Excuse Me, Does This Trail Go To Portland?

[WoodsChick]

My nephew was getting married right outside of Portland and I wanted to go. Eric didn't want to drive, he didn't want to fly, and the thought of slabbing up HWY 5 for hours on end was more than he could bear. My solution? Let's ride up there on dirt!


We left before the sun came up…

We slabbed up to Redding…

Headed northeast, and hit the dirt…

"Good idea, babe!"

Mmm…damp dirt roads…
(Weird color due to brand new camera, hadn't even read the user manual yet)

We rode under the threat of rain all day, but only had a few raindrops…

There's a telescope and a bag of birthday presents in that duffel…

I love, love, love the red cinder soil of northeastern California…

Fabulous day to be on western shore of Goose Lake…

We wound our way over to 395, dropped some cash at the grocery store in the cool little town of Lakeview, then headed north towards Paisley. After exactly 500 miles we made it to our destination right before sundown…

We were loaded for camping but I knew the first day was going to be a long one so I planned ahead…

We were pretty beat from the long day's ride so we just hit the hay. We knew we'd be up before the sunrise, plenty of time to enjoy the facilities in solitude…
:teeth



WoodsChick

 

[Cabrito]

I'm in!

Can you tell us more about these accommodations?

 

[WoodsChick]

And enjoy, we did...

We soaked until the stars began to disappear…

Then wandered back to the cabin to prepare for departure…

There is a 101º hot springs pool in this historic bath house…

I had already decided to come back to Summer Lake before we even left.


We climbed the hills above Summer Lake…

And headed north…

I am so lucky this guy likes me…

I can live with this kind of pavement…

The Silver Lake Mercantile provided us with a delicious breakfast of frozen green chile burritos and a few more cups of hot coffee…

We headed north through East Fort Rock and China Hat, and down into Bend. I took not one photo til we got to Atomic Moto. Super cool little shop in Bend, owned and operated by Brian, a pretty rad dude! I was so enamored with his collection of vintage gear I forgot to get a photo of us together!

A Dick Burleson Husky jacket! It woud have been mine had it not been 11 sizes too big…

We left the shop and braved the horrific Bend traffic on our way to Sisters. We had been strongly urged to go over McKenzie Pass even though it was paved, and it did not disappoint!

Dee Wright Observatory on McKenzie Pass…

Harsh terrain…

As awesome as this was, the best part was the downside of McKenzie Pass heading west. Super tight and narrow, pretty wet and slidey, not one other vehicle on it…it was great! Much too fun to stop and get a photo, plus it was getting late. It was about 6pm when we got down to the river. We looked for a place to camp but it was mostly all private property. It was also pretty wet, so we just got a place to stay for the night. We used the time after dinner to plan a cool dirt route through the Willamette National Forest. I was really digging the whole "play it by ear" approach to route finding. I usually have a pretty good idea of where we're going but this trip would be different. We just needed to be at the wedding in 2 days!




WoodsChick

 

[WoodsChick]

I'm in!

Can you tell us more about these accommodations?

Summer Lake Hot Springs! That cabin cost us $110, and it was worth every penny. Would have been better had we arrived earlier and left later, but it was exactly what we needed.

We were thinking about taking a coastal route home but we ended up staying there on the way home, too. Lots more photos coming towards the end of this report :teeth




SpringsChick

 

[WoodsChick]

It was really wet outside when we woke up. This would bode well for the dirty day ahead.


I'm pretty sure this trail will take us to Portland…

This just went on for miles and miles!

It started to open up a little more…

And then we had views forever!

It was just beautiful…

And then this…

It's so difficult to see this stuff and try to reconcile the idea that I am losing miles and miles of trails in the forests because my dirt bike and I are degrading the environment.


Time to focus on something more positive…

The damp forest was so beautiful, and it smelled like heaven…

I think this might be Mt Jefferson...

We were trying to go from Quartzville Creek up to Tom Rock Road, which was all dirt and would take us almost all the way into Salem, but this stopped us in our tracks…

It wasn't locked so we went through, only to be turned around a mile or so later by what looked to be a rockslide that never got cleared. "Wildlife" my ass.



We dropped down the paved section of Quartzville, which was an absolute blast, gassed up in Sweet Home, backroads to Albany, then slab all the way into Salem. Horrific traffic once again, no lane-splitting allowed, and it was hotter than hell. We stopped in to visit Bill (world's nicest guy ever!) at Bill's Motorcycles Plus, one of my very favorite Husky shops, and ended up going to dinner with my friends Jon, Lonny, and a few other shop employees. We had a blast! After dinner Jon escorted us to our hotel in McMinnville where we'd be staying for the wedding. We made it!! arty




RelievedChick

 

[RightCoastBias]

This is rad!

I had a ride, albeit all pavement, similar to your route. Was really looking forward to McKenzie Pass and the observatory. Alas life got in the way.

I've since purchased some OBCDR maps and am planning...

 

[two wheel tramp]

YAY! My friend had his 40th at Summer Lake but I wasn't able to make it because Red wee decided she was done. Now it looks like I must get there. How was your route? Do you think it's wee-able? Nothing too crazy? This looks like a fun way to get to my friends up in Portland. :ride

 

[WoodsChick]

We rode out to the wedding site, Champoeg State Park, and changed our clothes in the park bathroom…

It was a pretty fabulous place for a wedding…

One of the best parts was seeing my great niece Elly and my great nephew Finn..

And my niece Casie. She's a wonderful photographer…

And of course my nephew Kristin saying "I do"…

I ended up staying awake alllll night long, drinking wine and talking with my niece Casie after giving Finn his first telescope for his birthday and giving Elly her late birthday presents. It was so nice! I love my niece and don't get to spend near as much time with her as I'd like. It was a fantastic day!


6am came awful early the next morning. Oof… We packed up the bikes, including an 80lb Warn M9000 winch that my nephew Kris had given me…

We waited in the parking lot for my friend Jon to show up on his +50,000-mile `07 Husky SM610. He was going to lead us on a backroads ride down to Eugene where we were going to hook up with a friend of his for some more twisty paved action. While we waited I came up with a little poem in my head. I wrote it down at breakfast about a half hour later…

Cool damp dirt
Beneath my wheel.
Love the way
It makes me feel.
And the sound of
Scritchy gravel
Soundtrack to
Adventure travel.
Don't care where
My Husky's heading
I'm just glad we
Made the wedding.


Jon and I share a deep and abiding love for our 610's…

Jon took us on a great ride beneath non-stop drizzly skies…

Jon had invited his buddy Tim on this ride. He asked what we were riding, and then expressed concern that 2 old folks on heavily-loaded "dual sport bikes" would be able to cut it on this ride. Jon assured him that we knew what we were doing and that all would be fine. I don't think Jon mentioned the winch…



We picked Tim up at his house. He would be sporting a Triumph Daytona 675 and a full set of leathers…

We rode up Aufderheide…

I'm pretty sure by the time we reached Box Canyon
Tim was semi-sorta convinced we could ride…

If not, he was more than convinced by the time we made it back up to the top of McKenzie Pass. I'm pretty sure this was about the time he mentioned something about being embarrassed...:laughing

I'm also pretty sure that if I had been on my 610 he'd have never seen me again. Just goes to show, no matter how fast you are, there's always someone faster. And don't ever count out the old guys, no matter what they're riding.
At least he was a good sport about it…

The aforementioned larfy old-folks dual sports….

We bombed down the east side of the pass and down into Sisters where we bid farewell to Jon and Tim. Eric and I hit the grocery store, and then we hit the road. We had a long way to go and a short time to get there.




OldLarfyButNotSlowDualsportChick

 

[WoodsChick]

This is rad!

I had a ride, albeit all pavement, similar to your route. Was really looking forward to McKenzie Pass and the observatory. Alas life got in the way.

I've since purchased some OBCDR maps and am planning...

Go back now and ride it! Seriously, it was a blast. That, and the scenery is crazy cool! There is a lot of high-penalty stuff if you blow it, though. That lava rock would just chew everything up, I'm sure.

Would love to do some of the OBCDR. I've done a little of the CA one, but the Oregon one looks beautiful.

YAY! My friend had his 40th at Summer Lake but I wasn't able to make it because Red wee decided she was done. Now it looks like I must get there. How was your route? Do you think it's wee-able? Nothing too crazy? This looks like a fun way to get to my friends up in Portland. :ride

Yes, you do need to go there! I think the route up to Summer Lake is doable, for sure. If it's wet you might want to run some good dual sporty tires. There are so many choices, too. I think we could have done all single-lane pavement through the woods if we'd wanted to. I know that we loved the terrain all around there and made up our minds to go back and explore there on the 610's, which we have since done. That will be the next report :teeth




WoodsChick

 

[two wheel tramp]

Go back now and ride it! Seriously, it was a blast. That, and the scenery is crazy cool! There is a lot of high-penalty stuff if you blow it, though. That lava rock would just chew everything up, I'm sure.

Would love to do some of the OBCDR. I've done a little of the CA one, but the Oregon one looks beautiful.



Yes, you do need to go there! I think the route up to Summer Lake is doable, for sure. If it's wet you might want to run some good dual sporty tires. There are so many choices, too. I think we could have done all single-lane pavement through the woods if we'd wanted to. I know that we loved the terrain all around there and made up our minds to go back and explore there on the 610's, which we have since done. That will be the next report :teeth




WoodsChick

I would love to talk maps with you sometime. Either that or I need to kidnap SFMCJohn so he can go with me and help pick up my bike. :laughing

Great photos and report!

 

[Butch]

You guys are awesome. Thanks for sharing.

 

[RightCoastBias]

Go back now and ride it! Seriously, it was a blast. That, and the scenery is crazy cool! There is a lot of high-penalty stuff if you blow it, though. That lava rock would just chew everything up, I'm sure.

Would love to do some of the OBCDR. I've done a little of the CA one, but the Oregon one looks beautiful.
WoodsChick

I'd love to, but I'd literally need to leave now, as it closes november and does not reopen until July. Not sure if it's a 11/1 hard close date, but I'd wager snow is falling up there very soon.

 

[oobus]

My sister lives in Dundee - next time spend the money and go to the Evergreen Museum,
there is some really cool planes in there!

And the wine, oh damn the wine.

 

[SFMCjohn]

While we waited I came up with a little poem in my head.
I wrote it down at breakfast about a half hour later…

Cool damp dirt
Beneath my wheel.
Love the way
It makes me feel.
And the sound of
Scritchy gravel
Soundtrack to
Adventure travel.
Don't care where
My Husky's heading
I'm just glad we
Made the wedding.

:thumbuparty

... I need to kidnap SFMCJohn so he can
go with me and
help
pick
up
my
bike. :laughing

Great photos and report!

I'll have to buy a KTM first,
in order to assume proper
pick-up-helper duty! :laughing

+1 on great photos & report! :ride

 

[two wheel tramp]

Klr, KTM, same difference. :later

 

[louemc]

OMG, So AWESOME, Words Aren't Good Enough... So Thanks for the Pictures...:thumbup :cool

20 miles East of Bend, is an area called Milican Valley, Area set aside for off road use (and Desert Racing).

China Hat was a mountain there. :thumbup

 

[WoodsChick]

We had originally wanted to take a more coastal route back home, but after the rain and the constant dampness, and the total awesomeness of the hot springs and the Fremont National Forest, we decided to go back and get a cabin, and then work our way south via different routes through the same area.

We almost made it before sundown, but the last 15 miles or so were in pitch black darkness. The moon was almost half full and was fairly high in the sky but it didn't seem to be doing us much good. How Eric missed the black cow ambling out onto the road I'll never know. He attributes it to his Euro-spec headlight. He's sure he would not have seen it in time if he'd been running his stock headlight. He missed him by mere inches and I watched the whole thing!

We were happy to get to the springs, and even happier to find that we had the same cabin as before!

We cooked up a tasty dinner from the provisions we'd gotten in Sisters…

…and promptly zonked out. We'd wanted to take a swim in the hot pool before bed but we were just too tired. Staying up all night and drinking the night before, in addition to the early start time for the ride, had done me in. We'd covered about 400 miles on this day and I had nothing left.


Early to bed, early to rise. That's a good thing when at the hot springs. We never saw anyone while we were there!

There are showers in the bath house for the tent campers…

We also soaked in the hot springs after swimming…

Loading up was a sad affair. I did not want to go home. We discussed coming back as soon as possible, and made plans to do so. We went back to soak and swim before leaving, and it was a really pleasant experience in the daylight…

There are a few different rock pools out behind the bath house…

The water in the big pool is heavenly…

We pulled out of there about 9am, gassed up in Paisley, and then hopped onto the road that followed the Chewaucan River out of town to the south…

This guy was huge!

The road started out paved but then turned to dirt not too many miles later…

We were bombing down this open dirt road and we came upon freshly dumped rock on the road. We were riding rather enthusiastically and it sort of took us by surprise. We slowed down and rolled right through it. It only went on for a little less than a mile. We wicked it back up and BAM! We ran into some more, although at least this second batch looked like it had been compacted a bit by a truck or something. It wasn't as loose. This stuff went on for a few miles…

This is the last photo we took on this trip…

We took dirt down into Lakeview, then hopped on pavement and rode non-stop to Bella Vista just outside Redding. Stopped for burgers and cokes, then slabbed it all the way to Oakland, only stopping very briefly for fuel, and arriving home about 8:30pm, a solid 12-hour day. Thank goodness for Moto-Skivvies! Seriously, I wouldn't have been able to make this trip without them. They were cheaper than the bicycle shorts I usually to wear for dirt riding, and they worked so much better!

We did 1013 miles from Oakland to the wedding in McMinnville, and 898 from McMinnville to home, for a total of 1911. We left on a Thursday morning and were home Tuesday night. We carted our camping gear but never used it, even though we would have liked to. All in all it was a great trip. Family, hot springs, killer paved twisties, beautiful dirt, new areas that are calling our names to explore, and quality time with my guy. Can't ask for much more than that!




WoodsChick

 

[WoodsChick]

I would love to talk maps with you sometime. Either that or I need to kidnap SFMCJohn so he can go with me and help pick up my bike. :laughing

Great photos and report!

Thanks, TWT! :thumbup

You guys are awesome. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for giving me a place to write it all down!

I'd love to, but I'd literally need to leave now, as it closes november and does not reopen until July. Not sure if it's a 11/1 hard close date, but I'd wager snow is falling up there very soon.

Ooh yeah, didn't think of that. Well, do it whenever you can. It's super fun!

My sister lives in Dundee - next time spend the money and go to the Evergreen Museum,
there is some really cool planes in there!

And the wine, oh damn the wine.

Yeah, it looked like a pretty prolific wine-producing area. Beautiful countryside, for sure. All the small towns were neat. I would have loved to see a bunch of really cool planes! I was working towards being a commercial pilot til my FAA physical put the screws to that


HalfDeafChick

 

[WoodsChick]

:thumbuparty




I'll have to buy a KTM first,
in order to assume proper
pick-up-helper duty! :laughing

+1 on great photos & report! :ride

No, no…I'm pretty sure KLR riders are qualified for picker-upper duty :thumbup

And thank you!

Klr, KTM, same difference. :later

<snort!>

:rofl

OMG, So AWESOME, Words Aren't Good Enough... So Thanks for the Pictures...:thumbup :cool

20 miles East of Bend, is an area called Milican Valley, Area set aside for off road use (and Desert Racing).

China Hat was a mountain there. :thumbup

Thank you, Lou!
Yeah, we went through there. I've ridden up there a few times on the dirt bikes. It's a neat area! I love the high desert stuff.



DesertChick

 

[alemeno214]

You make such great ride reports! I've been wanting to get back up to Oregon on my bike, and I'm hoping to take a more interesting route similar to yours :ride