Due to the heavy rains and winds I stayed in a hotel on Monday night in Newport, Oregon. While it was nice to not have to set up camp, and it was helpful to have a dry place to dry out wet boots and other gear, it’s also kind of a pain because I had to unload all the gear from the bike, and then reload it this morning. First-world problems, to be sure!
I continued riding down the Oregon coast which I’ve really, really enjoyed. The waves were big, the wind was strong, the rain light and intermittent, and there was a “Hazardous Seas” warning, so I decided to stay onshore. ?
One conclusion I’ve reached on this trip is that there are a LOT of trees in this world. Say it another way: there is no shortage of trees, despite what some environmentalists might suggest. That might seem obvious to some of you, but traveling through the American West, it has really been driven home, so to speak.
I finally left the Oregon coast at Reedsport and rode highway 38 and then 138 over to Crater Lake National Park. This also impressed on me that Oregon has much more to offer than just an amazing coastline. Inland it’s a really beautiful state as well.
The road up to Crater Lake followed the North Umpqua River for much of the way, and that made for a very scenic and enjoyable ride. Though it did rain at times and the temperature was dropping fast the further up I climbed.
At the entrance to Crater Lake they had posted a sign warning of snow and ice further in, but I wasn’t about to turn around and go back! I’ve been wanting to see Crater Lake for the past 35 years, and now I’m there. Crater Lake was really, really cool, and the snow and cold temps (down to 36 degrees) made it that much more epic of a trip. I would have liked to stay longer and just soak in the views, but I also wanted to get to Quentin’s before sundown.
The ride down from Crater into Medford followed the Rogue River at times, and that road was also a great motorcycle ride. Go Oregon!
I arrived at Q’s just before sundown, I think, and he had the garage open and waiting for the bike, and a steak dinner ready to be reheated. Very tender and tasty steak, I must say. Q’s side hustle is a gourmet chef, in case anyone is wondering.
Q and Amanda and I stayed up talking until the wee hours of the morning, and then I got some good solid sleep.
Tomorrow I’m going to replace the air filter in the Tiger, wash the salt spray from the past few days off the bike, and then I think I’m headed for the Redwoods in California. Although, Q invited me to stay for another day, which is tempting, especially as it’s been raining more this morning. Wait and see…
Photo gallery of day 12
