Day two started out with a disaster. But first allow me to employe the plot device that drives me insane. A couple of hours earlier we’d eaten breakfast at a restaurant not on the main drag in Bend called The Breakfast Club. There we had a hardy breakfast that actually got us through lunch.
After arriving back at the hotel we gathered our belongings and Angie went off to check out. I placed the bags on the ground around the bike to prepare for the bungee-ing them to the bike. I threw my jacket onto the saddle of the bike, and out shoots the GPS. Landing on the ground in, thankfully only two, pieces. The damage amounted to just the face plate being cracked so some cellophane tape is holding it all together until we get home to the glue.
Once on the road we headed south out of Bend on US route 97. After a while we stopped at the Newberry Volcanic Monument to check out the obsidian flow. Angie had been there a couple of years back when her parents came out for a trip in late July. Well, being mid-June, there was still quite a lot of snow hanging around so a good portion of it was covered. However, the bits that we could get to were cool. I don’t think I’ve ever seen chunks of obsidian quite as large as the ones I’d seen there. I snapped quite a few photos, and we hopped back onto the bike and headed off in search of state route 31.
Again, thankfully the damage to the GPS was only skin deep, and it continued to work flawlessly throughout the day. I did turn it off during a fairly long stretch on the same road to save some juice, although looking back I think it could have made it. I didn’t charge it up fully tonight so we’ll see if this lasts us through our ride tomorrow.
Reaching state route 31 we were greeted by signs proclaiming the scenic-ness of the road. True to the advertisements the surroundings were very scenic. One thing about riding on a motorcycle instead of a car is that there is no muting of the scents — for better or worse. For example, on my way home from work there is a farm that fertilizes the fields with cow manure. In the car with the A/C on I’d never know. On the bike, well, it’s hard not to know. After turning onto route 31 we were greeted with the scent of hot pine wood. There were plenty of little nooks to go hide away from the cares of the world. While traveling along we came to a sign for Fort Rock. I’d read about it on another site and figured I’d go give it a look. It’s a pretty cool landform. I need to look it up online to learn more about it. It’s basically a semi-circle butte that seems to have been hollowed out, and one portion of the wall removed. I took some pics, but they’re from a distance, so I’m sure they’re not too good. We stopped at the Fort Rock museum which was interesting. Homesteader cabins and other historical buildings have been moved there and you’re encouraged to go exploring for a small fee.
Back on the road we returned to state route 31 and headed south. We rode through some more high desert that there was the distinct scent of marigolds, but not one in sight. There was another blooming wildflower that didn’t have much color to it that I suspect was the source of the scent. Up to this point we still had two possible destinations, and a decision required by the time we reached Chandler State Park. Upon arrival at the park I had pretty much made up my mind. I’d had just about enough of the high desert and wanted to get somewhere. The first destination, Winnemucca, Nevada, was just shy of four hours away. The second destination, Alturas, California, was just shy of two hours away. At this point in the day I wanted to get our hotel arrangements made and settle in, so off to Alturas we went.
Unfortunately the ride went from boring high desert to straight, flat boring farm land as we entered California.
The bike is obtaining a protective sheen of bug splatter that I’m quite proud of. My five year old Harley-Davidson Sportster, unwashed during my ownership, has a fraction of the dead things sticking to it. However, special accolades to the dead bugs that achieved the following stunts during their demise:
- Body parts stuck to the inside of my windshield
- Body parts stuck to the inside of my face shield
- Body parts stuck to the back of Angie’s jacket
Bravo to you bugs for not just being splattered, but doing it creatively.
Disaster strikes again! Turns out that I left the widget to load pictures from my camera into the computer, and then up to web at home. We have plenty of space on the card for pictures, but I was hoping to send them up while I was out and about. Looks like I’m going to need to wait until I get home. Sorry folks!
Tomorrow we only have one destination due to a mistake on my part. I’d promised myself that I would have only the bare minimum of planning on this trip, and I went and booked a reservation at a hotel for Monday night. What was I thinking?