2023 OREGON DUAL SPORT MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURE These are Rene Larrave's notes of his off-road motorcycle adventure crossing the state of Oregon from North to South on big adventure motorcycles.
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After breakfast in Bend, we headed south through all kinds of terrain … piney woods, whoops, sand, rocks, and cool nature all around. We rode through a section called “the luge” … a long narrow, winding path, downhill, through the thick forest, with big sweeping berms on each turn. It was like riding a roller coaster.
Our first stop was the Newburry National Volcanic Monument. Two pristine lakes in the calderas of two side-by-side volcanos. We rode to the top of Paulina Peak for a great view of these lakes and the whole region. Also a great spot for lunch.
After a long and tough section with short, deep, and tricky whoops, we climbed to the Pine Mountain observatory. Jason and I decided to camp here for the night and Valerie and Chuck went on to Christmas Valley to stay with Chuck’s friend there.
We managed to get some wood and water from some deer hunters (season opened today) and set up camp. Always good to be in nature. Great views towards the south as the forest gave way to the brush of the high desert.
We started the day with a home cooked breakfast with Mike at his Rushing River Retreat just outside Detroit by the river. A great setting … a fireplace … trees everywhere.
We then rode along the shores of Detroit Lake which was way low in water … exposed and dry boat ramps … entire marinas laying on the ground where water was supposed to be … exposed tree stumps. Very interesting.
We headed through the mountains towards Sisters … and the riding slowly got harder … and harder … more sand, steep whoops, steep hills … front wheel sliding … sideways sliding … rear wheel skipping … flying off hidden rocks … but the scenery just made it all worth it.
I am beginning to think my motorcycle may be a bit too big and heavy for these wild adventures in these kind of roads … but I enjoy it too much so I must endure : )
Made it to the top of Cache Mountain via a long, rocky, crumbly, and steep climb … great views and a perfect place for a quick lunch … worth the “challenging” climb.
We finally made it to the quaint town of Sisters at the foot of the Sisters Mountains … we found an amazing coffee house and sat outside in the sun enjoying out cappuccinos and licking our wounds : )
The final ride to Bend was peaceful and very enjoyable on perfectly groomed gravel roads through some farms. A great way to end a long and arduous day of riding
Bend is a beautiful town … it feels like you are in a movie set … beautiful houses, tree lined streets with changing leaves, great one-of-a-kind shops, cool people everywhere.
We checked in at our hotel, went to REI to buy provisions and gear for what is expected to be a cold camping day tomorrow high in the mountains, and went to dinner by the river for the best meal of the trip yet. A great way to end the day.
It was cold last night at our campsite … I almost got cold : ). Camping is a science refined overtime … my current setup is perfect … small tent, a cot, an air pad on top of the cot, and a sleeping bag with a hood on top. Cozy!
Today’s ride was through the mountains and forests on trails that were narrow with trees and vegetation forming tunnels around them … the sun filtering through and some trees already changing their leaves … magical.
We made to Ollalie Lake for a nice break and lunch and ride the hardest trails to date out of there … rocky and steep. Everybody did fine, no spills. A few muddy sections, a little sliding and riding sideways but no falls.
We made it to Detroit, a town down the mountains in an area that suffered some of the worst fires in the US last year. Looks very bare. Our hotel used to have 20 rooms, only 4 survived.
After a very nice lingonberry crepes and cappuccino breakfast in town, we headed south into the dirt. We climbed through the forest up to 6,500 ft. Perfect temperature, sun filtering through the forests, nice switchbacks up the mountain, and great views of Mt. Hood as we approached it.
The roads ranged from easy gravel fire roads, muddy puddles, to narrow paths with deep ruts. I managed to hit one of my side cases on a fallen tree, as I was trying to avoid a deep rut, blowing up the lid and bending the box out of shape … but without falling : )
After some “surgery” with a big rock we managed to put the whole box back together and kept going.
Had a nice Hawaiian pizza at Government Camp, a sky resort with lots of cabins and restaurants but it was mostly empty this time of the year.
We continued through Clear Lake and on to Timothy Lake, our campsite for the night. The lake was beautiful, with Mt. Hood next to it reflected on the water. The whole area was totally empty and all official camping areas closed for the season. So we picked the best and managed to go around a gate through the forest to a place next to the water.
We walked around the shore, had dinner, contemplated the future of humankind, watched the starts slowly come up, and went to bed. A great first day of dirt riding in a pristine setting to get our sea legs … and our soul-filing dose of nature.
My motorcycle was finally delivered to Jason in Portland last night after two weeks lost in the depths of the American highway system ... and the universe made it all worked out, just in time, with an uneventful flight to Portland earlier today.
After Uber-ing to Jason’s house, we had a nice noodle lunch at a hip food truck lot by his house. Portland is so relaxed : )
We got geared up, got the motorcycles packed, and headed out to Hood River following the mighty Columbia River. Spectacular river views, mountains everywhere and green all around. Soul calming.
Met with Chuck and Valerie at our Airbnb in Hood River and went to visit the town center and the river’s edge. Apparently, Hood River is one of the best places in the world for “wing foiling” … this really means using a large inflatable wing-like kite to get on a surf board with a foil beneath to be lifted off the water when at speed … very impressive and fun. This may be my next pursuit : )
Went to dinner at the renowned Pfriem Brewery with maps in hand to talk about our route for tomorrow … and to select the location of our first campsite. Excitement is in the air.
Valerie is riding a 2008 Honda XR650 (i.e., the big red pig), Jason is riding a 2018 KTM 690R, Chuck is riding a 2016 BMW R1200GS, and I am riding my trusted steed, a 2017 BMW R1200GSA. Looks like I win the weight contest. Oops.
Tomorrow, we head south to Timothy Lake right around Mount Hood.
As always, here are the Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route's most interesting numbers: Start: Portland, Oregon ...
