Crater Lake National Park with the Triumph

Posted on September 9, 2012 by cesardagord

[This story is a continuation from my previous post, Metolius River, 2012 Edition.]

Leaving the Metolius River area [Sunday, September 2] I rode south towards the Crater Lake via 97, following along the transition between the Cascades and the Oregon’s high desert.

An uneventful ride, the miles easily go by on this bike, I arrived at the entrance of the Crater Lake National Park at around 4pm.

Crater Lake National Park entrance, September 2nd, 2012

Since this is a holiday weekend, I was expecting to see some traffic, and I noticed when I turned into the final road towards the park some more traffic, but never imagined an actual traffic jam. It was the line for the booth at the Park Entrance. A bit surreal to find this on an otherwise very low traffic area, but the line moved fast, and I was glad when I learned motorcycles are not charged, only the rider. Not so bad, $5 was the cost of admission. And I got more value than that for this short visit to the park. Even if this was my third time in this park, I still had a chance to experience things as if they were new, so grandiose and beautiful and unique this volcano is.

Line at the entrance of the Park. September 2nd, 2012

Most people in Oregon and surrounding areas know about the Crater Lake. But others in other parts of the world may not know.  So here is the quick and dirty about it. This was a volcano, the Mazama, and it erupted 7,700 years ago.

Information available in the Park’s brochure

The top of the volcano exploded and collapsed, creating a large and deep depression.  This depression eventually filled with water from rain and snowfall (there are no springs or other source of water contributing to the water volume in the lake). At a depth of 1,943 feet, it is the deepest lake in the United States.  And the deep blue color you see in the water is phenomenal.

Information available in the Park’s brochure

The small island, called Wizard Island, in the west side of the lake was a later formation, it was formed and erupted after the lake began to fill.  This volcano is not extinct, like several other volcanoes on the Cascades range. Who knows what this lake will look like in the future?

Information available in the Park’s brochure

While climbing towards the rim, arriving from the north, I stopped a few times to take pictures. I could see some snow on the north slopes of mountains survived the summer.

The colors were amazing. Crater Lake, Oregon, September 2nd, 2012

The views are fantastic in this area.  The photo below shows the pumice desert. Pumice and scoria ejected from the eruption accumulated here, forming this desert.  Some of these rocks traveled as far as 25 miles (40km).

Pumice Desert. Crater Lake, Oregon, September 12th, 2012

My plan was to ride towards the rim and descend towards the Mazama Village on the west side and see if they had a camp site available. I had made no reservations, but I knew of other camping sites in the area, as a backup plan. Back in 2008 I had been here and had camped by Rogue river, at the Natural Bridge campground, not too far from the Mazama village. With these thoughts in mind I continued towards the rim, stopping here and there for more photos. I stopped to document some bits of surviving snow on north slopes.

Till when are we going to have this snow at the end of the summer? September 2, 2012

I finally reached the rim of the volcano and I was able to see the beautiful views of the lake.

The Tiger sees the Crater Lake for the first time. September 2nd, 2012

Yes, I tend to like pictures where the motorcycle I’m riding is part of it. But I could be safe to think people would like an unimpeded view of the lake. So here it is. Because my camera’s lens was not wide enough, I will show it in three pictures, going from left (north) to right (south) as viewed from the west side of the lake.

Then north area of the Crater Lake.

Looking towards the east, with Wizard Island, which was formed as the lake was filling, right in front.

Looking towards the east. Crater Lake, Oregon, September 2012

And on the right of the photo below is the south area of the Crater Lake.

To the right on this photo is the south area of the rim. Crater Lake, Oregon, September, 2, 2012

Before getting into the campground, I wanted to take advantage of day light and see more of the lake and take more photos. I continued riding the rim towards the south. Some people ask me why do I need two GPS units. I have no answer, except that I like data, and with two GPS’s I can see the map in one and trip data on the other. Also, the car GPS (the one on the left) is much easier to navigate for logistics such as finding campgrounds, fuel stations, restaurants, etc. While the motorcycle/hiking GPS (the one on the right) has better routing and tracking maps for navigation when paved roads are absent.

The motorcycle cockpit and the Lake.

But what was that on the background? Some more surviving traces of snow.

Snow at the lake level. September 2nd, 2012

I have been here in the spring of 2007, when only a few roads were open. This is what it looks like with snow.

A spring view of the Crater Lake. Photo taken on March, 2007

It is difficult to capture the deep blue color of the lake. The picture below is my attempt. Doesn’t it look like this is a sky view? Instead, I was looking down towards the lake. To my friends in Mortelle, Italy, at the Straight of Messina, who are always trumpeting about the blue color of the Mediterranean by their house, this one comes really close (I won’t dare say it is a more beautiful and deeper blue color, because I know I would hear back from you).

Looking down at the lake, beautiful, deep blue color. Crater Lake, September 2nd, 2012

Enough playing, it is time for me to go find a camp spot. I went down the rim from the west side of the lake towards Mazama Village.  There was a line at the campground booth, but the attendant said there were camp sites in the RV area. I asked for him to reserve it and went back to the bike to get my wallet. By the time I was back at the end of the line and finally talked to the attendant again, there had been a cancellation and I lucked out on a tent site.  Just what I needed – the idea of spending the night with RV’ers and their generators was not inviting. The RV site would had cost me $27.  The tent site was $21.

Campsite at the Mazama Village. September 2 and 3, 2012

In total, today’s ride was 160.8 miles (259 km).

160.8 miles, 259 km. A good day of riding. September 2, 2012

After setting my tent I walked towards the Mazama Village. When booking the campsite I noticed a convenience store and a restaurant. I had brought with me freeze dried food, I had water, I had my jetboil stove and I had a couple of beer cans.  But I was leaning towards going to the restaurant, where I had seen an outside seating area.

Building where the restaurant is located. Mazama Village, Crater Lake, Oregon, September 2nd, 2012

I chose an outside table, next to me was a young couple from France. We chatted a bit about our travels and I ate a hamburger, bigger than my head.

Burger, fries, beer… Not something to write home about but was OK. Mazama Village. September 2, 2012

Back to the site, I went inside my tent, did some reading and fell asleep early. It was a good night, not as cold as the previous night in the Metolius River area, despite being here at higher altitude than the night before.

Time to get up! September 3rd, 2012

I got up early, sorted my gear and re-packed everything slightly differently and all of a sudden I found some more room. This is always the case on my motorcycle trips. Well, it happens on any travel I do, actually.

Packing and getting ready to leave. September 3rd, 2012

I had a cup of coffee and got ready. The plan was to go back to the rim, go east and then back west towards the north exit. I refueled the bike right at the Mazama Village and rode back up towards the rim.

Filling the tank. On the background, the booth for checking in at the campground.

When back towards the east rim road, but only just up to the Phantom Ship overlook.

Phantom Ship Island, Crater Lake National Park. September 3rd, 2012

It is hard to imagine, but that little Island down there, the portion we see out of the water is equivalent to a 13 story building. It is difficult to portray to scale the dimension of this lake.

Phantom Ship Island, Crater Lake National Park, September 3rd, 2012

Views from the rim, looking towards the south east area.

Southeast views from the rim. September 3rd, 2012

I turned around towards the west and from there to the north of the lake.  On the way I checked the Lodge on the east area of the rim.

Crater Lake Lodge. September 3rd, 2012

It closes during the winter.

The Crater Lake Lodge in the Winter months. March 2007.

Looks like a nice place to spend a few days in the Summer and hike the areas around the lake.

Crater Lake Lodge. September rd, 2012

What about a cup of coffee in the morning, with this view?

Crater Lake Lodge, guests enjoy the morning view. September 3rd, 2012

More views of the lake before I say goodbye.

Looking towards the south east, the morning sun. September 3rd, 2012

I was re-tracing my route from the day before, the plan being to exit the park back via the north gate. At some point I captured what I think was the highest elevation on this ride.

7,600 feet above sea level. Roughly 2,300 meters of elevation.

Views of the road around the rim.

Road as it goes north via the west side of the rim. September 3rd, 2012

One final view of the lake.

Detail at the north-west side of the lake. September 3rd, 2012

And a view of the road, from that point, looking south.

I’ll be back!

I exited the park at around noon and had to make a decision. I was not sure where to go next. Well, I had to go back home, just didn’t know how ambitious my return would be.  In the end, I took the most direct route that did not involve a free-way, and added some diversions to it.

The North Entrance/Exit of the Park. Mt Thielsen on the background. September 3rd, 2012

I took 138 towards the west and made a few stops along the way. Went between Mt Thielsen and Diamond Lake.

Mt. Thielsen as viewed from Hwy 138. September 3rd, 2012

The Diamond Lake, 12 miles away from the Crater, was formed during the eruption.

Diamond Lake, from Hwy 138. September 3rd, 2012

I continued on 138, as it follows along the North Umpqua River.

North Umpqua River along Hwy 138. September 3rd, 2012

I went past the Steamboat Inn and from there I retraced the same route made by Rod and the Cycle Parts team on our ride back from the restaurant two weeks ago. Perfect, because I wanted to document where we had been on that ride. Like this formation this canyon like feature along the Umpqua River.

Umpqua River along Highway 138. September 3rd, 2012

Then I took the cutoff road, on the North Bank of the Umpqua River.

Umpqua River. September 3rd, 2012

This road is fun on at least three counts. First it has nice curves, second it has little traffic, and third it has nice landscapes with farms, sheep, cattle, lots of interesting things to see. And overall, it reminds me of areas of north California, along hwy 101.

Landscapes in this area remind me of North California, along Hwy 101

From there I took 99 towards Sutherlin and then found my way towards Oakland, where I parked the bike for a few photos.

A windows view of Oakland, Oregon. September 3rd, 2012

The Museum was closed, today was a holiday.

Oakland, Oregon. September 3rd, 2012

Most buildings show built dates around the turn of the previous century. This town must had been booming during those years. It is a preserved view of what Oregon was like in this area more than 100 years ago.  Now, this area of the Umpqua Valley is mostly known for its wineries.

Oakland, Oregon. September 3rd, 2012

I continued to re-trace the Steamboat Inn ride route, found my way to the other side of the I-5 and back at 99.  From there I went past Drain and from there Lorane and all the very familiar roads I use often for short rides in the area and got back home.

212.4 miles (342km) for the third and final day of this ride. September 3rd, 2012

Total for today was 212.4 Miles (342km). The total for this three-day trip was 483 miles (778km).  Not bad for a three-day weekend. Not as far as I could had been, but it was great to see my friends and see the Crater Lake again.

Back home in one piece. September 3rd, 2012

They were perfect days for riding on a bike that worked flawlessly as always and which made it very comfortable for me.

Thanks for reading.

Posted in Riding the Triumph, Travel | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

The Metolius River, 2012 Edition

Posted on September 5, 2012 by cesardagord

Labor day weekend was coming up and I did not have a specific plan for this three-day weekend. I just had the idea that I was going to go for a long ride and would take my camping gear with me and that I would meet with my friends some where at some point.

The Metolius River, September 1st, 2012

How this trip came about? With about zero planning. I was waiting for my friends in Portland to call me about where we would go for our annual camping trip.  These two guys are like brothers to me. We know each other for many years, from the time we all lived in Columbus and were going to school at the Ohio State University.  They and their families are my family here in the United States. They called me Wednesday evening to let me know the location: the Metolius River, where we camp along the Metolius River, under the the aromatic Ponderosa trees, bordering the Oregon high desert. We had camped here in 2009, check here for that post.

Ponderosa Trees by the Metolius River. September 1st, 2012

I was hoping and had been lobbying for something more radical and more distant for this trip. But they have kids, and toddlers at that, and I understand their priorities.  So my plan was to add distance to the trip. So why not come back home via an alternate route such as the Crater Lake?  That’s how this trip came together. This is one of two posts where I report the three-day weekend. This post here is about the Metolius River, where I camped at the end of day one of the holiday. The second post will be about the Crater Lake, where I camped on day two of this mini-adventure.

The only planning I had done before the call was to have my gear ready, including this important supply. The story about the “Micro-canning Revolution” and its advantages convinced me, along with the Hawaiian theme on the drawing on the can.

Camping supplies: India Pale Ale, a Hawaiian version. September 1st, 2012

Beer and dinner, the important stuff all packed in my small cooler that fits in the central pocket of my Giant-Loop bag.

Beer and dinner. September 1st, 2012

The bike of choice is the Triumph. This machine is perfect for hauling all my gear and for long days on the saddle. All motorcycle vitals checked, packed, the bike was ready to take me on this journey.

The Triumph, ready for action! September 1st, 2012

To get to the Metolius River I already chose a longer route via the McKenzie Pass. Now, end of the summer, let’s check the snow cover on the Sisters’ Mountains as viewed from the McKenzie Pass.

Two of the Three Sisters Mountains, as viewed from the McKenzie Pass. September 1st, 2012

Not too long ago, on the July 4th holiday I was at the McKenzie pass with the Ducati and this was the snow level then, as viewed from almost exactly the same location. That Ducati is a lot more photogenic…

The Ducati at that same location, July 4th, 2012.

This is a great road for its many twists on the way to the top. And I like the desolate landscape on the top of the pass, when we hit the lava fields.

Highway 242 close to the summit, at McKenzie Pass. September 1st, 2012

The Metolius River campgrounds are not too far from here. A few more miles on this road, down on the east side of the pass, I  took the gravel road that is a short cut that connects with Hwy 20, and from there to Camp Sherman and the several campgrounds along the Metolius River. I was there in no-time, even taking the long way to get there. The total for day one was 110 miles (177km) from home, even going the long way it is a short distance.

110 miles from home.

Set my tent, and played with the kids.They are into riding bicycles now and they love my motorcycle. How easy is it to become a hero to 3-4 year old kids?

Tent is set!

The first thing the kids wanted to do was to show me the dead deer.  They took me on this path not too far from the camp to show me the deer. Their curiosity about it reminded me of “Stand by me” the film, that is based on Stephen King’s book “The Body” about four friends who embark on an adventure to see a dead man’s body (and which was filmed in Oregon, by the way, not too far from where I write this story here). So this dead deer the kids wanted me to see is a mini version of it. Check my take on Stand by Me here. Eventually I hope the kids will have a strong friendship amongst themselves like I developed with my friends, and that they have their own camping trip together at some point in the future where they can share memories of their past adventures via pictures like this one.

The adventure for the kids: checking the dead deer. September 1st, 2012

And what about this fallen tree (cut after it died)? 525 years old.

525 year old tree. September 1st, 2012

We were camped right next to it. It even had a plaque. Or two.

525 years old, it says.

Can you read the growth rings and find out when Oregon had a long summer or when the summer was short in these last 525 years? Check here for a Youtube video explaining how to read growth rings.

Can you read the tree growth rings?

Soon we had the barbecue going. These guys add Montreal sauce to their stakes. This is a long battle between me and them. I consider it a sin to add something with so much taste into a great steak which already has a great taste. It is too much distraction and diversion from what the steak has to offer. It is like drinking flavored coffee – if you do that, chances are you don’t like coffee very much, right? So I waited and cooked my rib-eye steak later, salt only! No pics, I was too hungry and the steak was perfect.

Their steaks, sprinkled with Montreal.

When everyone went to sleep, we, the three amigos, had our time for ourselves. We sat by the fire and had our conversation. Then I went to my tent for a good night of sleep. The temperature may have fallen to close to freezing at some point. It started well and I was comfortable and had a good sleep at first. But then I felt the cold. I spent a good portion of the early morning convincing myself that it would be all right; that it was better to stay like that than to disrupt the sleepy state I was in to find the clothes that would make me warm.  This is not the first time it has happened where I find myself cold and not able to make the effort to get warm.  Eventually I fell asleep again.  The morning was still cold and until the sun made its way to the camp site we were all huddled around the campfire with a hot cup of coffee to warm our hands. And I had my motorcycle gloves somewhere… After breakfast, tent is packed, bike is ready for what is next.

Bike ready for the second day of adventure. September 2, 2012

We lifted camp and drove together to the fisheries on the other side of the Metolius River.

The Metolius River. September 2, 2012

A campus like this is a traditional site in American parks. It represents 1950’s Americana in my view. This and the pine trees remind me of Walt Disney stories from long time ago. Mickey Mouse, my favorite cartoon character during my youth years had a few stories on comic books that took place on settings that looked like this, or this reminds of those settings.

Fishery Campus. September 2, 2012

We checked the fishery tanks.

Tanks at the Fishery.

Some had Sturgeon.

Sturgeon

Some had rainbow trout.

And the pond with Rainbow Trout.

The pond at the Fishery

We said good bye at some point, already close to 11:00 am.  They went back to Portland and I went towards Sisters, to the Space Age gas station. I’m a regular customer when passing through Sisters. I like the looks of the pumps, and it has that non-ethanol premium gasoline.

Non-ethanol premium gasoline

I left Sisters towards Bend and stopped to appreciate the view of the Three Sisters mountains from this other angle, where you can see the three of them. I have three sisters and I see it that they are taking care of me when I go by this region.

The Triumph and the Three Sisters. Just outside Sisters, Oregon, September 2nd, 2012

To my Three Sisters!

Three Sisters Mountains. September 2nd, 2012

About 150 miles later I was at the North Entrance of the Crater Lake National Park.

Entering the Park. September 2nd, 2012

I had been here two or three times before. At each time I’m here I discover a new dimension to this park.

The Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States. September 2nd, 2012

Check my next post, where I will document the rest of this trip, including a short tour of the Crater Lake Park.

Thanks for reading.

Posted in Riding the Triumph | 6 Comments

Back to the Steamboat Inn, Oregon

Posted on August 31, 2012 by cesardagord

Last year I joined the Cycle Parts Triumph team and friends on their lunch at the Steamboat Inn, on the west side of the Oregon Cascades.  I did not ride with them, only met them for lunch last year.  This year I also rode there on my own but this time I returned to Eugene with the group.

Getting the Triumph Tiger ready for the ride. August 26th, 2012

Since the Ducati arrived in my garage the Triumph has been mostly sitting on the back of the garage. What a shame, this is a super nice bike. It was good to take it out for a ride and be reminded of how nice a bike it is. Perfect for touring, nice upright ergonomics, but with a good touch of “sports” to the motor’s performance.

I printed the route directions and followed them to a “T” until I eventually found and alternate way (got lost). But that is too soon in the narrative.

Directions for the route to Steamboat Inn and back. August 26th, 2012

I left the gas station close to my house with a full tank of gasoline at exactly 9:30 am. Rod and the rest of the riders were scheduled to leave at 9:30am from the Cycle Parts shop.  Since I would be stopping for photos, I figured they would eventually catch up with me if they left on the scheduled time. First stop for a photo op was Dorena Lake, just east of Cottage Grove on Row River Rd.

Dorena Lake. August 26, 2012

As I continued I stopped at a covered bridge. There are several covered bridges in Oregon, this is one of the newest ones, built in 1949.

Dorena Covered Bridge. Oregon, August 26, 2012

More of the bridge.

Dorena Covered Bridge, Oregon, August 26th, 2012

Back on Row River rd, following the directions the next target was to make a right turn on Sharp Creek Rd. I found it easily. I remember this area from last year and from my first rides in Oregon with the BMW Dakar.  This sign on Sharps Creek road was an assurance that I was on the right track.

Steamboat Hwy. straight ahead! August 26th, 2012

However, to go to Steamboat Inn I should take Canton Creek Rd. Somehow I missed that turn and ended up somewhere else. There was only one left turn option once getting into the maze of one-lane roads in the forest. The only one I missed was this one. I guess I missed the smiley face.

I turned right here, should had gone left, I suppose. August 26th, 2012

My “alternate route” was not a bad way to get there though it added a few extra miles to my route.

Somewhere between Row River Rd and Hwy. 138. August 26th, 2012

Eventually I was high enough to be above the low clouds.

Above the clouds. August 26th, 2012

Great vistas. Made better when framed by the Triumph.

The Triumph and the nice views. August 26th, 2012

One more shot.

Another view from somewhere between Row River Rd. and Hwy 138. August 26th, 2012

Eventually it got me to Rock Creek Rd. I knew I had to make a left at some point, so I took this one, Rock Creek Road (even though it had a construction warning sign).

Rock Creek Road. August 26th, 2012

It took me some 20 something miles to get to Hwy 138 on this route. All along I was fearing what this construction would be like. Not a big deal. There were three small sections like this. Not enough of a building character feature on this ride.

Construction on Rock Creek Road. August 26th, 2012

Eventually I got to Hwy. 138, some 15 miles west of the Steamboat Inn. So I knew I had some miles to ride to catch with the group and hopefully I would not miss lunch. Also went through construction on Hwy 138.

Construction on Hwy 138. August 26th, 2012

When I got to the Steamboat Inn most everyone was already inside. But they had not ordered yet. Timing was good.

Parked at the Steamboat Inn. August 26th, 2912

While there, and after I ordered my food, I walked around and took some pictures.

The Umpqua River by the Steamboat inn. August 26th, 2012

A Porsche Speedster parked in front of the restaurant. Is this the real thing?

Porsche Speedster. Is this the real thing? August 26th, 2012

After lunch I decided to ride back to Eugene with the group.

Getting ready to go back to town. August 26th, 2012

The group stopped for gas and I decided not to refill my tank. Let’s see how far can I go with one tank. And because now we would not be stopping for pictures, I’m glad we went through some of the same roads from last year. Below is the Umpqua river from North Bank Rd, a photo I took last year. Go here for my report of last year’s ride to Steamboat Inn.

Umpqua River from North Bank rd. Photo taken on August 14th, 2011.

The group stopped again in Drain, Oregon.

A KLR, the center of attraction. August 26, 2012

Go figure…

Story telling.

We said our good-byes and I rode back with Rod and a smaller group who were going on my same direction.  I was checking my “miles to empty” very closely.

11 miles to empty!

I made it home with 11 miles to spare according to the bike’s computer.  The ride total from home and back was 223 miles (357 km). It was 222 miles since I had filled the tank.  Here it is, I can go 200+ miles on this bike with one tank of gasoline.

223.6 miles. It is nothing for this bike.

Riding with this group was good. Rod is a good leader, keeps good but safe speeds. Everyone rode very well. And because I could not stop for pictures on the way back, it gives me an excuse to find some of the roads around Oakland, an area where I haven’t been before and I learned on this ride that it has some beautiful landscapes.

Back Home. August 26th, 2012

Thank you for reading.

Posted in Riding the Triumph | 4 Comments

The Ducati and the Wooden Boat show in Toledo, Oregon

Posted on August 30, 2012 by cesardagord

The list of lame excuses to ride the Yellow Hooligan Machine goes on. Whether it is a cup of coffee 100 miles away in Sisters, an Oyster farm in Winchester Bay, or a bowl of Manila Clam Chowder in Yachats, anything goes. But a Wooden Boat show in Toledo? It will have to do as an excuse even if I have never had a wooden boat and will never have one.  But that Ducati was calling me for a ride and it was already pointed towards the road, so I better take care of it.

The Ducati calls me for a ride. August 19th, 2012

I once had a boat, until a couple if years ago as a matter of fact. But it was a fiberglass boat (you can read that story here: “I’d rather be sailing?”).  And I have two friends who are into wooden boats. And they both build and work on wooden boats as a hobby. After all it was not too lame of an excuse this time. I was actually looking forward to seeing the boats, what I could possibly find in Toledo. But the Ducati was the center piece of the day.

Checked tire pressure, oil, chain… August 19, 2012

As I take the roads on my usual way out of town, I could see the farmers had been busy working on the hay since the last time I was here.

Hay on Prairie Rd, near Hwy. 99. August 19th, 2012

In fact, the whole valley smells of dry grass. Anyway, it is the smell of the end of Summer around these parts when we are more than half way of the dry season in the valley.

Hay on Prairie Rd. August 19th, 2012

And just as I was taking these pictures I heard the migrating ducks above, I look up and there they were, on a clear formation, flying south already. That is another sign of change.

Flying South. August 19th, 2012

Farther down the road, after I connect to Territorial, here we have corn getting ready as well.

Corn and irrigation. August 19th, 2012

It is already taller than me.

Taller than the me and the bike. August 19, 2012

That’s one thing I like about the Willamette valley, it has a lot of agricultural activity, which reminds me that once I was an Agricultural Economist.  I stopped for gas in Philomath and came across yet another gas station with a non-ethanol pump.

Non-ethanol fuel in Philomath. August 19th, 2912

It is interesting that I found this non-ethanol gas station just after going by corn fields. I will prepare a post about corn, ethanol, and the controversy building up as the nation’s drought impacts corn production.  I will post it when the rain and cold will reduce my riding time so I can use my free time to research.  For now, let’s go back to the wooden boats and the Ducati. It was with those thoughts in mind that I realized the machine was just turning 2,000 miles old. So I stopped for the documentation. This machine has become very smooth now.

Ducati turns 2,000 miles. August 19th, 2012

Soon I was in Toledo, Oregon, which is just east of Newport, by Hwy 20.

Toledo, Oregon. August 19th, 2012

As I was taking this picture of the river some locals were coming back from the boat show and said: “now you come back to Toledo, ok?” This was actually my second time to Toledo, OR. I said I would be back. And I will be back either for next year’s wooden boat show or as a stop on my coast loop.

A view of the Yaquina River and the boat show. Toledo, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

There weren’t many boats on this show. But there was a good variety. Here are a few shots of boats on the show.

Wooden Boat Show – Toledo, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

Wooden Boat Show – Toledo, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

Wooden Boat Show – Toledo, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

Wooden Boat Show – Toledo, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

Wooden Boat Show – Toledo, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

Wooden Boat Show – Toledo, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

Wooden Boat Show – Toledo, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

Wooden Boat Show – Toledo, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

Wooden Boat Show – Toledo, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

Kids had a chance to build their own boats.

Workshop for kids. Toledo Wooden Boat show, August 19th, 2012

And the adults were playing as well.

Wooden Boat Show – Toledo, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

But this was my favorite boat on the show. A 1947 Dunphy.

1947 Dunphy at the Toledo Wooden Boat Show, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

Too bad the camera’s flat dimensions do not capture the classic curves this boat has.

1947 Dunphy at the Toledo Wooden Boat Show, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

Beautiful from all angles.

1947 Dunphy at the Toledo Wooden Boat Show, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

1947 Dunphy at the Toledo Wooden Boat Show, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

1947 Dunphy at the Toledo Wooden Boat Show, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

And finally this one.

1947 Dunphy at the Toledo Wooden Boat Show, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

It is not a Riva, but if I were really into boats, I would not mind having something like this. The lines and curves of this boat, which are not captured too well on these photos, are from a time where they were probably the most beautiful in this type of boat building history. Seeing this boat made this stop relevant. Time for me to get going.

Time to get back to the Ducati. August 19th, 2012

I made my way to Newport and traveled south on Hwy 101. I had started this day ride late and had a nice dinner waiting for me at home, so I only stopped at the Heceta Lighthouse.

The Ducati and the Heceta Lighthouse. Hwy 101, Oregon Coast, August 19th, 2012

All along the coast, this time the winds were practically non existent. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Pacific so pacific. No winds, no waves. It looked more like a lake.

The Heceta Lighthouse and the pacific Pacific Ocean, Oregon, August 19th, 2012

The Ducati wanted another photo. And I indulge.

The Ducati and the Heceta Lighthouse on the background. August 19th, 2012

The beautiful Ducati and the beautiful coast.

The Ducati on the Oregon Coast. August 19th, 2012

I went south towards Florence, made my usual left turn towards Mapleton, passed by the non-ethanol gas station in Mapleton (and it was open today, as opposed to last Sunday) because I now know about the Low Pass Station and Market and that they also have non-ethanol gas.

Non-ethanol gas in Cheshire, Oregon. August 19th, 2012

And I was home.

Back home, another nice Pacific Coast loop completed. August 19th, 2012

Total miles for today’s loop was 224 (360km). Next post is going to be a report of the Cycle Parts (Triumph shop in Eugene) organized ride to the Steamboat Inn.

Thank you for reading.

Posted in Riding the Ducati | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

From Eugene to the Oregon coast (on mostly dirt roads)

Posted on August 28, 2012 by cesardagord

“You can go from here to the ocean on dirt roads only” was something I heard from a few riders as soon as I moved to Eugene in 2005 and started inquiring about dirt roads for day rides in the Eugene area. When I asked riders for more specific directions for this route, though, their answers were evasive at best. Until I met Riley, that is. On the area between Hwy 36 and Hwy 34 in the Oregon Coast Range Riley seems to know every gravel road, two-track, or trail that forms that maze of roads on the range. [this ride took place on Sunday, August 12, 2012 – I’m still catching up].

How did I get here? August 12, 2012

Doug called me last Thursday telling me his brother-in-law Neal would be in town this weekend and Riley was to set up a post card route for our guest rider. I had met Neal back in 2008 when the BMW local motorcycle dealer had organized a rally in the Ochoco Forest.  Neal is a retired smoke jumper, of that first class team based in McCall, Idaho, where he still lives today. A smoke jumper, you have to respect this guy. After I met Neal in 2008 I had a chance to ride with him in the Owyhee area one time and another time at the Steens Mountain area. Neal is a great rider.

Getting the WR250R ready for another adventure. August 12 2012

They showed up early at my house because to check the Ducati. Neal was not too impressed with the Yellow Hooligan machine: “what do you want to do with this?” And then he saw my Tiger for the first time: “And what about that?” he asked without a hint of enthusiasm. Neal rides a KLR 650. Shouldn’t that be obvious based on his questions? Today he was riding Doug’s Husqvarna and Doug brought the 950 Adventure for the occasion.

Doug and Neal showed up for the ride. August 12 2012

If you read my posts regularly, you know that on the last ride with the Yamaha I was following Doug too closely and his rear tire sent a rock that hit my headlight breaking its lens. For this ride I put some clear tape on top of it, to keep it as clear from dust as possible while I look for a replacement. We met at the traditional place, at the Chevron in Junction City.

Riley arrives and gives us the low down for the day. Junction City, August 12 2012

Riley debriefs the team on the menu of roads for today’s ride. My summary of the the plan: go from here to the ocean on mostly dirt roads. It is the second time Riley will lead us to the coast on mostly dirt roads, and this time it will be on a different set of dirt roads, especially when getting closer to the coast.

I like this one-lane road. August 12, 2012

We left Junction City on a route that I’m starting to learn. I have to do it on my own to really memorize it. Now, if only I could remember the rest of the route.  Doug, as you may know, is a map reader. When riding with Riley he has no chance to stop to check his maps.  I wonder how frustrating it must be for him. Probably as much as it is for me for not having a chance to stop and take pictures every now and then. We need to  take advantage of these rides and learn exactly how Riley takes us all the way to the Ocean with only a smear of paved roads… Next time I will bring my Oregon GPS and record the tracks.

Another favorite, this road just before hitting dirt. August 12, 2012

This time the riding order was different: Riley, then me, than Neal with Doug on the tail. Riding the large 950 Adventure meant Doug would be slower to negotiate the tight roads, so I had a chance to be riding wing to master Riley. We left Junction City going west and connecting on a dirt road I still don’t know the name. After a couple of turns we connect with Alpine Rd. where we ride west for a few miles on pavement. From there we get to what I call “Riley’s climb” or the “Return of the Jedi” road, which takes us close to Prairie Mountain.

“Riley’s Climb” also the “Return of Jedi” road, with the tall pine trees. August 12, 2012

Riley commands every one to air down the tires and check to see if everyone is ready for the action. They make the usual comments about my worn out tires.  And I still don’t air them down – too lazy to air them up later and what about my fear of bending a rim on some rock? Let’s go!

Getting ready for the action! August 12, 2012

Following Master Riley up-close I had a chance to check his riding style. At one point he mentioned that I was riding fast today. Well, I was following him… In fact, I was just trying to keep up with him.  As usual, few pictures along the way when Riley makes his rare stops.

A bridge somewhere. August 12, 2012

But all roads are nice and every now and then we can get a view of the Coast Range. And you can see a bright green valley down in the distance on the picture below.

View of the Oregon Coast Range. August 12, 2012

These roads have just enough traction to make it interesting! Albeit dusty in the summer. As a matter of fact, today was a hot day and it started without the traditional fog. I was wearing only the outer layer of my Rev’it Sands riding suit.

Nice dirt roads. August 12, 2012

And here are a couple o videos where you can see Riley in action. Keeping up with him can be a challenging but fun task. At several points we were riding 40-50 miles per hour (60-80km/h) on these narrow roads. At times, even faster than that. The little WR250R works out between 1st and 3rd gear. Mostly on second gear on these roads.

And a video of a nice two-track road.

Eventually we got to Ten Mile creek and Ten Mile road and that is how we finally reached Hwy 101, crossed it and we were at the beach.

At the coast! August 12, 2012

Where we had another break.

It was windy. August 12, 2012

I took advantage of this stop to pour the 1 gallon from the auxiliary tank into the motorcycle’s 2.2 gallon tank.

The bikes and the Pacific. August 12, 2012

At the picture below is a scene that brings me memories of the south Atlantic, the ocean of my childhood: when the road ends and the sand takes over, and the beach starts. That mix of gravel and sand and the transition between flip flops and barefoot when walking to the beach.

Road ends, sand takes over. August 12, 2012

And more memories: the strong wind, air mixed with sand. Not as bad as the South Atlantic wind/sand blasts. The sand over there has finer grains and when it flies with the strong winds, it feels like thousands of needles hitting your skin. Here is a video that gives an idea of how strong the wind was where we were parked.

Time to go again! With just more than 100 miles accumulated on this ride so far we needed to get gasoline. They suggested Florence, I recommended the Non-Ethanol gas station in Mapleton.  They liked the idea.  But are we going to pay for that decision? Mapleton is another 15-17 miles after Florence.

The “non-ethanol” premium gas in Mapleton. Closed! August 12, 2012

Once we got to Mapleton we realized the gas station was closed. I’ve been there on Sundays before and it always has been open during the summer. But it appears their schedule is not consistent. What now? Riley, who had plenty of gas, was set to go on another direction and left us. Doug, Neal and I continued on 36 towards Eugene. The 950 Adventure was the problem with gas, as it was on reserve.  I would soon hit my reserve as well. Are we going to find another open gas station between Mapleton and Eugene (or Junction City, actually)? Doug was riding very conservatively, which meant I was probably doing 70 mpg in the little WR250R. Small tank but great fuel economy takes it longer to run out of fuel. We stopped in Triangle Lake and we transferred some gas from the Husqvarna large tank into my auxiliary tank and from there to the 950.

Gas transplant from the Husky to the KTM. August 12, 2012

But that was still not enough to make it home. I checked my GPS and there was a gas station 5.5 miles down the road, the Low Pass Station and Market. Would it be open? By this time I was getting close to my reserve. As we rolled into the Low Pass gas station, my amber light came on.  And the gas station was open! And it is also non-ethanol premium!

Low Pass Station and Market. Non-ethanol premium fuel.

We high-fived, filled up the tanks with good gasoline, and said our good-byes as we would soon be parting ways. Another 20-something miles and I was home. 221 miles (355 km) total for the trip, which in summary is what takes me from home to the Ocean via dirt roads and then back on a more direct route.

Back home. August 12, 2012

And my rear tire, almost gone. By the way, peer pressure finally worked on me, I already ordered a replacement for front and back tires.

Dunlop 606 after about 1,500 miles

Well, that was another great ride! Next up: The Ducati takes me to the Wooden Boat show in Toledo, Oregon. Thanks for reading.

Posted in Riding the Yamaha | 10 Comments

Back to Mary’s Peak with the Ducati

Posted on August 24, 2012 by cesardagord

2012 has brought a great Summer for riding around here. But I have not made my long distance riding plans a reality – they are still in the dreams department.  And as days get shorter, the cooler breezes arriving,  the birds already flying south, maybe they will only happen next year. But except for July 29th, I’ve been riding every Sunday since the weather firmed up.  This post is about my ride back to Mary’s Peak on August 5th.

The Ducati on the way to Mary’s Peak. August 5th, 2012

The weekend before last I had ridden the Yamaha and on the following weekend I was out of town. So it has been two weeks since I rode the Yellow Ducati last. I missed her and her idiosyncrasies. That tall first gear that requires slipping the clutch for smooth take offs from stopped, that aggressive stance, the hard suspension. And I missed its qualities. The ease in which it gains speed, how glued it feels to to the road, how directly she communicates about the road you are on, how that V-twin sounds and feels under you. You see, if I was talking about the Yamaha I would be talking about how efficient that machine is. The Ducati is a different animal, it makes you discuss matters in a philosophical way.

Getting ready for the ride. August 5th, almost early in the morning, 2012

It was 77 degrees on the fake measurement unit (Fahrenheit) when I left home. By the time I had fueled and hit the country roads, it was already 82 degrees. It was going to be a warm day. I took my usual way out of town, straight north-west via Prairie road to Territorial and from there to Alpine Rd.

The crossroads where all places take you to some good spot. August 5th, 2012

I knew the skies were not clear, and the view from St. Mary’s Peak would be compromised. But hey, if it doesn’t clear by the time I make it to the summit, what will happen is that the Peak remains on the list of places to go on a next ride. How could that be a problem? The climb was uneventful.

Patches made on the road. Not a good job. August 5th, 2012

Just that the road was patched, and now it is worse than it was the first time I rode it this year.  Up close you can see the problem from a motorcyclist point of view.

Gravel all over the road. August 5th, 2012

I made it to the first view point to the East. No sign of the Cascade peaks under the curtain of the hazy skies.

Not so bad… better than last time. Makes me wish for a next time, though.

The situation had cleared some, but not enough. Still it was great to be there and I continued climbing.  But not before taking more pictures with the Ducati as a model.

A nice shade of yellow on nice shades of green and blue. All in the family of colors.

I made it to the parking area, left the bike there…

The Ducati left behind.

and decided to hike the .5 miles to the summit. I have to say something about my riding boots here. This thing is comfortable for riding, it is waterproof, warm enough in the winter, and still works very well when walking. It was quite a hike. Half-a-mile climbing on gravel roads and trails seemed more like 2 miles on foot. Yet, my feet were always comfortable.  These are the Sidi Canyon boots.

Sidi Canyon boots.

I started the 0.5 mile hike up the trail. But first, this is where Mary’s Peak (the red pin) is located in Oregon in comparison to Eugene (the blue pin), north-west, it could be exactly 45 degrees. I talked to a park ranger when I was parking my hike there, and he told me that on a clear day from the summit you can see California, Washington, the Cascades and the Ocean. But that it would not be the case today. And he as right.

Google Earth view of Mary’s Peak in Oregon.

And on the photo below is the view of the parking area (on top), the peak, and the 0.5 miles trail that felt like 2 miles long on the climb with all the gear (jacket, riding pants). on a hot day.

Google Earth picture of Mary’s Peak and the parking lot and the trail to the summit.

This is the view of the parking area at the beginning of the hike to the summit.  The Ducati Streetfighter is somewhere down there.

The parking area. Mary’s Peak. August 5th, 2012

The summit.

The various antennae on summit of Mary’s Peak. August 2012

And this is the view to the South. I’m almost certain the tall and long range on the right, which runs east-west, is the Prairie Mountain, which is just west of Eugene. So Eugene should be somewhere straight ahead, at the beginning of the Prairie Mountain range (on its left as viewed from this photo).

South view from Mary’s Peak summit.

And this is the south-east view, the Willamette valley. On a clear day we should be able to see the Cascades and its snowed peaks on the other side of the valley.

The south-east view from the summit of Mary’s peak.

Here is the north-east view. Again this is the Willamette Valley. I wonder if we can see Mt. Hood on a clear day. If so, it should be in this direction.

The north-east view from Mary’s Peak summit.

The north view.

The north view from Mary’s Peak summit.

And the west view. On a clear day I was told you can see the ocean. Today, we can see there is fog on the coast. I will check that out soon.

The west view from Mary’s Peak summit.

I started my hike down back to the parking area. Nice views along the way.

South west view on the way down from Mary’s Peak summit.

When I got back to the bike, there was an envelope soliciting the day use fee for parking in this area. I only had $2 of change. So I owe $3.00 to the park system, and that is another reason to go back there.

Day use fee is $5.00. Mary’s Peak, August 5th, 2012

I rode down the mountain and took Hwy 34 towards Waldport and the coast fog I checked from Mary’s Peak was confirmed.

Fog on the coast. August 5th, 2012

I made my way to Yachats and stopped at the Ona Restaurant for a late lunch. I had a bowl of their Manila Clam Chowder and a glass of lemonade. The chowder tasted great. Or I was hungry. Or both.

Manila Clam Chowder at the Ona Restaurant. Yachats, August 5th, 2012

I stopped on a couple of road lookouts to take in the view. I can’t stress enough the many great viewing areas along Hwy 101 in Oregon. Especially on the Florence-Yachats area.

Somewhere along Hwy 101 between Yachats and Florence. Oregon, August 5th, 2012

Really, anywhere you have a nice view of the ocean.

Somewhere along Hwy 101 between Yachats and Florence. Oregon, August 5th, 2012

And one more.

Somewhere along Hwy 101 between Yachats and Florence. Oregon, August 5th, 2012

I continued south towards Florence where I made a left and took Hwy 36 back home, my usual route back home. And because two weekends ago I showed you a view of Triangle Lake from the top. This time I stopped to document Triangle Lake from ground zero.

Triangle Lake, Oregon. August 5th, 2012

Continuing on Hwy 36, when getting close to Hwy 99 I noticed the farmers where busy working on hay.

Hay and the harvest, Willamette Valley, August 5th, 2012

And here a photo of the side road where I parked to see the harvest. I never edit the photos I take. But this one I thought about making it into a black and white (and then adding contrast to it) at the time I took it.

Willamette Valley. August 5th, 2012

And soon I was home. Notice how the backyard grass is getting dry.

Back home. August 5th, 2012

The bike has now 1,945 miles on the clock. And today’s loop was 238 miles (383 km) long. Thanks for reading.

Posted in Riding the Ducati | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Oregon’s Triangle Lake: viewing the lake from a different angle

Posted on August 19, 2012 by cesardagord

Except when I’m out of town, every Sunday this summer has been devoted to that Ducati Streetfighter hooligan machine. One other exception has been when Doug and Riley call inviting for a ride with the dirt machines. Checking the oil, tire pressure, lube the chain, and I’m ready to go.

Getting the WR250R ready for another Sunday ride. July 22, 2012

Doug stops by at the usual time, 9:30am, and we ride together via Northwest Expressway and then Prairie road to Junction City where we meet Riley.

In Junction City, waiting for Riley.

Riley arrives, he is the chief, he gives us the menu of roads. Some of the roads go by nick names: car wash (overgrown so we have to make our way through leaves and branches resembling a car wash), wood pile (the one where a few trees have fallen on the road and have not been cleared).

Listening to the Instructions from the Chief. Junction City, July 22nd, 2012.

I just listen to the sequence of roads and find my place at the end of the line. When riding with Riley, I feel like I’m the “kid” of the bunch.  I don’t mind it at all, actually, this is a good attribute for these Sunday rides with them.  Although I like riding solo, one advantage from riding with others is that I don’t need to worry about where to go.  Riley knows the Oregon Coast Range like the palm of his hand.

Leaving Junction City

It is not like Junction City is a large town, but each time Riley finds a different way to lead us out of town.  Soon we are in the country side of the Willamette Valley. The day started with a heavy mist.  On our way to Junction City a good amount of water was accumulating on my helmet visor.  It was almost like rain, but it is only a heavy Ocean mist, that every now and then make its way to the valley. This mist usually blows by mid morning. And it was not different today.

The Valley and the coast range on the horizon. A misty day. July 22nd, 2012

I like riding in the Willamette Valley. Riley has a nice choice of roads on our way to the Coast Range. The road on the video below is particularly nice, as the we meander to one of the ends of the valley and it narrows just before we get to the gravel roads and the mountains start.

This was the second time I had been following Riley and Doug on this very set of roads. Usually I don’t stop to take pictures when I’m riding with them. But this view, the trees and the mist and fog was too nice to let go, so I stopped for a photo.

Oregon Coast Range and Low Clouds. July 22nd, 2012

They were stopped to air down their tires not too far from that. I don’t air down my tires, which gets me reprimand looks and comments from Riley: “it is better than dropping your bike.” I just learned to let the bike “dance” instead of dealing with stopping, airing down the tires, then airing up again. They both also comment on how my tires are worn out. They are right.

Airing down tires

The sun was just trying to break through at this time.  I took more photos as they worked on their bikes.

Logging, one of the main economic activities in Oregon.

We get going again. Eventually we find our way to Alpine Road, which is the paved road that goes from Monroe to Alsea (where you find the Alsea falls, documented on a previous trip with the Ducati).  From Alpine road we turn left and go south, climbing back up towards the Prairie mountains on a road that I have a feeling is one of Riley’s favorite roads. After two times on that road, I realize when we get on it he cranks up the speed. I’m not complaining! And riding on this road, going fast, and close to the large trees at the beginning part of it reminds me of a scene on the Star Wars film “Return of the Jedi.” Check the video below to view a portion of the climb on this road.

Eventually we crossed the Prairie mountains that is the taller set of mountains in the area, set like a small range going west to east. Crossing from the north we made our way to Hult Pond and stopped by in Horton for a snack.

Horton Market, in Horton, Oregon. July 22nd, 2012

Inside the market.

Inside the Horton Market

And then the story telling started. Soon Ryan was talking about Moto GP, other moto races, and interesting bits of information about motorcycle stuff.

Bench racing.

We got back on the bikes, continued south on Horton road, connected with Highway 36 and went west towards the coast. Then Riley made a right turn and we started climbing towards a loop road, which goes close to Elk Mountain. The idea was to stop by a viewing point of Triangle Lake.

A view of Triangle Lake

I’ve ridden by Hwy 36 many times, going by Triangle lake. But I had never seen it from this angle. Really Nice.  There is always a lot of action on this lake during the summer.

Triangle Lake. July 22nd, 2012

Riley always add a feature to the ride. This was today’s feature. We went down the mountain, hit Hwy 36 again. Eventually Doug and I went our way back to Eugene while Riley took a more direct route to Junction City.  Doug mentioned a beer after the ride. I said fine. I didn’t know where that was going to be. But soon we were close to Eugene and he took a route via Territorial road and Crow. We are still in the country side, just outside Crow as I follow him as he makes a turn into someone’s drive way.

It turns out that is the house of friends of Doug and his wife. This people were really nice to me, invited me to have dinner (or was it a late lunch?) with them.  They set this nice table outside. And we had a nice meal and had a nice conversation.

Dinner. Or was it Lunch?

It happens they have a Russian made Ural. These are quite interesting bikes, with the side car.

The Ural.

He takes it out and we take a close look at it.  They have a “version” of the BMW boxer motor, an older air head version of it.

The Ural and the boxer motor.

After a nice and comfortable time with them, well fed and all, we said our good byes and I made my way home.  The bike was on fumes, the amber light had been on for the last 30 miles or so, making 118 miles after I filled the 2.2 gallon tank in Junction City.

Back home! July 22, 2012

Then I take a closer look and I find the headlight is broken.

The broken headlight

It must have happened when I was following Doug on one of the mountain climbs.  I was close behind him and a large enough rock must have hit it at the right speed to break it. Better had a lens protector after I put a new headlight. These things are expensive. Today’s ride was 132 miles long (211 km). Short but really nice.  Thanks guys, I really appreciated the view from the Triangle Lake. And Doug, dinner and meeting really nice people was a very special bonus!

Posted in Riding the Yamaha | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Dog on the Roof

Posted on August 17, 2012 by cesardagord

Motorcycling is a hobby to me. The bikes stay in the garage until the weekend or the holiday or the vacation arrives. Several acquaintances of mine do not know this blog exists. The Result: if I don’t tell I ride motorcycles, people who may see me on a regular basis at work or other activities, but who do not know me well, do not know that I ride or how important riding is for me. And I know of several others who are this same way.  Point in case, a few months back when I was at the Ducati shop looking at the Streetfighter 848 I ran into one of my soccer friends, people I only see at the pitch, once a week or so. We were both surprised to see each other there, looking at the same bike. He was negotiating his ST2 for something else. Eventually he bought a KTM Super Duke. And as you know, I bought the Streetfighter 848.

Getting ready for another ride. July 15th, 2012

We talked while there and we decided to go for a ride “one of these days”. Eventually we connected in one of our soccer matches and the “one of these days” became July 15th.  We started without much of a plan, and in the end we rode one of the variations of my Pacific Loop, but in the clockwise direction. Although the winds seem more favorable going north on the coast, I like better the south route, as it is easier to stop and enjoy the views if I decide so.  Besides stopping for gas, and for deciding which way to go, we only really stopped when we got hungry and decided to have a lunch break in Yachats. This was my first time in this restaurant, the Ona Restaurant.

Outside seating area, The Ona Restaurant, Yachats, OR. July 15th, 2012

From the outside seating area you have this view. Not the best, but the ocean is there.

The view from the Ona Restaurant. July 15th, 2012

I’ve been once to the restaurant on the red building (on the right on the photo above) before. It is cozy but it is a much smaller operation and at lunch time staff may get overwhelmed if too many customers show up. It is actually more like a bar. The Ona Restaurant is a better structured restaurant and offers a more varied menu. The food was excellent and I will definitely go back there. As we were seating outside, we heard people talking about a dog on the roof, and looking up and pointing to the roof. I had to see what that was all about – yes, there was a dog on the roof.

The Dog on the Roof. Yachats, July 15th, 2012

And a very intent dog at that!

The Dog on the Roof. Yachats, July 15th, 2012

I do the great majority of my rides by myself. But it is good to be with someone else every now and then.  I have my riding friends, people who I already know for a while and with whom I’m comfortable riding together. When riding with someone new, that’s when you learn about their riding style. Everyone rides their own ride. So to be riding together may involve some issues and compromises.

The Super Duke and the Streetfighter. July 15th, 2012

But in this case, his speed was very similar to mine and the idea of slow on straights and somewhat faster on curves was the same.  In the end, we were riding at a similar pace.

The Super Duke

I didn’t take many photos during this trip. We were always on the move. Once back in Eugene we said our goodbyes and agreed to go riding again. His job keeps him away from Eugene a lot, especially during the summer (a job I would not have if it would keep me away from my bike in the summer), so it may be a while until we ride together again. It was great to know one of my soccer friends is also a rider.

Back home. July 15th, 2012

During today’s ride the bike finally completed enough miles to complete the official break in period suggested by Ducati.

Break-in period completed. July 15th, 2012

The ride was 232 miles long (371 km). Next ride report: checking out Oregon’s Triangle Lake, from above.

Thanks for reading

Posted in Riding the Ducati | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Winchester Bay, Oysters, and the Ducati

Posted on August 5, 2012 by cesardagord

Where was I? I started writing this post two weeks ago and then non-bike related business took me off-track. And the story actually happened almost a month ago. Time to catch up!

Back to the July 8th ride to Winchester Bay, Oregon.

Continuing from my last post, the plan was to check a renowned Oyster operation in Oregon, located in Winchester Bay, just south of Reedsport. I know of people from Eugene who will drive all the way there to get their oysters. As a matter of fact, the first oysters I ate here in Oregon were from Winchester Bay.  I had to check their operations and I also wanted to know more about oyster farming in general. But the bottom line is that I wanted an excuse to go for a ride.

The Ducati in the maze of roads in the Oregon Coast Range. July 8th 2012

The Ducati was my mode of transportation for this trip and I was riding Hwy 38 towards Reedsport when I decided to take a detour that led me into getting almost lost in the many small roads that make a maze in the Oregon Coast range. After a while on that maze I was trying to find my way back to Hwy 38. I had made a left turn at some point and was hopeful that it was the right way to take me back to Hwy 38. And I’m glad to announce that going left on that intersection was the right way to go. At 1,326 miles on the odometer, the exact mark I needed, the bike and I made it back to Hwy 38.

Exiting the maze and back on Hwy 38. July 8th, 2012

Highway 38 eventually follows the Umpqua river. I want to make a note about the wind. The one challenge on naked bikes is that you don’t get any wind protection. No turbulence is good, but a strong wind coming straight at you, plus your speed of travel, plus riding on this wind for several miles, and the fun is diminished some. However I really like the absence of turbulence from not having a fairing. It makes for real motorcycle riding, in my humble opinion.

The Ducati and the Umpqua River. July 8th, 2012

This river gets to be pretty massive when it gets closer to the ocean.

The Umpqua River. July 8th, 2012

From here I was quickly in Reedsport and on Hwy 101, and from Hwy 101 I went south and it is a very short hop to get to Winchester Bay. Once at the bay it is not difficult at all to locate the Oyster operation.

Community of Signs, Winchester Bay. July 8th, 2012

As it has been usual on my trips to the coast, it was a lot cooler by the ocean and the skies were blanketed with clouds.  I followed the signs toward the Umpqua Triangle oysters, the only oyster operation in the bay, which is officially called Umpqua Acquaculture. Is it around here by any chance?  The piles of oyster shells are a give away that I was on the right track.

Piles of Oyster shells.

I wanted to talk to the manager of the operations. I arrived at lunch time, he was not there, so I decided to explore the area and return later. The river is very wide at the point it gets close to the ocean.

Umpqua River, closer to the Ocean at Winchester Bay.

Below, a brief story detailing when the colonizers first arrived in this area (1850). When I read things like this using today’s lenses, with today’s perspective which I hope includes an acquired dose of respect and understanding about nations and other people’s lands, it doesn’t sound too good for us, descendents of the Europeans who came to the Americas in the 16th and 17th centuries. And not only then, we still have a long way to go to resolve some of our ethnocentric views. Touchy subject, I know.

A brief description of the history of the area.

There is also a light house in this area.

The Umpqua River Lighthouse

I was here for the first time last year, when I started my Hwy 101 / 1 tour to the Golden Gate Bridge with the Triumph.

Umpqua River lighthouse, looks better with a touch of color.

Originally the first light house in the Oregon region, it was built to a cost of 50,000 dollars.

The story of the Umpqua River Lighthouse

From here you can see the sand dunes, which are part of a system of off-road vehicle recreation areas on the Oregon coast.

Oregon Dunes at Winchester Bay. July 8th, 2012

And you can also see the Oyster farm.  The triangle area squeezed between the Ocean and the Umpqua River is leased by the Oyster farm, which gives its Triangle nickname. This operation is about 21 years old.

Oyster Farm, the shape that makes the name.

I decided to go check the ocean, the dunes and the farm.

On the way to the Ocean.

I parked the bike on one of the staging areas for the dunes recreation area. But first I wanted to check the ocean. Images like this one below, of a path crossing the dunes to get to the ocean, the grass, and the view of the ocean, take me back to my childhood every time without failure. Those were great summer days, when we walked to the beach, crossed the dunes, with my mother and my sisters and all the paraphernalia (umbrella, chairs, towels… ) and on weekends my father would join us. That was another ocean, another hemisphere, but it all looks so similar, and I still look with anticipation for that final stretch when I finally get to see the water.  What a pull the ocean is.

A path to the Ocean. July 8th, 2012

And here the Ocean is all yours. Except for the lone fisherman and a couple of other people that were walking, this area is pretty much clear of people.

Looking south.

Looking north, you can barely notice the jetty that provides the boundaries and the water movement stability for the oyster farm.

Looking north.

It is different when attention goes to the interior, to the fun on the dunes.  Looking back towards land, you can see one of the many staging areas for the dunes. People bring all sorts of toys to play here. A gigantic sand box for “kids” of all ages.

One of the several staging areas in Winchester Bay

Not too many rules. I always wondered how the Yamaha would fair on the sand. The Ducati did not want to have anything to do with it.

Pointers, maps and rules of engagement

People were having lots of fun. It was Sunday, July 8th, some people were probably here since July 4th. Others just come for the weekend or for the day.

Winchester Bay Sand Dunes Recreation Area

Time to go check the Oyster farm more closely. Below is a ground level view of that triangle area, what you see are the floats from where the oysters are strung vertically.

The triangle area, oyster farm.

The floats on a closer view.

The oyster farm and the mouth of the river, trained between two jetties.

And this picture, taken from the website of the Umpqua Acquaculture Oysters farm, shows what it looks below the water line.

Oysters strung on a long line. Never touch the bottom. Picture from Acquaculture farm.

You can read more about this technique at their site. But they claim this is one of the reasons their oysters taste better. And I can attest they taste really sweet. Time to go back to the headquarters of the operation.

The Acquaculture Oyster farm.

Yes, the Ducati was with me, my travel companion.

The building and the Ducati. July 8th, 2012

And here is where they shuck the oysters.

Oyster farm operations

I spoke with the supervisor, who went out of his way to explain things to me and answer my questions. A few interesting bits: this farm is a mom and pop business, established here since 1991. They sell almost exclusively to over the counter patrons, so you will not find these oysters in supermarkets, but you may find them in small restaurants along the coast. You won’t find someone selling wild oysters on the Oregon coast. Organic, yes, wild not.

The supervisor of the operations.

And here a quote from their site, under the link titled “oysters are for lovers”

People who love oysters love life. They savor the wondrous sights, sounds, fragrances and flavors of all nature’s bounty. Although oysters can be an acquired taste for some, they’re ambrosia to others. The Greeks envisioned their goddess of love, Aphrodite, springing forth from the sea on an oyster shell and giving birth to Eros, from which the word “aphrodisiac” was born.

Oysters are said to have been revered by the Roman emperors who paid for them by their weight in gold and sent thousands of slaves to the shores of the English Channel to gather them. Casanova is reported to have eaten 50 oysters a day while taking his morning bath, and one can only imagine their importance to Anthony and Cleopatra. It’s also been written that a person without a taste for oysters may well be without a soul.

For those who are health-conscious, oysters are not only delicious but one of the most nutritionally well-balanced foods, containing protein, carbohydrates and lipids. They’re high in omega-3 fatty acids and low in cholesterol. Oysters are an excellent source of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C and D. They have high mineral content including iron, copper, iodine, magnesium, calcium, zinc, manganese and phosphorus.

Much is talked about oysters, and their role in life, right? Myth or reality? I will stay away from this debate. Anyway, it was time for me to go back home, this was a long day already, when thinking about that adventure on the Oregon Coast Range maze. But first I stopped for a quick bite to eat at the Sourdough Bakery.  I didn’t want to eat too much as I had a nice meal waiting for me at home.

The Sourdough Bakery.

And a couple of hours of fun later, I was home.

Back home. July 8th, 2012

This was a 237 mile trip (381km) and the Ducati had 1,475 miles on the clock when the day was all done and it was safely parked in the garage with her friends. A typical weekend for me and for the Ducati. I have yet a couple of other rides to report, and a few non-riding posts to prepare. It is a lot to catch up considering work sequestered my riding and writing time. But first I will go for another ride because today is Sunday, and it is Summer, and last Sunday I was out of town and because I miss that Ducati!

Thanks for reading.

Posted in Riding the Ducati | 2 Comments

A Quasi-Adventure with the Streetfighter 848

Posted on July 21, 2012 by cesardagord

Adventure has been defined as “an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks”and it is commonly said that an adventure starts when things don’t go according to plan. Which includes situations when you purposefully deviate from your well designed, but possibly boring plan.  And this is how this quasi-adventure started. And I’m adding the “quasi” qualifier to the adventure so that I don’t raise your expectations too much about the story I will tell. But if you add some imagination to the mix, you will be able to see how this ride could have been turned into an full blown adventure.

The hooligan machine getting ready for another a ride. July 8th, 2012

July 8th 2012 was another beautiful and sunny Sunday in Oregon’s summer and like in Steve McQueen’s “On Any Sunday” it is time to go for a ride.  Of course, the hooligan sexy machine steps up to plate. Do I still have other bikes? Forlorn is the word that describes those poor beasts left behind in the garage.  They will have their time under the sun this summer, I promise. How long can a honeymoon last, right?

1,238 miles on the clock at the start of this trip. July 8th, 2012

For this Sunday’s ride, the plan was to go to Winchester Bay and check an Oyster farm. Just because it is there for one thing, and for another because I know of people who will specifically drive from Eugene all they way to Reedsport just to get these oysters. Let’s check and see what that is all about.

Leaving home the mapped route was clear and simple: From Eugene I would take the southern route to the Ocean which is Hwy 38 to Reedsport and from there a couple of miles south on 101 to Winchester Bay. Then travel north on 101 and come back to the valley via Hwy 36 completing another variation of my pacific loop. Or take Hwy 34 in case I still have some left over dose of riding ambition at that point.

Lorraine Hwy. July 8th, 2012

I left early, just before 9:00am and fueled the bike at the same gas station as always where the gas attendant is a cute Asian girl who gives me special attention (or so I want to believe).  From there I went south and soon I was on Lorraine highway.  I really like this part of the road, where it goes in this small meadow/valley and the road has a perfect surface, a nice ribbon of pavement, long sweeping curves, perfect for that flying-close-to-the-ground experience.

Nice long sweeping curves. July 8th, 2012

All along, on the back of my mind I’m riding and thinking about how plain this route is. Hwy 38 can be boring, right? I kept thinking about that maiden voyage with the Triumph when on this same route, almost exactly one year ago, I veered off Hwy 38 and had a nice time at the Smith River road with my brand new Tiger. On that ride I had found my way to Reedsport without ever going back to Hwy 38.

Triumph Tiger’s maiden voyage, last year, July 9th, 2011

The little devil on my left shoulder (or is it the right shoulder?) was making what appeared to be some convincing arguments about the alternate route. This view (photo above) was one of them.  Eventually I got to Hwy 38 and soon after I stopped to photograph these flowers.

Who said I don’t stop to smell the flowers?

Continuing on 38, the traffic and that road’s highway feeling were not too helpful for my internal debates and soon I found myself at the turning point to Smith River road. Should I take it? No, this is not the bike for this road. And I don’t have the Spot with me, and nothing to fix a flat tire should this happen, and… but… why not? Well, the little red guy with the pitch fork won the debate and soon I was on Smith River rd. Quickly it becomes a single lane road as you climb to the summit and enjoy the nice views to the east.

The Ducati Streetfighter at Smith River Rd. July 8th, 2012

I knew this bike was not the ideal bike for a single lane road with lots of blind corners.  You quickly realize how much of an elephant in the china store it is. I was down to first and second gears.  But it was a very enjoyable experience.

Somewhere over there is the Cascades. Smith River Road, July 8th, 2012

This road sees little traffic, road maintenance is not a priority for these parts, and the vegetation is overgrown.

What it looks like from ground zero. Smith River rd? July 8th, 2012

The views were great, the road was in reasonable good state, despite the lack of maintenance. I went through a few intersections with other roads and continued on the one where it made the most sense to me. But I think I made a wrong turn at some point when I realized I was not following the same road as the one last year when I rode the Tiger in this area. One of the off-shoots of the road took me to this two-track road.  I love two-tracks. When I’m riding the Yamaha.

Wrong turn somewhere? July 8th, 2012

I got back on the road I was riding, and continued. At some point, in the frequent mix of sun and tree shade when your eye sight takes a fraction of time to adjust between bright light and dark, I missed a gigantic pothole.  I saw it at the last moment and barely had time to give good gas to lift the front, I braced myself for the impact, and rode straight through it. Thankfully it was not too deep and the bike actually went through it rather well. But I immediately remembered signing my initials on the contract declining an offer for wheel replacement insurance. Yes, I was not riding a spokes wheel bike here and this bike has suspension not designed for this type of roads.  But it was going surprisingly well. But on the back of my mind I was thinking how long would it take for me to walk 10 or so miles on this road until I would find someone who would be able to help me should something happen and the bike became inoperable.  I had plenty of water. No food. I slowed down.

A Bridge to Nowhere. July 8th, 2012

I did not try the smart phone for a chance of finding my location on a map. I have AT&T as a provider and I know its connection sucks at a mere couple of miles out of towns.  If there is one thing I hate doing when exploring is turning around. I’ve done it in the past, but usually my modus operandi are to just keep going. So I kept going. At times the road would get better, with signs of more traffic and I would feel good and then it would revert to a narrow overgrown path and I would start wondering about my whereabouts again.  Eventually I came across a confluence of roads with location signs. Now all is good. I had not been to Drain, but I had come from Hwy 38 from that general area, about 37 miles ago, I concluded.  Therefore I should follow the direction that indicated 13 miles to Hwy 38 and complete the detour of Hwy 38, probably different than what I did last year, where I arrived almost directly in Reedsport.

A sign somewhere on the Oregon Coast range. July 8th, 2012

At this point the bike had exactly 1313 miles on the clock. And I had 13 miles of road before hitting Hwy 38. An omen? Good luck or bad luck?
Anyway, I made that easy calculation and if I did not hit Hwy 38 at 1326 miles I would had missed a turn at some point. Eventually the road opened into a clearing and it was really nice for a while.

All of a sudden, really nice. Weatherly – Big Creek Rd. July 8th, 2012

The bike was feeling at home with all that yellow.

Yellow-flowered road. July 8th 2012

But I had a feeling these flowers, who live here permanently and witness the little traffic that goes by, that the conservative among them were saying: what the hell is this bike doing here? The adventurous among them were happy and excited to see a different type of bike going by. I bet with a good level of confidence that they’ve never seen a Streetfighter before. So I carry on and soon after this stop I come across a fork on the road. Following the straight ahead direction of travel shoes a lot less signs of traffic and making a 90 degrees left turn seems to be where most traffic followed. And left is where I know Hwy 38 should be. I did not stop, I simply took the left turn and climbed a deforested area.  There was a sign stating the trees in this area were reforested in 2008.  Down to the right on the photo below is the portion of road with the yellow flowers documented on the photo above.  If you follow that road you get to some trees that were not cut and right there you can see it continuing straight up and the road to the left which turns around and gos on the side of the hill to the left and circles to where I took this picture.

Am I on the right road? July 8th 2012

I made a mental note on the mileage. I had traveled 6 miles of the 13 miles. So I figured I still had plenty of gasoline to come back and try the other road in case I hit the 1,326 miles on the odometer and don’t find Hwy 38.  In fact, I had enough gasoline to trace my steps back all the way to Hwy 38 where the adventure started. I just didn’t want to go back to that middle of nowhere at this point.

Weatherly – Big Creek Road? July 8th, 2012

Well, this story is getting to be too long, right? Lets add some suspense as well. On the next installment, Winchester Bay, the Oyster farm, and how I made it out of the Oregon Coast range maze.

Thanks for reading!
Posted in Riding the Ducati | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments