8/1/16 Late Getting Away...Butts

Mount Shasta, CA to Bend, OR - 220 miles

We are late getting away because of someone's butt.  Butt all is well in the end.

It is hot in Shasta and we are testy with each other.  My electrolytes got really low and my eye lid started to twitch.

Someone had parked their car at the pump at Pilot gas station and disappeared.  So, Gary used his card to pump gas.  Well those disappeared folks had $40 worth of gas still on the pump!  Oopsie! I paid her $20 and Pilot refunded the rest in cash.  Didn't want to start the vacation pissing someone off.

Traffic was bizarre all the way to Bend.  People going 50, people going 80.

We saw the smoke from the big fire in Crater Lake.  Big Smoke.

We used Trivago (I used) to find a room at the Sonoma Motel in Bend.  They put us in the alley so we parked our bikes right in front of our room.  Do not get a room at the Sonoma Motel.  Trivag-NO

We drive to Deschuttes Brewery and think we will hit it on a slow Monday but NO.  Monday is locals day and it is very busy.  The thing to remember is that if you can score a table in the bar...you don't have to do a long wait for a table.  Dinner was wonderful and Gary brought a monster black berry cobbler with ice cream back to the room.  Looks good but I am too full.

I took a photo of the dirty glass mandala before I wiped the table down so we could set our stuff on it.

I give this room a C.  C for crappy.  I look forward to tomorrow with hope that we get a better place to stay.

By the end of the day my twitchy eyelid subsides.

Deschutes...Yummy

Dirty ring mandala at our motel.

8/2/16 How Do You Find A Good Place To Stay - Not Trivago

Bend to Pendlton, OR - 270 miles

Our Sonoma Motel room was so bad we decided to skip coffee and showers and head to Bend HD to ask about a part Gary wants.

There is a restaurant right over there where you turned around.  It was a Sonic, open for breakfast.  Well, we are not Sonic virgins any more but we are probably Sonic One-timers.  The help was nice but the food was spicy and the coffee STIFF.

HD did not have what Gary wanted so we headed toward Prineville for gas and some good coffee on recommendation from the gas lady at the 76.

The day is beautiful, mild.  Not hot or windy.  We have not been riding much and 2 days at 200+ miles is pretty hard on my butt.

We stop at Mt Vernon for lunch and some good locals conversation.  Then head up to John Day and coast along the river.

We stop at the Ochoco and meet and old gentleman with his old Chocolate Lab who gets all our pets.

The wind picked up pretty good.  It blew my water bottle off my bike in traffic.  Fortunately no one hurt.

Frequent stops help and an oration occurs:

It's bone dry out here.
No green, and wind.
Except the patchwork quilt
of irrigation
on the valley floor.
Oh, and the little road signs
that tell you  that you're
8 to 10 miles passed the last station
Or still over 100 miles
to your destination.

We stop along the John Day river for a stretch and a photo.  That was very rejuvenating.

We stop at Point Rock at a little day park.  I discover here that I made today's reservation for August 21.  The cuss words flew at that.  I apologized to the houses across the street.

I was finally able to get hold of our hotel and angel Melissa at Best Western Pendelton helped us out. So grateful for her help in making reservations for a room tonight.

After we get to the hotel she also gives us a recommendation for Prodigal Sun Brew Pub for dinner. It is a hit and a good Margarita too.

Hot tub and swim at the hotel and a visit with Sue Davis on the phone.  Sure do miss her.

Another poem:

Fearless at 66

He crests the hill
and raises his hands
going down the other side.
I keep my hands tight on
my handlebars
but giggle every time.
He races just a little
ahead of me.
But I don't mind.
The is the better leader.
Reading maps.
Reminding me
to wear sun screen
and drink more water.

Photo: John Day River

8/3/6 Welcomed In Dayton WA

Pendelton OR to Orofino ID - 190 miles

I wake up dizzy today.  A little food and a full shower seem to help.

Left Pendelton in denim shirts.  The ride was cool but very nice.  Into Washington and grain fields and many little towns.

Architecture on main streets is very lovely with many homes restored to period style.

We are traveling the Lewis and Clark Trail (go figure) and stop at little park to stretch and read the information kiosk.  There is the coolest bathroom built long ago from river rock (see photo).

I am not feeling real well by this point.  We stop in Dayton to sight-see.  Gary goes in to the offices of the Blue Mountain Ski Area to bend an ear.  He also gets his ear bent.

We drop in to the news paper office.  The lady there is elderly, but hale, and chatty and tells us of her experiences skiing at Blue Mountain.  She still skis.  She wishes she could ride a motorbike.  There is some really neat old printing equipment in the shop.  That is why I went in.  She recommends the Moose Bakery for lunch

We go to the beautiful old Dayton Depot and I view the quilt show while Gary and the docent bend each others ears about railroads and look at the map she has laid out on the table.

I don't want lunch but we split sandwich at the Moose Creak Cafe and Bakery before heading out again for Orofino.  The sandwich and tea are delicious.  I feel a little better after lunch.

The ride was always comfortable and I handle the rocky road in to Day's in good shape.

We visit and I am feeling worse and worse as we eat diner.

I remember previous bouts of stale water illness (cleaning my hot tub after long periods of it sitting) and realize I have felt crappy like this before.  Then I understand that I will have a fever tonight.  I hope it burns itself out.

After dinner I am pretty engulfed in fever and chills so I excuse myself and go to bed to start going through the sweat process.

Again, I am in a safe place at Day's.  Grateful. Thankful.

Photos: Gary at Dayton Depot and Lewis and Clark trail bathroom

8/4/16 Flipflops and Shorts

Wanda Orofino to Kamiah  about 20 miles, Gary to Elk City about 200 miles

A down day for me in shorts and flip flops.

A heck-a-bad night with hard fever breaking about 3 am.  Still a little dizzy so the down day at Day's is very welcome.

Derry and I have lunch at the River's Edge cafe in Orofino (I order 2 mini Chicken Salad croissant).  I thought the waitress was saying Too many chicken croissant sandwiches.  It was still too much.

We then spend the afternoon second hand shopping.  Lots of fun!

Gary and Denny are home from their ride to Elk City and Gary has made a little 360 degree video of it.

After several naps we are off to a good dinner at The Jig restaurant.  Denny and Derry's friends join us and it is a nice table-full of people for dinner.

Photo: View from River's Edge Cafe deck.

8/5/16 Leaving The House On The Hill

Orofino to Moscow ID  - about 60 miles

Denny and Derry's hospitality was wonderful.  But the ride down from their house is always  a white-knuckler.

Denny decides to show us the best way out of Orofino.   A beautiful day to ride on Idaho 99 and Idaho 8 past churches, abandoned homesteads and old towns, neglected orchards that still produce. Not much traffic and slow travel.  We are wearing our leathers as we start out.

I am still a little woozy and take some cold medicine before we leave Day's hoping to dry out my ears.

Moscow is muggy.  We stop for iced tea and say goodbye to Denny.  Gary want's to do a little shopping and we have an excellent New York style pizza lunch at Maialina Restaurant.

Our room at Judy Crane's, on Weymouth Drive, wipes my poor choices slate clean.  We found this room on Bedfinders.  You should check it out if you are traveling.

Our room is on the bottom floor of her home, with a home-made quilt on the king sized bed.  We have access to a nice bath, big television.  Her quilting room is also on this floor.

I shower and take a nap before we ride to find the wedding venue at Paradise Ridge Road.

The road to the wedding venue is a scary dirt road ride up to where we find the Finches and all of their grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family (and this is just the wedding practice). It will be a busy day tomorrow.

The ride down was also scary and tomorrow we will ride to the event in someone's car.

Flower's on Day's porch.

Lunch at Maialina in Moscow and Judy Crane quilt.

8/6/16 Round Trip to Dahmen Barn and A Moscow Wedding

Moscow, ID to Uniontown, WA and return - about 70 miles

Up to coffee and continental breakfast at Weymouth Drive...ON THE DECK!

We chat with Judy, our host, who recommends going to the Barn in Uniontown, WA.  It is about 30 miles away.

We drive through Pullman and then to the wonderful old Dehman barn with a fence made of metal wheels.

The barn has been re-structured with an artists community in just the right way.  There is ample artists space for many and we see woodworking, fishing pole making, etching, bead work, basketry and more with many artists in residence.

The man, Steve Dehman, who owned the property the barn sits on, was an artist (metalwork) and worked with the Uniontown Community Development Assn to put the barn in to an artists community and maintain it.  It is really a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.

We drove in to Uniontown proper for lunch and ate at the Sage Bakery, also a restoration project of the UCDA.  Lunch was good and the people were very friendly.

Back at Weymouth we get ready for the wedding.  We drive to the wedding venue with Uncle Doug and Ante Bat (Joan). Joan wants to take a look at some of Judy's quilts (lives enriched through motorcycling). The venue is packed (a later estimate is that about 200 people attended).

Leslie looks wonderful and in her people-person element.  I meet Molli's  mom and dad.   All of the two families are in the wedding party.

Sam and Molli's track coach is the officiant.  He gives a great service and touches on the strengths of both youngsters and what to keep in mind as they move forward in their newly married lives.

Many in the wedding party are planning a bicycle ride back to Bellingham through North Cascades National Park.  Amazing.

The wedding party hug it out.

Dahmen barn...an artists community.

8/7/16 Potlatch the home of the LOGGERS

Moscow to St. Marie's, ID - about 89 miles

After breakfast at Judy's we are out of Moscow at about 10 am and rain is threatening.  Lightening means business in the distance.  A leather jacket and warmer gloves feel good this day.

The clouds are dark and the configuration is huge with heavy rain slanting toward the north (the way we are going).

We are fortunate the ride takes us around the edge and only sprinkles find us.  The extra clothes feel good.

The road (Hwy 95 and Idaho 6, Idaho 3) takes us through mixed grain and timber with small settlements and burgs throughout.

We stop at Potlatch to stretch and view the points of interest and the big #1 steam engine in the park.  It starts to rain in earnest. As we leave Potlatch I notice that the high school mascot is LOGGERS and I have a thoughtful laugh.

We make it to St. Marie's before noon.  Steve and Donna are gone so we admire all of the changes and hard work they have put in place since last here in 2014.

A garden, laying chickens, new garage (where we park our bikes out of the rain). Lots of care taken here.  We drop back in to St. Maries for lunch.  Steve and Donna are back and welcome us as we roll in again after our lunch.  So good to see them in person and get some Henson hugs.

Donna has been cooking BBQ beef for sandwiches and is making her own hamburger buns "It keeps them coming back!"  She smiles.

After the buns have cooked we let them cool and take a boat ride on the slow St. Joe looking for eagles. moose and osprey.

When we get to the turn around the main boat engine over heats and quits.  Gary gets hit in the head with a big board as he is trying to put oil in the engine.  Steve gets hit in the head as he goes under the boat to see if the jet is clogged.  Donna and I make the best of it dancing meringue to the loud music coming off shore.

Steve hooks up the back up engine and we have a super slow trip home (think Gilligan's Island and the Minnow - a three hour tour).  We are all frozen by the time we get back.  But those buns are cooled and the beef is hot.  We eat fresh salads from the garden and watermelon too.

We are now tired and full so we turn in to our stall, #4 in Badger's Den.

I love rocking chairs
any place in any town.
Contemporary or Antiquary,
they make me want to sit down.

8/8/16 Down Time at Badger's Den

Round trip to St. Maries to Calder, ID - about 40 miles in Steve's truck

A perfect day waking up
to the need of a hooded sweatshirt
as the sun rises on slow St. Joe.
But summer sun wins as clouds thin
and we wait for the fun to unfold.
Meet with friends for burgers and beers
at a delicious blink named Calder.
As we set the sun no moose at bay
but sit cozy at a private fireside
and initiate marshmallow foreplay.

or something like that...

Just a nice slow day in St. Marie's.  Donna and I do a little second handing and courthouse hopping before a splendid nap and waking to Donna riding her Honda 90 around the yard.

Steve drives us to Calder for burgers and a slow drive back looking for absent moose.

A fire pit full of marshmallow fun as the sun sets (great pics) and giggles crackle around the fire pit before we turn in.

The court house at St. Maries

8/9/16 Goodby to Badger's Den

St. Maries ID to Okanagon WA - 232 miles

Up to gray weather and commerce at Henson's.  I built a fire and made coffee, showered and started packing up.  Donna cooks us a 5 course breakfast and has us taste her home made smoothies.  Very delicious.

Steve left before we could meet him at the stop sign and re-enact "Then Came Bronson".  Where ever the road takes us (but today it is Okanagon WA).

We drove on 2 lane until Spokane.  Did a little crazy freeway driving until we found Hwy 2.  Did some predictable Mexican lunch and then headed toward Grand Coulee Dam.

Rain most of the day - in and out so not much for stopping  or photography.  We play phone tag with the property manager of Cariboo Inn on Okangan but someone finally leaves a message that our room is booked so we have a place to stay.

After Grand Coulee we drove the speed limit through many tiny towns with funny names like Twisp, until we reached Okanagan WA.

Tonight we are lodging at Cariboo Inn, Est 1925.  Okanagan was established in 1907.

At the recommendation of the property manager we walked to "The Club" for predictable frosty faire but it was filling.

The hotel is ancient and being slowly restored.  Our room is small but clean and comfy with a queen bed and recently refurbished electric a/c and heater.  A TV gives us updates on the Olympics.  We also watch a little NCIS tonight.

Gary at Grand Coulee overlook.

8/10/16 Fall In Love with Winthrop WA

Okanagen to Bellingham, WA - 201 miles

Up to a hot shower at Cariboo Inn and coffee from the kiosk across the street from our hotel.  They have soy milk.  I am happy.

We pack our bikes and sit for breakfast at the hotel cafe.  It is a bust.  I ask for all my food well done and it comes barely done.  I send it back and Gary is done and ready to go before I get my food, which is only as done as it was the first time.  I wrote a nasty note that said "What you are doing in the kitchen is not about you!"

We get gas and head west on WA Hwy 20.  We see about 6 trikes heading west in front of us.

The ride is nice 2 lane.  Traffic is mind full and not pushy.

We pass orchards that have netting over the mature trees.  Probably to deter birds or pests.

There was a forest fire there some time a go and the burned trees leave awesome sculpture.  Gary is doing the speed limit.  A coat feels good this day.

We stop in a tiny town, Winthrop.  I fall in love with the wooden sidewalks.  It is a nice, touristy town with great history.  I would go back and stay there.  I find a black hoodie on sale.  I have been missing mine since I realized I forgot it for the trip.

We start driving in the WA Cascade mountains.  They are awesome.  We feel we were in North Cascades NP and did not realize it.

We stop above a hydro-electric plant and the water is such a color of blue green.  I think the color is due to glacier melt.  There are still small glaciers carving the rock.  We talk to the rangers who are removing weeds (knappweed).  A couple says knappweed has a cancer causing compound and sure enough I find that stated in documents on the internet later.

The road is mountain curvy and traffic is not heavy or pushy.

We eat expensive lunch at buffalo Run in Maplethorp.  Mostly because the trikes are parked there.  Gary had buffalo chili with a massive piece of corn bread.  They also served camel and elk.

A near accident puts a crimp on my PM ride but that is behind us and we are nearing our hook up to the Chuckanut Hwy.

Gary finds the Chuckanut without any freeway driving (yippee)  The last 30 miles to B-ham are a splendid way to end our long day ride.

Leslie is waiting for us with hugs at her place and we visit for a bit until she goes to a socialize at an ice cream social for a little while.  Dinner later
is chatty and fun with peach ICE for dessert.

We are sleeping in Sunny's dungeon (Leslie calls it that).  The bed is a nicely made, firm futon.  Gary worries that it is to small to sleep on as he drifts in to a gentle breathing rhythm that indicates he has fallen asleep despite his worries.

Cariboo Inn, Okanagan WA

8/11/16 Not Dessert...Lunch

Bellingham to Fairhaven Roundtrip, probably about 10 miles.

Up to breakfast with Leslie at Diamond Jim's and we learn of the 93 year old coffee roaster.

Half orders of eggs benny are plenty and cross out the bad breakfast from yesterday.

Gary and I get on the copper bike and drive to Fairhaven to walk along the bay.

We have trouble finding a place to park but sneak in a space that has a scooter parked in the middle.  Everyone is out getting sun.  Mom's with kids, grandpa's with kites, bicyclers, joggers, foreigners and Shovel head Steve, a 40-something who has ridden from Idaho to visit family

They are pier crabbing and I have questions he can answer.  The ocean is choppy but sail boats abound.  No starfish in sight.  I watch the surf just throw their little boat against the pier as the brothers are getting ready to go out.

We ride back to Fairhaven for a croi-bar (no more croi-nuts) and coffee at Rocket Donuts.  We watch the black and white Buck Roger's si-fi and get chuckles out of the special effects and how much smoke those actors are really breathing in.  (later when I say I don't want dessert Leslie reminds me that we were at Rocket Donuts.  That was lunch we both say!!).

We do a little more shopping and I turn up a new bracelet and Gary gets a new/used C. J. Box book.

We have only asked about pot a few times because it is legal in Washington and Oregon but Fairhaven has no dispensaries, which you think it would, but NO.

We ride back to the house and I can see I have a corny sunburn.  Yes, I got a sunburn in Bellingham.

Leslie lets us know she is going to be home early due to some cancellations on her schedule.  We meet her back at the house and have a little down time making decisions where to eat dinner.  We drive to Bellingham bay and walk along the Marina before going to Anthony's Hearthfire Grill.

The food is divine.  The crab/corn chowder is the best I have ever had.  This is where the dessert conversation is held.  We are happy clams as we drive back to Leslie's cool digs for a little chatting and some welcome sleep.

Croi Bar lunch

The Marina on Bellingham Bay

8/12/16 Leaving The Ham (Bellingham)

Bellingham to Olympia, WA - 180 miles

Up to a sunny day and oatmeal with Leslie (Fishy).

We pack out of the cute dungeon and say goodbye to our BFF.

Getting out of the Ham and down to the Chuckanut is no problem for Gary.  Beautiful cool morning. The jackets feel pretty good the traffic is not pushy.

We follow WA Hwy 20 west, passed fields of new-mown hay, fresh produce stands and growing corn.

The Olympic mountains are in the distance.

We stop to take pictures at Deception Pass.  The bridge is built over the deepest chasm.  The views are exceptional and the tide is obviously coming in.

Gary gets us to the Ferry building where the gentlemen says get in line.  So we do...until the WA motorcycles say "Follow us!"  To the front of the line and the front of the ferry.  It is a very smooth ferry ride.

In WA motorcycles come first and get off first.  The gentleman has two dogs on board.  a blind doxy with her own specialized trunk and a little chihuahua who rides in a tank bag, with he and his missus,  on his Harley.  They are riding with family.  Their daughter's name is Alison.

We walking tour Port Townsend, visit the museum and a wonder-full Native American crafts shop.

The man mixing mortar recommends the Waterfront Pizzeria for lunch.  Best salad of the trip.  Great hand-made Hawaiian pizza.  It was too much for us so we take the rest to the guy who gave us the lunch recommendation.

We travel along Peugeot Sound.  Traffic is mixed.  We switch from leather to denim as the day warms. The fragrance of ripe black berries fills the air.

We hit I5 traffic at rush hour about 5 miles away from  Alison's house.  We sit in traffic for about 30 minutes watching the WA bikers split lanes.

We finally get to the exit to Alison's and take the back road to her house.

Gary rev's his engine and the garage door automatically opens.  She is home with hugs, cold beer and coke waiting for us.

We visit A LOT.  Marc comes home and Ann and Bill are there.  Marc makes pizza (twice in one day) and we visit until I become a puddle in the chair and trundle off to the comfy bed in the guest room.

Deception Pass photo

Sunny's flowers!

8/13/16 Getting To Know Olympia

Olympia, WA - 0 miles on bikes

We spend today with Alison.

A Biscuit and Gravy breakfast casserole cooking, gives us time to visit over coffee this morning.

9000 steps at the trails at Priest Point Park town to Budd Bay inlet, gets me a good sweat.  There are ripe black berries to eat on the way back to the car.

Lunch on the patio at Budd Bay Cafe.  The waiter looks stoned but takes our order perfectly without paper.  Three plates full of wonderful food are shared.

The waiter becomes even more entertaining and takes our photo after lunch.  Alison tries to sell him Todd's sail boat.

A short walk to the Oly Flea Market is a great hour of junking.  Gary buys an old LP of the Easy Rider Sound Track.

By this time we girls are hot and ready for a nap but Gary wants to go to the HD shop to look around. We humor him.

The HD is really busy and I wander back to see if they make covers for my baby bags.  The parts person is Randi Terhune!!! She doesn't recognize me until I say my name.  What a wonderful reunion!  I try to surprise Gary but he won't go back there until I tell him who is working parts!

She is working in parts with her photographic memory, an un-replaceable commodity.  Her dad is still on earth and she is making the best go of it for him.

Back at Alison's Gary takes a nap.

Mike Brackett comes over for dinner and brings proofs of his two books.  I get to see my illustrations in their places.  Very fun.

Alison has prepped a wonderful BarbeQue for us and Marc cooks it up when he gets home from work.  I sample some of Marc's dark beer with dinner.  Everything is quite tasty.

We watch Zootopia as day closes.  Alison falls asleep during the show but it is funny, with much adult humor

Breakfast casserole!! Yum!

Exploring Budd Bay with my hunnys!

8/14/16 The Longest Day

Olympia, WA to Canyonville, WA 325 miles

Up early to leave Olympia after casserole left-overs.  Alison rides with us on her Monster, leading us through tiny towns and under a one way railroad trestle.

It is cold.  Alison heads north again at Denino, north of Centralea.  Texts from her later show her to be home and safe, showering some love on her kitties.

We do the I5 slog, taking 205 around Portland, but still get stuck in some slow traffic entering Oregon.

Many cars doing that speed-up and pass thing.  One, careening so far to the right that it looks like he is driving off the exit, then he zooms back in to traffic passing the all the cars in the slow lane.  F-ing crazy.

The day is spent at speed on I5 getting to Sutherlin to visit with Rick and Kathy.  

Only one daughter is home.  Christie heads off to school up state in September.  She has been working with Rick this summer.

Rick shows me some photos of furniture he has been making.  Awesome.  My favorite is the cabinet with the barn doors.  So cute.  We go and meet their horses.  Kathy will have fun working those horses with all the girls gone this winter.

Gary and I check in to 7 feathers and Rick buys us dinner, a nice surprise.  The visit continues.  Rick and Kathy leave after dinner.

I gamble a little and pay the house.  We watch a little Olympics then crash in to the comfy bed at 7 Feathers Casino.

Daddy's buffalo, Momma's pony and Baby's monster

Alison's black cat Neb

8/15/16 Heat Is Not My Friend

Canyonville OR to Mount Shasta CA - 181 miles

Up out of a deep sleep at 7 Feathers.  The heat from Saturday's long ride really wore me out.

On Rick and Kathy's recommendation we drive to Heaven on Earth restaurant at Azalea OR for a decent breakfast and we split a world famous cinnamon roll.

There is one wild cat there who comes by us. He has seen some hard times.  He has three crooks in his tail.  As we get ready to leave a lady is putting food out and at least 4 cats come to her noise.

During breakfast we are in touch with Michelle and get Mary Jo's phone.  We hope to stop by her and Brad's place in Gold Hill on our way home.

I5 traffic is not so bad in southern Oregon but it is hot by the time we reach Gold Hill.  I realize we are driving by many friends but time is short today as we have to pick up Molly in the late afternoon.

Mary Jo and Brad live on a steep hill and I get in trouble with my bike.  Gary has to help me out.  I am grateful for his long legs.

We have a tour of their place.  They really have worked on it, drawing it out of decay and neglect.  They have filled it with wonderful art and antiques.  Every funny curve is a great story.

Their boxer Sam is a cutie and wants to kiss, play and be petted all at once.

We leave Gold Hill and drive to Yreka for a cold drink before driving through Gazelle to home.

Glad to park the ponies in our drive way "in the land of Ahh's".  Home safe and sound.

Breakfast at Heaven on Earth...yummy!