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Post By metalcarver
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Post By metalcarver
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4 Jul 2021
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Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Port Angeles, WA
Posts: 15
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Traverse of Blue Mountains in Oregon
So I've been dithering and blathering about all kinds of expeditions I needed to do SOMETHING There was this gathering of outwardly appearing "normal" people that I've visited before. IF your definition of normal is riding motorcyles AND hanging out in Enterprise, Oregon with people who only want to talk about motorcycles and going weird places with motorcycles ... THEN you need help. Yeah, guilty. I decided to go to the Wallowa Valley Jamboree in Enterprise, Oregon. I had been there in 2016 and 2017. And they remembered me. That fact alone usually makes a guy go all squinty eyed, lookin all around, gun hand free. But they stayed grinning so I figured if I was gonna get shot it would at least be by a friend.
The above stated abnormal behavior in combination with the dithering and blathering caused a terrible brain fart and somehow I thought it would be a good idea to traverse the length of the Blue Mountains in central to northeast Oregon. The biggest obstacle I have ever faced as a motorcyclist is the I-5 corridor. And somehow my addled brain thought it would be no trouble to add on a traverse of the I-5 corridor to any adventure. I blasted off on Sunday 20 June. I know you can do it and some enjoy it, but gliding along with 15 tons on the axle an arms length away is sort of unnerving. Add that to the fact that it was 105F rolling into The Dalles.
I thought I had been drinking plenty of water, well more than normal but I was so excited about getting away clean that I didn't notice I hadn't peed and didn't need to. Not normal for geezers.
About 20 miles south of Maupin there's a left turn onto the Pony Butte Road. I wish I hadn't been so tired because it was a delightful 1-1/2 lane paved road through a pretty rock canyon. Too tired to stop and take pictures. Went on through Ashwood and down Trout Creek maybe 15 - 20 miles through giant cattle ranches to get to Forest Service Land. Which means I was in cattleman's roads . There were a couple of greasy round rock tiny stream crossings that would have eaten my Vstrom alive. The Africa Queen cruised on through. Grinning.
I wasn't. I found the first hunting camp plopped down on my camp chair and just sat there guzzling water. It was 95 according to the bike on the way up. No sweat for hot land people but I've been on the Olympic Peninsula for 3 years. Not trained up at all. Just granola bars for dinner. No clouds so just used the tent as a bug net. Just laid there dazed, plastered on the side of the Ochoco.
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4 Jul 2021
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Registered Users
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Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Port Angeles, WA
Posts: 15
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4 Jul 2021
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Registered Users
New on the HUBB
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Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Port Angeles, WA
Posts: 15
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Tuesday 22 May
Tuesday 22 May is a whole brand new day. Clouds roll in coolish. I had camped a few miles from the Middle Fork of the John Day river and the morning saw me refreshed and wearing the cool weather jacket as I set off on some of the prettiest riding you can get. It was maybe 10 miles to Forest road 10 which is a paved main line. But it was pleasantly bumpity and beautiful views and thick thick flower smell. I was the luckiest kid alive. Maybe because most of the ones I knew aren't.
“The only way to see true reality is in solitude. One of the tragedies of human existence is that reality cannot be shared. What's real to you may not be to someone else.”
- Tristan Jones, A Steady Trade: A Boyhood at Sea
"I'm a rambler and a rover
And a wanderer it seems
I've traveled all over
Chasing after my dreams
But a dream should come true
And a heart should be filled
And a life should be lived
In the piney wood hills" - Buffy Sainte. Marie
“It is hard to follow one great vision in this world of darkness and of many changing shadows. Among those men get lost.”
- Black Elk
"Headin' in or headin' out
Standing on the shore
Pause a moment to reflect
Which trip costs you more
Between the ever restless crowds
And the silence of your room
Spend an hour in no man's land
You'll be leaving soon" - Bob Seger
Slap!
Thanks, I needed that.
So down to tourist country. They're in season but they say you can't hunt them... However, I had a tremendous hankering for store bought grub and coffee so meandered down to Sumpter. Fueled I headed up to Anderson Lakes and then to Grand Ronde Lake (puddle) where somebody spilled the wildflower stuff.
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4 Jul 2021
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Wednesday 23 June. Another day to be remembered. Overland crossing from Grand Ronde Lake to Ladd Canyon. FR 43 follows a long ridge down from the high mountains. Definitely bumpity. But so pretty, and remote. No other traffic.
“Though the road's been rocky it sure feels good to me.”
Bob Marley
Going down Ladd Canyon the road was receiving more attention.
The snowy mountains in the background are where I started the day. Ridge tops all the way down.
Ladd Canyon has a freeway on ramp and a few minutes of screaming and yelling gets me to La Grande, chow, and gas. Then on the other side of the freeway on the north side of La Grande, up the Fox Hil Road to it's intersetion with the Skyline Road.
Looking down toward Elgin.
And so, at the end of another long and perfect day I marvel at how, despite my hardest efforts to the contrary, things actually go right.
"Every gambler knows
That the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away
And knowin' what to keep
'Cause every hand's a winner
And every hand's a loser
And the best that you can hope for
Is to die in your sleep"
-Kenny Rogers
"And you, to whom adversity has dealt the final blow
With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go
Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain
And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.
Rise again, rise again - though your heart it be broken
And life about to end
No matter what you've lost, be it a home, a love, a friend.
Like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again." - Stan Rogers
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4 Jul 2021
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Join Date: Sep 2019
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24 June Enterprise
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6 Jul 2021
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HU Founder
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: BC Canada
Posts: 7,300
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Great photos, and love the quotes!
__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
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21 Sep 2021
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Lutterworth,Midlands, UK
Posts: 574
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Just sat in my office eating lunch and really wishing I was out trail bashing, great photos, looks like a good rig you got there
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