Cascade Crew

[Dewey316]

The boys are back at it, along with their trusty (well, mostly...as you will see) Honda's. Last years adventure was our first ever attempt at a motorcycle trip. As we talked about when we got back, we descided that after 3 days on the motorcycles, we were just starting to feel comfortable, and wanted more! This year, we double the days, doubled the miles, and headed out for what would be a great adventure.

During the winter, we talked many times about where we wanted to go, what we wanted to see, and places that neither of us had been to before. Both of us growning up in the PacNW, we realized that neither of us had done much in the way of seeing Norther California. A plan started to formulate, and Schultzy worked his magic to come up with a route for us. The route evolved as sights got added or removed, and plans changed. We eventually came up with with this route, and stuck to it for the most part.

The Route:



So, with the route sorteed, the bikes packed, and Dewey properly caffinated, the adventure begins...


Day 1

Day one started off at Mike's house. We went to coffee, and then hit OR213 to salem. We didn't take any pictures along here, just rode to get the heck out of dodge. We cruised through Salem, and hit OR223. Now, we can start in with the pictures.

The first stop was at the Ritner Creek Bridge, just outside of the busy town of Pedee, OR.

Mike was happy to pose in front of the bridge.


View from the bridge.


From there, we took OR20 all the way into Newport, OR.



Dewey says, lets get on the road already Schultzy!


After grabbing some clam chowder at Moe's in Newport, it would be hwy101 the entire way down the coast, from Newport to Brookings for the night, Without even having to figure out where to go, it was time to cruise, stop a bunch, and take pictures

Viewpoint outside of Newport.


Waldport Bridge.


Devil's Churn.


SChultzy really like the Churn, although I guess the tree's made him dizzy or something. But, he looks happy here.


Views of the Central Oregon Coast from 101.


Heceta head Lighthouse.


Dewey and Schultzy at the lighthouse viewpoint.


Next we saw a sign for Crater Lake. We thought we had taken a wrong turn, but it turns out, there is another Crater Lake. It is not nearly as impressive.


Dunes near Reedsport, OR.


We thought everything was going great, cruising along the 101, have a great time. As we hit North Bend, OR, we descided to take a little detour through a state park along the coast. Little did we know, this would be a bit more than a detour. As we pulled of 101, my motorcycle slid sideways and I had to fight to get any traction and not fishtail the bike around. Mike looked at my tire at a stop sign, and we determined that we needed to stop. The reason:


We tried goop and fix a flat, but the tire just shot pressurized leak sealer out. After finding the nearest tire store, and several phone calls to motorcycle shops in coos Bay we found an awesome shop that was willing to take the bike in after they had already closed, and fix it. They had the tube I needed in stock. Corry the guy and Coos Cycle Supply was great, and fixed me right up. He was also a lot of fun to chat with.

Corry and Dewey, trying to figure out what all went wrong.


Here is the man who saved our trip!


So, we were now a couple of hours behind schedule, and we knew we would be riding into Brookings, OR in the dark. Well we were not looking forward to it, and I soon figured out that I forgot to pack my clear visor, so all I had was my tinted one. But, the Oregon coast still would not dispoint, it treated us to one the most amazing sunsets I have seen. Just as we turned the corner at Port Orford, we saw this.



We sat at the lookout, and watched the sun go all the way down.






With the sun down, we got about a great ride in the twilight from Port Orford through Gold Beach. The last stretch was a cold blast in the dark into Brookings. We made it there safe and sound, the first day done. Only one thing left to do. Beer and Pizza!

Wild River Pizza Co, mmmmmm good food, good beer.


Full and buzzed, it was off to bed to get ready to take on California.

[Dewey316]

Day 2

We started off the morning in Brookings, with a stop for coffee and a chance for Mike to buy a new camera. He had had problems with his old camera the day before, and descided to just get a new one. But, with coffee and electronics sorted out, it was back on the Road for all of 6 miles, until we made our first stop.

California! We did it.


Our first stop in California, was a quick trip up CA199 into Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

Bridge on CA199.




The road through Jedediah Park is a dirt/gravel but mainly dusty affair. The views are fantastic, the tree's are pretty huge, but I mostly remeber the dust.


There are many small creeks that you cross over as you wind through the park.


Dewey-Lama...Riding among giants.


Lucky for us, Schultzy was there to move this out of the road.


Another of the many streams/creeks/brooks/whatever.


Dewey walking around, seeing the sites.


Pictures just don't do the scale of these things justice.


Schultzy showing how to get a 650lbs motorcycle around on dirt.


Dewey, being the good Oregon boy he is, wants to remind everyone that he really is a tree hugger.


We left the park, and got back on 101. As we moved a little inland, the sea fog started to clear, and the sun started to come out. Just some mist was left hanging in the air.


The sea fog did hang around while we were right on the coast though. But, even fogged in, Norther California's coast line is amazing.


Next up, was the Newton Drury Scenic Pkwy through Prairie Creek Redwoods Park, to get to that, we took a gravel road through Redwoods National Park.

The fog was still out, but as the gravel road begin there was a memorial lookout over the coast and the Klamath River.


The road follows the coastline until it makes its way back to pavement and the Drury Pkwy.


Once back on the pavement, I descide that I had really messed up on day one, and descided to revive a grand tradition. Sitting in the road!


Yup, that looks pretty big.


It even makes Mike look small.


Again, camera fails to show perspective of the size.


We then left the Redwoods, and headed back towards the coast. We made a stop over at Patric's Point State Park. Here there are some amazing views of the coastline.


Dewey relaxing, and enjoying the views.


Schultzy seemed to be having a good time.


We had spent longer than we probably should have to this point, but descided to have some dinner in McKinleyville, CA.


Time to hit the road...filled up the motorcycles, and cleaned the visors as we headed inland on CA299.


299 is an amazing road. It first climbs it ways through the hills, then follows a river almost the entire way into Redding, CA.

Climbing.


River.


The Lama was having himself a ball on this road.


As it started to work towards darkness, we were starting to climb again. Still quite a ways out of Redding.


We did get treated to another great sunset, as we once again, road into our destination under the cover of darkness.


Although, a full moon did help to light the way.


Once in Redding, it did start to feel a little more like Cali.


With the day done, it was time for beer! For some reason neither of us were very hungry, so it was the liquid form of dinner, until we closed down the Redding night life.

A taxi ride back to the motel, and it was off to start dreaming about day three, and what Lassen National Park might have in store.

[Dewey316]

Day 3

Day three was a nice warm sunny California morning. After closing down the bar in Redding, Dewey took a little longer than he should have getting ready. Hopefully this wouldn't come back to bite us, i mean, and 11am start, what could go wrong there.

Just as we hit the road, we got hit with our first detour...a Java Detour that is! You know, the Lama needs his morning coffee.


Coffee taken care of, it was off to Lassen, at exactly the speed limit.


Dewey (or shall we call him The Stig), was enjoying the morning sun and the ride up to Lassen.


You don't get 500ft inside Lassen National Park, before the photo-ops begin.


Now kids, get ready. The photos are going to just keep coming. Around every single bend of the trip through the park, a new photo presented itself.

Hiking path at the visitors center.


The Lama says "Lassen is awesome!"


No comment needed.


I thought that sasquatch were hairy, and lived in the PNW. I guess this is a cousin or something. The northern sierra hairless possibly?


All jokes aside, Schultzy was enjoying himself at Lassen.


The road up Lassen Mt was fresh pavement, it was motorcycling bliss.


We stopped at several lakes as we climbed higher in elevation.


Its that danged sasquatch again...


There were many meadows with amazing views as we kept climbing up the mountain.


Luckily, one day three, Dewey found a stream. This might have been the closest thing to a shower so far on the trip.


The idea of Dewey not smelling so bad, made Schultzy happy.


Panoramic from the road on Lassen. This gives you a little idea of how epic this ride is.


I guess this is the high point of the trip....or its all down hill from here...


Near the summit there is a small lake. Schultzy descided we needed some pictures of it.


Lucky for us, Dewey and his superhuman stregth kept that rock from rolling down.


From here, we descided to do a 3 mile hike in to see all the geothermal activity. Why Dewey descided to do it in all his gear...we may never know.


Views from the hiking trail...


More views from the trail...


That is the destination, a raised platform through the geothermal zone.


As you get closer, you can really start to see the steam, and smell the sulfur.


The color of the "water" (I hardly would call it that), is very strange.


Schultzy (the smart one in a t-shirt, not a motorcycle jacket)


Dewey, having smarted up, and ditched the jacket, took it upon himself to explain the area to Mike. Schultzy thinks he was just reading the signs.


Bubling grey ooze. I guess it is loaded with Pyrite, and that is why it gets that color.


Relaxing in the sun.


Hot springs. I think Schultzy was really thinking about taking a dip.


The sights seen, it was time for Dewey to lead the way back out.


Right along the roadside, there was a boiling mud pot. This thing was going to town.


Although we took a ton of pictures, and were having fun. We were now WAY behind, and as we left Lassen, it was already getting to be about 4:30pm. We still had 200 miles to go that day!


After leaving Lassen, we took highway 89 south towards Tahoe. It was a nice road. Nice enough to sit in for a while.


We stopped at Lake Almanor for Schultzy to stretch.


We then stopped for a quick snack of pepperoni sticks, and snickers bars. Once we got back on the road, we then found a way to get lost.

Somewhere between the 89, the 49, the 70 and other interchanges, we ended up in the wrong place. So, we pulled over and consulted the GPS.


The sun was setting fast, as we headed out of Beckwourth, CA (i think it was CA), trying to get back south towards Tahoe.


The moon started rising, as we bombed along County RD A23...towards Sierraville, trying to find our way to Truckee, CA.


With this much riding to do in the dark, and the tempetures starting to drop, we were in for a long night. The ride into Tahoe was something like you can only live through. It cannot be explained. Both of us were freezing our arses off, unable to see in the darkness. The road was horrible, and the ruts would grab your front wheel and shake your whole bike. If there was any moment of the trip that Dewey didn't enjoy, this might be it.

But, with these trips, for every low point, there is a high point. Such as, making it to Neveda!


Since we made it that far, we knew it mean only a few more miles of riding before relaxing for the evneing at Schultzy's cousins house. As we descended into Carson City, NV, mercifully the tempetures warmed up, and we both started to relax. It was certianly quite an ending to an amazing day of riding. Many many margaritas and shots of sambuca later, we crashed...hard.

[Dewey316]

Day 4

We started off day four, a little fuzzy...OK, I'll be honest. We were both hung over, possibly still buzzed from the night before.

Thankfully, we started with a nice breakfast.


Today would be a brutal one. We had lots of miles to cover, and many many of them were on straight, long open roads. We would take 395 up through Reno, then to Susanville. We pretty much blasted this whole stretch with very few stops. The only stops we made were for fuel, and restroom stops.

Rest area somewhere on 395. I really don't know where.


Our first real stop to actually see anything scenic, was after taking CA44 to CA89, and headinhg north. Just ouside of Burney, CA we stopped at Lake Britton.

Dewey heading out on the dock to take some pictures.


The bridge we had just riden over on our way to the stop.


From here, CA89 is basicly a straight shot (literally...it was BORING) to Shasta. We were planning to break off of 89, and start heading North, but I needed to stop and get fuel. We detoured out of our way to McCloud, CA for some gas.

McCloud does offer some pretty good views of Mt Shasta though!


Now it was time to get back on course. We headed North on Medicine Lk Rd, eventually hoping to get to Lava Beds National Monument.

Starting to head North, Shasta is getting smaller as we go.


Still smaller, as we head out on forest service roads, into the unkown.


The road winds through lava bads, and patches of forest. It is quite scenic, and the road is in pretty good shape. Mike sat on his bike and rested for a few.


The Lama, not wanting to miss a chance, sat in the road.


We found some caves along the road, we figured we would check them out.


Schultzy, at the caves.


It is really quite amazing to think about what this area must have been like with the lava flowing through here. It is also pretty amazing how tree's find way to grow here.


It took us up until almost sunset for us to reach Medicine Lake. It was very peaceful there though.


As the sun went down over the lake, we knew we needed to start moving though. As we still had a long ways to go.


Dewey led the way, bungie chords and all.


It was starting to get dark, and the road was getting MUCH worse now. The pavement looked like it hadn't been repaired in a very long time.


We left the Modoc National Forest, which meant the end of pavement at all. From here through the lava beds, it would be dirt roads.


We were up at a pretty good elevation here, so the twilight and sunset from here were the BEST of the trip. Maybe one of the best of my life.


Here we are! We made it to Lava Beds Volcanic National Monument.


Schultzy at Mammoth Crater, with the sun quickly setting behind him.


We will have to save this hike, for another day.


Sun was giving up its last bits of light.


The moon was making its way up now...


Dewey leading the way in the dark on the gravel.


This was about all I could see of the road, but my eyes were looking elsewhere. the view from up here was out of this world!


The very very very last bit of light.


Dewey was VERY happy to see the pavement again.


From here, it was a non-stop ride into Klamath Falls for the night. It was rather uneventful, compaired to the night before, but a little on the cold side. We were given a warm welcome and Rod and Jenn's though. We were also able to spend a bit of time chatting with them.

So, thanks again Rod and Jenn, it was nice to have a place to sleep. The food, coffee and company were also very wonderful!

[Dewey316]

Day 5

We started day five off, with a pot of coffee at Rod and Jenn's, and the got packed up and hit the road. We had a pretty good route planned out for today. Both of us in good spirits, and looking forward to getting underway.

We headed out of Klamath Falls, and toward the South entrance to Crater Lake.


The vies of the Klamath Basin on the way up to Crater are petty good.


Dewey thought the roads were pretty good too.


After saying hello to the cows along the roadway...Schultzy led the way to Crater Lake.


Made it!


Canyon on the south side of the park.


Shultzy was pretty happy to make it to the lake.


Dewey taking some pictures of the lake.


And the results of the pictures he took...Crater Lake Panoramic.


The honders at Crater.


Schultzy walked around, taking in the scenes, and taking many pictures, such as this one:


Dewey, couldn't be bothered.


The views from the rim of the area around the lake are breathtaking.


Dewey liked it so much, he wondered what it was like to be a bird and fly around the area.


Schultzy kept taking pictures.


Dewey hoped to make some money to pay for the trip.... (Wait...how did that get in there, who is telling this story anyway!!!!!)


It was all fun and games until we got brought back into the modern world...construction...urghhhh.


Dewey didn't mind so much, he took a nap.


We made one last stop, so Schultzy could play with some rodents.


Then on to the long scenic ride out of the park.


And some lunch.


After lunch, it was onto the Cascade Lakes Scenic Hwy.


Tons of little meadows and lakes to stop at along this road.


For some of us, the destination is the road itself.


Thankfully I was traveling with "I'll do anything for a picture" Schultzy. If it was just Dewey, this report would have sucked.


The results of all Schultzy efforts.


Schultzy worked hard for a few more pictures...


The Lama supervised.


It all went according to plan, and Schultzy got his shot.


As you progress through the lakes, you find out, there are actually lakes there...and you get some great shots of the South Sister.


And Three Fingered Jack.


And Mt Bachelor.


You can even gets shots of all three of them!


Some more lava flows along the side of the road, in the footprint of the Sisters.


As the shaddows got longer, we rounded the side of Bathelor, and headed into Bend. The Deschutes beer was calling to the Lama.


THat ends day 5, lots of beers, great food, and many laughs were had at the Deschutes Pub on Bond St.

[Dewey316]

Day 6

Day six, also known as the long hopefully windy road home. Neither of us really wanted to get home, so the trip from Bend back to Portland was bitter sweet. All we knew, is we were planning a pretty good route. HWy20 out of Bend, to connect with hwy224 and that would take us all the way back into Portland.

We started off, by packing up the bikes for the last time. Dewey was getting pretty good with the bungie chords.


We stopped near Sisters, OR, to get pictures of all three of the sisters.


We also had a pretty good view of Mt Jefferson.


Just outside of Sisters, as we started up the pass, you get a great view of Mt Washington (which is in Oregon).


There was a forest fire going on the west side of the mountain.


We followed the road without stopping all the way to Detroit Lake. We stopped for a snack, and fuel for the backs. This would be the last fuel stop of the trip.


From there, 224 basicly follows the Clackamous river all the way. The rest of the trip would be spent along this road.


Schultzy along the river.


It was getting hot, so Dewey tried to wet his bandana in hopes of staying cool. (or was it hippy shower time again...)


The bikes looks soooo little.


Schultzy thinks they cliffs are pretty high too.


Some marsh lands along 224.


More 224 views.


The Lama, out taking pictures.


This is a motorcyclists road if there is one. Lots of sweepers, just keep the speed and rythem. (Thats what she said..hahah)


The final stop along the river for the little Honda that could.


Until we finally made it back to Schultzy's house.


The End.

[iansane]

Now that is awesome! Looks like you guys had a great time. Your leg along hwy101 reminds me of the trip Steve and I took years ago down to cali in my '87. Mucho fun and mucho beauty,

[Xophertony]

nice

[QwkTrip]

Awesome route and pictures!

He's wearing those chaps again.

[Schultzy89GTA]

Man! That looks awesome. Wish I could have been... oh wait.



Nice post and commentary Lama boy!

Thanks,

-Schultzy

[Richster]

Outstanding Trip Guys!
Wow nice pics, Great comments John!
Man does that bring back some past rides from the day, very cool!
Glad all went well and the trip was safe and very nice to you!
Way to go dudes!

[RSFreak]

You guys got some awesome shots of some beautiful scenery. Glad you didn't have any major snags along the way.

[aaron_sK]

[Quasi-Traction]

after seeing your pictures, I keep telling myself "I'm gonna get a bike....someday..." Lol.

awesome shots guys. Looked like you had a good time.