29th June
I don’t sleep well – probably because I’m not in Jorge & Sheila’s spare room, which became ‘home’.
After a crappy breakfast, I sit down and write up the last few days’ journal – I must get back into the habit of making this a daily chore…
I set off at about 1000, after a refreshingly easy pack, and set course for Baker City. I’ve decided to head in that direction, but I’m wary of the forecast squally thunderstorms in the east of Oregon – exactly where I’m headed. There’s a flash flood warning out and I treat these with a degree of respect.
I follow the US26 from Prineville…
…through the Ochoco National Forest, until I reach the John Day Fossil Bed National Monument at Painted Hills…
…a geological site which produces the effect of – well – painted rock. As the cloud cover alters the light, the colours change hue – it’s eerily beautiful…
Further down the gravel road is ‘Painted Cove’ – a small lake…
I take my helmet off and relax in the absolute quiet, interrupted only by the Adv’s engine slowly ticking and plinking its way down in temperature and the hum of spectacularly coloured dragonflies. It’s so peaceful, I almost nod off.
It’s time to move on. I get back on the 26 and keep pushing east. The hills here start looking similar – by some quirk of geology they all become flat topped at the same level – they look like a bunch of US Marines…
The weather to the east looks very threatening – I’ve no schedule to keep to and, not wishing to get soaked without good reason, stop in John Day and check into the Best Western. The storm passes without a drop of rain*…
After 10 days without a bike, I can’t keep the smile off my face – it’s GREAT to be back on 2 wheels…
*2 hours later - it's pissing down...
I don’t sleep well – probably because I’m not in Jorge & Sheila’s spare room, which became ‘home’.
After a crappy breakfast, I sit down and write up the last few days’ journal – I must get back into the habit of making this a daily chore…I set off at about 1000, after a refreshingly easy pack, and set course for Baker City. I’ve decided to head in that direction, but I’m wary of the forecast squally thunderstorms in the east of Oregon – exactly where I’m headed. There’s a flash flood warning out and I treat these with a degree of respect.
I follow the US26 from Prineville…
…through the Ochoco National Forest, until I reach the John Day Fossil Bed National Monument at Painted Hills…
…a geological site which produces the effect of – well – painted rock. As the cloud cover alters the light, the colours change hue – it’s eerily beautiful…
Further down the gravel road is ‘Painted Cove’ – a small lake…
I take my helmet off and relax in the absolute quiet, interrupted only by the Adv’s engine slowly ticking and plinking its way down in temperature and the hum of spectacularly coloured dragonflies. It’s so peaceful, I almost nod off.
It’s time to move on. I get back on the 26 and keep pushing east. The hills here start looking similar – by some quirk of geology they all become flat topped at the same level – they look like a bunch of US Marines…
The weather to the east looks very threatening – I’ve no schedule to keep to and, not wishing to get soaked without good reason, stop in John Day and check into the Best Western. The storm passes without a drop of rain*…
After 10 days without a bike, I can’t keep the smile off my face – it’s GREAT to be back on 2 wheels…
*2 hours later - it's pissing down...
