Mega Massive Road Trip

[NevadaWolf]

1,973.7 miles and five states grand total for my one week vacation! Whoo Hoo!!

Last Saturday, met up with my mom and stepdad along with some of their riding friends for a road trip to Grants Pass OR. The goal was to hop onto a Jetboat on the Rogue River (teaser video here) and then all ride back home. Well, I decided that since it was going to be a short week (Fourth of July) cut shorter by the weekend road trip, I was just going to take the entire week off and go hang out with some friends in Spokane.

The ride up was mostly uneventful, with the usual herding cats moments of getting the seven bikes and three support vehicles in sync. We did swing through Burney Falls which was very pretty. But it was afterwards that things got interesting. We headed out away from Yreka via the Klamath River Road towards Happy Camp. Then we turned and hit Grayback Rd. Take a look at the map and keep in mind - this beauty is PAVED!!



I'll get pictures and videos from the Rogue River trip up once I finish creating and editing them. The boat ride was really fun and we got SOAKED! took the dinner ride, so there was a stop midway along the tour for a quick buffet style dinner on the grassy banks of the river. Definitely enjoyed my grilled salmon.

I separated from the group on Monday morning and headed north towards Crater Lake (first visit there!) which was a very pretty sight. but as I came into Bend OR, the heat and humidity nearly did this little wolf in. Had to pull over and find a park to grab a nap in and luckily managed to find a Harley shop open on a MONDAY! They sold the cooling vests there and that has got to be my single most favorite piece of gear now. LOVE my vest! I continued on up 97, even crossing the 45th parallel which was signed and then along the Columbia River towards Kennewick. Got to late so had to stop my trip there before taking the last 140 miles up to Spokane.

The trip home was a primer for my SaddleSore 1000 so I really wanted to do it all in one day. Took some back roads just to keep things interesting and found my new favoritest road ever! Just outside Lewiston ID, this was the original automotive highway that allowed a blistering 1917 speed of 20 MPH around the curves. The WIki article paints a nice picture:

On the city's north end, the old 10-mile US highway 95 that climbs 2,000 vertical feet (610 m) of the Lewiston Hill (elev. 2,756 ft (840 m)) grade to the Palouse is mostly out of use, except for the truly adventurous traveler and couple of businesses and several residences built for the panoramic views. Called the "Old Spiral Highway", the very twisty road (64 curves) was opened in 1917 and was the primary route north for 60 years.

Afterwards, it was a relaxing ride down through Idaho along the Salmon River, following 95 all the way into Oregon (really, 55 MPH out in the middle of NOWHERE?) before turning south into Nevada where I hit a sudden rain burst! Luckily all my rain gear works great and I was even able to help out a gal with a flat tire. Nothing eventful on the way home, though I did have a strange sense of dejavu in Winnemucca (having just been there a week prior).

Finished the 715 mile day in 16 hours. sweet. That is my longest distance and time day on the bike since I got it. All is looking good for the SaddleSore!

Here's the full route...

[Panda]

That looks absolutely brilliant! Jealous of your trip!

[Jiggles]

Sounds fun!

[NevadaWolf]

Okay, finally got all the videos done so sharing the main one here and linking to the other two.

Summer Vacation

Link to original page on YouTube.


Hellgate Jetboat Excursions: http://youtu.be/OgtV58ppxQc
Two epic roads: http://youtu.be/aejjidMQTEY

[250rr]

Epic trip!

[NevadaWolf]

Thanks all. I really enjoyed just cruising around the Northwest. Definitely different landscape up there.

I do like stopping and visiting towns but I'm not much of a shopper or sightseer. Just a trip to a museum is good for me. This trip and the following SaddleSore trip really made me just want to hit the open road and go wherever my front tire points. Far too many states in this country that I haven't been to, plus two whole countries I've barely/never visited.

[CC Cowboy]

The ride looked great but I couldn't stop puking from listening to the music.

[NevadaWolf]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

The ride looked great but I couldn't stop puking from listening to the music.

then turn your volume down.

[250rr]

Was that a deer I saw @ 5:28 or so?!

[NevadaWolf]

Originally Posted by 250rr

Was that a deer I saw @ 5:28 or so?!

Yep, I had been watching his buddy in the field as I came around that corner. Then I saw the grass on the shoulder move a second before he bolted out into the street. E-stop from 60 mph! But kept it under control.

Also, hard to see in the video, but at about 5:21-5:22 there's a moose bull standing on the side of the road. Second trip to Spokane and second moose I had seen there!

[beazy411]

Looks like one fun trip. Looking at the distance made me do a double take. I actually have family in Bend, OR and I never thought the heat or humidity was that bad, even July but then I have lived in the South most of my life. Good luck with the Iron Butt!

[NevadaWolf]

Originally Posted by beazy411

Looks like one fun trip. Looking at the distance made me do a double take. I actually have family in Bend, OR and I never thought the heat or humidity was that bad, even July but then I have lived in the South most of my life. Good luck with the Iron Butt!

This was during that big heat spike we had in the first of July. But heat I am ok with, however coming from central NV with no humidity, even 25%-30% kicks me down. So, it hit me fairly hard.

The Iron Butt SaddleSore ride was a success! Even managed to add another 500 miles the next day to complete the BunBurner within its time limit. I am loving these long rides!

[beazy411]

I applaude your success on the 1k and 1500 mile rides. I don't think my back or butt could handle it with my current setup.

[NevadaWolf]

Originally Posted by beazy411

I applaude your success on the 1k and 1500 mile rides. I don't think my back or butt could handle it with my current setup.

Thank you. I'm basically on a stock ninjette and surprisingly wasn't sore the next day. If you are curious on the write up, it's in this thread: SaddleSore / BunBurner craziness

[Gregg_VA]

The "Old Spiral Highway" doesn't look very forgiving on a F*ck Up.

You did almost 3/4s of a SS1K in 16 hours. At that pace you should wrap up your first SS1K in around 19 hours. Not bad. Are you following the IBA rules for witneses and gas receipts so you can submit for certification and your IBA number?

Gregg

[NevadaWolf]

I didn't take the Old Spiral Highway at nearly the speed I wanted to mostly because it was a completely new road to me and I was unfamiliar with its character. But I also had luggage strapped all over the tail of my bike so I played it really safe. But yeah, going at speed and you lose focus? There's a drop or a wall waiting to show you the error of your ways.

SS was completed in 18.5 hours. Spent 8 hours at home resting, eating, reloading food and water, then headed out again to complete the BB. Total was just under 35 hours for just over 1500 miles.

I had three IBA members witness my SS start and finish (including IBA #5, George Swetland) and a friend witness the end of the BB. I made sure all my receipts were in order, mileage written on them, address and date/time stamp legible, even had a special pocket to store them in. Got a map printed out with my route and the stops numbered and circled to correspond to the log form. All sent in and just await the thumbs up from the volunteers. Though why I had to do this on the heels of the IBR is beyond me! Those poor volunteers are probably slammed this month!

One thing I did notice was my odometer was in agreement with the mapping program, just off by 3-4 miles all told at the end. I LOVE MY KOSO GAUGE!

[Gregg_VA]

My stock spedo is off (high) about 2-3 miles over 1,000 miles.

Congrats on the SS and BB. Very nicely done. Welcome to the insanity of LD riding.

Gregg

[NevadaWolf]

Originally Posted by Gregg_VA

My stock spedo is off (high) about 2-3 miles over 1,000 miles.

Congrats on the SS and BB. Very nicely done. Welcome to the insanity of LD riding.

Gregg

Thank you! I want to do another one so I can get in on that Mile Eater program. But not sure if I should try for a BBGold or a Border to Border type thing or something else entirely.

[Gregg_VA]

Originally Posted by NevadaWolf

Thank you! I want to do another one so I can get in on that Mile Eater program. But not sure if I should try for a BBGold or a Border to Border type thing or something else entirely.

Well certainly living in N. Nevada, a border to border makes a lot of sense. A 50CC or 100CCC Insanity are good as well. 48-10 will reach the mile up. 49-10 will wrack up even more and you can stretch it out into a 10-10ths. I have done the 100CCC (Jax, FL to San Diego and return), 48-10 and a 49-10 with a 10-10ths as part of it. Good luck in whatever you choose.

[Vagabondesss]

Wow!!!!!! I am so impressed!!!! That's a lot for a week!!! I tend to stop for way too long. I stopped in Atlanta because "the name was cool" and ended up staying a month. terrible..... lol!

[NevadaWolf]

Thanks.

Though, wait till you read the other report I linked. I've learned a lot since this trip - this was my first actual trip on the bike.

Nothing wrong with stopping in a place because it looks or sounds cool. Different goals for different folks. I unfortunately have a limited time frame so squeeze as many miles as I can out of my vacations. If I were to give in to my wanderlust, you can BET that I would be hanging out longer and sniffing more flowers.

[JohnnyBravo]

Originally Posted by Vagabondess

Wow!!!!!! I am so impressed!!!! That's a lot for a week!!! I tend to stop for way too long. I stopped in Atlanta because "the name was cool" and ended up staying a month. terrible..... lol!

Atlanta is a pretty fun town

[JohnnyBravo]

I love sniffing flowers all like

[Ghostt]

Okay ladies and gentlemen, I've noticed a lot have passed thru Kentucky, so as of now I will extend my hospitality, and offer an leave the light on policy for all.

I look forward to meeting some fellow forum members, and do some scenic back roads, local food, my cooking, comfy couch etc.....

Just hit me up. If your a Waze user, my username is "Ghostt_Scott"