Columbus Day Weekend at Prairie City, OR.

[Bill_Anderson]

Paul Geller (Mr. Ducati Designs), Mark Turbo, Ducati Don, Tom Lawlor (from Reno, NV), and I spent Columbus Day weekend riding the John Day area of eastern Oregon.

#1-3: Oregon Highway 19 along the John Day River.

#4: The Historic Hotel Prairie in Prairie City served as our base of operations.

#5: If you spend the night, be sure to ask about the covered parking for motorcycles in the back.

[Bill_Anderson]

#1: We ate dinner next door at the Oxbow and breakfast at Chuck's Little Diner, both of which are favorites of the locals.

#2: My favorite breakfast at Chuck's: French toast + Chuck's famous bacon.

#3: Chuck and Valeria, the head waitress. The photo in the back is of Chuck's father and sister, taken in the 50's.

#4: Another view of the Historic Hotel Prairie.

#5: The mural on the east wall of the Historic Hotel Prairie.

[Bill_Anderson]

#1: Closeup of the mural.

#2: The Strawberry Mountains south of town had already received its first snow of autumn.

#3-4: The Masonic Temple. I think it looks like an old jail.

#5: Strawberry Mtn. (elevation 9,038 ft/2,755m) and the Post Office.

[Bill_Anderson]

#1: The local rest home. We were saying that when we get too old to ride, our last trip will be here, where we will park our motorcycles, hang "For Sale" signs on them, and move in. The rest home is located just across the street and down the block from the Oxbow and Chuck's Little Diner, so we will be within walking distance of the local hangouts.

#2-3: More of downtown Prairie City. I visited the antique store where I bought two autographed books about local railroads. The owner showed me one piece of furniture which he believes dates back to the late 1700's-early 1800's based on the type of workmanship.

#4-5: One can get good shots of the Strawberry Mtns. from the viewpoint off US 26 east of town on the ride up Dixie Summit.

[Bill_Anderson]

We took a day ride out of Prairie City to Sumpter and on to Ukiah via Forest Road 52 through the Blue Mtns. FR 52 is one of my favorite roads, but this is only the second time I have ridden it. Most of the time it is snowed in when I get out to the John Day area in the spring or autumn.

#1-3: Looking south.

#4: A large bird made this nest.

#5: A skiff of snow was on the summit.

[Bill_Anderson]

I hope you enjoyed the photos. The John Day area is one of my favorite moto-areas. Some time in the future I would like to take my son over there in my pickup to photograph scenery and birds, ride what remains of the Sumpter Valley Railway, and hike its old, abandoned right of ways.
Sumpter Valley Railway: Home

[xzy]

Great trip.