Oregon 🇺🇸
Aw Deschutes, we’ve gone Rogue! A smokey 2-week 2,212 mi motorcycle journey through Oregon (COVID19 alternative to touring Europe) Journal mode: provides links to animations of our routes with maps, music, and pictures. Overall route: https://goo.gl/maps/jMLBUFrnnDnnvw1Q6
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itinerary
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Day 1 Itinerary
Places visited: East Sacramento - Turtle Bay Exploration Park - Trinity County Brewing Co - Arcata
East Sacramento
Unable to make our way across the world for our planned 3-week trek through Europe we quickly organized a 2-week trek through Oregon.
IMPORTANT: See additional pictures for each hop by scrolling left/right on the photo. To see photo captions, you have to provide an email address or use FB to login. Access each days’ route video animations with maps and pictures set to music in the link (no account required).
Turtle Bay Exploration Park
A quick stop to stretch our legs at the sundial bridge
Trinity County Brewing Co
Lunch in Weaverville - the town was underwhelming but the brew pub exceeded expectations
Arcata
The town that hosts CSU Humboldt has classic architecture and a central square surrounded by coffee shops, boutiques, and cafes. It’s in every way a college town.
Day 2 Itinerary
Places visited: Trees of Mystery - Hungry Clam - Pacific Reef Hotel
Trees of Mystery
There’s something fun about arriving to Paul Bunyan speaking to you. We covered a lot of ground in the park - literally. After we enjoyed the tree canopy trail, we stopped at the Cathedral Tree, where Robert knelt and asked if I would commit to spending the rest of my life with him. After 7 years of love and adventure, I said yes!
Hungry Clam
Not fast, but really good fish and chips!
Pacific Reef Hotel
2 BDR unit on the beach - what a sunset to celebrate!
Day 3 Itinerary
Places visited: Jerry's Rogue Jets - Paradise Lodge - Rogue River Trail
Jerry's Rogue Jets
Jeff was our captain with co-pilot Gus, the mini Aussie. We saw eagles, osprey, a deer and a bear on our 52-mile ride delivered with twists, turns, sprays, and slides. The warm weather made the wind and water welcome companions. You will get wet!
Paradise Lodge
Not fancy but very comfortable. The food, served in boxes from a window, was delicious. It was a peaceful quiet place to enjoy beautiful views and hikes along the Rogue River.
Rogue River Trail
We hiked to Paradise creek and swam in the pools at Blossom creek. Very relaxing and beautiful. Saw 3 piles of bear scat - pure blackberry jam!
Day 4 Itinerary
Places visited: Rogue River - Gold Beach
Rogue River
After breakfast and a short hike to the pool at Paradise creek, we explored the grounds and hopped aboard the westward bound boat back to Gold Beach. Saw an eagle, 2 fawns, a bear and a seal. We forgot to keep our jackets handy and it was downright cold by the end of our ride. The temp dropped some 30 degrees from start to finish of the 52-mile run downriver.
Aw Deschutes! No route video for day 4
Gold Beach
Back to our suite to shower, do laundry, make dinner (frozen pizza and salad) and prepare for tomorrow.
Day 5 Itinerary
Places visited: Old Redwood Highway - Great Cats World Park - Taylor's Sausage - Jacksonville - Wine Country Inn
Old Redwood Highway
Awakened by the blaring signal to summon the volunteer firefighters at 5:15 am, we set out early hoping to beat the heat. It was 52 degrees with dense fog when we left and it brightened and warmed considerably by the time we reached Cave Junction.
Great Cats World Park
Hey all you cool cats and kittens... Although in cages, this park seems to care for their residents - several dozen wild cat species - many of whom are trained ambassadors and show cats. It’s spectacular to see them up close (6 feet through the fence). There’s not a lot of shade here so going early in the day is advised in the summer.
Taylor's Sausage
Taylor’s has an amazing array of smoked, cured, and fresh meats. The sausages and cold beer were a welcome break from the heat. The candied meat strips are amazing, but there was little distinction in flavor between the meat sticks (skip those).
Jacksonville
Beautifully preserved in the gold rush period, the town of Jacksonville was passed over by the railroad which prevented the modernization that came to Medford just to the East, but this maintained the town as a historical landmark. Strolling, wine tasting, and dinner on a lush patio completed the evening.
Wine Country Inn
A comfy place to call home for 2 nights while we are in this area.
Places visited: Mills Creek - Crater Lake National Park - C St. Bistro
Mills Creek
A short hike off the road leads to views of 2 spectacular falls and class V rapids. Morning sun makes them difficult to photograph but they are worth the hike to see. Use the shortcuts for shorter but steeper hikes to access the views.
Crater Lake National Park
Although the air and lake were not as brilliant as expected due to the smoke from wildfires, it’s still an impressive place. With the clearest and deepest water in the US, Crater Lake is a gem of southern Oregon.
C St. Bistro
This friendly bistro provided a pleasant outdoor patio and served delicious meals.
Day 7 Itinerary
Places visited: Jacksonville Cemetery - Britt Gardens - Abacela Winery - Bandon Inn - Port of Bandon - Lord Bennett's
Jacksonville Cemetery
After breakfast, we walked up the hill to the all denomination cemetery. Those memorialized here have a great view of the town below. The oldest grave marker we saw was someone born in 1822.
Britt Gardens
Established by Peter Britt, this lovely area (usually) hosts a summer music festival.
Abacela Winery
We found a gem in the foothills that specializes in Spanish, Portuguese and French wines. Since we couldn’t get to Europe it was a pleasant surprise. They partner with a local safari park and fertilize with elephant poo - as if I needed another reason to like this place! Splurge and get the $20 tasting - it’s worth the price!
Bandon Inn
Comfortable rooms with a view of the town and port.
Port of Bandon
Some interesting sculptures among the trinket shops and crab shacks.
Lord Bennett's
The best part of this meal was the view. Save your money and eat elsewhere.
Day 8 Itinerary
Places visited: Steve's ATV Rentals - Yachats Brewing + Farmstore - Sanderling Beach Rentals
Steve's ATV Rentals
Crushing along and then somehow we reached a little past the boundary and ... waited for the tow truck. Oh, the rogue!
Yachats Brewing + Farmstore
A craft brewery that serves smoked salmon is the perfect place to chill after a traumatic afternoon in the sand....
Sanderling Beach Rentals
Tonight’s lodging is on the beach!
Day 9 Itinerary
Places visited: Newberg
Waldport to Newport
Our planned waypoints were not open, but luckily we found two tasting rooms, some history, and a nice bistro for dinner.
Day 10 Itinerary
Places visited: Mt Hood - Dufur - White River Falls State Park - Shaniko - Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint - Bend
Mt Hood
Ah Deschutes, it was a wind whipped and smokey day all around. The air quality at the top of Mt Hood was clear, but the layer of smoke in the valley below did not bode well for what was to come.
Dufur
Down the mountain and into the smoke... to the little town of Dufur where we found a historic museum.
White River Falls State Park
These falls generate power and the platforms are used for fishing.
Shaniko
This ghost town has a few residents but it’s rather desolate.
Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint
A magnificent view of the gorge 300 feet below is beheld by a short walk across the old bridge (now pedestrian only).
Bend
After a full day of strong winds and heavy smoke, we arrived at our cottage. There is red flag warning and unhealthy air quality. Hoping tomorrow will improve...
Day 11 Itinerary
Places visited: Bend - Petersen Rock Garden & Museum
Bend
Walking around town in the morning and enjoying clear fresh air
Petersen Rock Garden & Museum
This place must have been quite beautiful when it was maintained. While the structures are still impressive, the look cheesy amid the unkept gardens. The peacock was unafraid which may account for the missing tail feathers.
Day 12 Itinerary
Places visited: Bend
Bend
Pedaled around town, got massages, had lunch at Deschutes followed by gelato, buying a berry pie at the farmers market, and drinks and dinner at the Pine Tavern.
Day 13 Itinerary
Places visited: Big Obsidian Flow Trailhead and Interpretive Site - Paulina Falls - Fort Rock State Natural Area - Paisley - Fandango Pass - Fort Bidwell Hotel
Big Obsidian Flow Trailhead and Interpretive Site
On our way out of Bend, stopped to see the obsidian flow. It’s hard to describe the lustrous boulders of smooth black glass amid the mountain of pumice.
Paulina Falls
Another quick stop at the falls while we were in Newberry
Fort Rock State Natural Area
Onward to Fort Rock. What seems from a distance to be a large rock turns out to be an enormous semi circle made by a volcano in a prehistoric lake. Bring a picnic to enjoy in the comfortable shaded picnic area with decent bathroom facilities.
Paisley
Caught in a smokey gap between the coastal and mountain air, we stopped for refreshment at the saloon.
Fandango Pass
This short cut would be fine in any car, but was a bit of a challenge on a1000 lb touring bike.
Fort Bidwell Hotel
Don’t be fooled by the outside - the food, service, and lodging (although not fancy) was wholly adequate.
Day 14 Itinerary
Places visited:
The Short Way Home
Ah, Deschutes! We woke to poor air quality throughout Northern California and decided it was best to head home than risk getting caught somewhere remote just to get in one last day on the road. Was it coincidence that the last road before we hit the freeway was named Deschutes Rd?
365 miles today - half of it on the freeway and none of it with clear blue skies. But most importantly, we arrived safely despite the bad air and Friday traffic.
Our 2-week trip was filled with great fun, food, and friends, surprises, snags, natural beauty - and love! Overall it was the best we could have managed as an alternative to our initial plan (Europe) and we are always grateful - despite the many inconveniences presented by 2020 - for the amazing wonders this world has to offer.