Day 12 is completed, and we have landed in Burns, Oregon at the America’s Best Value Inn. And it is a steamer out there. 98 degrees according to the H-D Panamerica dash thermometer upon our arrival around 2pm local time. We are now in the Pacific time zone, as well.
In hindsight, I really should have paid more attention back in 86’/87’ in Mr. Mazaraki’s geography class, instead of trying to get the attention of the cute neighbor girl. I had no idea, until yesterday, that Idaho and Oregon have regions that are “The High Desert”. Boy, have we all been shocked by the terrain and the temps we have traveled thru. Rocky mountain, baron, desert mountain ranges have all we have seen the last 2 days, with temperatures in the high 90’s to low 100 degrees.
Last night, after a few cold ones in the 2 bed suite with couch pull out, we had dinner at a quaint little joint that served some real upscale food. I had the crispy cod, and I saw a serving of the Elk Meat Balls, and I don’t recall much more. The only beverages were wine or a German variety of beers. No domestics or soft drinks here.
We only indulged in a couple of the German Pilsners, as we discussed at dinner our next days overnight stop, we also discussed getting an earlier start to try and beat some of the punishing heat we have endured. Call time was set at 7am. Or so I thought. I recall at dinner negotiating for 7:30, but I don’t recall any body chiming in to agree. But apparently they did, because I was up, showered, packed and standing by my bike at 7 bells. I have never missed a call time ( I remind these guys of this on the daily ), and I wasn’t about to be the last ready at call time today, either. However, everybody else showed up between 7:15 and 7:30, with the reasoning that I had changed the call time at dinner. Anywho, we were on the road right around 7:30am.
A quick fuel stop down the block, and off we were. Very comfortable temperatures we started out in. About 60 degrees, a partial overcast, with the looming threat of rain clouds to our west. The direction we were headed. We were on the 20/26 HWY for our departure. We eventually hit Interstate 84 for a 50-70 mile stretch to make some time and get past Boise, Idaho.
Our first run out of Sun Valley was a stretch of about 100 miles. We stopped at the Pilot truck stop that abuts the entrance ramp to 84 for a quick stretch, swig of water and/or snack.
While flying down the highway, my eagle eye caught the familiar sign of the local H-D dealer, High Desert H-D. I shot up to our navigator, Ski Doo, and motioned for the next exit. I had to get my Tshirt, shot glass and sticker.
We entered the parking lot around 10:30 am, and there was a motorcycle training class taking place in the large adjacent parking lot. But when we pulled up under the portico to the front doors, the sign said they didn’t open until 11am. We took advantage of the outdoor porta potties, and by 10:40 we were ready to abandon the mission and get back on the road, when some of the employees began showing up. One kind young gentleman engaged us in conversation about our ride, asked where we were from, and said he had relatives in Port Huron Michigan! After a few minutes of banter, I asked if we could possible get our t-shirt, shot glass and sticker, because we needed to get back on the road. He kindly obliged us, and by 11am we were out.
But not for long. The Monkey strikes again. About 8-10 miles down I-84, Ski Doo motions for us to take the next exit. When I pulled up next to him at the red light with a quizzical look upon my face, he stated that Monkey had called his Bluetooth enabled helmet and had left his glasses back at the dealer. And we had to turn around to retrieve them.
So, we traveled back the 8-10 miles, hoping to find his glasses either on the check out register, or in the parking lot under the portico. No such luck. Another pair of lost glasses. I wish I could say this was the first time Monkey had lost a pair of glasses but another occasion about 10 years ago at Silver Lake on the west side of Michigan, I also recall Monkey losing a pair at the bottom of the lake. But we won’t go there.
Back on the road, with an extra 24-30 miles on our totals for the day. Our total run was calculated at around 324 miles, according to Ski Doo’s GPS. We were not stopping much today, and trying to knock down as many miles at a stretch as possible to beat the heat. Our next real stop was in Juntura, Oregon, where we stopped at The Oasis Café. As we entered the friendly young server, Mya, informed us that they were closing in 20 minutes, but she wouldn’t let us leave hungry, just order a burger or something that can be prepared quickly. No problem, cheese burgers all around. And ice cold water. It was 98 degrees when I got off my bike.
We quickly ate, bemoaned going back out in the stifling heat, and picked up our journey to Burns. More curvy, rocky mountain terrain to traverse. And we switched time zones about 10 miles outside of Juntura, hence we are now in the Pacific time zone.
Upon arrival in Burns, after 357 miles, not 324 due to our wazzey cazoo on the highway, we checked in as quickly as the gentleman at the front counter would allow, and proceeded to put our room air conditioners on the Blast setting. The others went to the indoor pool with some ice cold rocky mountains that Monkey Brother Rick picked up along the way. And I took a nap.
I awoke with a middle toe cramp, with the middle toe pointing down, and the other 4 pointing up. That will get you up in a hurry. But anywho, we are ½ way thru Oregon now, and the Pacific Ocean is in our sights for tomorrow.
We shall see.
Bye for now,
Stick
PS: There are no pictures today because I was really slacking in that regard today, plus it was just more of yesterday