Ride Report: Day 5, Coos Bay, OR to Sandy, OR

I woke to sunshine and relatively calm winds compared to the intense headwind I experienced riding north into Coos Bay the day before. After breakfast, I was loaded and on the road by 7:30 AM.

Traffic on highway 101 was very light so I was able to get sideways on the GSX-R750 in the twisties without too many slow cagers to contend with. Normally 101 is clogged with land barges and various other members of the Anti-Destination League. There is also a strong law enforcement presence, especially in the many small towns, along 101.

I gassed up in Waldport and had a snack, then retraced my steps inland on highway 34. It was a fast run and I had a gal in a Lexus keep up with me. Impressive. I stopped at the McDonalds in Philomath for an early lunch, then crossed I-5 into Lebanon where I got lost, again, trying to find the two lane highway north to Scio.

I ended up on Tennessee road, which zigzagged around, then dumped me onto the freeway in Albany. I tried a secondary road to Scio but it dropped me back onto I-5 yet again. I rode the freeway into southern Salem and took the exit to highway 22 eastbound, then stopped at a busy gas station in Stayton for a break.

After involuntarily slabbing it on I-5, I was eager for some curves, so I continued eastward on 22 until I reached Detroit. I gassed up for the last time of the day and got onto NF46 northbound past Breitenbush to Ripplebrook Ranger Station. There I got on highway 224 westbound into Estacada, then home. It was a familiar route and was a great way to end a rather long day in the saddle.

On the road again, headed south

— This is day 7 of a multi-day loop trip to British Columbia and northern California. —

After staying two nights at home and getting caught up on laundry, rest, and a few other incidentals, I switched to my smaller side cases and took out some of the gear I had been toting around but didn't need, including my tent.

It is now the 7th riding day of my trip and this time I'm heading south. I left the house around 8:20 am and rode through Estacada to Molalla, then south along the eastern Willamette Valley -- along very familiar roads -- to Lebanon, where I gassed up, then cut west. I stopped at a Subway in Philomath for lunch, then continued west on Highway 34 through the small community under overcast skies. I reached the Pacific coast in Waldport where I rode south along Highway 101 to Coos Bay and my destination for the night.

Dinner was at the Blue Heron, a German restaurant walking distance from my motel. The food was good and so was the wine, although their wine and beer list is minuscule compared to what it should be. The walls were covered in posters showing 1940's Saturday Evening Post covers. It was very patriotic from an American point of view, concerning a war with Germany, yet it was a German restaurant. I overheard the waitress tell another patron that the owner was Dutch. Hmm.

Where's Lacomb?

The weather was ride-conducive so I grabbed my atlas and looked for a low-elevation destination that's never been visited by moi. I chose Lacomb, Oregon, nestled at the base of the Cascade foothills northeast of Lebanon.

The ride through Molalla, Silverton, Stayton and Scio was old hat so I didn't engage my Zumo GPS until just south of Scio. The roads were of the two-lane country variety and were in great shape, passing through farmland and dotted by small hills. Although patches of road were still wet from recent rain, the sky was mostly cloudy but rain-free.

Lacomb is a community rather than a town per se, at least I didn't see any indication of it. There is a small BP gas station and store, so I stopped for a Snickers. Their selection was minimal, however, so I had to settle for a Reses Peanut Butter Cup. The guy working there seemed very surprised that I had taken a day trip all the way from Sandy. I got to ride through an historic covered bridge near Lacomb as well so that was another first.

The ride back was fine, although I had to pass some slow people that were going 10-15 mph under the speed limit. It boggles the imagination how they can think it's safe to do that. I got home safely, however, and very happy. There's nothing like time spent on two wheels to put a smile on your face.