Riding Around the Hood

[Apple Jam]

Originally Posted by liv2rydktms

I really love your weekly adventures Thank you so much for sharing!!!

Thanks, I'm having a blast doing it.
I had to work most of yesterday, and it looked like it would be the best day of the week for riding.
It looks like I'm going to have to be a bit innovative for this week's ride, according to the forecast...

Originally Posted by Apple Jam

In other news: My "commute" to work today was a little slick....

Originally Posted by MortimerSickle

And, I'll say it again.......You are a bloomin' psycho, man......

This was a pic of my 6 mile long dirt road morning commute to work yesterday morning. At 22 degrees.
Only the dark corners still had snow in them. Nothing psycho about this dirt/rocky gravel road in the snow, just slow going fun.
It's not anything like the white knuckle night ride on Hwy 35 & 26...

This old road now feeds about 4 houses that sit in a hole of the forest, up in the middle of nowhere off Paul Bartlow Rd. that junctions from this, the old Kingsley Reservoir Rd.
The residents keep the tree fall off the road for the most part, and keep it open for me all year.

Is that "bloomin' ", as in "like a spring flower"?

Originally Posted by dvwalker

AJ, PM sent for March weekend day ride from Mosier. Would be nice to tap into what you've found for connectors between hood river valley and ketchum flats area south of mosier.

nice ride pics!

I grew up from 4th grade on in the Mill Creek Valley (out of The Dalles) at the end of the pavement, below the upper Ketchum flats area. I know it well.
I used to "borrow" Daddy's Chevy P/U when was 15 & 16, drive it up to Ketchum Rd from Mill Creek, and cruise all over up there.
Since I got this Dual Sport bike 3-1/2 years ago, I've been able to re-explore a lot of good childhood memories and places.
And I rode the Black Dog last year where the pit run section was at the very upper end of Ketchum Rd, near FS17 from the HR Valley side

As long as that weekend isn't March 17th - 19th, I'm good.

[dvwalker]

Didn't realize that BIG pit run section from blackdog was actually on ketchum rd. Thanks for pointing that out. I marked it ugly rocky road on my gps track. I recall just trying to stay on two wheels during that section. That's located right at the northeast edge of the Mt Hood NF boundary. Cool area.

[soyanarchisto]

Buddy of mine and I did a ride last summer trying to go from troutlake to rimrock lake via the east side of Adams. We did it but not before realizing we were on indian land and needed to get the hell off of it before we got caught. No performance awards but lots of stinkeye. Pretty country.

[scottnt]

Jeff,
nice riding with you on Friday, I'm looking forward to doing it again soon. I'm stuck working for the next couple of days. Looks like the weather is going to be crap anyway. Let me know when you want to hit the trail again!

[Apple Jam]

Originally Posted by soyanarchisto

Buddy of mine and I did a ride last summer trying to go from troutlake to rimrock lake via the east side of Adams. We did it but not before realizing we were on indian land and needed to get the hell off of it before we got caught. No performance awards but lots of stinkeye. Pretty country.

I was wondering why I was getting funny looks by the very few passers by that day.
Then when I got to the Reservation Guard Station on the other side by White Swan, I found out the hard way.
It was last year in about May, maybe.

The sign at this end of the Yakima Nation, from "Mt. Adams Hwy" by Glenwood, says only:
"No Acahol
No Praphernalia
No Marijuana"

It DID NOT SAY "Stay out White Boy"
Got some crappy cell phone pics from that trip anyway,
I figure I can post them, since I paid the $125 fine....



These were from the Fire Lookout at Signal Peak



It was ALMOST worth it, it was a GREAT ride....

[Apple Jam]

Originally Posted by scottnt

Let me know when you want to hit the trail again!

Uh...
Right Now.



Just kidding.
This week's ride is gonna be cold.

There is a series of small dots on the map, just East of The Dalles that I have been researching.
Most had Post Offices through the 20's.

They were on the Route of the Great Southern Railroad heading South, out of The Dalles:
Most have heard of Petersburg,
but Fairbanks?

Originally Posted by XB12R

I had the day off today so took a little 200 mile ride.

Brookhouse? Never heard of it.

Freebridge, where a road led to the Deschutes River with a "Free" Bridge.
Historical Note - Free Bridge: John E. Harris built the first toll bridge at this site in 1873. Wasco County purchased the bridge in 1887 and turned it into a 'free' bridge. In 1905 the bridge was rebuilt of steel and concrete. In 1914 the bridge collapsed. According to initial reports, the cause of the collapse was a strong gust of wind. Upon further examination, evidence of sabotage was found.

Then Emerson, Wrentham,
and then Rice and Boyd are gone from most memories.
They are not much to see these days, likely. But I'm gonna go see them just for that reason.

Some had Churches, and Schoolhouses. The train finally ended near Friend.
Some were communities of 100 or so people, 90-150 years ago. Huh.

[Easy-Z]

Originally Posted by Apple Jam

Great Southern Railroad

In. But can you make it a nice WARM sunny day?

[MortimerSickle]

Originally Posted by Apple Jam

Uh...
...
Most have heard of Petersburg,
but Fairbanks?
...

I don't know those, but I did once take the road to Klondike. I stopped for a break, and at a stand still I had to face the bike into the wind to keep from getting blown over.

Really, no exaggeration.

[soyanarchisto]

Originally Posted by Easy-Z

In. But can you make it a nice WARM sunny day?

+1

When we were on the Rez my buddy stopped and asked a couple of guys in a trailer house how to find the northern egress. They were not terribly friendly but gave us adequate directions--except they didnt mention the locked gate. we managed to find a way around it.

[Apple Jam]

Originally Posted by Easy-Z

In. But can you make it a nice WARM sunny day?

Originally Posted by soyanarchisto

+1

When we were on the Rez my buddy stopped and asked a couple of guys in a trailer house how to find the northern egress. They were not terribly friendly but gave us adequate directions--except they didnt mention the locked gate. we managed to find a way around it.

Saturday looks sunny.........with a high of 32 !

I wish I had found a locked gate at my South end, turning around is cheaper than $125 .
I had only GPS that day & no maps . It gave me the main route through, but GPS never shows gates & barriers, only roads.
I always carry ALL my maps now.

Originally Posted by MortimerSickle

I don't know those, but I did once take the road to Klondike. I stopped for a break, and at a stand still I had to face the bike into the wind to keep from getting blown over.

Really, no exaggeration.

And I'll NEVER forget a late evening ride back from Washington, through Goldendale windmill area two years ago.
Hwy 84 from Biggs to The Dalles was the scariest ride of my life, the wind was so bad.
I felt I could only go about 50mph max, and the big trucks were passing me making it worse, so I'd speed up a bit.
Nope. Back to 50mph. WHOOSH goes another big truck..
Wind in one direction is tolerable with a good lean, but those Gorge winds can't decide which way to go. Left, right, right, left...WHOOSH.

[TourPros]

We do need to explore those dirt roads up there a little better

[Apple Jam]

Originally Posted by Apple Jam

There is a series of small dots on the map, just East of The Dalles that I have been researching.
Most had Post Offices through the 20's.

They were on the Route of the Great Southern Railroad heading South, out of The Dalles:
Most have heard of Petersburg,
but Fairbanks?
Brookhouse?
Freebridge, where a road led to the Deschutes River with a "Free" Bridge.
Then Emerson,
Wrentham,
and then Rice and Boyd

As I research my next ride,
I see that several of you have been to all these places that I'm FINALLY getting around to going to see.

And I have lived near here most of my life. WTF?
I'm jealous.

Steep & Rocky checking out Fairbanks, OR
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=531424

Ladybug0048
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=472981

Red Menace and Ace Rph do the whole area I want to ride next
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=617245

tedder, from LA???? and DreadPirateKermit
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=456355

And, of course, el guapo nada has been there..
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=622137

But none are showing the Freebridge site where the old bridge crossed the Deschutes, so y'all haven't taken ALL the fun out of it, yet.
I think there is still some adventure left there......

[Apple Jam]

Originally Posted by TourPros

High Prairie
We do need to explore those dirt roads up there a little better

I need to explore ALL dirt roads a little better.

High Prairie is only ONE on my list for this year.

[Apple Jam]

Well, I missed riding a week last week. I couldn't get out of working last Monday & Tuesday, the only days that would have worked for riding.
The snow was deep enough to keep me in 4 wheels after that, and it was beyond cold enough to make me glad I was.

This Friday, March 4th, looks the best, according to the weather gurus,
with just a "chance" of rain and 47 degrees.
That usually means it's good to ride.

I'm doing as close as I can get to the Route of the old Great Southern Railroad heading South-SE, out of The Dalles,
there should be plenty of gravel roads East of 15 mile Creek that I haven't ridden before, with big high elevation views.
Old Moody Rd, from the Mouth of the Deschutes, following the top of the ridge way above the Columbia River, back East towards Petersburg,
Through the old communities (locations, now) of:
Fairbanks (schoolhouse)
Brookhouse (church?)
Freebridge, where a road still leads to the Deschutes River to where a "Free" Bridge once was around 1910.
We'll see a tribute/statue to the Old Oregon Trail, that passed right through here 170 years ago,
Then the trainstops of Emerson, Wrentham,
and then Rice and Boyd.
Then ride Tygh Ridge to Tygh Valley

Here's a 1933 Metzger map of Wasco County, showing the old Rail Route along 15 mile Creek

Then, I'm thinking I will get done there early enough to easily ride
the gravel road that follows right along the wild Deschutes River from about 17 miles North of Sherrars, then goes to about 8 miles South of Maupin.
The first two rides East of Madras/Prineville were well over 300 miles, and two weeks ago to Bickleton snuck just over 300.
So I figure this ride will push 300 easy, too.

So, This Friday's Ride on March 4th.
Who's IN?

[el guapo nada]

.......this is torturing me!!!!!

ahh well, at least someone's getting to play.

I await the first monday ride....

oh, and nice weather huh? I got to "adventure" up and down the gorge all last week!

your friend,

egn