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Day 9 Saturday: In the morning we run over to Merced to get a new visor. It’s today that I’m certain that Mrs1911’s back is ok, when she’s in on this ride rather than relaxing at the lodge, which she had considered as an option yesterday and today. I enjoy the roads and scenery around Hornitos, La Grange, Coulterville, Lake McCLure, and the run down 49.






When we turn toward Yosemite the sign says “parking lots full expect three hour delays”. I should have planned better. I don’t want to miss dinner. We get ice cream cones and explore a little around town.



It is still a great day, relaxed. The parking lot banquet . And I score big in the raffle

What a great choice Mariposa was. Great lodging. I love all the old buildings. Eveything we needed was in walking distance. Including handdipped chocolate ice cream and hardware. It was a well stocked hardware store too. I went in to get stuff to try to fix Mrs1911’s headset and again to get a few camping supplies . A broken wire caused me to not be able to hear her. She could still her me and Zumo. The break was too close to the plug and unfixable. Exskibum generously offered up replacement parts but the geography and time didn’t work out. We finished out the trip with a sort of tap code.

1911 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 02, 2017 10:36 pmWe finished out the trip with a sort of tap code.

Been doing this one a long time. Most of our codes work but sometimes it fails. The time a hot girl in a car next to us at a light started revving her engine at me I got a slap from my wife. When the light turned green I heeded the warning given and babied the bike off the line and let the girl go. As it turns out, slap means "Kick her ass and go!!!" Ooops. Miscommunication.

Day 10 Sunday:

I can’t believe how quickly and easily we cruise through San Francisco. Almost a little too quick. I contemplate turning off the route to maybe get lost and explore a little, but we do want to get to the Manchester before sunset. And we have a time or two on this trip ended up rolling into camp WAY AFTER sunset. Better safe than sorry.




I’m also stunned that just a few minutes after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge we are back out where livestock grazes right up to the sea and trees line the road.





And that a jetliner messed with my sunset picture on Manchester Beach, which was spectacular in its isolation.








And how good the sun felt Monday morning.

Wonderful report, Duane... the KOA in Manchester is one of my favorite go to destinations for a weekend ride... really happy you guys made it out and got to experience some of the wonders here! B)

Tyler wrote: ↑Sun Jul 02, 2017 11:40 pm Wonderful report, Duane... the KOA in Manchester is one of my favorite go to destinations for a weekend ride... really happy you guys made it out and got to experience some of the wonders here! B)

Yea! Wish I could remember who suggested it

Day 11: Manchester Beach to Chiloquin Oregon-Spectacular coastline and big ole trees.

Running up the coast on Highways 1 and 101 is everything I hoped it would be, but there were quite a few short stops for construction. I sure do like this lanesplitting/filtering stuff, when I’ve got the nerve to take advantage of it.





We ate at a drivethrough and cruised through the Avenue of Giants.


















When we turned east at Orick we found the pavement of Bald Hills road so rough that we turned around and tried to find another way over to Hornbrook. That’s when we realize what a wilderness, and probably dual sport heaven, northern California is. We end up continuing up the coast to Crescent City and using Hwy199 to head east for the first time in 11 days. Talk about good misfortune. I don’t see the size of the Avenue of Giants in the trees on 199 but the beauty of the Redwood forest just goes on and on. There should be pics, but by this time we have lollygagged among trees and waited at construction stops enough that we are running late again. We pitch the tent by flashlight once again at Collier State Park, just a little north of Chiloquin Or. In the morning we emerge to see what we’ve occupied in the dark, which is apparently the mosquito capital of Oregon. These things give the Arkansas rice paddy mosquitos around my grandparents place a run for their money. At least they are too big to sneak up on you. There is a notice on the bulletin board that says in three days they will be spraying for mosquitos, so they must be unusually bad for some reason. Collier has a logging museum on site that we take a quick look at before leaving.

Enjoying every single bit of this ride report.

I'm hesitant to offer this, but my favorite picture of your report thus far is the one at sunrise on the Manchester camp site. I simply love that time of day, especially when I'm touring. Your picture speaks to me. I like them all, but I like that one the best.

I'm also thrilled to read Mrs. 1911 is feeling better. I imagined like my own selfless wife, she might have been grinning and bearing it, lest she force a shortened ending to such a special trip. Regardless, I'm glad she's better.

1911 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 02, 2017 11:11 pm
And how good the sun felt Monday morning.

OUTSTANDING!

1911 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 03, 2017 1:30 am

Tyler wrote: ↑Sun Jul 02, 2017 11:40 pm Wonderful report, Duane... the KOA in Manchester is one of my favorite go to destinations for a weekend ride... really happy you guys made it out and got to experience some of the wonders here! B)

Yea! Wish I could remember who suggested it

Would I steer you wrong??

Day 11: Chiloquin Oregon to Nachez Washington-Subconscious Realization

Oregon and Washington mean rainsuits and lush forests, right? Not this Oregon and Washington.

I route this day up US97/US197 because it looked like a good compromise between the unpleasantness of the interstate and slow travel time of more interesting backroads. I had no idea what I was getting into. And the lack of expectation may be why I was so blown away by this day’s ride.

We stop just north of La Pine Or for lunch with Broken Top, Bachelor and a couple Sisters.



Then we spend quite a few miles chasing Hood, trying not to run off the road due to all the gawking at scenery.













As we parallel the Deschutes River the scenery is breathtaking. I’ve never had too much of an urge to go kayaking/rafting but a float down the Deschutes is now on my bucket list. Funny, we take a bucket list trip and our bucket list just gets longer. As 197 descends into Maupin Or we get into sweepers and images like Virginia 16 on steroids.







It’s somewhere near Maupin that I subconsciously settle with absolute clarity upon the answer to a question yet to be asked. Later on, as friends, family, strangers at rest areas and gas stations hear of where we’ve been they ask what our favorite thing about the trip was. I should have to think. It should be difficult to decide which moment or scene at which spectacular famous attraction most stands out. The first time I’m asked this question though, it takes a millisecond to answer-THE BEAUTY CRASHES-the ride into unexpected beauty. The big attractions are awesome. They must be seen in person and each is worth its own vacation. They are worth the reservations, the admission fees, the waiting in traffic and lines. We expect them to be awesome. But my favorite moments occur on the seat of the bike as we round a curve or top a hill and slam into a surprise scene of amazing beauty. It could be many things. A straight road to the end of the horizon with nothing man made on either side. The first glimpse of snow capped peaks. Coming down from on high at looking at an entire town from one end to the other. Running alongside a river. A piece of wide open rangeland dotted with livestock, antelope and horses (there are some FINE looking horses out here) is a beautiful sight to us. Maybe there is a genetic defect at work here. One that allows a person to stand, looking at one of the most amazing sights a person can behold, and be preoccupied with what’s on the other side, just over that ridge, just around the next bend.

We get a taste of the Columbia River and and a steak in Union Gap before we set up for the night on the Naches River, just a little northwest of Naches.













The owner of Elk Ridge Campground (sorry I don’t recall his name) takes pity on the fire that we’ve built from the leftovers of the neighboring firepits and what we’ve picked up off the ground. My wallet can’t stand to see 10-20 bucks worth of campground store firewood go up in smoke EVERY night. He brings over a complementary load and throws it on the pile. We chat. I pick his brain about local roads and points of interest. He goes on at length about local agriculture, wine making and beer brewing. If you are a camping wine or beer aficionado this place may be the place for you.



There wasn’t a bad campground experience the whole trip. How were trips like this planned before the web and online reviews? We stayed at places run by the feds and the states and those privately owned. As far service and effort toward customer satisfaction goes the private places with the owners on site ranked highest.

I stay up past bedtime hoping that the moon will rise high enough over that ridge to light up the river valley. It doesn’t.



It tries to hind behind a tree.



Find me a better white noise for sleeping than a river or creek.

This is really good stuff Duane. I especially love your thoughts on the best part of the trip...the unexpected beauty! Great stuff, keep it coming.

Btw, this report you will love rereading in a year.

Wow. Just Fantastic.


Your term The Beauty Crashes is pure RR Gold. Not everyone gets that feeling and those that don't travel never get it at all. I am guessing that almost all FJR folks get it.

You reminded me of a quote from Louis L'amour:

Somewhere my love lay sleeping,
Behind the lights of a far-off town;
So I gave my heart to a bend in the road;
And off I went, a-yondering.

Tyler wrote: ↑Sun Jul 02, 2017 11:40 pm the KOA in Manchester is one of my favorite go to destinations for a weekend ride.

Bookmarked as a lonely entry on my "California" pinterest page, should I ever find the time to get out that way. Thanks!

gixxerjasen wrote: ↑Mon Jul 03, 2017 5:49 pm

Tyler wrote: ↑Sun Jul 02, 2017 11:40 pm the KOA in Manchester is one of my favorite go to destinations for a weekend ride.

Bookmarked as a lonely entry on my "California" pinterest page, should I ever find the time to get out that way. Thanks!

Honey, if you ever get out this way, let me know... we'll be able to add a ton of stuff to that page. B)

wheatonFJR wrote: ↑Mon Jul 03, 2017 2:39 pm This is really good stuff Duane. I especially love your thoughts on the best part of the trip...the unexpected beauty! Great stuff, keep it coming.

Btw, this report you will love rereading in a year.

Beauty Crashes... trademark that one cause it speaks volumes and I totally was nodding my head up and down in a resounding, "Oh yeah..."

Tyler wrote: ↑Mon Jul 03, 2017 6:25 pm

gixxerjasen wrote: ↑Mon Jul 03, 2017 5:49 pm

Tyler wrote: ↑Sun Jul 02, 2017 11:40 pm the KOA in Manchester is one of my favorite go to destinations for a weekend ride.

Bookmarked as a lonely entry on my "California" pinterest page, should I ever find the time to get out that way. Thanks!

Honey, if you ever get out this way, let me know... we'll be able to add a ton of stuff to that page. B)

I see what you did to these others so I don't doubt you when you say that.

Those parts of Oregon were awesome during last year's visit. Washington, Idaho, then add Montana and Wyoming... you realize the vastness and that you just can't see it all, certainly not in one trip. So start planning your next one.....

Day 13

Naches to Glacier NP:

There will be a lot of interstate today. Out here though the slab doesn’t suck near as bad as at home. The scenery is nice and the traffic light. Especially the heavy truck traffic. The speed limits are reasonable. The drivers are better. Some of my favorite signage out west, especially on the two lane roads, read “ILLEAGAL TO HOLD UP 5 CARS OR MORE SLOWER TRAFFIC USE PULLOUTS”, “$1000 FINE FOR LITTERING”, “FINES UP TO $6250 FOR LITTERING”. It may seem odd to some for a traveler to take note of the littering signs but around my home county and many of the places I like to ride, the litter ruins the scenery. It makes me think of Iron Eyes Cody.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Suu84khNGY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvJ4_sa4gno

At the same time I’m wondering where all the big rigs are I notice the sets of triples, which I’ve heard of, and the sets of double 40+ footers (34 wheelers), that I haven’t heard about. When I tell one of my brothers-in-law about the biggerrigs he asks if I saw any “night trains”-rigs of up to 6 trailers that can only run at night. We’ve not been on interstate out west after dark so I haven’t. It occurs to me that if regs on big rigs are relaxed after dark maybe that is when all the big rigs come out to play? Maybe one of you westerners can elaborate?
We take in the wonder of the rolling hills of agriculture as we cross Washington.



Spokane is a button on the remote control for the BIG screen. We come into Spokane from gently rolling farm and rangeland and out the other side BAM we are into Idaho’s mountains. It’s as sudden as hitting the “go back” button on the TV flicker. It’s like when the states drew borders Washington told Idaho “we can’t farm that-you take it”.

We settle on the current channel, put down the remote, climb up to Glacier and set up on Fish Creek.



































https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF9ejU8B64E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sTNNbp ... e=youtu.be

Well...^^^^that does not suck.

wheatonFJR wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2017 3:01 pm Well...^^^^that does not suck.

Amen brother, it certainly does not.


I know one thing, if this 1911 fellow goes back into hiding and doesn't post more Ride Reports after this one, I am going to send Cav47 over there to visit him. Cav47 won't beat him up or anything like that, Cav is just so damned ugly that having to look at him will be punishment enough.

Seriously 1911, your prose and pics are Excellent. I love the pics of Mrs. 1911 just staring at the mountains. I have seen that look on Mrs. Redfish before and I love it.