Day 15 - Redmond - Sisters

Today is another easy day, being the last day of the BMW MOA event I had scheduled a short tour around the area returning early to the campsite to partake in the final festivities but first I had to install a new rear tire and change the oil.  I woke up early with the sound of the other campers moving about and proceeded to drop the bike at the tire dealer at the event to install the tire I had ordered 2 days before and change the oil.  I returned to my tent and proceeded to make myself breakfast, Quaker Oats  Apples & Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal and a warm cup of instant coffee cooked in my little camping stove.  I picked up the bike a little later and it was time to roll.  I left the campsite headed to Sisters, a town named after the Three Sisters mountains that dominate its western skyline.
Just outside Redmond I ran into a very picturesque ranch with lots of old cars spread out through the field.  I pulled off to the side of the road for the obligatory pictures.

I continued west on route 126 making another stop when I crossed a bridge over a little creek and saw some people jumping in the water.  It was a hot day, low 90's and they were having fun swimming below the bridge.  I felt like dropping all the gear and jump in too! I don't think they would appreciate me joining them in my boxers.

I continued west stopping again when I rode into Sisters, saw the cute little Espresso Junction coffee shop and pulled in for a Latte.  I then moved to the center of Sisters, parked the bike and strolled through the cute little town.  I see an Alpaca store and since my daughter loves alpacas, I went in looking for a gift for her.  I never knew alpaca fleece was so expensive.  I end up buying a hand crocheted green Alpaca hat that I was sure would please her. I move across the street and buy an ice cream at Hucklebearys store, they sell coffee, ice cream and shoes, yes, they are a shoe store too.

I walk around admiring all the little restaurants and the great variety of antique stores.  The town maintains the western look across all the stores, I think it's really cute town.

I leave town, continuing west, now following route 242 also known as McKenzie Highway stopping a little later when I see lots of lava flow right up to the edge of the road.  As I'm contemplating the unbelievable scenery all around me I hear a roar coming up the twisty road, I quickly turn the camera towards the fast approaching wail and snap a photo of a rider coming around the turn at a very high rate of speed.  I go for the second shot but he is already disappearing around the next turn.  The sight got my adrenalin pumping but all I could think was how a simple mistake could turn into a very nasty crash against the lava rocks on the edge of the road.

I continue down the road stopping again at the Dee Wright Observatory, an observation structure at the summit of McKenzie Pass in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. The observatory is constructed with lava stones, is located in the midst of a large lava flow and offers an exceptional view of numerous Cascade peaks.

I find it amazing that in between all the destruction brought by the lava flow you find pine trees growing.

I continue west until I meet route 126, I turn right and follow north the beautiful McKenzie Highway, the road twisting along a river now through a forest. I stop at a rest area and take a walk along the edge of the river, the water cold but extremely clean.

I pass the Trail Bridge reservoir and later Clear Lake along the McKenzie river.  I make my next stop when I see signs to a waterfall.

I reach Santiam Junction and get back on route 20 heading back east towards Sisters.  I stop to take a few more pictures, the beautiful bronze statue by an office building and the very picturesque US Post Office of Sisters.

I return to Redmond and stop by the Red Dog restaurant for dinner, the cute place has the walls completely covered with dog pictures.  I later meet my brother at another restaurant downtown where he was having dinner.  We return back to camp and head to the event concert where we stay for a while listening to local bands playing.

Red Dog Restaurant

Last day in Redmond, a short little ride of 125 miles, the shortest day so far but with a scenic and very twisty piece of road along the Old McKenzie Highway.

 

Day 14 - Mount St. Helens to Redmond

Today I will ride the last 50 miles to Mount St. Helens Observatory and then back to Redmond, Oregon to join my brother at the BMW MOA.  Today is supposed to be the highlight of my solo ride up north, I have been anticipating the trip to the volcano observatory for quite some time.  I was still living in South Africa when its catastrophic eruption on May 18, 1980 happened and I still remember seeing the eruption on TV the hash plume rising into the sky eventually reaching 12 to 16 miles (20 to 27 km) above sea level.
I had a beautiful and sunny day ahead of me and since I took so many photos I will use the photos to describe my ride. I got up early and after a quick breakfast at a nearby fast food restaurant I headed East on route 504 to cover the 50 miles to the observatory in a slow rising and winding road that leads you up the Cascade Range.

My first stop was at the Mount St. Helens Forest Learning Center where I was told if I watched the area down below carefully I might see some deer or elk.  I stood on the overlook carefully scanning the forest and the area where ash and debris had flowed downstream below me with the camera at the ready.  It took me a while but my patience paid off when I noticed little specks moving.  My camera has a 15x zoom and when combined with the digital zoom it's almost like a telescope.  Below are the results of my patience, a few elk passing by.

I continued up the road and stopped a little later when I see deer on the road, by the time I took the camera out they were already running up the hill away from me.

I reach the Observatory and spend some time inside reading about the eruption and destruction caused by the volcano.  Inside stood a huge tree snapped in half by the explosion.

I move outside and climb a little hill outside to get a better view of the caldera and catch a squirrel going about his business trying to get food out of the tourists.  The little fellow was courageous coming within inches of my hand.

The view is amazing from this side of the mountain, the horseshoe shape of the crater being created when the peak blew off.  The crater looks so close but is 5 miles away from the observatory.

As I walk around I see lots of examples of the destruction on that fateful day, trees snapped in half and entire trees uprooted from the ground.

The ground is so white that it's difficult to get a good photo with so much light but I get a beautiful shot of Mt. St. Helens with some beautiful purple flowers in the foreground.

This side of the mountain has been reseeded and you see new trees growing everywhere.  I left the observatory area and made my first stop at the Coldwater Lake.  The area was quiet and serene, I stood at the edge of the lake gazing at the clear water and wondering what it must have been like on the day of the eruption.

I left Mount St. Helens and pointed my GPS to the next big mountain, Mount Hood in Oregon, about 160 miles away.  The ride from the observatory down Interstate 5 past Vancouver and skirting Portland was uneventful and I made quick time.  I aim for route 26 also known as Mount Hood Highway just outside Portland and head towards the famous Timberline lodge. The huge lodge is famous for being the exterior facade of the Overlook Hotel in The Shining movie with Jack Nicholson. The inside of the lodge in the movie and the maze were filmed somewhere else.

The beautiful lodge, built in the late 1930s is a National Historic Landmark and sits at an elevation of 5,960 feet (1,817 m), within the Mount Hood National Forest and is accessible through the Mount Hood Scenic Byway. It's an amazing structure inside and I admire the wooden columns that hold the building together.  In winter it's a major ski resort.

I grab a cup of coffee inside and then move outside climbing on foot another quarter of a mile up the slope.  It's a steep climb that leaves me out of breath, the altitude not helping my aging lungs.

The views are breathtaking and I spend some time admiring the view of the surrounding mountains and the snow covered slopes.

I leave the mountain and continue south on route 26 for another 55 miles until I reach Warm Springs located in the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.  I had left the mountain with the temperature in the 60's and by the time I had reached Warm Springs it had climbed to the mid 90's.  I pass the Indian Head Casino, the scenery having turned from forest to a very desert like environment.

Just south of Warm Springs I see a sign pointing towards the Pelton Regulating Reservoir, I followed my instinct and it turned out to be one of the best roads to ride, completely devoid of traffic.  I make my first stop at the campsite by the reservoir.

I leave the reservoir and the road winds up the side of the canyon until I reach the top of the mesa where it offers a beautiful view of the reservoir and campsite down below.  Two ADV riders see me on the side of the road and stop to see if everything is okay with me, I thank them for stopping and they continue on their own adventure.  I wander along the edge of the mesa always cautions of the steep drop to the bottom of the canyon.

It was getting late and I still had a way to go to Redmond, I continued down some back roads making my way back to route 97 where I continued south just south of the town of Madras.

I stop on the side of the road to watch a beautiful sunset and take pictures of the bike with the long shadows crossing an empty road.

I stay on the side of the road immersed in my thoughts just gazing at the beautiful sun disappearing behind the mountains.  What a beautiful trip I've had so far, I'm a very lucky guy to be able to experience what this beautiful land has to offer.

My next stop is a few miles down the road when I spot a beautiful mansion, obviously a successful farmer.  I snap a few pictures and continue south.

My last stop before I return to Redmond is at the Peter Skene Ogden State Park a few miles north of Redmond.  I walk along the bridge spanning the ravine as the sun quickly sets in the horizon.

I call my brother and invite him to join me for dinner but he was busy watching some band play at the event concert, plus he had already had dinner earlier on, his loss.   I head to the Fountains Bar and Grill where I have a nice juicy steak and a local beer with the very friendly waitress for company.

I return to the BMW MOA (Motorcycles Owners of America) campsite and join my brother at the concert, having ridden 250 miles from Mount St. Helens to Redmond through some amazing countryside.