Wherever I May Roam - One Woman Livin' on a DR650

[Scooterchick]

If I ever rode alone; (which I probably would not), I would definately consider the mace...ha

[Scootard]

Sometimes the roads which present themselves, are interesting side tracks which lead to interesting places.
We took a wrong turn which turned out to be a fantastic road which led us to where we were going anyway.
Viva la ride!

[Banshee]

excellent writing and pics, really enjoying this.

[Scootard]

I noticed my beloved's post about the mace. I would think a long club with a heavy iron ball at the end might slow her down, but I am not interested in being on the business end!!!

I find you can size up the people on the road pretty easily. Riding seems to tune your senses to the point where you can easily identify civilians, flakes and miscreants. As riders I think we can steer ourselves out of trouble faster than those with evil intentions can lure us in.

[De Eee]

Great story and adventure, I love your style!

[larryboy]

So glad you made Usal Beach and the Lost Coast, it must be seen at least once in a lifetime.

[erockmapquest]

[Scooterchick]

[breakouttathemould]

+1 more enjoyin the RR from 5000+ mi away

Need another fix soon!

Take care

Mike

[AustinJake]

Your pics, writing, dialog with your followers, all of it is top notch, I rate it 5 stars. Great stuff, great adventure.

This pic is worthy of the front page.

[Feyala]

The day was a bit chilly and overcast at first. I took the time to heat up a can of soup for breakfast, and was joined by a new friend:


I packed up and headed out around noonish. Someday I will get better at early starts! I made my way back along Jerry Flats, which was a bit busier this time of day. I saw a couple of deer, which inspired me to take my time and pay more attention, which I didn't mind at all, there were some gorgeous views that I wasn't able to admire as well the previous evening.


I got to the 101, and headed north again. It was WINDY AS HELL! There were multiple times during this stretch where I had to scrunch myself down as low as I possibly could get on the bike, in a vain attempt to reduce my profile and wind resistance. There was more than once where I was taking a corner at speed and the wind nearly blew me into the next lane. Bridges, especially, became my bane and I chugged along at 55 across the worst of them. The scenery was still gorgeous, and the day was clear and sunny.


With some of the techniques I learned while chasing the boys around, I pushed myself to take corners more quickly. The 101 is far more gentle than Highway 1 was, down in California, and I found myself able to take corners above the posted corner limit. I paid more attention to my lines/braking and felt a lot more control at higher speeds, which was quite nice. The rear tire, nearly bald now except for these huge "chicken nuggets" on either side, would thump along and lose a bit of traction if I tried to turn too tightly, so I had to be careful, but it was great fun to be able to zip along where I normally would have struggled.

I believe the interpretive sign said that the triangle-shaped area was clam or mussel farming.

The wind was very exhausting, and the bike didn't like it either. My gas mileage for this leg of the trip was terrible, 46 or so where normally I'd gotten 50+. I looked at the time left in the day and evaluated my options - I could stay out another night and find somewhere to camp, or I could haul ass and make it back to Portland and a nice warm bed.

My decision made, I headed east from Florence along Highway 126. This was a route I'd been on a number of times when I lived in Eugene, but I'd never come this way on a bike before. As soon as the landscape changed from coastal forest to the wet, breathing oregon rainforest I was used to, I felt like I was coming home. I don't really have much of a home, I move around a lot, but I'd spent 3 years of my life in Eugene, and heading back this way brought back a lot of random memories.




As I stopped to take photos, I found Waldo and a couple of tiny trickling waterfalls as a reward for taking a moment to appreciate my surroundings.




Cruising through Eugene, I noticed that even after I'd been elsewhere for years, I still remembered my way around. I headed up the 5 toward Portland and burned through the slab miles as fast as I felt comfortable going. I wanted to get to Portland before it got dark, and it was starting to get dusk already. Still sore from the dirt adventure the other day, I had to stop a bit more often to stretch out.

With the last rays of sunlight, I made it back to my boyfriend's place, whom I hadn't seen in over a month. Yay! For the past several months, he had been riding my Honda Rebel as both of his bikes were inoperable. He's a fairly tall guy, and his knees were over the gas tank. Parking lots were a nightmare for him, because the handlebars would hit his knees.


Oh, and remember what I said about the learning curve being steep on the taller bike? The DR is REALLY TALL compared to the short little Rebel. Originally I had thought about lowering it when I got back to Portland, but with this many miles with it under my belt, I'd grown used to the height and found the Rebel nearly impossible to ride!


I got inside and found that things had gone to hell without me there to clean up...

Not pictured: my sanity.

...so instead of relaxing, I spent the next day cleaning instead. Hooray!

[Feyala]

Originally Posted by Scooterchick

I hear you about not letting the fear one some freak incident get to you. We would all stay home and never go anywhere at all if we were ruled like that!

Definitely!

Originally Posted by bESS

I find that most people that ride, are friendly and helpful. Sometimes it's nice to have companions, and sometimes solitude, a mixture of dependence and independence. I love your style and you are braver than me

Yeah, a mix is definitely nice. I don't take as many photos when I am with others for fear of slowing them down (almost everybody is in a bigger hurry than I am), but the company is welcome.

Originally Posted by Scootard

Sometimes the roads which present themselves, are interesting side tracks which lead to interesting places.
We took a wrong turn which turned out to be a fantastic road which led us to where we were going anyway.
Viva la ride!

I saw a quote on here somewhere, along the lines of "You're not lost until you're out of gas", which I have tried to take to heart. Spontaneity yields some awesome rewards!

Originally Posted by Banshee

excellent writing and pics, really enjoying this.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Scootard

I noticed my beloved's post about the mace. I would think a long club with a heavy iron ball at the end might slow her down, but I am not interested in being on the business end!!!

I find you can size up the people on the road pretty easily. Riding seems to tune your senses to the point where you can easily identify civilians, flakes and miscreants. As riders I think we can steer ourselves out of trouble faster than those with evil intentions can lure us in.

I'd tend to agree. I know that some people have difficulty sensing 'intent' or whatever, but it's never really been a problem for me. If in doubt, watch how the person in question treats others, and always assume they'll do the same to you in the right circumstances. Then determine if their company is worth making sure you don't ever find yourself in those circumstances. It's not perfect, but it's a pretty good gauge.

As for the ball-and-chain mace, well... it sure would have a better "deterrent effect" than the spray!

Originally Posted by De Eee

Great story and adventure, I love your style!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by larryboy

So glad you made Usal Beach and the Lost Coast, it must be seen at least once in a lifetime.

I blame you for getting me into this mess! That is to say, thanks for the advice! I'll be back eventually...

Originally Posted by breakouttathemould

+1 more enjoyin the RR from 5000+ mi away

Need another fix soon!

Happy to oblige! They'll get less frequent once I bring this thing up to date, though...

Originally Posted by AustinJake

Your pics, writing, dialog with your followers, all of it is top notch, I rate it 5 stars. Great stuff, great adventure.

This pic is worthy of the front page.

Awww, thanks! I don't think it's front page worthy though, too grainy! Someday I'll get a proper DSLR.

[larryboy]

Chicken nuggets.


Where are you taking us next?

[Feyala]

Originally Posted by larryboy

Chicken nuggets.


Where are you taking us next?

I don't know what else you'd call a tire with no tread except on the outside, and with ex-knobbies, they aren't really strips...

I am happy to be done with the bus and ride part of the story! Now at least it's within the last month and change! SOMEWHAT CURRENT!

Next: Hells Canyon (more dirt!), Idaho, Washington, and bike maintenance. Still a few posts to go...

[G-Wing]

I'm in! I'm in! It's almost 2 in the morning and I gotta get some sleep; but what fun this is to read. See you tomorrow Feyala!