28th June
I finish my packing (which is suddenly much easier, having sent a load of stuff back to the UK) and I’m ready to roll at 0730, just as Jorge & Sheila are heading out to work. I say my farewells, with, I have to admit, a bit of a lump in my throat. Jorge and Sheila have treated me as a member of their family* over the last few weeks and I’m very aware that I’ll never be able to repay their kindness and generosity in any meaningful way. The combination of Jorge’s unflappable common sense in the face of major mechanical problems and Sheila’s patience and sense of humour (“I’m afraid Jorge is going to have to tidy up his room first”
) have made this particular crisis memorable for all the right reasons. More than anything, Jorge’s philosophy that we should all do a good turn and pass it on, makes him not only an excellent ambassador for adventure riding, but a thoroughly good bloke.
I stop for lunch at Oregon City, where a complex series of locks allow shipping to by-pass the waterfalls…
…before buying provisions at the best-named store I’ve seen (it’s at a place called W@nkers Corner - really!) and heading off towards Bend.
I pass by McMinnville, where I saw the ‘Spruce Goose’ on my first visit. Evergreen Aviation have a preserved Ford Tri-motor…
Continuing my ride over the ‘scenic’ route to bend…
…I stop and take a picture of the new and shiny rear drive (and a lake)…
I eventually arrive in Bend and check into the Hampton Inn (again). I’m joined shortly afterwards by Sylvia, the Doc with a Dakar. She’s just bought a 1200GS and comes over to show it off.
We decide to go for a ride around some of her favourite local roads. She goes home to pick up the Dakar – she hasn’t got an appointment for the 600 service yet and the 1200’s got over 450 miles on it already. We head off towards Prineville Reservoir…
…and then ride the excellent twisties to Prineville itself…
...before returning to Bend, via the airport, where this venerable old DC7 fire-bomber…
…patiently awaits her fate.
After suggesting some plans for my trip tomorrow (think I’ll be heading for Baker City) and some dinner, Sylvia departs and I get an early night – it’s good to be back on 2 wheels.
*Admittedly, a sort of drunken, boring step-uncle, who visits when he runs out of unemployment benefit…
I finish my packing (which is suddenly much easier, having sent a load of stuff back to the UK) and I’m ready to roll at 0730, just as Jorge & Sheila are heading out to work. I say my farewells, with, I have to admit, a bit of a lump in my throat. Jorge and Sheila have treated me as a member of their family* over the last few weeks and I’m very aware that I’ll never be able to repay their kindness and generosity in any meaningful way. The combination of Jorge’s unflappable common sense in the face of major mechanical problems and Sheila’s patience and sense of humour (“I’m afraid Jorge is going to have to tidy up his room first”
) have made this particular crisis memorable for all the right reasons. More than anything, Jorge’s philosophy that we should all do a good turn and pass it on, makes him not only an excellent ambassador for adventure riding, but a thoroughly good bloke.
I stop for lunch at Oregon City, where a complex series of locks allow shipping to by-pass the waterfalls…
…before buying provisions at the best-named store I’ve seen (it’s at a place called W@nkers Corner - really!
) and heading off towards Bend.
I pass by McMinnville, where I saw the ‘Spruce Goose’ on my first visit. Evergreen Aviation have a preserved Ford Tri-motor…
Continuing my ride over the ‘scenic’ route to bend…
…I stop and take a picture of the new and shiny rear drive (and a lake)…
I eventually arrive in Bend and check into the Hampton Inn (again
). I’m joined shortly afterwards by Sylvia, the Doc with a Dakar. She’s just bought a 1200GS and comes over to show it off.
We decide to go for a ride around some of her favourite local roads. She goes home to pick up the Dakar – she hasn’t got an appointment for the 600 service yet and the 1200’s got over 450 miles on it already. We head off towards Prineville Reservoir…
…and then ride the excellent twisties to Prineville itself…
...before returning to Bend, via the airport, where this venerable old DC7 fire-bomber…
…patiently awaits her fate.
After suggesting some plans for my trip tomorrow (think I’ll be heading for Baker City) and some dinner, Sylvia departs and I get an early night – it’s good to be back on 2 wheels.
*Admittedly, a sort of drunken, boring step-uncle, who visits when he runs out of unemployment benefit…
