This is ONLY a ride report!

[Humunn]

Setting the stage…

Following over the next few pages is a ride report (and only a ride report) of 15 mostly middle aged motorcycle riders spending three days having a blast riding off road throughout Central Oregon’s high desert. Enjoy!

Thursday night is the customary gathering at Dillon’s restaurant for the riders in town the night before. The group of friends, all from the Salem area, was assembled by Bill, the chief adventure instigator. Ironically, Bill would only be able to finish the first day. More on that later.



Day 1 - Up bright and early Friday morning to hit the trail. Conditions are perfect: sunny skies, a warm day ahead and damp soils for great riding conditions! A recovering “wet sider” myself I have learned to LOVE what the rain will do for trail conditions.







The group.



The first photo op on the trail. Here are some of the guys nicely negotiating a rocky section. Greg decides to take the award for the first get off just prior to this section.

Travis



Greg (nicely recovered).



Kyler on his father in law’s WR 450.



Doug



And Mike in sweep position.



Next up were some fun trails leading to the top of the cinder cone.



Here’s Drew and Ed, a father-son combo. A couple of nice guys and great riders.



And a view to the west. Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top and the Three Sisters in the distance. At night you can see the lights of Bend and Redmond below. Spectacular!



Continuing south we roll up on top of a nice little ridge with some fantastic views. Here’s Travis and Chris at the top.





Drew in a made for Suzuki pose.



A couple guys waiting their turn at the bottom.



And overlooking Kotzman Basin to the west.



Continuing south we roll through some twisty whooped out trails referred to affectionately as the “athletic” portion of the ride.







A couple pics of the Hole in the Ground, an ancient marr crater. Hole in the Ground sits on the edge of Fort Rock basin. At the time the crater was formed a lake occupied most of the basin and the site of the eruption was close to the water level near the shore.



Heading east toward Fort Rock.



And Fort Rock in the distance. Fort Rock is also a marr crater but more specifically known as a “tuff ring”. It was created by volcanic activity just like Hole in the Ground except it erupted up through an ancient lake that covered the Fort Rock basin thousands of years ago. It is really something to see with spectacular, wave-cut cliffs and terraces standing approximately 200 feet high and 4,600 feet in diameter with the crater floor some 30 feet above the floor of the lake basin.







We drop in at the Waterin Hole for lunch. Great spot and nice folks.







From Fort Rock most of our blood supply is consumed by digesting huge burgers and steak sandwiches so we take a leisurely 25 mile ride into Christmas Valley.





All cleaned up and looking (and smelling) presentable we head to the Lodge for a relaxing dinner.



Here’s Bill telling his story. He got off his bike at some point during the day and managed to dislocate three toes (yes, inside his boot). None of us (including two medical professionals, an MD and dentist) could understand how that happened.



I was told by a couple of his buds that this was “just Bill” and probably his way of getting a little attention…

Up next DAY TWO.