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5 day trip Calif, Oregon and 5 min. in Wash.
Day 1. Started in Oroville, headed to Placerville to pick up some gear that I had left at my house there. took back roads till I hit hwy 49 near North San Juan. saw a red Multi headed the other way near the Yuba river, and later an ST also headed north on 49. took a less traveled route from Nevada City to Auburn, where I got back on 49 to Placerville.
After Placerville and home, I headed up hwy 50 to Lake Tahoe. was very glad I was not part of the rolling parking lot that was headed out of Tahoe back to the cities. took 89 around the west side of the lake. Emerald bay was its usual beautiful self. glad to see that the fire didn't make it that far. it burnt from Meyers all along the side of the hills to near Fallen Leaf lake.
traffic was not too bad for a Sunday. only had a few hundred yards of stop and go at Fanny Bridge. so name for all the folks leaning over the railing to watch the huge trout swimming below in the outlet from Lake Tahoe. on down hwy 89 along the Truckee river to the town of Truckee and away from the crowds. north still on 89, long sweeping turns through the forest and meadows with very little traffic. headed back over the Sierras on 49 to Bassetts and then back over the hill again to hit 89 at Graeagle and then to Quincy where I took the Oro-Quincy hwy over the hill again on a favorite road.
Day 2
straight across the Sacramento valley to Thunderhill Raceway. stopped and watch the trackday for a while. a few Ducs including a couple of Duc.ms folks.
got my airpressure checked by the tire guy that was worried that I was headed out to the track with my bags and camping gear strapped on! went west a bit further and then north and through the 1 house town of Chrome on my way to Red Bluff and hwy 36. the best road sign I have ever seen is there on 36. it is the windy road arrow with next 140 miles beneath.
Those of you who may have been on thet route probably remember "the corner". it was a sneaky corner that had you believing the road went straight over a hill only to find a hidden 90 degree corner awaited you as you crested the rise. Well, it is no more. that section of the road is beigh straightened and should be finished in a few more weeks. there was a collection of chrome and plastic bits that gave notice that many folks had been suprised by the turn. Camped along the VanDusen river just outside of Fortuna that night.
Day 3
headed for Samoa to find the roundhouse from the logging railroad that supplied the saw mill there. rumor has a railroad museum trying to make a go of it there, but other than some rail in front of it there was no sign of life. the turntable pit had been filled in and paved over. I had breakfast in the restraunt that is in the chow hall from the "old days".
north from there and on up hwy 101 to Tillamook, Oregon. senic coastal views and all that can be expected travelling along the coast in summer. that means FOG. found that my ventilated gear was not up to keeping me warm in the fog, but press on regardless. asked at a hotel and decided that it was not worth $80 to spend the night, so stayed an an RV p'ace that said tent camping also. $20. to camp, hot shower for a quarter. way too close to the hwy with truck traffic all night long, but not worth trying to find something different.
Day 4
Tillamook has more than cheese! during WW2 the Navy built two giant hangars for blimps there. one of them burnt down a while back, but the other is an airplane museum. stopped in for a couple of hours. liked seeing the planes, but the carpenter in my was most facinated by the hangar itself. all wood construction.
then north again. traffic was worse now, close enough to Portland and lots of beach town with no passing zones and slow speed limits. from Seaside to Astoria was torture. lots of slow and go.
made it to Astoria and the Columbia river museum. all about the river bar and the Coast Guard. oldest town west of the Missippi and looks its age. Small town of the west have really suffered by the loss of the smaller lumbermills and coastal town haave been hit by fishing downturns also. the giant lumber companies have rolled over many of the small ones who just could not compete agains the giants.
crossed the bridge into Washington just to do it and to say that I made it to Washington. I decided to head back as many of the campgrounds were already full and it didn't look like the traffic would magicly improve closer to the weekend. headed south, back down 101 enjoying seeing the same sights from a different angle.
at Coos Bay it was starting to look like rain, so I decided to try and beat the rain by continueing south. rode into the mists in a vain effort and rode till I had to stop in Brookings. way past bedtime and starting to rain again. stopped at a rest stop and slept under a gazebo at the rest stop.
Day 5
Oregon, California, Oregon as I headed NE on 199 to Grants Pass, Rouge River and on to Crater Lake. I had camped ther as a kid with the family, but we were not able to circle the crater as there was still snow on the road then. so that was my goal and what a beautiful sight to behold it is. fridgid winds and lots of folks on sagged bike tours. climbing those hills at that elevation, you have to give them credit! stopped in the gift shop and immediatly retreated. way too much junk for sale. probably most of it made third world.
from Crater lake past Klamath Lake/Falls and through the Lava beds of the Modoc wars. yet another wonderfull part of our nations glorious past. steal the land lie on the treaty process. when the Indians figur out they were screwed and try to go back home, send in the army and kill them that don't cooperate. rant over.
lots of very slippery tar snakes on the park roads. Yikes!
headed next to Mount Lassen. much of the country in this area has roads that are measured by miles per turn, not turns per mile. when I stopped for gas in Fall River Mills, I found that I had developed the dreaded flat stripe in the middle of my tires! horror of horrors! find some twisty roads quick!
Mt. Lassen here we come. Saw the only deer on the road almost to the top of Lassen. nothing but lava cinders to eat, but they were headed up the hill after they crossed the road. down the other side slowly due to fresh chip seal on the road. I didn't feel like checking to see the limits of traction on those corners.
heading east on 89 toward Lake Almanor I hit road construction and had to stop and wait for the pilot car. I figured it was a good time to add a layer under my jacket. took off my camera and jacket and put on a sweater under the jacket. as I was getting my helmet on, the pilot car arived and in my haste to get ready, I forgot my camera! remembered it about 15 miles down the road and made a quick U-turn and headed back. asked the people manning the stop/slow signs and the driver of the pilot car. one of the sign guys said he saw a pickup stop and they picked up something out of the road. my camera no doubt. I think I set it on my bags and it bounced off in the dirt. at least somebody got a camers and it didn't get crushed by the roller that was there. maybe they will be nice and send it to me. but I'm not holding my breath about it. now you know why I am not posting any photos with this story. on past the Lake to hwy 70 and a blast down the Feather river canyon back to Oroville.
2,170 miles and no tickets.
Last edited by jbcaddy; Aug 17th, 2007 at 5:16 pm.
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