2016mototrip - Tumblr blog

2016mototrip · 8 years ago

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Packing List, What Worked, What Didn't, What I Wish I Had:

August 2, 2016

Route Planning After deciding against purchasing an expensive GPS unit, my first real problem was trying to find a website that would allow me to create a route with multiple way-points and then to find a free phone app that could give turn-by-turn navigation without the use of data. I knew I'd be riding roads far away from big cities so I didn't want to rely on data. The solution? I discovered a site called RideWithGPS (RWGPS) that allowed me to create custom routes. The website is mainly for bicycles but I found it very handy as a motorcycle route creator. RWGPS had it's own turn-by-turn navigation phone app but it had a monthly fee associated to it. The price wasn't bad but I only needed it for 4 days. After searching deeper for a free phone app, I saw recommendations through other motorcycle forums that suggested Track Navigator. It was a stand alone app that allowed you to input routes previously created from RWGPS or any other route creator and would give turn-by-turn directions! It was perfect for what I needed! However, I didn't really trust this app. An app that would do what I wanted it to do? There had to be some caveat! In order to test the new app, Warren and I took a trip out to Larch Mountain and then down Bull Run. It worked flawlessly! With my mind at ease about navigation, I decided to fine tune the route and purchased a Butler Oregon and Northern California Maps. I was trying to avoid all gravel roads so these maps helped greatly. They also show roads with the best views and corners. We never did enter California but there is always the future! Packing Components I owned most of the gear I used for many years before planning this trip. For instance the compression sack was purchased for backpacking adventures. It compresses and hold clothes very well. Obtaining the other gear for the trip started about one year prior to the actual send off date. I absolutely wanted an intercom headset, not just for communicating to Warren but also to hear the directions from the navigation and listen to music. After much research between the Cardo and Sena, I went with the Sena SMH10 as it was on sale. I also researched locks, I decided on the Abus Granit CityChain and got the longer length one so we could chain our bikes together. This was a very spendy purchase but gave us peace of mind. I had also picked up an Abus Granit Detecto alarm disc lock. Next came luggage. Two years ago I decided to sell my saddle bags and replace them with waterproof tail bags. I went with Kriega because of the awesome reviews and the fact that the bags would never touch my bike's paint and had a clean look to them when mounted on the bike. I first started with the US-30. Yes, it was big, but it could also be cinched down enough to a smaller size. I wasn't able to use the tail bag the same year I bought it because I soon found out I was pregnant. Riding had to be placed on hold. It wasn't until a month before the leaving date that I decided to get the Kriega US-10. I mainly wanted a little extra room and if needed, could take just this bag around town instead of the larger one. It came in handy for carrying the smaller items I wanted to get to fast. For the many times I got drenched while on the jetboat excursion, I'm glad I had this bag to save my camera (and the rest of my electronics) from the water. I also purchased an extra battery for my cell phone in case using the GPS all day would drain it. Although I never used it while I was on the bike as the original battery lasted long enough for each day's ride, I'm glad I had the extra juice just in case we got stranded with a dead phone. Packing List: Miscellaneous Bike Items: - Tire plug kit - Plyers - Metric Hex Tools - Tire Gauge - Mini Chain Wax can + microfiber cloth - Mini Plexus can + microfiber cloth - Abus Chain Lock - Abus Disc Alarm Lock - Kriega US-30 Tail Bag - Kriega US-10 Tail Bag - Clothing compression sack - Bungee tie down for emergencies - Sena Headset + charger - Small camera + charger - Cali Butler Map - Oregon Butler Map - Zip ties - Duck tape - First Aid Kit - Pocket Knife Electronics: - Phone + fast charger - Tablet + keyboard + charger - GoPro + charger Bike Riding Gear: - Moto Leather Jacket - Moto Leather Pants - Full Gaunlet Gloves - Riding Boots - Helmet - Buff (face mask) - Neck Cooler - Camelbak Clothing: - Jeans - UA Long Sleeve Shirt - Compression Leg Liner - Light long sleeve hoodie - Shirts x4 - Shorts x1 - Socks x4 - Underwear x4 - Sports Bra x2 - Reg Bra x1 - Sleep shirt - Shoes x1 - Flip Flops x1 - Swim Suit Toiletries: - Toothbrush + Toothpaste - Contacts + solution - Glasses + case - Chapstick - Comb - Conditioner - Deodorant - Tissues - Lotion - Ring Case - Ear Swabs - Advil - Vitamins - Sunglasses - Keys - Hand Sanitizer Packets - Earplugs x2 Food: - Granola bars x4 - Fruit Snacks x6 - Protein bars x4 What I used: - Maintenance. I used the chain lube once on the second day of riding. I used the Plexus to clean off the helmet visor many times throughout the day. We used the tire gauge a few times to make sure our tires were still at optimal levels. - Clothing Layers. Besides what I had to wear, I liked the light long sleeved hoodie that kept me comfortable during the chilly times of riding. I also used the compression leg liners on the first day. I would take these again because they are easy and light to pack. - Bike Gear. I used the Buff face mask only on the first day but this is usually in my repertoire of items I bring on rides. The neck cooler was amazing on the last day where temperatures reached the low 90s. Although I only used the Camelbak once while riding, it was great to have during rest stops. Filling it up with ice on the last day made the water stay cold until I got home. The leather jacket and pants I wouldn't do without especially since I gave away my textile gear. I don't regret that decision. Ear plugs are a must and I always use them due to wind noise. I can hear the headset just fine with them on. The chain lock and disc brake alarm lock we used each night for peace of mind. I most likely wouldn't pack the chain lock as it added a good 15-20 lbs to my pack but it was peace of mind for Warren. I would have been fine with just the disc brake lock as it had an added alarm integrated into it. - Electronics. I used the tablet with wireless keyboard to start the beginning of the ride reports each night. I don't normally bring this along but because I was documenting this trip I decided that it would be a better idea than to just use my phone. I used the GoPro but didn't record the whole time due to the limited space and battery power. I would bring it again and do the same thing, just have to make sure it's on when I want it to be on and recording. - Track Navigator. Only once did I hear the app say "lost GPS signal". My only gripe with this app was if you went off track, the app would continuously say "off track" every 30 seconds until you got back on "track". And although I knew where I was going for the most part (ran over the route many times before leaving on the trip) it would not tell you how to get back on "track". All in all though, navigation was stress-free as the app was flawless in letting me know where to turn. What I didn't use: - Maintenance & Gear. I did not need to use the tire plug kit (thankfully), pocket knife, metric hex tools, first aid kit or bungee tie down but would take these again on my next trip. I ended up not bringing zip ties or duck tape and probably won't on my next trip. - Tripod for camera. We mostly took selfies so I didn't need this however, on my next multi-day trip I will most likely bring it because I will be in a larger group and would want to get everyone in the picture. - Bandana. To be honest I completely forgot I had this. I'm not an accessory kind of gal so that's probably why I forgot about it but it does come in handy for the stray hairs around my face. I would take it again, just have to remember I have it! - Under Armour Long Sleeve Compression Shirt. If the weather had been much colder I would have worn this. Crater Lake was chilly but did not warrant wearing this. I knew I'd be riding in warm to hot weather so I could have forgone this item of clothing. - Jeans. I did not use these and they just took up space in my bag. I wore my shorts instead. Will probably not bring the jeans next time I know the weather will be good. - Swim Suit. I did not use this at all during the trip. I don't think I'll bring it next time but it was nice to know that I had the option to go swimming or hot tubing if I was up to it. What I wish I took: - Flip flops. There were many times I wished I didn't have to put shoes on. - Trail mix. Although the chocolate might have melted, it would have been a nice change to all the bars I brought instead. - Route. A different road besides 97 when going from Klamath Falls to Bend.

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2016mototrip · 9 years ago

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Day 4: Bend to Beaverton, 347 miles

Route: 20, Alfalfa, 27, Prineville, 26, 207, 19, 218, 97, 197, NF-48, 35, 26, home

Favorite Road of the Day: The portion of twisties right after Antelope on 218

Today was our earliest checkout yet! We awoke at 6 am to get showered, eat breakfast, pack up and check out by 8:30 am. Today we would ride almost 350 miles just to get home. And we wanted to get home to see our baby girl!

Today was the day I had been waiting for. I fell in love with the roads around Fossil, Oregon the very first time I rode them. I knew that when I left them back in August 2012 that I'd be coming back for more. I loved the tight corners and the high desert where visibility was 10 miles or more. I loved the heat and I absolutely loved how scarce the traffic was.

Today was my day! I felt great after eating breakfast and gassing up the bikes. We headed out of Bend towards Prineville by way of Alfalfa and 20. As we got close to turning onto Alfalfa we ran into a bit of a snag. There was construction on Alfalfa Market Road and it was blocked off. It also looked like they just recently put in a new roundabout at the intersection of Powell Butte and Alfalfa that I didn't notice on Google's Street View (which is totally helpful for finding gravel roads by the way). I was ok with the closure but I noticed that there wasn't a single detour sign around. "Did you see a detour sign?" I asked Warren and he said he didn't, "Ok, I guess we'll make a right at the next decent road." We turned right onto Nelson Road and another right onto Waugh Road which brought us back to Alfalfa. Throughout our whole trip, this was the only detour we had made. Pretty good if you ask me! And it wasn't too bad as we got to see the local houses and farm lands around the area. But hopefully, we wouldn't have to take anymore detours today because we wanted to get home before it got dark.

Alfalfa took us straight to 27 and we had our first stop of the day. Parking our bikes next to the Prineville Reservoir, we took in the beautiful landscape and I took a photo. We also went a little further down the road and stopped to take a photo of the other side. It was gorgeous out here!

Prineville Reservoir

Making our way through the tight canyon road put my heart at ease. I loved those little snake like corners that wound around the river that I found out later was called Crooked River. It was here that we had spotted our first sport bikes riding the opposite direction since starting our trip. This must be a road the locals love! I thought.

Crooked River Highway

Right before arriving in Prineville, we came across two dogs and a cowboy on horseback trotting towards us on the right side of the road. It wasn't until I was a couple hundred feet away from them that I saw the black cow also coming toward me but between the road and the fence. As I started slowing down, I could see that the cowboy was motioning very sternly with his arm to move over into the oncoming lane. Luckily, there weren't any cars going the opposite direction so I got as far left on the road as possible while raising my hand to acknowledge him. He must have been afraid that we'd spook the cow as he was trying to corral him. We weren't sure but Warren and I thought it was a funny sight to see.

Pretty rock formations

Gassing up in Prineville meant that we had to really conserve our fuel. We wouldn't see another gas station (at least one with premium gas) for another 167 miles! Before leaving Prineville, we witnessed our second close call when a semi-truck, without a trailer, who was in front of us almost rear ended the car in front of him! With the smell of hot rubber behind us, we made our way to the little town of Mitchell, which by the way was very little! I think I only saw two buildings! From here, we went up 207 towards Service Creek that had some nice twisties. Over to Fossil we went and 218 was where it was at!

Taking a break on 207

Once on 218, I radioed to Warren letting him know that this was the start of the route I was more familiar with and then took off. The road through this part of Oregon is spectacular and the one I had remembered the most. Each corner was as thrilling as the next and I wanted more but soon realized that Warren was falling way behind. I let him catch up to me and radioed to him, "You doing ok?" I asked. He said he wasn't feeling the best and that he couldn't see around the corners due to the rock formations. I let him know I understood and that when I saw a pullover we would stop and take a break. We had taken a little break right after Mitchell but we hadn't had lunch yet. We had planned to just eat snacks until we got home.

Up ahead were the John Day Fossil Beds and I turned into the parking lot. There wasn't a whole lot of shade so we had to get off the bikes in order to walk under a tree to relax. By this time, it was in the high 80s and only getting hotter. I took off my layers and prepared my neck cooler to soak up some cool water to wear later.

The John Day Fossil Beds

Warren and I chatted about the roads we had just taken, we both agreed that we'd take it easy. We didn't want to have an accident on the last day of our trip which was why he was being cautious and taking it slow. I didn't blame him, if I wasn't feeling it that day I'd be cruising at the pace he was. I let Warren know that the town of Antelope was coming up next. This was the town that use to have a cafe but I knew that it had been closed for a few years now.

Back on the road again with our stomachs semi full, we headed towards Antelope. We had to traverse 187 more miles before reaching home and it was only 12:30!

Our route home

Riding by the dark and empty Antelope Cafe put a tear on my face. There were so many memories. The last time I was here was on the Ladies Weekend ride of 2012 always put on by Mel. It was here, before entering the cafe, that we learned the fate of a local rider who was on his way to Baker City. This was the second death of a rider within a span of a week that we heard about. It was too much for some as we broke down crying. The rest of that trip we stayed honest and humble. None of us live forever but we have to do what makes us happy. I thought to myself.

Antelope Cafe, Ladies Weekend Rally, August 2012

It wasn't too much later that we hit the next road gem. My favorite section of the Shaniko-Fossil Highway. I looked back down the hill at the corners we had just taken and I wish I could have stopped to take a picture. It was such a wonderful sight! But we were on a time crunch and had to keep moving.

What's on the map

Here is a Google image of the section

From here to Maupin were some very straight roads. Ones where I couldn't say we didn't hit triple digits at least once. Entering Maupin (one of my favorite towns) is like you are rolling in on a red carpet. The town is situated on the Deschutes River but you have to go down the winding roads to go across the bridge and through town. We stopped at Richmond's Service station to fill our bikes up and I made sure to get the non-ethanol premium blend! Last time I was here, I didn't know there was premium and had gassed my bike up with regular. Mel was a doll and bought an octane booster so that I could at least feel a little better about the gas in my tank.

Riding into Maupin

The red tank!

With fresh non-ethanol gas in our tanks we were on our way to Tygh Valley and up through Mount Hood. Going this way meant hitting a forest service road that was pretty rough. It had deep cracks in the road every 100 feet or so as well as multiple cattle guards. Warren asked me if the whole road was like this. "It'll soon clear up but this is a forest service road. They aren't very well maintained."

Soon we reached a stretched where I pulled over. Being as it was very picturesque, I took a few photos and breathed in the clean forest air. "Gorgeous," I said silently, "We have to get over Mount Hood to reach our destination!"

Ever since Shaniko and hopping on 97, I had pointed to Mt. Hood telling myself that that was where we were headed. It seemed so far away and to know I'd be seeing it this close on the same day seemed nearly impossible but in reality we had passed many mountains in the last 4 days, (Mt. Scott, Mt. Bachelor, Mt. Washington, the Three Sisters, Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Jefferson, and now Mt. Hood). Our goal has almost been complete.

Warren pointing to where we have to go

Government Camp came and went. It wasn't until we hit Sandy that we were in the thick of 5pm rush hour traffic. We pulled over at an empty school to take a break and to collect our thoughts. "We're almost home!" I told Warren. "Close but still far away," he said. I knew what he meant. Traffic can be a nightmare around the Portland area.

Taking a break

Feeling stoked to go through rush hour traffic!

As we made our way down 205 to I-5 and through Sherwood, we took turns taking lead and weaving in and around traffic where we could. There were even occurrences where we were riding side by side. I could feel the connection between us and our bikes. We had just ridden over 1000 miles together and we felt so in-tune with one another.

Once we arrived home, we weren't able to sit and relax. We headed over to my parent's house to pick up Taylor. As soon as she realized who we were, Taylor walked as fast as she could, with a worried look on her face, straight into my arms. It felt so amazing to hold her and it felt like she would never let go!

Back home, after picking up the dogs and I didn't want to even think about unpacking. It was a great trip, no, it was an AWESOME trip! No accidents, no close calls, great weather! What more could I have asked for? "Nothing, it was flawless!"

And with that, it wasn't long before Warren started preparing for his next Bend trip (so that he could visit the other breweries over there lol) that will happen this weekend.

As I lay in bed knowing that it was just a matter of time before my eyes would close, I couldn't help but wonder if this was the start of new things and more motorcycle trips. My plan had been to get Warren interested in travelling long distances by bike and I think it worked. Until next time Oregon, stay beautiful!

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2016mototrip · 9 years ago

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Day 3: Klamath Falls to Bend, 164 miles

Route: 97, 62, Rim Drive, 138, 97

Destination of the Day: Crater Lake and Deschutes Brewery Tour

Favorite Road of the Day: No favorite today as most of the ride was on 97 (Boooring!)

Leaving Klamath Falls was business as usual. Get packed up and loaded, check out and search for gas. We had walked down to the restaurant and lounge next to our lodging to get our free complimentary breakfast. It wasn't as good as the La Quinta's breakfast but it'll have to do, I thought.

Morning in Klamath Falls

The bikes looking like they are ready to move!

We headed to the nearest gas station off of 97 to gas up the bikes. Just as we were about to leave, I heard a semi horn blare and brakes squeaking. I look up and on the highway was a semi-truck with it's trailer still across the road completely stopped because they were waiting for pedestrians or a car to cross. The semi that had blared its horn had to come to a skidding stop and wait for the other semi to clear his trailer from the road. I'm guessing someone may have needed to change their pants later. "Well that's the most excitement I'll have for awhile" the gas station attendant said. I chuckled, oh how I love you small towns.

Going through the valley and riding besides Klamath Lake was such an awesome sight! We got hit by a ton of bugs but I was alright with it, the road stretched neatly around the lake and I found myself thinking deeply. But not about anything back home. You'd think I'd be thinking of Taylor, wondering what she was up to, wondering if she was having fun. Instead, I was thinking of how many people had driven this road, how long ago did the first settlers stake out this part of the state and how many people in the future would get to see what I'm seeing right here, right now? It made me feel insignificant, minuscule, microscopic. Like I was one of the bugs splattered on my helmet visor. What does it all mean? It was that kind of deep thinking. There has to be a reason why there are beautiful things in this world. Why there are roads of every shape and size cutting through the land. We are all here to enjoy the gifts of Earth, from the wide expanse of the ocean to the overgrown wilderness forest to the sparse brown desert landscape with canyons and cliffs. The whole world is beautiful and such a lovely sight to see. I just wish I could live long enough to see the whole world and what it has to offer.

Riding along Klamath Lake, daydreaming

So as I listen to the roar of the engine between my legs, feel the wind whipping around my helmet and take in the smells of the wonderful landscape around me; I feel like I'm home. I was meant to travel this world, meant to see this with eyes through a helmet and to feel the wind on my skin. Humans were not created to sit still, to not move, to not experience life. They were created to explore, to test their limits and to exceed them!

Don't get me wrong though. I missed my daughter terribly every time I wasn't on the bike. But when you are on a motorcycle, everything gets pushed to the back of your mind. In this moment, at this time, it's just you, your bike and the world showing you its splendor.

Every night since we left home I had called my mom asking how Taylor was doing. It turned out that while she loved baths at home, she did not think highly of them at her grandparent's house. She would cry constantly while getting washed and also while having her hair shampooed. She would also cry if my mom left the room while she was trying to fall asleep. Other than that though, Taylor had a fun time going to the beach and to the Grotto in Portland and eating a lot of blueberries!

The turn off towards Crater Lake meant passing all the cow farms on the way up the mountain. I had to go pee right as the speed limit dropped to 45. I couldn't believe it, how could they do that to me when I had to go!?!

I felt like I was paying the $10 bike fee at the entrance just to use the bathrooms! We headed up toward the Rim Village Cafe after making a pit stop at the Mazama Village for the bathroom and Warren was able to somehow take a picture of me while riding.

Making our way up to Crater Lake

Once we parked, we got off the bikes and walked over towards the lake. We came across some very friendly chipmunks that I was sure Taylor would love so I snapped a picture as well as took a ton of photos of the lake. We were lucky to see Crater Lake with clear skies. All my friends and family who had visited had come when it was overcast or raining! Swatting at the peculiar black and white bees hovering around I asked Warren if he was hungry, "Not really" he said, "but if you are we can go into the cafe."

Chipmunk!

Crater Lake

I thought this photo looked like an optical illusion. Doesn't it seem like I'm looking up towards the sky?

The faces riding the bikes

No explanation needed

We walked into the Rim Village Cafe and I instantly cringed at the prices. "$6.50 for a sandwich half the size of a Subway with less ingredients? Jeez!" I decided to settle on an $8.50 chicken rice bowl which I thought would be a heartier meal and may warm me up as I was a little on the cold side due to the elevation. Not worth the price in my opinion, but I was hungry and I wanted something besides a melted Cliff bar. It did the trick! I was warmer and it was pretty good. I started to notice that they had used a lot of seasoning on the chicken by the time I was almost finished eating it though.

$8.50 for this? Yup, it's sad...

We got back on the bikes to look around and see if we could find a good spot to place our bikes for a photo op in front of the lake. As we were just passing one of the viewpoints, I did a double take. "Hey I think I see someone we may know!" I radioed to Warren. Earlier, I had let him take the lead as I wanted to get GoPro footage of him riding, "I'm turning around." I yelled. "Wait, what? I can't do that right now!" he said. "Sorry, just turn around whenever you can!" I made a tight circle and then back tracked to the two motorcycle riders that had just put their helmets on. I could have sworn I knew the female until I got closer and felt a little embarrassed. Trying to play it off, I waved to them as they swung their legs over their individual bikes and took off. After they had left I started to position my bike in front near the rock barrier while Warren cruised up. "What happened?" he asked. "Oh it turned out not to be someone I knew" "Figures..." he said. Once we had our bikes looking the way we wanted them to we took a few pics.

Riding the rim

The riders I didn't know -_-

Our bikes in front of Crater Lake

Saddling back up on the bikes we didn't get far until we hit a 10 car backup waiting for a flagger to let us by. Apparently, there was road construction going on even though the North and South entrances were opened. We turned off our bikes and put my kickstand down so I could sit with my feet on the pegs. To pass the time, I started dancing to the music I was listening to, moving back and forth on my seat while swatting at the hovering bees interested in my bug splattered helmet.

Can you see the bee?

When it was finally time to move and we passed the flagger with the "Slow" sign, Warren and I got a rude awakening. "Are you serious?" he asked. "we have to cross over muddy roads?" I cringed. I knew Warren hated taking his bike over water, mud and gravel. It's a sport bike you know. A bike that is pampered all time and taken meticulous care of. This bike never sees a drop of rain! It shouldn't be too long of a section I thought. Oh man was I wrong. Around each corner it looked like the dirt/gravel/mud road continued on and on. I didn't see an end in sight! A mile later and actual pavement could finally be seen!

Turning onto 138, we had to open it up. It's got to be one of the most straightest roads I've ever seen!

Then came 97. Borrrr-ring! We were so thankful to see the Welcome to Bend sign. 70 miles on a very flat straight highway is no fun but we had to get to the Deschutes brewery tour by 3 which meant we had to check into our next hotel by 2. We ended up making the tour time after dropping off our stuff in the hotel. The room was not what I expected but it sounded like most of the rooms were filled so I decided to shrug it off. Think about a movie where the actors check into some motel in the middle of nowhere. Dark, gloomy, stains on the walls, old tube TV...you get the drift. Well that's what the room was like.

Just like a movie set

We did the hour long tour and drank our free samples as well as chatted with a Deschutes employee that Warren had been in contact with before our trip. Warren is a huge fan of Deschutes beer and had started a collection of their barrel aged Abyss among other Deschutes beers. At $25 a bottle, the Deschutes employee knew Warren was a loyal fan and wanted to buy him a beer and chat.

Did you know that Deschutes employees have their own tap in the break room and can have one beer after their shift is over? Plus they get a free case of beer every month and a bottle of whatever new special release is out. I thought that was pretty awesome!

Warren is actually really excited. He knows he's in heaven!

The rules for Deschutes employees

Deschutes Brewery tour

We headed off to the Deschutes Pub for dinner and Warren and I started talking about the hotel room. "I don't even want to go back to our room, it was so dark! I don't remember the pictures of the hotel looking like that." I said. I proceeded to look up google reviews of the hotel. The pictures were gorgeous! I knew I didn't reserve a suite or a room with a Jacuzzi but even just a normal regular king sized room looked more updated than ours. We came to the conclusion that we would go to the front desk to ask about our accommodations, even just to see if there was a slightly better room.

Meanwhile, dinner was awesome! The food just melted in my mouth and the taste! Oh I hadn't had food like this anywhere during the trip!

The Deschutes Pub

My delicious burger

Warren's Reuben

We had only taken Warren's bike to the tour and to dinner so I had to go back up on the passenger seat. Let me tell you, I am so glad I have my own bike. Sitting 2 up on a sport bike is just not very comfortable but I do appreciate the ladies who only ride this way. After just a few blocks my wrists and arms hurt because of the way I have to hold onto the tank. But I do like straddling Warren and I absolutely love it when he pats my leg trying to bring me in close.

We arrive back at the hotel front desk and two customers were being taken care of. As we were waiting, a lady came out asking if everything was alright. She had remembered seeing us earlier and was curious. Warren started talking about our travels and how the past places we stayed at didn't look anything like the room we were in. "You guys in the 200 building?" we both nodded our heads, "Ah, I see, I got you covered, don't worry about it." She swiftly types on her computer and gets some cards ready for us. As she tells us where the new room location is we thank her profusely. She didn't have to give us a new room so it's situations like this where the generosity of people amaze me.

We enter into our new room we both dropped our jaws. We couldn't believe it! She hooked us up! The room was double the size of the room we just left and there was a window which looked out on the Deschutes River. There was Jacuzzi situated close to the window and a fireplace on the other side of the wall. Not to mention the modern bed, kitchen counter with sink, huge bathroom and the LCD TV monitor. "We got a suite?! Wow!" I exclaimed. I couldn't believe she upgraded us to 1st class! Warren walked back to the front desk to hand over our old cards and to thank her again for her generosity.

Jacuzzi is near the bottom of the pic

That bed looks so inviting!

View out the window

It had been a great day and I could finally relax! I called my mom one more time to let her know what we had done for the day and to also ask how Taylor was doing. I can't wait to see Taylor's face when she sees us! Today was a good day but tomorrow will be one of my favorites, I thought. I haven't been on these roads for 4 years and had missed them terribly plus we'll get to see Taylor by the end of the day!

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2016mototrip · 9 years ago

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Day 2: Grants Pass to Klamath Falls, 122 miles

Route: Hwy 238, I-5, Dead Indian Rd, Clover Creek Rd, Hwy 66, Hwy 97

Favorite Road of the Day: Dead Indian Memorial Road

This morning turned out to be a better start than yesterday. No headache and no overcast sky. There was even a hot air balloon situated in the sky just right so that it looked like a picture off a postcard. Today was going to be a great day!

Can you see the air balloon?

We headed down to the Hellgate Jetboat Excursion after eating breakfast at the hotel that wasn't actually half bad! There was cheese cooked into the scrambled eggs and the sausage was delicious. I also had a muffin and some yogurt. Of course, I probably had low expectations of the free breakfast so when I had my first bite I was nicely surprised.

Surprisingly, breakfast was not bad at all!

I decided to book the jet boat excursion back in December. It was suppose to be for Warren's surprise birthday two years ago but plans fell through. This time, that was not going to happen!

When the 2 hour jet boat ride had finished, we not only were wet but sunburned as well. We were smiling ear to ear walking back to our bikes. Our boat guide spun us about 8 times drenching the whole boat with water spray. I also had a nice water gun squirted at me from a passing kayaker and all I did was wave to the guy! That'll teach me not to wave at people while on a boat!

Between spins and sudden stops, our boat guide gave us a little insight into the land around the Rogue River, the Rogue River itself as well as the creatures that lived there. I got photos of Bald Eagles and other birds that lived in the area. We also found out why they call it Hellgate. There was gold mining in the early years and the only way to get equipment into the canyon was by wooden rafts. The rocks were so close and jagged, and the water fast moving, that many lost their lives after hitting the rocks. Hence the name Hellgate Canyon.

Our boat

A bald eagle sits on a branch

Another bald eagle devouring a fish

A blue heron sits on an old water pump that was washed down the river during the 1964 flood of the Rogue River

Hellgate Canyon. I can just feel the history here and imagine all the lives that were lost

Hopping on the bikes, we made our way back to our hotel to checkout. We gathered our things, packed the bikes and were off again but not before making a gas stop and a Dutch Bros Coffee stop. Dutch Bros originated from Grants Pass so I had hoped that we were sitting in the original one. I found out later that we hadn't visited the original but the one we did visit was cool just the same.

A walk in, sit down Dutch Bros? Don't see many of those!

We set off on 238. Now 238 sort of parallels I-5 but it is a much more fun road to be on. It had a few great slight corners but it wasn't anything to go home bragging about. No, I was waiting for the next one. The one I heard that locals love...

While we were cruising down the road in the fading chilled morning air, I radioed Warren, "Remember that one episode of Hotel Hell when Gordon Ramsey visited a hotel in Oregon?" "Ya, what of it?" He said. "Well that same location is coming up on our left and I'd like to stop there!" I said happily. The Applegate River Lodge was right on the Applegate River. A river that feeds into the Rogue River which we learned about while on the jetboat excursion. I knew the lodge was coming up because I had remembered the bridge that they showed on the episode. As we rolled into the parking lot, crunching the gravel underneath our tires, we pulled in closest to the bridge, turned off our engines and hopped off our bikes. I tried getting some good pictures but the trees around the lodge were trying to hide the huge log cabin building. I could hear a banjo playing faintly in the distance along with a family of three walking toward it. It was really quite quaint!

The Applegate bridge in the background

I tried to get as much of the building in the photo

Time to continue on.

As we made our way into Medford, I had to stop at the first ever In-N-Out Burger in Oregon. If not for the burgers, which I did get, but for the t-shirt! It's kind of a thing for me. I have an In-N-Out shirt from Utah, California, Arizona and now Oregon. I guess you can say I'm trying to collect one from each state. Stopping here also made it possible for a friend to join us and catch up. As I was walking back towards the bikes holding a red tray with two delicious looking burgers, the t-shirt under my arm and my helmet with gloves tucked into it, I could see a figure in jeans and a dark shirt standing next to my husband.

Warren and I met Dillon at TNC (aka Tuesday Night Coffee for those who don't know) back when we were first dating in 2009. He's had some hard times lately so I was thrilled at the thought of meeting up with him! It wasn't long after, that he had moved down to Medford.

The Medford In-N-Out Burger, I don't think I've ever been to an In-N-Out without a blue sky behind it!

Dillon and Warren chatting it up like old times!

After our initial greetings, what have you been up to's and general talk about life, we started talking about the route we were taking. "Dead Indian? That's a great road to ride out here!" Dillon said. "I'd also suggest 66, 140 isn't bad either but watch out for cops!" "Let me know what you think of Clover Creek. I don't think I've been down that one." Dillon said. "Will do!" I said.

After giving Dillon the farewell partings, Warren and I swung our legs back over our saddles with stomachs full of burger. Warren wanted to make one last brewery stop in the area so we headed over to Southern Oregon Brewery to have a taster and to cool down from the heat that we had been absorbing while at In-N-Out Burger.

Southern Oregon Brewery aka SOB

Their beer menu

Finally, we were ready to leave Medford. A couple of weeks ago we decided to not partake in the second route I had plotted that led us into Northern California. I would have loved to travel towards Happy Camp via Cave Junction/Greyback Rd. and hit Hwy 96 (which I had heard good things about) but it was much too late in the day to take on that kind of ambitious trek. Maybe some other time, I thought. Today's ride was not going to be as many miles as yesterday's which was fine by me. A little jaunt down I-5 heading into Ashland, (I was hoping to completely miss hitting I-5 but it didn't happen) and this next road should be a fun one!

And oh boy was I glad it was! Gliding through each corner with perfect speed and grace. My bike and I felt more connected than ever. I had never felt so in tune with Nacho, it felt like he was loving the feeling of hugging the corners and in turn he loved taking me along for the ride. Dip to the left, now right, another left coming up and now into a tight right turn hairpin corner, now a tight left turn hairpin corner. I was a luge speeding down a pipe, only the direction we were heading was up the mountain; making each turn smooth and gentle but with enough speed to make it feel like I was just playing with the road. It was a dance! With as much fun as I was having I could have sworn the road was licking at my bike's tires pushing me forward for more!

It wasn't until some time later that I just had to stop. I was missing all of this glorious scenery! I had to take in the sights that I was passing. Although this road had been the best so far on the trip, the best views were unfortunately passing us by. Slowing down, I found a perfect straightaway to pull over and take in the scene. Beautiful! The landscape of trees and the valley against a backdrop of eye pleasing blue sky was like a picture from a book. I was in my happy place, I could have sat down on that grass and just watched the grass waving in the wind all day. But we had to keep moving.

The view off Dead Indian Memorial Road

The rest of the trek towards Klamath Falls was kind of dull. Clover Creek Road, I had mentioned to Dillon about, was mostly straight and had plenty of chipmunks that liked to run across the road. I mostly chose this road so I didn't have to hit Hwy 140 which would most likely have had more traffic on it.

We got to the Shilo Inn and stripped off our leathers again only to don our jeans and shoes. I can never get tired of that refreshing feeling! We ate dinner at the Klamath Basin Brewery and my brisket was so good that even Warren had wished he had ordered what I got. We decided to indulge and ordered a taster tray since we had never had their beer before. Not half bad but we didn't get to try out their Red since they were fresh out.

The delicious brisket with some awesome fries!

The beer taster tray

After locking up our bikes for the night, I again thought about dipping into the hot tub, I'll just wait until Bend, we'll have more time then! In bed by 11 and I was pooped! Another great day in the books and it's only suppose to get better! I assumed as I drifted off to sleep.

Goodnight Klamath Falls!

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2016mototrip · 9 years ago

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Day 1: Beaverton to Grants Pass, 371 miles

Route: Hwy 219, 99W, Hwy 223, Hwy 20, 99W, Hwy 58, Hwy 97, Hwy 138, Hwy 62, Crowfoot Rd, Butte Falls Hwy, Hwy 234, Meadows Rd, Evans Creek Rd, 99, Grants Pass

Favorite Road of the Day: Hwy 58 and Meadows Rd.

Today was going to be great! First day of the 4 day trip? I should have butterflies and be so excited that I didn't sleep the night before! I should be dreaming about gracefully dipping in and out of turns and flying down the road like a bird. I should be imagining myself looking up towards the sky to see a vast baby blue backdrop with puffs of little pure white clouds like something out of a painting.

What actually happened?

Waking up to the feeling of a large vise slowly putting pressure on your brain was not what I had hoped for. Looking outside the window didn't get my hopes up either. It wasn't raining but the sky was dark, gloomy and overcast. If I didn't know better, I would have thought it was going to rain or at least sprinkle at some point during our ride. Well this isn't good luck, I thought.

I started having second thoughts. Yesterday, I took the dogs to a friend's house who would watch them for us. We also went to my parent's to drop off Taylor. It wasn't until we got back home that we realized how empty our home was. Last night was tough. I had shed a couple of tears before bed. It was the first time Taylor had ever slept so far away from us. It felt weird walking into her bedroom not seeing her sweet expressionless face snoozing away. It's amazing how much you forget you love someone until they aren't there.

Was our trip worth it? Would Taylor forgive us? Would it rain? Would we get hurt? Is the route too long? These questions circled my throbbing head as I took some pain killers.

I continued to get ready, showered, packed the last few items into my bags and walked down the stairs. That's what I do, instead of pondering deeply, I set myself on auto and go through my routine.

Grab the leathers, helmet, gloves. Attach the bags to the bike, now go and eat some breakfast, don't drink too much water, you don't want to have to stop every 30 minutes, ok, now put on your boots, jacket and gloves, don't forget to lube your chain!

Methodical...Too much deep thinking and my brain goes into overdrive. Having a process means I won't have time to think of the what-ifs.

Everything went in my two Kriega bags

Lubing up our chains

Warren and I had mounted up on our individual bikes. Him on his silver and white steed and me on my blue and white unicorn. Did I really just call Nacho a unicorn? He certainly is magical but he doesn’t have a horn. At least not one that physically sticks out. Ha!

As I close the garage door behind Warren and I, I say a little prayer. Before every long ride or trip I always have to say something. It's kind of a tradition for me and it helps me feel better knowing that at least someone is looking out for us.

Cold and numb. That's how the first 3 hours of our trip was. Since it was overcast the sun wasn't warming us up. We stopped quite a few times, mostly because we had to pee. Goes to show no matter how little water I drink in the morning I always seem to have to go more than I'd like when I'm out on the road.

Stopping somewhere on Hwy 20

The roads before arriving in Eugene did not excite us. So there wasn’t much to say about them. I had found a route with a few twisties but we were still behind a lot of cars and semis. I had planned on us eating lunch in Eugene but once Warren found out that Ninkasi Brewery didn't serve food we decided to stop in Oakridge instead. But not before making a pit stop at Dexter Lake. Here we had a few snacks, made use of the facilities, breathed in the fresh air coming off the lake, and basked in the sun that was making it's appearance around the popcorn like clouds that scattered the sky.

Just look at those clouds!

Our happy faces!

In Oakridge we found a BBQ and coffee/smoothie joint. The BBQ brisket was delicious! The beans not so much. They had a little hardness to them like they needed to be cooked longer. I also got a berry smoothie that was very yummy but I wasn't able to drink it all before we were back on the bikes trying to get more miles behind us. By this point, we were about half way to Grants Pass and it seemed so far away!

This BBQ restaurant wasn’t opened but it’s sister site further back on the road was. I thought this was a cooler building though

Owned by the BBQ joint, this was the coffee and smoothie booth

The portion of 58 after Oakridge was amazing. I myself had never been on this portion of the highway so I was pleasantly surprised to find that the road had been recently paved and freshly painted. There were very wide double lane sweeper curves where we could pass semis going up the Willamette Pass at 70-80 mph! Let's just say at that speed it's exhilarating! We stopped at the Chevron in Chemult and continued on toward Crater Lake but we didn't actually visit it. We would visit on Wednesday before we headed towards Bend.

138 aka Crater Lake Rd. aka Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway was the longest straightest road I had ever seen! And travelling this road with a bunch of cars and a couple semis did not make it any more fun. Especially when one of the semis didn't want to be passed.

Waiting in construction traffic on 138

From there we turned onto 230 and came across a red mini SUV. We decided to pass it but they decided to tailgate us, not liking that maneuver I'm guessing. We were on more straight roads, so losing them was kind of hard. I radioed to Warren, "We'll lose them in the twisties," "Ya, that's right." He said. And that's exactly what happened. A few nice corners here and there and the little red car was no longer behind us. We could finally relax and take in the sights.

Up ahead I could see a bridge in the distance. It was gorgeous! I could see the span a half mile away and knew I just had to stop! I decided to pull over and Warren did the same as soon as we rolled onto the bridge.

Lost Creek Lake

Unfortunately, the red SUV that had been tailing us earlier had finally caught up and also decided to pull over right behind us. They got so close to us (considering how long the bridge was) and parked that I thought they may have wanted to have a little chat about our passing skills. Warren radioed to me with concern in his voice but when I looked into the mirror I could tell that the driver and the passenger were both female. I laughed, "looks like a couple of college aged girls looking for a joyride!" I said. They probably thought we were both dudes but once I took my helmet off they were taken aback and acted like it was better to look over the side of the bridge than to confront us. I got a kick out of it and took some pics.

You can tell here that Warren is smiling

Next up was a road I had seen on the map that looked pretty interesting. Crowfoot Road had a lot of twisties. It ran from highway 62 to Butte Falls Highway. What I didn't realize was how narrow the road was and I also didn't see the the cattle guards. The shoulder melded into the road which meant that hugging the double yellow felt the safest as you weren't quite sure as to what was gravel and what was actual asphalt. It was an interesting road as we passed by many farms that looked quite sketch. We didn't pass a single vehicle going the other way which added to the creepiness. All-in-all, I took this road at a very slow pace taking in the smells and observing the houses that were in abundance on this road.

With that road behind us, I was looking forward to the next road we would hit. I had heard of Meadows Road and Evans Creek Road from a fellow PNW-er (Candiya!). She took this road almost 3 years ago and was one of her favorites. I made sure that these two roads were on our route as I had wanted to check them both out.

Maybe it was because I had already traveled over 300 miles by this point or the fact that I had seen so much that day that I had higher expectations than I should have. Meadows Road was in no doubt wonderful. It had been awhile since we had seen a straight stretch of road so it was a welcome relief to ride up Meadows Road and view the countryside in a different way. We had just turned onto Evans Creek Road when I noticed that my bike had hit it's 50K mile mark. I just had to pull over and take a picture!

After starting back up and riding the rest of Evan's Creek Road, I just wasn't feeling it. I've ridden better roads, I thought. Not to belittle my fellow PNW-er but I just couldn't see the thrill. The trees hugged the road making it a little too dark for my tinted helmet visor and there were strips of gravel in the corners just when I wanted to go fast. Maybe the road changed in the past three years...maybe it was different when she went through. I could only hope but every road is thought of in a different way by different people. It's in the eye of the beholder and type of bike made for the task I guess. I cruised on.

As we made our way to the small town of Wimer, I pulled over in front of the covered bridge after alerting Warren to my plans. I had seen the bridge on the map and thought it would be a cool photo op. Warren on the other hand thought this was another sketch town with a sketch store across the street. While I was the one who got off the bike to run across the road to take a picture, he never left his seat. I don't know, I don't watch horror movies so I have much lighthearted feelings toward small towns and small stores.

The covered bridge in Wimer

And the store next to it

It was about this time that exhaustion set in. All I wanted to do was just get to the hotel. My hands and right knee were sore. I'm not quite sure why, but my right leather pant leg has always put pressure onto one spot on my knee. The pain had been bugging me non-stop and I couldn't wait until we rolled into the parking lot of the hotel so that I could walk around instead of being hunched over in a squat position. I tend to ride with my feet off the pegs hanging down a lot when it starts to irritate me.

Finally, after regretting not taking the short distance up I-5 to finish the last bit of miles, we arrived at the La Quinta after riding down 99 and up through the small town of Grants Pass. I have never been so happy to arrive at a hotel!

Finally made it down south where the sun is out all the time!

After checking in and dropping our stuff in the room, we both promptly removed our leather pants and boots in exchange for jeans and shoes. I absolutely love that feeling. Now we were able to cruise the town looking for a dinner spot which we found easily after a quick search for a brewery nearby. The Wild River Brewery had some pretty tasty pizza and I had a few sips of Warren's beer. There was a family that sat next to us whom I recalled was staying at our hotel. I only remembered because one of the kids had purple hair. We found out they were on their way from California to Seattle via I-5. They asked where we had come from and Warren told them we were from the Portland area but that we had been on the road since 8 am. They were pretty surprised when they learned that we had only been traveling by way of back roads.

Back at the hotel and all I wanted to do fall into bed to go to sleep but I stayed up a bit longer to start writing today's blog. All-in-all it had been a great day, no issues with our bikes and no spills. I had wanted to hop in the hot tub downstairs but I was so tired I thought that I might have fallen asleep in the tub if I did. I decided to skip it and fall asleep instead. Tomorrow is going to be awesome, I thought. We had a jet boat excursion planned, a visit to the first ever In-N-Out Burger in Oregon, (we may get to see an old friend) along with riding another great road I had heard tons about on our way to Klamath Falls! Our trip was just getting started!

Our bikes locked up together being all cozy

Perfect for viewing our babies

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2016mototrip · 9 years ago

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Journal #2: July 5th, 2016

6 more days left to organize Taylor's things to send with her while she's at my parent's house. 6 more days left until our dogs get to play with a household full of dogs for a week and only 6 more days left until our epic journey into the heart of Oregon begins.

I planned this trip January of 2015. Little did I know back then if it would happen or not. Things happen, life changes but things have fallen into place. Friends and family are helping out so that they can make our dream, my dream really, a reality! We have always been thankful for the graciousness of friends and family to help us when asked.

For the past few weeks now, I catch myself daydreaming of how it will feel when I'm out there on the open road with my husband at my side. It's the best feeling knowing that we'll be together in this journey. Releasing all of our anxieties as we ride away from home.

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2016mototrip · 9 years ago

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Packing Test Success!

Testing went well! I was able to stuff all of the items on my list into my Kriega US-30 tail bag. But knowing me, I'll probably add more to the list by the time I'm rushing out the door wanting to feel the wind in my face.

I purchased the last three things on my list (Kriega US-10, Sena headset and two MSR fuel canisters). It’s great to finally feel like this trip is set in stone. Earlier, I had my doubts as Warren didn't seem to want to talk about it when I brought it up (turns out he had other things on his mind). Now that the time is so close he has been talking about the trip left and right. Expressing ideas of places he'd like to stop, thanking me for getting him the Sena headset (which is truly a godsend and can make a motorcycle ride that much better!) and counting down the days we'll be out on the country roads.

In terms of getting the bike ready for the trip, my heart believes Nacho (yes, I named my bike after a cheesy chip) is up for the task. He'll be turning 50,000 miles on this trip and really has only let me down once. His rectifier burnt out in the middle of Portland on I-5 one summer. For this trip I replaced the tires and oil earlier this year and just recently replaced the spark plugs. Most maintenance is done by my husband but I was able to do the last oil change all by myself! I can't say I wasn't proud of that for awhile. While changing out the spark plugs, Warren glanced at the rectifier and noticed that the wires didn't look so good. I was able to purchase a new rectifier and replaced it after also checking that the stator was ok too; it was. Here's to hoping that my bike doesn't leave me stranded!

The old rectifier

The new rectifier

Now that the bike has gotten a pretty thorough checkup I'm completely satisfied that Nacho will make the journey unscathed. Only 11 more days left!

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2016mototrip · 9 years ago

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Packing List

Just a little over a month left to go and I've narrowed down the packing list and purchased all but three items which is a Kriega US-10 Tail Bag, Sena headset and an MSR fuel canister.

Items I'm taking on the trip include:

Miscellaneous Bike Items:

Tire plug kit

Plyers

Metric Hex Tools

Tire Gauge

Mini Chain Wax can + microfiber cloth

Mini Plexus can + microfiber cloth

Abus Chain

Abus Disc Alarm Lock

Kriega US-30 Tail Bag

Clothing compression sack

Bungee tie down for emergencies

Sena Headset + charger

Small camera + charger

Cali Butler Map

Oregon Butler Map

Zip ties

Duck tape

First Aid Kit

Pocket Knife

Electronics:

Phone + fast charger

Tablet + keyboard + charger

GoPro + charger

Bike Riding Gear:

Moto Leather Jacket

Moto Leather Pants

Full Gaunlet Gloves

Riding Boots

Helmet

Buff (face mask)

Neck Cooler

Camelbak

Clothing:

Jeans

UA Long Sleeve Shirt

Compression Leg Liner

Shirts x4

Shorts x1

Socks x4

Underwear x4

Sports Bra x2

Reg Bra x1

Sleep shirt

Shoes x1

Flip Flops x1

Swim Suit

Toiletries:

Toothbrush + Toothpaste

Contacts + solution

Glasses + case

Chapstick

Comb

Conditioner

Deodorant

Tissues

Lotion

Ring Case

Ear Swabs

Advil

Vitamins

Sunglasses

Keys

Hand Sanitizer Packets

Earplugs x2

Food:

Granola bars x4

Fruit Snacks x6

Protein bars x4

My next plan is to test if everything can fit into the two bags I'll be taking!

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2016mototrip · 9 years ago

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Side Note

Last week, as I was going over the route with Warren, he brought to my attention about a gas issue on the 4th day.

It will be 166 miles between Prineville and Maupin on the route we are taking. I went over and over on the map searching for gas stations but either there weren't any or the gas they had was regular unleaded. Our bikes required premium gas.

So I staged my question to my favorite motorcycle forum. They gave me a range of answers such as, "sure he'd be able to make it, just tell him to keep it in 6th gear" or "55 mpg? I'd be lucky to hit 45 mpg on my liter bike!" or "You should hit up Kimberly, there is gas there." A suggestion was made that a small gas can should go into my arsenal of supplies for emergency use and provided a link. I decided that that wasn't a half bad idea so I plan on purchasing a gas canister that I won't fill until the 4th day.

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2016mototrip · 9 years ago

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Planning Take 2

Always double, triple and quadruple check your route. If you see something askew you will need to fix it. Of course i'll be checking over my route map every week until the day we leave before I'm completely satisfied!

At the beginning of the year I started booking the hotels we'd be staying at. We had finally set a date and I let my parents know so that they could watch Taylor. I also got a friend of ours to watch our two dogs. Things were slowly looking more and more possible that this trip was actually going to happen! I was able to book hotels in Grants Pass and Bend but when it came time to book the hotel in McCloud, I came across an issue. This was the one location I'd never been to and had never seen. It was by word of mouth that got me interested in even wanting to stay there. It was after reading a book, On Grief, Hope, and Motorcycles: A Diary, by a motorcyclist from the Pacific Northwest (that I'll hopefully get to meet later this year) who ended up staying there a couple nights. After reading about the town, it made me want to visit it.

Hopping online, I checked for room availability. Not only were all rooms booked for the day we'd be visiting, but they were also booked for the whole week! Wow! Maybe someone's having a wedding, I thought. After I looked at other places in McCloud and found that they were too expensive I started looking elsewhere. Weed, California was too big and I didn't want to stay the night next to I-5. I like visiting the smaller towns.

I decided to settle on Klamath Falls which meant I needed to redo some route alternatives.

The second day of the trip I planned to take my husband Warren on a jetboat excursion tour on the Rogue River. It just so happens that I had planned to take him on this exact same excursion as a birthday surprise adventure almost 2 years ago but had to cancel because I found out I was pregnant. Now we finally get to do it!

It fit in perfect with my plan. We'd do the excursion in the morning then head out for more motorcycling adventures later that day! I created two different routes for the second day so that we could see how we felt after the first day. The first day will be about a 350 mile ride so we could be pretty sore.

Route #1: Heading into California:

Route #2: Heading over to Klamath Falls:

I really want to do the first one! Next up is the packing list and items I still have to purchase for the trip!

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2016mototrip · 9 years ago

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Journal #1: Jan. 19, 2016

It’s less than 7 months away, it feels so close I can touch it! Lately, I catch a glimpse of how it’ll feel when I’m out there on the road with my husband by my side. I get the chills, the good kind, and smile. I can’t wait to load up the bike with all I will need and set off for an adventure I had only dreamed of. But I always think of the bitter sweetness. Yes I’m counting down the days to feel the cool breeze and the wonderful aroma of the rural towns but I also have the thought that this trip will come to an end.

We as a culture never like to think about endings. We crave beginnings, we crave life, we crave happiness and yet we never think of the consequences. Open-close, push-pull, yin-yang. Where there is one, the other will follow. Everything has a beginning and everything has an end. It’s true, even I don’t like to think about it. Endings are sad, miserable and gloomy places. It will leave you feeling depressed. But think of it this way, once that beginning has come to an end, you will have been changed. If not stronger, wiser; if not scared, adventurous. You will know that you came out of the journey as a changed person and that’s all you can hope for in the future.

Knowing that this trip will come to an end makes me think of all the possible destinations I can take in the future. Will this trip lead me to more states and different countries? Or will it lead me to seek solace in my own home?

My other thoughts are with my daughter, Taylor. It will be her first time she has ever been away from us for longer than a day. 4 nights to be exact. Will she not understand? Or will she think nothing of it? Will she cry every night? Will I cry every night? I pray that Warren and I have a safe trip so that we can come home to our daughter, so that she will still have both of her parents. People ask why take a trip that could leave your daughter an orphan? I respond saying, if you’re afraid to do anything just because of the risks, you wouldn’t leave your house. People die every day, in planes, cars, bicycles and even just walking as a pedestrian. Does that make you not go to the grocery store? Not go to work? Not take vacations? Yes, motorcycling has its risks but it also has its rewards. The feeling of maneuvering your own machine, the feeling of being one with the outside world, the feeling of being free! You don’t and will never get that in a car, in a cage, or any other vehicle. One has to balance the risks with the rewards. If the risk is too great and the reward too little, it’s not worth it.

So as I count down the months and days before we take our trip, I also pray that Taylor will one day understand why we took this motorcycle adventure.

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