Day 1 - We rode from the Napa Valley to Crescent City: 371 miles. After breakfast at the famous Bluebird Cafe in Hopland, we continued north on Highway 101.Some of the sights were Underwood Park and the Drive-Thru tree, and Paul Bunyan and Babe, the Blue Ox (kitsch).
From there it was on to Crescent City and The Curly Redwood Lodge....known for the beautiful curly redwood the structure is built from - one huge tree.
Day 2 - Rode from Crescent City to Crater Lake (220 miles), had lunch at Taprock in Grants Pass, on the banks of the Rogue River, and spent the night in Prospect at the charming Historic Prospect Hotel.
It had snowed at Crater lake two days before and it was cold!
Day 3 - It was early ups for a long day's ride (255 miles), out to Newport, Oregon, on the coast.
After fueling up with non-ethanol gas (a biker's dream) we stopped to see where the Rogue River submerges into a lava tube, and exits that same tube several yards later.
Here is a view of the river exiting the lava tube
Breakfast was at Beckie's Diner, out in the middle of nowhere. Famous for pie, so worth stopping.
We arrived in Newport around 5pm, in time to catch the sun going down over the Pacific.
Day 4 - We awoke to clear, crisp skies. The day's journey would take us all the way up the Oregon coast, into Tillamook Creamery for a quick lunch, before head on to Washington. We rode up to Olympic National Park (260 miles), where we spent the night in the historic Lake Quinault Lodge.
Big Foot
Lake Quinault Lodge
Sunset over Lake Quinault, Olympic NP
Day 5 - A mellow day of only about 175 miles. We toured more of the Pacific Coast, stopping at Kalaloch Lodge for lunch. It was then up to the Hoh Rain Foerest for a brief hike into the hot, humid, forest, surrounded by moss covered trees. It was an unusually warm day (~80 degrees) so it felt strange being in such tropical surroundings, so far north. After the Hoh Rain Forest, it was on to Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort for the evening, where we joined others soaking in outdoor pools, fed by the local hot springs.
Kalaloch, Olympic National Park
Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park
Katmandu, spotted on the trail
Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort
Day 6 - With a long day ahead (340 miles), we got an early start, which treated us to amazing views of Lake Crescent on our way out of the immense Olympic National Park. We ended up in Hood River.
The famous cinnamon roll, at Bette's Place
Day 7 - A quick run (150 miles) from Hood River to Bend. We spent the night at Riverhouse on the Deschutes, killing the extra time eating pie and doing laundry. It was primarily a rest day.
Day 8 - Nearing the end our our journey. We've got 300 miles to ride to get to Mount Shasta for the eve. Gassing up for the trek, I discovered a low back tire. Inflated it to full pressure, and after two hours down the road, discovered I had a slow leak (2lbs per hour).
We stopped at the Waffle Hut in Klamath Falls for an awesome meal. Waffles are off the hook!!
We monitored it all the way to Shasta.
Mount Shasta
Mt. McCloud
After checking in to our room, I did a full inspection....finding what I thought was a nail in the rear tire. (Turned out to be a long screw).
The Extracted Offender
(not the quarter)
Day 9 - We decided to abort. The better part of wisdom was to not push our luck. Original plans were to head out through Lassen and down the Feather River Canyon. My cousin Scott, who lives in Redbluff, was a short 90 mile jaunt away. He offered his truck and trailer to get us back to Napa. All-in-all, a good run. We'll return another day to check out Lassen and Feather River. Adios con Dios!
The Brothers Hickson
Thank You, Scott!!
