices...
After dinner, we wandered across the street to gaze at the Salmon River in the waning light...
We all slept pretty well that night and decided to get an early start again the next morning to avoid the heat... onward into Oregon and a visit to a town that's a step back in time... a big step!
The rest of the crew headed for the hotel and I decided to run up Old White Bird Hill Rd. which I had done part of with my pal, Donna, last summer on our way up to Canada... it's a great little side jaunt with some stellar views...
As the road descended toward Riggins, our destination for the evening, it got hot... and then it got hotter... and hotter... and hotter... 105 degrees hot... gack! It was a blessing to arrive at our air conditioned hotel where the group was holed up with cold beer... that shower was one of the top 10 bestest showers ever!! Can't remember who recommended this place but thank you!
We moseyed next door to Shelly's for dinner...
Unique menu choices...
After dinner, we wandered across the street to gaze at the Salmon River in the waning light...
We all slept pretty well that night and decided to get an early start again the next morning to avoid the heat... onward into Oregon and a visit to a town that's a step back in time... a big step!
Terrific report Tyler as usual. And the photos are stunning! You have some mad skills withthat camera. Thanks so much for putting this together for our joy. And envy. Looks like Heaven out there!
Yeah it was pretty spectacular... and there are still a bunch of places I want to go and roads to ride... I will definitely be making a return trip up that way! B)
As we readied to head out, Stevie asked if she should put on a liner. I, in my infinite wisdom, said nah, sun's gonna be up shortly and it'll warm up quickly. Well, needless to say, the first hour or so was in the shadow of the mountains so it didn't warm up and those who heeded my advice, myself included, froze our patooties off!! We stopped for gas and added some layers and continued on our merry way.
Did I mention that road work was a common theme? Well, we came up to a 10-mile stretch on 95 that was completely dug up... hard-packed, bumpy, dusty, dirt road...
And a near 30-minute wait while they held traffic on our side of the road. So what does one do when presented with such a conundrum? Gear maintenance...
Take a nap...
Take some time to enjoy your surroundings...
And then it was our turn to traverse the road and we did and then it was time for some breakfast in Cambridge... great place to stop if you're in the area!
Grazing complete, we came outside to much warmer temps so geared down appropriately and headed out along 71 aka Brownlee-Oxbow Hwy. which isn't really a highway but is a fantastic moto road... highly recommended!
The road runs along the water which is so still that it makes amazing mirror images from the surrounding landscapes... kind of like nature's Rorschach test... how does that make you feeeeel??
Miles of this... it made me feel peaceful, calm, and grateful to be alive...
Appropriately named for its heat and terrain...
86 outside of Baker City...
Ebonics anyone?
Another gas stop and time to re-wet the cooling vests... Stevie decided to take it one step further...
Hwy 7 / Sumpter Stage Hwy...
Did I mention that road work was a common theme? Well, we came up to a 10-mile stretch on 95 that was completely dug up... hard-packed, bumpy, dusty, dirt road...
And a near 30-minute wait while they held traffic on our side of the road. So what does one do when presented with such a conundrum? Gear maintenance...
Take a nap...
Take some time to enjoy your surroundings...
And then it was our turn to traverse the road and we did and then it was time for some breakfast in Cambridge... great place to stop if you're in the area!
Grazing complete, we came outside to much warmer temps so geared down appropriately and headed out along 71 aka Brownlee-Oxbow Hwy. which isn't really a highway but is a fantastic moto road... highly recommended!
The road runs along the water which is so still that it makes amazing mirror images from the surrounding landscapes... kind of like nature's Rorschach test... how does that make you feeeeel??
Miles of this... it made me feel peaceful, calm, and grateful to be alive...
Appropriately named for its heat and terrain...
86 outside of Baker City...
Ebonics anyone?
Another gas stop and time to re-wet the cooling vests... Stevie decided to take it one step further...
Hwy 7 / Sumpter Stage Hwy...
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Until finally arriving at our day's destination, Sumpter, OR, which is noted as a "step back in time"... a historic gold mining town with a year-round population of 191... it is one of those types of places that as riders you love to find yourself in... unique, funky, fun, realxing, and fascinating...
We stayed at the Sumpter Stockade Motel, built to reflect the town's history and they did a mighty fine job... we had a huge room for only $65 so it's a real bargain! I wandered about and snapped a few shots and decided to go with the "back in time" theme...
Around the Stockade...
Our bathroom door...
Sumpter was founded in 1892... I think this might be the original flag...
The place was well guarded...
Around town...
There weren't many choices for dining establishments around but luckily this one was right across the street and had good food to boot!
Our trusty steeds at the watering hole...
My trusty companions around the watering hole enjoying the cool evening air...
Scott doing his Native American impression...
We retired for the evening with full tummies, smiles on our faces, and visions of time past... the next day would take me back personally in time to a place very special to my heart... stay tuned!
We stayed at the Sumpter Stockade Motel, built to reflect the town's history and they did a mighty fine job... we had a huge room for only $65 so it's a real bargain! I wandered about and snapped a few shots and decided to go with the "back in time" theme...
Around the Stockade...
Our bathroom door...
Sumpter was founded in 1892... I think this might be the original flag...
The place was well guarded...
Around town...
There weren't many choices for dining establishments around but luckily this one was right across the street and had good food to boot!
Our trusty steeds at the watering hole...
My trusty companions around the watering hole enjoying the cool evening air...
Scott doing his Native American impression...
We retired for the evening with full tummies, smiles on our faces, and visions of time past... the next day would take me back personally in time to a place very special to my heart... stay tuned!
gixxerjasen
Well-known member
Awww, Windows XP!!!Sated we headed back out for more nature's eye candy...
Actually, that's a much better wallpaper.
Top 10 shower huh? Have to check that one out.
russperry
Well-known member
Hey its me Dave man - open up the door, I've got the stuff!Washington now has liberalized pot laws so saying Dave's not here man has a whole new meaning. Now where are those Cheeto's.....
Bugnatr
Well-known member
Those purddy blue flowers are Chicory, in case you get stuck smelling the roses again you can impress the city folk with your country knowledge.Take some time to enjoy your surroundings...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cichorium
I knew you wanted to know.
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wheatonFJR
...
Hey its me Dave man - open up the door, I've got the stuff!Washington now has liberalized pot laws so saying Dave's not here man has a whole new meaning. Now where are those Cheeto's.....
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GeorgiaRoller
Exit Stage Left
My ride trip "Jealously Meter" is currently at Defcon 1 at this point....any further reading of this post and a personal meltdown is imminent!
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Travelin Man
Member
Excellent trip report..........how to find more vacation time for some of these new routes?
Sick time... need to see the optometrist for an eye problem... you can't see yourself going into the office for a few days.
My ride trip "Jealously Meter" is currently at Defcon 1 at this point....any further reading of this post and a personal meltdown is imminent!
Get ready... next installment and subsequent meltdown in 5....
4....
3....
2....
1....
Aaaaaannnnnddddd... we're back! We woke to a lovely cool morning and after a hearty breakfast, headed out from Sumpter out 7 to 245... originally I thought I hadn't ridden this road before but as I traversed the various turns and got a sense of deja vu at some of the sights I was seeing, I realized I had indeed ridden it about four years ago... only a day or two before that fateful event.
Curves on 245...
For those that are new to my story, in June 2009 I was headed out on my first big long distance trip to Wyoming. In Carey, ID, I was run over by a semi that didn't see me as I pulled up on his left side to find out why he wasn't moving. Just before I got to the cab to talk to the driver (I thought he saw me), he started his left hand turn knocking the bike and me down before running over it and me. It's a long story but I spent 4 months in the hospital recovering from a broken pelvis and severe degloving injuries to my legs. I should not have lived and they never thought I'd walk again but due to an incredible amount of love, energy, spirit, and angels - both here and elsewhere - I was given the gift of living through it.
The day before the accident, our group had taken a photo around the town sign for Unity. I wanted to revisit that town as the name became something of an icon for my journey. It was an emotional moment and I was glad to have my friends with me, including Scott & Sue Wade who were witness to my accident and had the unenviable task of contacting my family. A few tears were shed and a lot of hugs too... hard to describe the gamut of emotions... (photo courtesy of Scott)
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I pulled myself together and we continued on our way through the John Day area along some really wonderful backroads that I found on the "Come Ride With Us" map series... our route consisted of something like this: 26-20-395-402-19/207-Fossil-207-26
I think my traveling comrades were ready for me to put the camera away right about now...
It was a warm one again so we stopped at this shady grove for a break... Scott took full advantage of the situation...
There isn't much gas in many of the small towns along the way so we had to bypass 207 to get gas in Fossil where the attendant told us to eat at this place and if we tell the staff he recommended us, he'd get free food... lol
Back on the road... I think this was 207...
Lots of haze from the myriad of fires burning...
And finally onto 26 through the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument which was gorgeous both in road quality and feast for the eyes...
Viewpoint...
And then arriving at our home-away-from-home for the next two days, Fish House Inn in Dayville, OR...
Up next... new additions to the traveling circus and a day off the bike in bustling Dayville...
I think my traveling comrades were ready for me to put the camera away right about now...
It was a warm one again so we stopped at this shady grove for a break... Scott took full advantage of the situation...
There isn't much gas in many of the small towns along the way so we had to bypass 207 to get gas in Fossil where the attendant told us to eat at this place and if we tell the staff he recommended us, he'd get free food... lol
Back on the road... I think this was 207...
Lots of haze from the myriad of fires burning...
And finally onto 26 through the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument which was gorgeous both in road quality and feast for the eyes...
Viewpoint...
And then arriving at our home-away-from-home for the next two days, Fish House Inn in Dayville, OR...
Up next... new additions to the traveling circus and a day off the bike in bustling Dayville...
Niehart
Pie Smuggler
Hope they had two rooms, don't want any stink-eye pealing the paint off the office door.
Great stuff Miss Tyler!
Scott has been practicing that prone position all over the world.
Great stuff Miss Tyler!
Scott has been practicing that prone position all over the world.
MCRIDER007
Well-known member
Great trip report Tyler, one small typo, when you left Sumpter you back tracked on Hiway 7 to Hiway 245, also known as the Dooley Mountain Hyway. It's one of the favorites in the area for the Sport Bike crowd.
