T-14... drive chain oiled, change oil, tires inflated to the proper pressure, bags packed, I think we are about ready to roll.Day 1:
Deciding which way to go is always the hardest part. I knew that the heat was going to be brutal through Central Washington so I decided to try to route that my friend John introduced me to. Highway 28 toward Quincy, White Trail road to Adams road on to Frenchman Hills road, and just after the Potholes resort you go south on Road H until you hit McManamon road and then on to Othello. From there straight south on the 24 to Sagehill flats road road 170 to Taylor cutting down into Pasco. I decided to do a short freeway burst and then follow the 12 around Columbia on the 270 thinking it would be cooler and it was a smart move all though once entering Hermiston the heat really began to build. I decided to take the 207/206 all the way through Lexington and then drop down to Heppner.
It seems things in Oregon are just like Douglas County where you can follow your instincts, a few trees, and a run along an old telephone or powerline road which will take you to a place long forgotten. This had to have been a incredible house for it's time. From Condon to Fossil went pretty quickly and I ran out of cell service just as fast.
Day 2:
I woke up to light showers at 5:00 but by 6 am they had passed and the tent was dry so I'm getting up to pack it all away while the packing is good. I rode into spray for breakfast and to figure out my plans for getting a tire. After talking with another rider over breakfast, I determined that my best course of action was to head in to Bend and see if there wasn't a motor sports dealership there that could help me out.
mountains for quite a brilliant color in the late morning sun.
As I neared Bend, I Googled and found Pro Caliber motorsports and pulled in to see if they could help me. I really wanted some Bridgestones or Metzler but I would be willing to settle for Shinko if they have them in stock in the size I needed. They actually had a set of Metzler's and exactly the size I needed so I had them mount them up and two and a half hours later I was out the door. I got the fuses I needed and Prineville, changed them out and tested my circuit, got my subway, and headed east back on the 26, then north on the 19, all by mid-afternoon.
Amazing desert scenery as the canyons do their best to bake you. Layers and layers of sediment made this an incredible fossil bed. As you start up the 207 off the 19 you enter the Umatilla National Forest, what a contrast from the fossil beds. Another road I had forgotten how beautiful it was. Winding up and through the corners at a relaxed pace left me enjoying every mile. In fact, I haven't gone over 60 mph any time this whole trip... and I've enjoyed seeing more than rushing through it.
Winding into Heppner I decided people would be nice, so the Willow Creek RV campground called or a $6 spot (tent) on #19 (flat) overlooking the dam. A hot shower and night two comes to a close. There be ghost towns tomorrow!
Day 3:
Bright sun greeted the morning as I broke camp and thought about gas and breakfast. Gas was open but nope, nothing open until 10:00 on Sundays so I topped off and decided to head to Lone Rock. I decided to take the shorter of the two routes as my fork seal leak was a concern and went west on the 206 (Wasco-Heppner/Condon Highway) to about 8 miles past the 207 turnoff to Redding Road, down a couple miles, then over to Hale Ridge and Buttermilk Canyon.
When you think you are really lost, go a little further. This road was rough enough, but mix in with that softball sized rockslides littering the canyon floor and washout areas repaired just enough then you are on the right track.
At 12 miles I thought I had taken a wrong turn but the GPS egged me on until I had broken out of the canyons and climbing out onto some high plains that dropped me into large rolling valleys and into Lone Rock. Here to the right is the icon that the town was named after.
There are maybe a dozen occupied structures, the large old school has been turned into a residence, and the church is smack next to the namesake of the town... a large lone rock. Deciding I wanted breakfast and a smoother road, I followed the main road out climbing along a large rising mountain road that takes out and eventually turns into pavement to Condon.
On the way to Condon I saw a Hawk swoop down along the side of the road and about 75 feet in front of me and grab a snake out of the grass, fly about 25 feet further while climbing to about 50 feet off the ground and drop the snake smack in the middle of the road. As I passed it, it was not looking too well and saw the Hawk come in from behind me and help it into the food chain. There were lots of snakes ran over all the way to Condon and I saw another Hawk fly across me with one in it's talons. Front row seat to "Wild Kingdom"!
As I was having breakfast I was looking over my maps and thinking about Winlock and winding around to the SouthEast. A couple guy who work the wind farms came in and joined some ranchers who were already eating. I asked them if the road to Winlock was paved and one rancher replied "sure, about the first 50 feet and then it get's rough".
I mentioned it was listed as a mining ghost town and I was interested on seeing it. He looked over my shoulder and said "your dual-sport will make it no problem" where another chimed in "not with that leaking fork seal, you won't for long... it's puddling out there in the street".
Crum...
Went out after paying my bill and sure enough, it looked bad. Measuring my options, I decided to head home, living from one rest stop hydro-break to another and get Mystique back into off-road condition. Repair and ride another day made sense so I left Condon to Wasco, Biggs, and Goldendale deviating to Bickleton, Moabton, Vernita Bridge and up toward Quincy and home.
Several lessons learned on this trip... as much as I like AT&T for their data, Verizon rules the rural areas and I am getting a Go-phone so I have better emergency coverage, and I am always taking a paper map as GPS is great but only a paper map can give you the big picture on demand.
Time to get Mystique back in shape, stock up, and head out for another adventure.
As I neared Bend, I Googled and found Pro Caliber motorsports and pulled in to see if they could help me. I really wanted some Bridgestones or Metzler but I would be willing to settle for Shinko if they have them in stock in the size I needed. They actually had a set of Metzler's and exactly the size I needed so I had them mount them up and two and a half hours later I was out the door. I got the fuses I needed and Prineville, changed them out and tested my circuit, got my subway, and headed east back on the 26, then north on the 19, all by mid-afternoon.
Day 3:
Bright sun greeted the morning as I broke camp and thought about gas and breakfast. Gas was open but nope, nothing open until 10:00 on Sundays so I topped off and decided to head to Lone Rock. I decided to take the shorter of the two routes as my fork seal leak was a concern and went west on the 206 (Wasco-Heppner/Condon Highway) to about 8 miles past the 207 turnoff to Redding Road, down a couple miles, then over to Hale Ridge and Buttermilk Canyon.
At 12 miles I thought I had taken a wrong turn but the GPS egged me on until I had broken out of the canyons and climbing out onto some high plains that dropped me into large rolling valleys and into Lone Rock. Here to the right is the icon that the town was named after.
There are maybe a dozen occupied structures, the large old school has been turned into a residence, and the church is smack next to the namesake of the town... a large lone rock. Deciding I wanted breakfast and a smoother road, I followed the main road out climbing along a large rising mountain road that takes out and eventually turns into pavement to Condon.On the way to Condon I saw a Hawk swoop down along the side of the road and about 75 feet in front of me and grab a snake out of the grass, fly about 25 feet further while climbing to about 50 feet off the ground and drop the snake smack in the middle of the road. As I passed it, it was not looking too well and saw the Hawk come in from behind me and help it into the food chain. There were lots of snakes ran over all the way to Condon and I saw another Hawk fly across me with one in it's talons. Front row seat to "Wild Kingdom"!
As I was having breakfast I was looking over my maps and thinking about Winlock and winding around to the SouthEast. A couple guy who work the wind farms came in and joined some ranchers who were already eating. I asked them if the road to Winlock was paved and one rancher replied "sure, about the first 50 feet and then it get's rough".
I mentioned it was listed as a mining ghost town and I was interested on seeing it. He looked over my shoulder and said "your dual-sport will make it no problem" where another chimed in "not with that leaking fork seal, you won't for long... it's puddling out there in the street".
Crum...
Went out after paying my bill and sure enough, it looked bad. Measuring my options, I decided to head home, living from one rest stop hydro-break to another and get Mystique back into off-road condition. Repair and ride another day made sense so I left Condon to Wasco, Biggs, and Goldendale deviating to Bickleton, Moabton, Vernita Bridge and up toward Quincy and home.Several lessons learned on this trip... as much as I like AT&T for their data, Verizon rules the rural areas and I am getting a Go-phone so I have better emergency coverage, and I am always taking a paper map as GPS is great but only a paper map can give you the big picture on demand.
Time to get Mystique back in shape, stock up, and head out for another adventure.
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