Superb report, once again
Delta blues...
- Thread starter MikeO
- Start date
1st July 2016
I sleep well, aided by the beer tokens I was given, which led to my purchasing several more (it's almost as if that was their plan all along...). But I have a clear head and a bit of an appetite, so I quickly ablute and pack, then wander down to see what's on offer...
This place is great...
I get served a meal completely in proportion to my weight...
Without doubt the best hotel of this trip - I don't know how they do it for the price. I fill my Camelback up with iced water and then bring the Adv around and park it under the canopy while I take the luggage cart upstairs...
Whilst packing the bike, I meet Delilah, a pup of uncertain parentage...
...and Samson - who looks too similar not to be related...
I'm on the road just after 0830, heading through Redding towards the Freeway...
They were closed, unfortunately - I could have probably have done with some "Emotional Repatterning"...
I join the I5 for about 70 miles - it's nice to get some cool air flowing around me...
It's not a bad route for an Interstate...
I once again keep myself amused - this chap needs to polish up the rear of his tanker a little...
I'm heading into some mountains...
...they dominate the horizon...
Lots of trucks carrying lumber on I5...
This legalisation is clearly big business...
I run into short periods of roadworks, but nothing that holds me up too long...
eventually, Doris turns me off the I5 and towards Klamath Falls...
It's a nice road...
...with a 65mph limit and very little traffic...
After abut 120 miles, I feel like stopping for a break and choose this rather run-down looking cantina - in the town of Dorris...
...where I am served Nachos and a couple glasses of homemade lemonade - delicious...
I spot this old girl across the street...
...any guesses?
Onward!
I fill up at a small filling station, then follow this chap out of town...
[Rolf Harris]Can you tell what it is yet? [/Rolf Harris]
This should make it a bit easier...
Just after 1130 I enter Oregon and pass the usual clutch of signs telling people what is and is not allowed in the state they have just entered...
What I initially take to be swans on the drainage canal to my right, turn out to be pelicans (or at least I think they are - can anyone confirm)?
Do you know the similarity between a pelican, a flamingo and Her Majesty's Inspector of Taxes?
They can all shove their bills up their arse.
Anyway...
I'm soon by-passing Klamath Falls - the Klamath River is host to a number of lumber mills and the logs are floating within booms to be processed...
Past Klamath Falls the road skirts Klamath Lake, heading north...
It's a beautiful ride, hardly any traffic and a cooling breeze off the water...
Pretty soon I am turned left towards Crater Lake National Park...
About time for a barn (it's been a while)...
I start the climb into the Park - at this altitude there's lots of snow still lying - some of it in drifts several feet thick...
Reaching the attractively named "Rim Village", I notice immediately that there has been an MG rally of some sort here (i'd noticed a few coming in the opposite direction on the way up)...
Some of the more elderly ones have been completely over-restored...
I refer some patina of age on an old car - these never looked this good when they left the factory...
Anyway - I'm not there to photograph cars - let's have a look at the lake...
Crater Lake is Oregon's only National Park...
The crater itself is the result of a massive eruption of a volcano (Mount Mazama) about 7700 years ago - the crater is the caldera.
It's the deepest lake in the USA (nearly 2000ft at it's deepest point)...
What none of these facts tell you is how beautiful the lake is...
Like some billion carat sapphire fallen to earth...
I sit and enjoy the silence for a while...
Then it's time to move on...
Road works with the Park have been stopped - leaving some gravel surface. This is the start of the 4th July weekend - probably the Park's busiest of the season...
At this altitude, this is the realm of the snowmobiler for most of the year. Even now, in the height of summer, snow is everywhere...
A last look...
and then I must make a move...
100 miles or so to do...
Doris steers me directly to a highway leading for Roseburg - my target for the day...
It's a good road (with a silly 55mph speed limit, which I use as a very rough guideline)...
Quick bridge shot...
I stop briefly in the town of Glide, when I see this array parked in front of a house - any guesses?
In no time, it seems, I am filling up at a local fuel station and then checking into my very pleasant room in Roseburg. 86 F - a much more civilised temperature...
Good day...
I sleep well, aided by the beer tokens I was given, which led to my purchasing several more (it's almost as if that was their plan all along...). But I have a clear head and a bit of an appetite, so I quickly ablute and pack, then wander down to see what's on offer...
This place is great...
I get served a meal completely in proportion to my weight...
Without doubt the best hotel of this trip - I don't know how they do it for the price. I fill my Camelback up with iced water and then bring the Adv around and park it under the canopy while I take the luggage cart upstairs...
Whilst packing the bike, I meet Delilah, a pup of uncertain parentage...
...and Samson - who looks too similar not to be related...
I'm on the road just after 0830, heading through Redding towards the Freeway...
They were closed, unfortunately - I could have probably have done with some "Emotional Repatterning"...
I join the I5 for about 70 miles - it's nice to get some cool air flowing around me...
It's not a bad route for an Interstate...
I once again keep myself amused - this chap needs to polish up the rear of his tanker a little...
I'm heading into some mountains...
...they dominate the horizon...
Lots of trucks carrying lumber on I5...
This legalisation is clearly big business...
I run into short periods of roadworks, but nothing that holds me up too long...
eventually, Doris turns me off the I5 and towards Klamath Falls...
It's a nice road...
...with a 65mph limit and very little traffic...
After abut 120 miles, I feel like stopping for a break and choose this rather run-down looking cantina - in the town of Dorris...
...where I am served Nachos and a couple glasses of homemade lemonade - delicious...
I spot this old girl across the street...
...any guesses?
Onward!
I fill up at a small filling station, then follow this chap out of town...
[Rolf Harris]Can you tell what it is yet? [/Rolf Harris]
This should make it a bit easier...
Just after 1130 I enter Oregon and pass the usual clutch of signs telling people what is and is not allowed in the state they have just entered...
What I initially take to be swans on the drainage canal to my right, turn out to be pelicans (or at least I think they are - can anyone confirm)?
Do you know the similarity between a pelican, a flamingo and Her Majesty's Inspector of Taxes?
They can all shove their bills up their arse.
Anyway...
I'm soon by-passing Klamath Falls - the Klamath River is host to a number of lumber mills and the logs are floating within booms to be processed...
Past Klamath Falls the road skirts Klamath Lake, heading north...
It's a beautiful ride, hardly any traffic and a cooling breeze off the water...
Pretty soon I am turned left towards Crater Lake National Park...
About time for a barn (it's been a while)...
I start the climb into the Park - at this altitude there's lots of snow still lying - some of it in drifts several feet thick...
Reaching the attractively named "Rim Village", I notice immediately that there has been an MG rally of some sort here (i'd noticed a few coming in the opposite direction on the way up)...
Some of the more elderly ones have been completely over-restored...
I refer some patina of age on an old car - these never looked this good when they left the factory...
Anyway - I'm not there to photograph cars - let's have a look at the lake...
Crater Lake is Oregon's only National Park...
The crater itself is the result of a massive eruption of a volcano (Mount Mazama) about 7700 years ago - the crater is the caldera.
It's the deepest lake in the USA (nearly 2000ft at it's deepest point)...
What none of these facts tell you is how beautiful the lake is...
Like some billion carat sapphire fallen to earth...
I sit and enjoy the silence for a while...
Then it's time to move on...
Road works with the Park have been stopped - leaving some gravel surface. This is the start of the 4th July weekend - probably the Park's busiest of the season...
At this altitude, this is the realm of the snowmobiler for most of the year. Even now, in the height of summer, snow is everywhere...
A last look...
and then I must make a move...
100 miles or so to do...
Doris steers me directly to a highway leading for Roseburg - my target for the day...
It's a good road (with a silly 55mph speed limit, which I use as a very rough guideline)...
Quick bridge shot...
I stop briefly in the town of Glide, when I see this array parked in front of a house - any guesses?
In no time, it seems, I am filling up at a local fuel station and then checking into my very pleasant room in Roseburg. 86 F - a much more civilised temperature...
Good day...
Crater lake is one of teh most beautiful places on the planet.....!! No picture can convey how blue that water is.
You were very lucky to get such a clear view of Crater Lake i reckon.
It was completely shrouded in cloud when we were there but, it was the
worst day of our trip weatherwise as it was pissing down most of the
day and still was when we reached the motel at Fort Klammath.
Will try again this year.
Next instalment please
It was completely shrouded in cloud when we were there but, it was the
worst day of our trip weatherwise as it was pissing down most of the
day and still was when we reached the motel at Fort Klammath.
Will try again this year.
Next instalment please
Mike,
When I'm on tour I hardly ever remember to get my camera out except at planned stops. You seem to be set up so you can take a photo at will when you spot something interesting so clearly you have set up for this. How are you doing it please?
I'm off up the west coast of Scotland next week and would love to have more photos.
When I'm on tour I hardly ever remember to get my camera out except at planned stops. You seem to be set up so you can take a photo at will when you spot something interesting so clearly you have set up for this. How are you doing it please?
I'm off up the west coast of Scotland next week and would love to have more photos.
+1. I have tried shooting on the move but rarely achieve the results I want.
Oh well, from this time next week I'll have 2 months in the US to practice
+1. I have tried shooting on the move but rarely achieve the results I want.
Oh well, from this time next week I'll have 2 months in the US to practice
You need to ditch the Instamatic Steve
6 more sleeps then it begins
Hi Shakey,
Some years ago, I decided that, instead of thinking "That would make a nice picture" and riding on, I'd turn back and take the picture. This makes riding with me a nightmare, which is one of the reasons I travel solo
I carry a Canon S100 in a pouch on my belt and the lion's share of my pics are taken on the move. The S100 I have been using on this trip is on its last legs and I have been fighting a number of faults on it (runaway zoom and an error which leaves it inoperable until the battery is disconnected and reconnected). I have a spare in my luggage and will probably give this one a viking funeral at the end of the trip (my cameras lead a hard life and arre lucky to last a couple of years - I buy used ones from eBay usually).
Nearly all the pictures taken on the move are inverted, as that's the most natural way to hold the camera when riding. Switching it on and off is a case of developing the correct 'muscle memory' through practice. I never look at the viewfinder/monitor on the rear of the camera when riding - just point at what I want to picture and press the button. I take a lot of pictures - as an example yesterday I took 180, of which I used about 50.
For the safety nazis - don't attempt this unless you are completely confident of your ability to do so safely yada, yada, yada...
Mike
You were very lucky to get such a clear view of Crater Lake i reckon.
It was completely shrouded in cloud when we were there but, it was the
worst day of our trip weatherwise as it was pissing down most of the
day and still was when we reached the motel at Fort Klammath.
Will try again this year.
Next instalment please
You stayed in Fort Klamath? What a hole!
I've been to Crater Lake three times and have had clear weather each time - I think you were just unlucky. Last time I went was in October 2014 and it was a very grey day - still a beautiful spot, but you need the weather to bring out the colour of the lake...
Mike the birds in the photo were indeed Pelicans.
You stayed in Fort Klamath? What a hole!
You have to know the right place Mike http://www.theaspeninn.com
. Excellent little place, access to the BBQ and groups of tossers on their website.We were very, very unlucky to have bad weather up there a couple of years ago as Uturntony said. It was the 1st rain they had had for 4 months and was fucking biblical. I've ordered wall to wall sunshine for this years 2 visits
2nd July 2106
I sleep fairly well and wake early. This is my last day on the bike - and I have about 200 miles or so to Jorge's house in Beaverton. Jorge is putting in long hours at the US Olympic Trials at Eugene, just up the road, so won't be home until later this evening.
I pack the gear up and stack it ready to collect on the luggage trolley. I walk down the corridor and press the lift button, and am just wondering why I can't hear any of the normal mechanical clanking when a chap comes up the stairs, smiles apologetically, and puts an "Out of Service" sign on the lift...
Hey-ho.
I walk downstairs, check the pressures and levels on the bike and then park it under the lobby arch in the shade.
Looks like the luggage trolley is being put to good use...
I walk back upstairs to start ferrying my gear down and Chad - the chap with the sticker - offers to give me a hand. Tip top
Between the two of us we make it in a single journey...
I get kitted up and press the starter at just after 0800, and set off heading vaguely north, following Doris's Winding Roads route...
Right next to the hotel is Roseburg's local airport - just puddle-jumpers by the look of it. A Cessna gets airborne as I ride beneath...
I love getting a lucky snap or two in...
Doris keeps me fairly close to the Interstate to begin with (I suspect it was the original main road)...
...but soon steers me to more rural highways...
It's a glorious morning - 72F without a breath of wind and hardly a cloud in the sky...
I consider joining the I5 for a bit, just to see what a "classy" truck stop looks like...
A lot of fairly old Detroit steel in this yard - but nothing unusual that I can recognise...
Any idea what this was, before someone decided to use it in a demolition derby?
Onward!
Quick barn pic...
There's virtually no traffic, and I keep up a comfortable 55-60mph - being wary about the amount of wildlife I see...
...but this is a beautiful day, and the weather is perfect for riding, so I take my time and enjoy it...
A couple of times - and with no notice - the road surface changes to gravel. But it's a well made road and doesn't impede my progress at all...
Suddenly - turkeys!
The adult birds flutter over into a field to my left, leaving the chicks in the road - I ride on past them slowly...
I only grabbed an orange juice at the hotel, and am beginning to feel a little peckish...
Exactly on cue, I enter the town of Cottage Grove...
...home to a small bar and diner, The Grove, where Beverly...
...tempts me away from my chosen pancakes, by mentioning she came in early that day to make a new batch of biscuits and gravy - she makes these from scratch...
That'll do the trick...
I get kitted back up and head out once more into the mid-Oregon countryside...
Where this ageing gent greeted me...
Any guesses? I'll be really impressed if someone can identify it...
...only bridge shot of the day, I fear...
Spotted this old girl in Harrisburg - for sale, if you're interested...
I'm getting a bit tired, so decide to knock some time of the journey by joining the Interstate...
...where I pass this gas-guzzler...
After 70 miles or so, I'm steered off towards Beaverton...
...and, a couple of miles before arriving home I fill up with fuel for the last time...
...where the gas station owner has put his pride and joy on display...
It's in beautiful condition...
Any guesses?
I arrive back at Jorge & Jen's house at just after 1300...
3990 miles in two weeks - not a bad way to spend time...
I sleep fairly well and wake early. This is my last day on the bike - and I have about 200 miles or so to Jorge's house in Beaverton. Jorge is putting in long hours at the US Olympic Trials at Eugene, just up the road, so won't be home until later this evening.
I pack the gear up and stack it ready to collect on the luggage trolley. I walk down the corridor and press the lift button, and am just wondering why I can't hear any of the normal mechanical clanking when a chap comes up the stairs, smiles apologetically, and puts an "Out of Service" sign on the lift...
Hey-ho.
I walk downstairs, check the pressures and levels on the bike and then park it under the lobby arch in the shade.
Looks like the luggage trolley is being put to good use...
I walk back upstairs to start ferrying my gear down and Chad - the chap with the sticker - offers to give me a hand. Tip top
Between the two of us we make it in a single journey...
I get kitted up and press the starter at just after 0800, and set off heading vaguely north, following Doris's Winding Roads route...
Right next to the hotel is Roseburg's local airport - just puddle-jumpers by the look of it. A Cessna gets airborne as I ride beneath...
I love getting a lucky snap or two in...
Doris keeps me fairly close to the Interstate to begin with (I suspect it was the original main road)...
...but soon steers me to more rural highways...
It's a glorious morning - 72F without a breath of wind and hardly a cloud in the sky...
I consider joining the I5 for a bit, just to see what a "classy" truck stop looks like...
A lot of fairly old Detroit steel in this yard - but nothing unusual that I can recognise...
Any idea what this was, before someone decided to use it in a demolition derby?
Onward!
Quick barn pic...
There's virtually no traffic, and I keep up a comfortable 55-60mph - being wary about the amount of wildlife I see...
...but this is a beautiful day, and the weather is perfect for riding, so I take my time and enjoy it...
A couple of times - and with no notice - the road surface changes to gravel. But it's a well made road and doesn't impede my progress at all...
Suddenly - turkeys!
The adult birds flutter over into a field to my left, leaving the chicks in the road - I ride on past them slowly...
I only grabbed an orange juice at the hotel, and am beginning to feel a little peckish...
Exactly on cue, I enter the town of Cottage Grove...
...home to a small bar and diner, The Grove, where Beverly...
...tempts me away from my chosen pancakes, by mentioning she came in early that day to make a new batch of biscuits and gravy - she makes these from scratch...
That'll do the trick...
I get kitted back up and head out once more into the mid-Oregon countryside...
Where this ageing gent greeted me...
Any guesses? I'll be really impressed if someone can identify it...
...only bridge shot of the day, I fear...
Spotted this old girl in Harrisburg - for sale, if you're interested...
I'm getting a bit tired, so decide to knock some time of the journey by joining the Interstate...
...where I pass this gas-guzzler...
After 70 miles or so, I'm steered off towards Beaverton...
...and, a couple of miles before arriving home I fill up with fuel for the last time...
...where the gas station owner has put his pride and joy on display...
It's in beautiful condition...
Any guesses?
I arrive back at Jorge & Jen's house at just after 1300...
3990 miles in two weeks - not a bad way to spend time...
2nd July 2016 (cont)
After unloading the bike in the garage and making an enormous (and insanitary) pile of clothing, bags etc at the bottom of the stairs, I eventually have a shower and change into clean - if rather rumpled - clothes and return feeling like a member of the human race.
I join Jen on a trip into Portland, where she's meeting her cousin and family. They are on the last day of a three day trip driving from San Diego (where they live) to Tacoma to visit family.
We arrange to meet at one of Portland's 'must do' venues, Pine Street Market ...
It's basically a huge food hall, containing miniature versions of several of Portland's best eateries...
...with communal dining areas, free water and a great atmosphere...
You do not want to drink a six-pack of these...
Jen and I each order a hot dog (mine was a Bratwurst and Jen's Italian, I think)...
This anti-personnel mine goes off when your food is ready...
It was delicious - and pretty reasonably priced...
...but then it was time for the main event - Ice cream from Wizbangbar...
Oregon Black Raspberry dipped, waffle cone...
...and other delights...
We take our ice creams outside, wandering down the road, where the 4th July spirit is in full swing...
...and where there's a long queue at Voodoo Doughnuts - who apparently make doughnuts in amusing shapes. I was just impressed they spelled doughnut correctly...
After saying our goodbyes, Jen drives us back to the house and I get down to the business of photo-uploading and journal writing. It being a nice day, I do this out in the back garden, with Zoe as company...
A very pleasant afternoon...
After unloading the bike in the garage and making an enormous (and insanitary) pile of clothing, bags etc at the bottom of the stairs, I eventually have a shower and change into clean - if rather rumpled - clothes and return feeling like a member of the human race.
I join Jen on a trip into Portland, where she's meeting her cousin and family. They are on the last day of a three day trip driving from San Diego (where they live) to Tacoma to visit family.
We arrange to meet at one of Portland's 'must do' venues, Pine Street Market ...
It's basically a huge food hall, containing miniature versions of several of Portland's best eateries...
...with communal dining areas, free water and a great atmosphere...
You do not want to drink a six-pack of these...
Jen and I each order a hot dog (mine was a Bratwurst and Jen's Italian, I think)...
This anti-personnel mine goes off when your food is ready...
It was delicious - and pretty reasonably priced...
...but then it was time for the main event - Ice cream from Wizbangbar...
Oregon Black Raspberry dipped, waffle cone...
...and other delights...
We take our ice creams outside, wandering down the road, where the 4th July spirit is in full swing...
...and where there's a long queue at Voodoo Doughnuts - who apparently make doughnuts in amusing shapes. I was just impressed they spelled doughnut correctly...
After saying our goodbyes, Jen drives us back to the house and I get down to the business of photo-uploading and journal writing. It being a nice day, I do this out in the back garden, with Zoe as company...
A very pleasant afternoon...
Excellent stuff... Thanks again for posting Mike 
Safe Trip Home Mike ........... Thanks for the tales !
Mr K
Registered user
Thanks for that Trip Mike
Enjoyed it immensely It would be nice sometime to do a big trip myself but I ashamedly never get around to it
Enjoyed it immensely It would be nice sometime to do a big trip myself but I ashamedly never get around to it
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