A Mike O RR is always a special treat, keep it coming mate
Who takes leave in October?
- Thread starter MikeO
- Start date
14th October 2014
I sleep fairly well, but the early risers wake me as they pack and leave. I eventually surface at about 08:00 and quickly ablute and suit up to ride down to BMW Utah…
The Freeway is really busy - although I only have to travel one junction. There is no filtering/lane-splitting allowed, so I wait my turn in traffic as the staggered traffic lights allow two vehicles per lane on at a time. It works quite well.
I'm soon pulling into BMW Utah...
...and checking on their tyre availability. As they have not put anything on the bench yet...
...Alex agrees to fit a pair of Anakee 3 tyres and do an oil and filter change straight away...
To be honest, I'd been a bit concerned about the rear tyre since Blanding...
Apparently, the old dealers, BMW of Salt Lake, are no longer in business. BMW Utah has this combined dealership, which sells BMW, Triumph, Ducati, Guzzi...
...and other assorted stuff (I saw some weird looking Bombardier trikes, for example).
I install myself in the waiting area as the sales team pitch up half an hour late...
...and start moving bikes outside into the bright sunshine. I drink a couple of cups of coffee (foul - free) and read some magazines as Alex's team do their stuff.
After just over an hour Alex collects me and relieves me of just over $500...
Mmmm - nice hairy tyres...
I take a last look around the car park...
...they have the contract for both SLC Police and the Utah Highway Patrol...
...and then ride back to my hotel, checking out on the dot of 11:00.
I do a last minute check of the bike and suddenly notice...
...that the headlamp guard has been pinched. Bugger.
It just pulls off - as some lowlife found to his profit. I later go back through my earlier pics - it has been missing since before I arrived at Blanding...
Worse still - it's not available from BMW any longer, so I can't buy Jorge a direct replacement - I put an advert on ADVrider and UKGSer to see if I can source a used one...
I ride 200yds down the road to Denny's for a spot of breakfast...
Where I am 'greeted' my a big guy wearing a Stetson and asking me all sorts of questions about the bike, my nationality, the French etc etc. I try to engage him in conversation for about ten minutes but he clearly treats other people talking as an interruption in his flow. I'm reminded of the Texan character that occasionally appears in the Simpsons
Eventually I ask him if he'll shut up so I can order breakfast. I do so and he then starts again. eventually I tell him to bother someone else, which he does, wandering over to the other side of the restaurant. Millie, my waitress, apologises - he's a apparently a regular who just doesn't have an off switch or the self-awareness to know he's being boring.
I think he's just a lonely old chap.
But it’s good to get something to eat (and some peace and quiet)...
After settling up, I kit up and start heading north towards Salt Lake City. The traffic is light and I keep on the Freeway until well north of the city.
I pull off to refuel at a Texaco station, where this well-preserved old girl was getting towed home...
...and consult the map.
I ask Doris to steer me by an interesting course towards Oregon and she's straight on the job...
Any guesses as to the identity of the red car?
Doris steers me along a series of north and westbound roads, pushing me roughly west northwest...
In the middle of nowhere, I come across this odd looking plant...
Odd-looking because it has several large units, all geographically remote from one another. This suggests explosives of some form, as does the perimeter wire with thirty feet of defoliated ground inside it. The factory logo simply says ATK...
...and a Google search reveals it to be a defence and aerospace company...
Onward!
Back on the Interstate for a few miles- the Adv is singing along at 85-90mph...
I'm turned off onto Highway 30 West...
...and at about 13:45 enter Idaho...
There are loads of trucks carrying sugar beet, dumping it in huge pies at collection points. It's exactly like being back in Norfolk except for - well, everything, really...
I continue the same pattern - long westerly stretch, followed by short northerly stretch as I cross Idaho...
Irrigators march inexorably across fields...
Another odd car - I have no idea what this is - anybody?
I stop to take a picture of this old girl...
...when the owner, Don, turns up. I ask if he minds - he grins and tells me he's got something better in the barn...
It's a very old John Deere tractor...
...but one day, someone's in for a nice "barn-find"...
It hasn't moved in over twelve years - Don doesn't seem to be in any hurry to do anything about it...
Saying my farewells I continue to head west...
I am starting to feel tired and decide to get Doris to find me an hotel. She points me at the Hampton Inn at Mountain Home...
I get a huge room for $109 - that'll do nicely
I ring Jorgé up and break the news about the headlamp guard...
I sleep fairly well, but the early risers wake me as they pack and leave. I eventually surface at about 08:00 and quickly ablute and suit up to ride down to BMW Utah…
The Freeway is really busy - although I only have to travel one junction. There is no filtering/lane-splitting allowed, so I wait my turn in traffic as the staggered traffic lights allow two vehicles per lane on at a time. It works quite well.
I'm soon pulling into BMW Utah...
...and checking on their tyre availability. As they have not put anything on the bench yet...
...Alex agrees to fit a pair of Anakee 3 tyres and do an oil and filter change straight away...
To be honest, I'd been a bit concerned about the rear tyre since Blanding...
Apparently, the old dealers, BMW of Salt Lake, are no longer in business. BMW Utah has this combined dealership, which sells BMW, Triumph, Ducati, Guzzi...
...and other assorted stuff (I saw some weird looking Bombardier trikes, for example).
I install myself in the waiting area as the sales team pitch up half an hour late...
...and start moving bikes outside into the bright sunshine. I drink a couple of cups of coffee (foul - free) and read some magazines as Alex's team do their stuff.
After just over an hour Alex collects me and relieves me of just over $500...
Mmmm - nice hairy tyres...
I take a last look around the car park...
...they have the contract for both SLC Police and the Utah Highway Patrol...
...and then ride back to my hotel, checking out on the dot of 11:00.
I do a last minute check of the bike and suddenly notice...
...that the headlamp guard has been pinched. Bugger.
It just pulls off - as some lowlife found to his profit. I later go back through my earlier pics - it has been missing since before I arrived at Blanding...
Worse still - it's not available from BMW any longer, so I can't buy Jorge a direct replacement - I put an advert on ADVrider and UKGSer to see if I can source a used one...
I ride 200yds down the road to Denny's for a spot of breakfast...
Where I am 'greeted' my a big guy wearing a Stetson and asking me all sorts of questions about the bike, my nationality, the French etc etc. I try to engage him in conversation for about ten minutes but he clearly treats other people talking as an interruption in his flow. I'm reminded of the Texan character that occasionally appears in the Simpsons
Eventually I ask him if he'll shut up so I can order breakfast. I do so and he then starts again. eventually I tell him to bother someone else, which he does, wandering over to the other side of the restaurant. Millie, my waitress, apologises - he's a apparently a regular who just doesn't have an off switch or the self-awareness to know he's being boring.
I think he's just a lonely old chap.
But it’s good to get something to eat (and some peace and quiet)...
After settling up, I kit up and start heading north towards Salt Lake City. The traffic is light and I keep on the Freeway until well north of the city.
I pull off to refuel at a Texaco station, where this well-preserved old girl was getting towed home...
...and consult the map.
I ask Doris to steer me by an interesting course towards Oregon and she's straight on the job...
Any guesses as to the identity of the red car?
Doris steers me along a series of north and westbound roads, pushing me roughly west northwest...
In the middle of nowhere, I come across this odd looking plant...
Odd-looking because it has several large units, all geographically remote from one another. This suggests explosives of some form, as does the perimeter wire with thirty feet of defoliated ground inside it. The factory logo simply says ATK...
...and a Google search reveals it to be a defence and aerospace company...
Onward!
Back on the Interstate for a few miles- the Adv is singing along at 85-90mph...
I'm turned off onto Highway 30 West...
...and at about 13:45 enter Idaho...
There are loads of trucks carrying sugar beet, dumping it in huge pies at collection points. It's exactly like being back in Norfolk except for - well, everything, really...
I continue the same pattern - long westerly stretch, followed by short northerly stretch as I cross Idaho...
Irrigators march inexorably across fields...
Another odd car - I have no idea what this is - anybody?
I stop to take a picture of this old girl...
...when the owner, Don, turns up. I ask if he minds - he grins and tells me he's got something better in the barn...
It's a very old John Deere tractor...
...but one day, someone's in for a nice "barn-find"...
It hasn't moved in over twelve years - Don doesn't seem to be in any hurry to do anything about it...
Saying my farewells I continue to head west...
I am starting to feel tired and decide to get Doris to find me an hotel. She points me at the Hampton Inn at Mountain Home...
I get a huge room for $109 - that'll do nicely
I ring Jorgé up and break the news about the headlamp guard...
Correct
How about the old girl in the field?
Looks like something from AMC. '65 Rambler....?
15th October 2014
I have decided to have a day off the bike and get some chores and other stuff done. After extending my stay, I enjoy a hot breakfast and chat with Linda, who does some housekeeping here. She lived at RAF Mildenhall for about three years back in the early 90's and obviously enjoyed her time in the UK.
I carry a pocket full of quarters and the bag of toxic waste that is my laundry up to the little laundrette on the third floor (actually the second floor, but when in Rome...) using Schindler's Lift...
On the trip back down, there is a ringtone from the emergency 'phone, followed by an auto-pick up...
...and an automated cold call tries to sell me insurance...
I have decided to have a day off the bike and get some chores and other stuff done. After extending my stay, I enjoy a hot breakfast and chat with Linda, who does some housekeeping here. She lived at RAF Mildenhall for about three years back in the early 90's and obviously enjoyed her time in the UK.
I carry a pocket full of quarters and the bag of toxic waste that is my laundry up to the little laundrette on the third floor (actually the second floor, but when in Rome...) using Schindler's Lift...
On the trip back down, there is a ringtone from the emergency 'phone, followed by an auto-pick up...
...and an automated cold call tries to sell me insurance...
Hmm...
Looks interesting 
mind you them m and ms will probably do you more harm
mind you them m and ms will probably do you more harm
Mike O'wesome. Another O'wesome ride report. Why did I only find this one now? 
Brings back memories of some walking treks around those regions way back in 2000. Let hear more ... Ride safe.
Brings back memories of some walking treks around those regions way back in 2000. Let hear more ... Ride safe.
16th October 2014
After a day off the bike in Mountain Home, I awake after eight hours straight sleep. I’m clearly over my jet lag - of course I am flying back on Monday…
It’s a bright overcast day. After a hot breakfast, I load the bike…
…a task made considerably easier by the luggage trolley in the lobby…
I’m packed and on the road by just after 10:00, re-joining the Interstate for a few miles towards Boise…
The airport is right by the Interstate…
Traffic is light and the miles tick over quite quickly…
Godzilla having a snooze…
Doris soon turns me down some smaller highways, pushing me west and south…
Mmmm – chicken…
The countryside gets prettier, with hills on the horizon. It’s not warm and I have the heated grips switched on (although for some reason I am not wearing a fleece)…
I spot this old gentleman at the side of the road – any guesses for make/model/year?
Onward!
The cloud is thinning and the occasional sunny spell shows what a pleasant day it would be of the cloud would clear…
I enter Oregon and the speed limit drops to 55mph...
Which seems very slow on these roads...
...so I use it a loose guideline, rather than a rule...
I come into Jordan Valley, a small town I stayed at (in the Sahara Motel) back in 2004. Time for lunch.
The lovely Christina...
...brings me the best cheeseburger I can remember eating. All for $8!
As I'm finishing up, Jim comes across for a chat...
He's got a few bikes, but doesn't ride so much since his wife died. He tells me he has a friend who is pestering him to ride through South America - I tell him I'd jump at the chance and he grins and says he's pretty close to saying yes...
I say goodbye to the staff and patrons of the JV Cafe and head west...
The roads are quiet - someone's clearly having a worse day than me...
I suppose I had to arrive here some day...
Although this is still high desert it feels almost like Rannoch Moor...
Things get a little twistier...
...and then straighten out again. the sun comes out and huge mirage pools of water appear on the road at the horizon...
Of course, if this was Rannoch Moor, the pools of water would not be a mirage...
I stop for fuel in this little ranch station - regular unleaded for the Adv...
...blueberry pie for me.
Good job I stopped - imagine how far the next blueberry pie might be...
These cattle grids (called cattle guards here) are quite a common sight. The painted ones work just as well as the real ones apparently. Which explains why cattle never developed an independent space programme...
I come across acres of solar panels at the roadside...
A final fuel stop and I start heading through the Winema National Forest...
Not too forest-like to begin with...
...but soon we get amongst the trees...
I'm in a dilemma - I'm entering woodland an hour or so before sunset, so I'm keen to keep my speed up to clear the area...
...but part of me remembers being hit by Bambi in 2006 and the ensuing unpleasantness...
I round a left hand bend to see a full-grown Red Deer doe grazing at the left of the road. She looks up at me and then walks slowly back into the woods.
I clear the woods about 20 minutes later, suffering from advanced paranoia...
I ride along the southern shore of Klamath Lake before arriving at the Super 8 at Klamath Falls and checking in...
Although there is a good Internet connection, there is a problem loading my pictures, so I decide to post today's journal tomorrow afternoon.
Good day.
After a day off the bike in Mountain Home, I awake after eight hours straight sleep. I’m clearly over my jet lag - of course I am flying back on Monday…
It’s a bright overcast day. After a hot breakfast, I load the bike…
…a task made considerably easier by the luggage trolley in the lobby…
I’m packed and on the road by just after 10:00, re-joining the Interstate for a few miles towards Boise…
The airport is right by the Interstate…
Traffic is light and the miles tick over quite quickly…
Godzilla having a snooze…
Doris soon turns me down some smaller highways, pushing me west and south…
Mmmm – chicken…
The countryside gets prettier, with hills on the horizon. It’s not warm and I have the heated grips switched on (although for some reason I am not wearing a fleece)…
I spot this old gentleman at the side of the road – any guesses for make/model/year?
Onward!
The cloud is thinning and the occasional sunny spell shows what a pleasant day it would be of the cloud would clear…
I enter Oregon and the speed limit drops to 55mph...
Which seems very slow on these roads...
...so I use it a loose guideline, rather than a rule...
I come into Jordan Valley, a small town I stayed at (in the Sahara Motel) back in 2004. Time for lunch.
The lovely Christina...
...brings me the best cheeseburger I can remember eating. All for $8!
As I'm finishing up, Jim comes across for a chat...
He's got a few bikes, but doesn't ride so much since his wife died. He tells me he has a friend who is pestering him to ride through South America - I tell him I'd jump at the chance and he grins and says he's pretty close to saying yes...
I say goodbye to the staff and patrons of the JV Cafe and head west...
The roads are quiet - someone's clearly having a worse day than me...
I suppose I had to arrive here some day...
Although this is still high desert it feels almost like Rannoch Moor...
Things get a little twistier...
...and then straighten out again. the sun comes out and huge mirage pools of water appear on the road at the horizon...
Of course, if this was Rannoch Moor, the pools of water would not be a mirage...
I stop for fuel in this little ranch station - regular unleaded for the Adv...
...blueberry pie for me.
Good job I stopped - imagine how far the next blueberry pie might be...
These cattle grids (called cattle guards here) are quite a common sight. The painted ones work just as well as the real ones apparently. Which explains why cattle never developed an independent space programme...
I come across acres of solar panels at the roadside...
A final fuel stop and I start heading through the Winema National Forest...
Not too forest-like to begin with...
...but soon we get amongst the trees...
I'm in a dilemma - I'm entering woodland an hour or so before sunset, so I'm keen to keep my speed up to clear the area...
...but part of me remembers being hit by Bambi in 2006 and the ensuing unpleasantness...
I round a left hand bend to see a full-grown Red Deer doe grazing at the left of the road. She looks up at me and then walks slowly back into the woods.
I clear the woods about 20 minutes later, suffering from advanced paranoia...
I ride along the southern shore of Klamath Lake before arriving at the Super 8 at Klamath Falls and checking in...
Although there is a good Internet connection, there is a problem loading my pictures, so I decide to post today's journal tomorrow afternoon.
Good day.
I spot this old gentleman at the side of the road – any guesses for make/model/year?
It's a '54 Chevrolet 4 door sedan.
17th October 2014
I wake early – this is a truck stop and the drivers are getting on the road from about 04:30.
I eventually surface around 08:00 and quickly pack, ablute and get suited up…
I load the bike and then ride it over to the pumps to fill up. I am on the road for 09:10 - it's a bright overcast morning, but there's definitely a feeling of damp in the air...
I retrace my steps for a few miles, before turning left up the 62 towards Crater Lake...
It has obviously been raining here overnight and the road surface is damp. I climb slowly up into the hills surrounding the National Park...
Haven't had a barn for a while, have we?
There are loads of them here...
The temperature drops sharply as I climb...
It clearly won't be long before this is the domain of the snowmobiler...
Some evidence of marital disharmony by the look of it...
I pay my $5 entrance fee and make my way towards the enticingly named Rim Village...
It's now bloody cold - I'm looking forward to a coffee at the village...
Nearly there...
Excellent sign...
I stop at the lodge, which is run with a studied lack of enthusiasm, and warm up with a large coffee and something warm to eat.
Onwards!
Crater Lake is the remnants of a dormant volcano - Mazama - it erupted around 7,700yrs ago and the interior of the caldera then sank and the crater filled with water. It is North America's deepest lake.
I am not seeing it at its best today - with a blue sky the lake is transformed - here's a pic I took in June 2004...
It's a beautiful spot, though...
The weather to the north...
...suggests I might want to get a shift on, though.
I have set an aiming point of Eugene for this afternoon - it's a gloomy and cold day and there's not much fun to be had riding for the sake of it in this weather.
It starts to rain gently. I keep pressing on, reasoning I will be in my hotel soon and the rain is doing little more than freckling the front of my gloves at present...
I get into Eugene to find...
That it's their University’s Homecoming this weekend - plus there is a big concert in town - everywhere is full...
I ask Jessie, the charming receptionist at the Hampton Inn if she can check with her colleagues in Salem (about an hour and a quarter north). She does so and I speak to the lovely Katie, who books me a room...
After a final fuel stop I join the Interstate towards Salem. Traffic is heavy and the light rain persists. It's the temperature drop that's most morale sapping - I switch the heated grips to High and plough on northwards...
I reach the outskirts of Salem an hour or so later...
And Doris steers me straight to the Hampton Inn, where I find Katie...
...is just as lovely in person as she sounds on the phone.
I check in, unload the bike, upload my pictures, order a pizza and have a long shower - in that order...
I wake early – this is a truck stop and the drivers are getting on the road from about 04:30.
I eventually surface around 08:00 and quickly pack, ablute and get suited up…
I load the bike and then ride it over to the pumps to fill up. I am on the road for 09:10 - it's a bright overcast morning, but there's definitely a feeling of damp in the air...
I retrace my steps for a few miles, before turning left up the 62 towards Crater Lake...
It has obviously been raining here overnight and the road surface is damp. I climb slowly up into the hills surrounding the National Park...
Haven't had a barn for a while, have we?
There are loads of them here...
The temperature drops sharply as I climb...
It clearly won't be long before this is the domain of the snowmobiler...
Some evidence of marital disharmony by the look of it...
I pay my $5 entrance fee and make my way towards the enticingly named Rim Village...
It's now bloody cold - I'm looking forward to a coffee at the village...
Nearly there...
Excellent sign...
I stop at the lodge, which is run with a studied lack of enthusiasm, and warm up with a large coffee and something warm to eat.
Onwards!
Crater Lake is the remnants of a dormant volcano - Mazama - it erupted around 7,700yrs ago and the interior of the caldera then sank and the crater filled with water. It is North America's deepest lake.
I am not seeing it at its best today - with a blue sky the lake is transformed - here's a pic I took in June 2004...
It's a beautiful spot, though...
The weather to the north...
...suggests I might want to get a shift on, though.
I have set an aiming point of Eugene for this afternoon - it's a gloomy and cold day and there's not much fun to be had riding for the sake of it in this weather.
It starts to rain gently. I keep pressing on, reasoning I will be in my hotel soon and the rain is doing little more than freckling the front of my gloves at present...
I get into Eugene to find...
That it's their University’s Homecoming this weekend - plus there is a big concert in town - everywhere is full...
I ask Jessie, the charming receptionist at the Hampton Inn if she can check with her colleagues in Salem (about an hour and a quarter north). She does so and I speak to the lovely Katie, who books me a room...
After a final fuel stop I join the Interstate towards Salem. Traffic is heavy and the light rain persists. It's the temperature drop that's most morale sapping - I switch the heated grips to High and plough on northwards...
I reach the outskirts of Salem an hour or so later...
And Doris steers me straight to the Hampton Inn, where I find Katie...
...is just as lovely in person as she sounds on the phone.
I check in, unload the bike, upload my pictures, order a pizza and have a long shower - in that order...
roadrider
Registered user
18th October 2014
A good night’s sleep – I should always stay at Hampton Inns…
A look outside reveals a bright but cloudy day, but it has clearly been raining overnight. I ablute and get suited up, before having breakfast and then loading the bike...
I set off into a pleasant morning at 11:30 and quickly join Interstate 5 towards Portland...
More evidence that winter is on its way...
After an hour or so Doris steers me off the Interstate and into a fairly busy Saturday lunchtime on the Beaverton road...
I queue(!) for fuel at Safeway (wouldn't do to return a bike with an empty tank)...
...and arrive at Jorge & Sheila's house at about 12:45...
I put the side stand down and switch the engine off.
3502 miles - good trip
A good night’s sleep – I should always stay at Hampton Inns…
A look outside reveals a bright but cloudy day, but it has clearly been raining overnight. I ablute and get suited up, before having breakfast and then loading the bike...
I set off into a pleasant morning at 11:30 and quickly join Interstate 5 towards Portland...
More evidence that winter is on its way...
After an hour or so Doris steers me off the Interstate and into a fairly busy Saturday lunchtime on the Beaverton road...
I queue(!) for fuel at Safeway (wouldn't do to return a bike with an empty tank)...
...and arrive at Jorge & Sheila's house at about 12:45...
I put the side stand down and switch the engine off.
3502 miles - good trip
Enjoyed that, thanks Mike...
Great Rr mike
Just finished reading your 04 RR also - what a treat
You leaving the bike in the states or shipping back?
Just finished reading your 04 RR also - what a treat
You leaving the bike in the states or shipping back?
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