Monday came much too soon and Bobskoot was waiting for us in the parking lot of our hotel. The temperature had dropped overnight and the clouds were threatening our ride. Fortunately once we gassed up and headed north we left the clouds behind. We also caught up to Richard for a few moments before he disappeared from sight... and Bob calls me a spirited rider.
We mapped out our route the night before, considering Ukiah, 395 to Kimberly and Spray but thought better of it and save that for another weekend. We made it to La Grande and I-84 back down to Baker City instead.
We found the Bakery we were in search of Saturday but discovered this most confusing sign in the window.
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| If only there were named days of the week. |
"We will be closed Monday, July 23rd" would have been much more effective.
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| My Sunshine |
We had our own private little parade of antique cars down main street.
And caught up to them on the road to the Sumpter Valley Railroad, they were only doing a top speed of 40 mph so they were easy enough to pass. They were most congenial and we both waved at each other as we passed.
We stopped for gas and a bite to eat in John Day then it was back on the road. I remembered an overlook we passed Friday and since we were making good time I decided to stop for some photos.
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| Look over here! |
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| No, look over here! |
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| Pulled in too many directions... |
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| She's so patient... |
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| Time to leave and get back on the road |
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| A quick roadside stop at a shoe tree. |
We made excellent time into Prineville but I should have remembered the heavy traffic between Prineville and Redmond on Friday. Congested areas usually warrant a police presence and Monday was no exception. Thank you for the brake light flash from your car Mr. Trooper, your message was received loud and clear.
We stopped once more in Redmond for fuel, found a Starbucks for something cold and caffeinated then said our goodbyes to Bobskoot. He was on his own from here on out and I offered him my stuffed Tiger as a teddy bear but as he sniffled, he wiped away a tear, pulled himself up by the boot straps and bravely declined the offer. He was off to REI for a Monarch chair and to find a precious Wi-Fi hotspot for the night.
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| We left Bob in Redmond to deal with his leaking bike ;) |
The worst part of the trip was the 25 miles from Sisters to the Santiam Junction. I absolutely hate this section of road as everyone is in a damn hurry, yes even more than me, and if there is anyplace for more police presence it has to be here yet not a one to be found. I swear it was Sunday, this certainly wasn't weekday traffic. I watched in disbelief in my rearview mirror as a car passed Brandy sharing her lane, putting her between him and a concrete guardrail in a righthand sweeper. She handled it very well and fortunately I kept my cool and didn't put my boot into his door as he went by me. From then on I just pulled over and let cars go by us, it wasn't worth the fight.
The wind picked up as we made it into Sweet Home and it buffeted us from the north as we traveled across the valley floor. We thought of your battle with the wind Roland and thankfully we made it home safe and sound.
Thank you again to everyone who made it out to the iMBC of 2012 and I look forward to the next one in 2014.
Good write up brad. It can be hard to keep your cool when you see idiots doing stupid things in cages and even worse, to your loved ones.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to Bobscoots bike? Radiator?
Thanks. I have learned that it doesn't do any good to get mad, that's when things escalate and accomplishes nothing. Let them go and chalk it up as another learning experience.
DeleteBob was showing us how he plays tricks on people at car shows by pouring water under their radiators. His bike is fine, he was being cheeky.
Brad:
ReplyDeleteIt was a sad day for me as we parted at the Starbucks in Redmond. All the way down to Bend I was still wishing you were in the lead, but I was alone, and homeless for the night. Your Sunshine is so photogenic, my camera told me that he was very happy
I'm glad that nothing happened with that idiot cager. It's just not worth it. I would have pulled over to let them pass too.
Thanks for organizing this get-to-gether, it was fun but another day would have been better. The weekend was fun but too short.
I finally managed to find REI and buy my Monarch Chair for a really good price. As you know I just need a bit of help trying to fold it
In retrospect, I should have taken the Tiger as I needed a pillow
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
My Flickr // My YouTube
Oh Bob, at least you made some self discoveries and some "firsts" on your trip.
DeleteI would have liked to have another day to ride Fossil and Spray. Maybe I'll organize a trip back someday.
When it comes to cagers, you just let them go, I try to give them the benefit of the doubt but I also learned long ago you can't fix stupid.
You need an inflatable pillow, packs small and doubles as a water container if need be.
It was very sweet of you to offer your stuffed tiger, but that's the person you are. I was hoping for a raving review of the Zephir bakery and am probably as disappointed as you were when reading the confusing sign. So we will never know...
ReplyDeleteI am glad you made it home safely. Just let the idiot cagers pass. We had one idiot in a yellow Mustang overtaking oncoming traffic and headed for a collision with Roland. If it weren't for one alert cager that left a gap for the Mustang to get back in line, Roland could have been toast. Other than that we also let the ones in hurry pass by (although we were doing speed limit already...)
2014 it is. I wonder were it will take us.
Brandy went next door to ask for other cafe recommendations and they said the Zephyr wasn't that good anyway, so we decided to forgo breakfast altogether and ride on.
DeleteI don't understand why everyone is in such a hurry. I admit my riding may be a little spirited but only when I'm in wide open highways, and I take forever to decide to pass someone. Glad you both made it home safely too.
I like the enthusiasm over iMBC2014, I too wonder where we'll be.
Excellent posts by everyone Brad - thoroughly enjoyed them all. Sorry to hear of Brandy's near miss. There are clowns in cars everywhere as you'll see by my forthcoming post!
ReplyDeleteNext meeting in 2014 huh? Hmmmmm.... we might be up that way about then :-)
I really enjoyed your post, very informative, thank you.
DeleteI hope you can make iMBC2014, that would be awesome.
Glad you both got home safe & sound! Ugh cagers who suffer from driver idiot-itis, is so irritating that just about everytime we are out on the road there is ALWAYS a goof out there. Next IMBC is 2014? That should be perfect for me, because by that time I will have almost 3 years riding experience under my belt. Maybe you would consider a mini Island ride next summer?
ReplyDeleteI'm considering organizing a PNWMBC every odd year to alternate with the IMBC every even year as it is too much, too late to put anything together this year. However, I could make the PNWMBC2013 an island ride if you wish.
DeletePsst, it's a secret, but we are considering the Vancouver M/C show in January.
THe more I get involveld with safer biking, the more pissed i get at bad driving, maybe I need to go to Anger Management!
ReplyDeleteI did too at first but then realized I was just harming myself. I can't teach drivers that what they are doing is wrong, dangerous or illegal. All I can do is take more training, make myself a better rider, to be aware and recognize a dangerous situation when it unfolds then as Trobairitz says "remove myself from the equation".
DeleteRoger:
DeleteI commute to work in heavy traffic. I see these idiots every day. I have learned to "let go", I let them pass, I pull over, I move out of their way . . . I would rather have them in front of me, than behind.
I had another idiot this morning. Weaving over the line, nearly hit the centre abutment, and slowing for no reason. Nearly hit the car ahead as it wandered into the right lane. I didn't dare to pass
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
My Flickr // My YouTube
"You can't fix stupid" says it best. Smartest thing is just to stay alert and keep out of their path of destruction. I enjoyed the pics. It's obvious you all had a great time. I hope I am able to make the next one.
ReplyDeleteLoved your postings for the event ... glad you both arrived home safely despite the idiot driver (I've had that same thing happen to me, luckily I had a shoulder to ride, no cement guard rail). I do have to say there are some good driver's out there, had it not been for an observant driver just outside Salt Lake who saw what was happening and quickly moved over, leaving me an escape route, when a not too observant driver changed lanes without checking, nearly taking me out. (I gave the good guy a wave, hope he knew it was a thank you).
ReplyDeleteI'm so lad that you encountered one of the observant cagers! I try to wave in appreciation to some drivers that I think have been thoughtful to a motorbike also.
DeleteYeah, that sign goes down in the books for one of the most confusing. Immglad the marathon day ended well and you both made it home safely. You do have me thinking of 2014...
ReplyDelete