Chasing Sucker Holes

LittlePosum and I set out on another ride headed for Parkdale, OR and the Apple Valley Rally.
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=902139

We planned on being away for 5-7 days depending on the weather. Our route was planned to ride east of the John Day River and up to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington. The weather would change our plans for that.

Day 1
Late start, cold in Bend, we let the frost melt and loaded up the bikes after working all night.






Fueled up and ready to go.


Headed to Paulina via Bear Creek and and Camp Creek roads.














Paulina store lost their liquor license for a bit so no beer from the store, but the tavern was still open so we sat down for a frosty mug.
The end of the day was near and camp was close at this point.

The tavern mascots










We headed to camp and set up for what started as a clear cold night.

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We had a great meal and fire that night and headed to bed fairly early.
The next morning I woke up to the sound of some light rain on the tent. Nothing much but it was in the 30's and it made for a cold damp morning.



While we were packing up camp Posum made the comment that we would be chasing sucker holes all day. How true that would be.


I noticed a truck coming down from the top of the Ochocos and took a double take. It was covered with a few inches of snow.
Crap.
Well lets see what's up there!
Not bad











Getting worse










Then about 5 miles of this crap before we started to descend.


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So we make it down out of the snow and to Highway 26.



After a few miles west on 26 we headed north to the town of Spray.































We fuel up the bikes in Spray and have some coffee and snacks to warm up.




















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This looks like fun!

Nothing warms the soul quite like the combination of hot cocoa and cold IPA in the Paulina Saloon! We rolled over a hundred miles that cold afternoon. Here is the camp we found just before dark.



I had a nice juniper fire going and was checking out the stars before bed and over night the temps dropped and the snow fell.



Burrrrr!



Riding through the snow is kind of fun we got lots of waves and thumbs up from the deer hunters in their cushy campers. We were both cold muddy messes by the time we got down to Spray for a fuel and coffee stop.



There we checked out the map for a low elevation re-route.

So we head North of Spray. The weather is still cold but there is hope that it will clear and not just be another sucker hole.







We ride on a combination of gravel and paved roads to the town of Hardman and start heading west. The Great Plains of Oregon.























Cool old homestead we checked out.
















Lots of old parts laying around.



We go west a bit further and find this road.



We see a road closed sign after about a mile.
Screw it lets see why. Maybe we can get around it. This road cuts off about 30 miles of pavement where we're going.



There's an old dilapidated bridge that's gated. We check it out. Posum gives the thumbs up.



Its in really rough shape but definitely strong enough to support the bikes.
While we're on it Posum says "look there's a car down there."
So I look and see this. On all the embankments they stabilized.



By cars



So on we go.




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Thanks for sharing your ride! It looks like you guys had a great time on your way up to the AVR.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the story...

Choice!

We start working our way to the Columbia River along the John Day and I've already realized we're not going to be anywhere near my destination for the night. In fact our camping situation may be less than favorable. But there was something on my mind that I needed to take care of before we were wandering around in the dark looking for a place to camp.
I stopped and asked Posum to take off her helmet. But first she wanted a shadow picture of the ADV salute. I obliged.



She finally took her helmet off.
Here in the middle of nowhere, on a dirt road surrounded by open plains, I asked her to marry me.


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Congratulations guys may there be many mini possums

That's a great start...

Ha! Awesome!!!

you two are just awesome!

I said "Yes!"

Great report... Wish you both the best!

Well, that escalated quickly

Congrats

Great RR too

I love that country. Thanks for the pics and report!

Thank you all! I'm a very lucky guy!
We have a ways to go here so I'll get on with the report.

The spot!



We continued on to Arlington and decided to try and camp on the west bank of the John Day River. We rode through Rufus and Wasco then headed east again to the John Day.

Can see Mt Hood again.



We got to the river to find it on private property and decided it would be best to leave.
Back up the hill after the posted signs, we follow some faint tracks into a saddle and call it a day.

The morning of Day 3.
Camped below the windmills.











Then into Wasco where we thought we could find a place to eat. Nope, couldn't even find a cup of coffee. Weird.



So we headed down to Moro and found a GREAT spot to eat!
Highly recomend.











Take a small detour on Gordon Ridge Road and head south to our Deschutes River crossing.











Watch a cropduster that waved at us while he was taking off from Wasco.











Headed to Sherars Bridge.










The Deschutes River



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That is sooo freakin cool!!! Super happy for you guys. I seriously have not seen a better couple, perfection!!!!

Congrats!!!!!

And sweet ride report!!