Home at last?

Once again we were unable to add to the blog since Lakeview, Oregon because of slow internet connections.  We left Lakeview and travelled along Hwy 395 to Pendleton, Or.

 Along the way we passed a rather large alkali lake called Albert Lake.  We had to stop for a rest as the morning was some what colder than we had gotten use to lately.   There appeared to be frost on the ground when we started. So a warm up was required.

 After spending the night in Pendleton we decided to stay off the freeways and headed up Hwy 12 through Walla Walla, Wash.  A few miles (40 or 50) past Walla Walla (the onion capital of Washington if anyone's interested.) we happened along a sign which said "Starbuck" turn left on Hwy 261.  Well guess what it didn't mean Starbucks Coffee!!!  But we found a great place to eat and get a picture taken of Guess who.

What we accidentally found was a very nice and quiet road that was full of twisty turns and beautiful scenery so all was not lost.

 Stopped for the Night in Davenport Wash.  a small town west of Spokane with two small motels.  This was the better of the two.  The good news was that it was very clean and cozy.  Guess how it was decorated.  The picture to the right shows the Motel office and restaurant.  The one below the motel.

The following morning we got up early to leave and found out the temperature had fallen to -3 c.  We didn't leave until 10 am.  After a chilly ride we took a short break in NorthPort for some fresh as in cooked this morning apple pie, we arrived home at around 2:30pm.

We all agreed that we had a great time and are already planning the next ride.

We travelled a total of 6,421 km in 18 days through 6 States, with temperatures ranging from -3 degrees C (27F) to 43 degrees C (110F), Altitudes from over 10,000 ft to -282ft below sea level and through it all the four us of still remain friends (I think!!!!).

But for all this its Good to be Home!

Death Valley Cal. to Lakeview Or.

Trip Details:

• 5418km  travelled so far
• 15 days of travel with...
• 0 days of rain
• 0 days of snow
• 15 days of SUN.... we are SO lucky!!
• Can we make it home by Friday and keep this weather record??

Finally I'm able to blog again!!!!  Between poor internet conections and just being busy and Sharron trying to stay on top of her work, well it couldn't be done.

Anyway here we are in Lakeview, Or. (Tuesday Oct 9th) on our way back home. 

 How ever I have to back track a bit.  This photo was taken on the road at the entrance to the Pandamint Valley just before we entered Death Valley.  We picked up another couple in Ridgecrest Cal.  They're friends of Sharron and I, Jim and Karren O'Connor.

Damn but it was hot.

 The gals had to have a photo taken at the Death Valley entrance sign.

Did I mention it was hot in the desert that day.

We stayed at Furnace Creek that night.  They sure called it right.

 The next morning we went to Scotties Castle in Death Valley.  What and amazing house out in the middle of no where.

This is an example of the interior of the house.

After Scotties Caslte we went back to Furnace Creek because it was too hot.

Did I say it was Hot.  When we left in the morning for the castle it was a cool 92 F. (9am) when we got back arounf 2 pm it was over 110 F so we quit for the day.

 The following morning we went to Badwater Basin which is 282 feet below sea level.  )Not too hot yet.)

 I thought I would take a photo of the only water in the desert.  This water has no place to drain so it has to evaporate and this is all that is left from the last rain.  The lake or salt bed is over a mile wide and I don't know how long it is.

Double click this or any photo to see a larger copy of the photo.

 From Badwater Basin we went to Artist's Palett were the rocks show an amazing range of colors.

 The road into the "Artists Palett" Was only one lane wide and was very very twisty.  s can be seen in this and the next photo.

Can anyone guess the make of this interesting Motor Bike we found?????

Torrey Ut to Barstow Cal

 Tuesday we traveled to Torrey Ut. on Hwy 24 and went through Capital Reef National Park.  The scenery was spectacular and the ride was nice and twisty along very good roads.

During this part of the ride we came across native pictographs on the side of a cliff that was at least 500 ft tall. 




Spent the Night in Torey Ut.

 The next Morning we traveled south to Escalante and along the way we went across Hogs Back ridge. and the following photos try to show were the edge of the road met the cliff on each side.  This part of the road does cause a bit of vertigo.

 After the successful ride over the ridge we had to have a photo of us taken by a fellow traveler.

From Hogs back ridge we traveled through along Hwy12 to Bryce Canyon.  What a site to see, the canyon was spectacular.

 After Bryce we spent the night in Mesquite Nv. The follwing morning (Thursday the 4th????) We traveled through The Valley of Fire in Nevada along Henderson Hwy.  We all agree that this was the nicest hwy to ride a bike as there were plenty of curves that were long and sweeping.  All this and great scenery.  To the right is a photo of Sharron and Sue in the middle of the deserted Hwy and you can see the hwy curving off to the right.

Stopped for the night in Barstow Cal.


Hey Dan is my Bra Dry yet!!!!!!

Moab Ut Day 2

 Spent Sunday in Moab traveling around "Arches National Park".  The rock formations were unbelievable.  These fiery colored  spires ranged from 100 ft to over a thousand ft. tall.

The following photos were taken at various sites around the park.

The heat today is something we can only dream of this time of year in Nelson.