“Once the wheel was invented, mankind hasn’t perfected anything since.” – Unknown
🟣DAY 1 – Unleashed:- The cause and the cure
Couples retreat, personal getaway or once in a lifetime opportunity, it didn’t matter. Wether last minute or long awaited – it was time.
At 7:30 wrapped in a foggy Friday morning, 12 kickstands lost their jobs in Sharis parking lot to 15 unmasked riders headed North on Hwy 101.
The itinerary was scheduled for Oregon, to “ride some backroads , find some food and take a jetboat trip on the wild Rogue River”. It was to be an experience for the kind of souvenirs you can’t buy – you have to go and earn them.
By the time the Sonoma county line came into view, the clouds rolled back to open the floodgates of blue skies and open roads – a condition also known to motorcycle enthusiasts as “perfect”.
Unfortunately, mechanical problems, as we all learn are a part of the man vs. machine game, which can hit you harder in the heart than in the pocketbook sometimes… this was one of those times. Having been dealt the dreaded “go home“ card, the group said goodbye to one leaking bike and it’s faithful rider in Laytonville.
Continuing along the beautifully paved roads, the opportunity to wander on meticulously engineered machines, through some of nature’s mightiest creations was at hand. Clear reminders of how small we are, yet how far we’ve come at the same time- all on the efforts and shoulders of those behind us.
“Avenue of the giants” indeed.
The humble community market and deli of Scotia met our need for food and fuel. It is home to the Pacific Lumber Company, which continues to produce a goodly portion of the timber supply needed to build societies man made dreams.
After lunch we played a little hide-and-go seek while we followed the leader through the playground of stoplights, traffic and “must see” head turners in a foggy Eureka. The game was won by great communication, good planning and perfect teamwork! It wasn’t long before the band was back together, finely tuned to the mission of a good time.
In the small community of Orick, we met with a large heard of elk, which shut down HWY 101 for a few minutes so they could exercise their nature to parade for the lady elk in the shade watching.
The nearby diversion of Prairie Creek state park is host to the old Hwy 101 and meanders through the Redwoods along the immediate coast, before returning to 101 and the beautiful town of Crescent City and our home for the night.
🟣🟣DAY 2 – Who? What?? And Where am I???
If you’ve never turned West of 101 in Crescent City, you could miss some of the most jaw dropping views at the end of this side of America. Dan and Jen led us past two lighthouse viewpoints and some unique rock formations. Against clear morning skies , the salty air and flower filled shorelines it was the perfect start to the day.
Heading North behind Mike, Gold Beach provided fuel, coffee, restrooms, local art appreciation and a scenic detour along the Rogue River before returning to the world renowned PCH and a very windy old town Bandon for a divide and conquer lunch.
After eating, Darryl and his cousin (a local biker) lead us on miles of countryside that the modern world hasn’t found yet. Barns of working machinery, lumber mills and fields of nature were all ours.
An old wooden store with a lonely phone booth in the community of Lookinglass invited us to relax and remember what life looked like before neon and endless commerce spread their tentacles. A place where there are no sidewalks or stoplights, billboards or traffic. A time where “before sunrise” and “dark-thirty” are agreed upon moments .
As the day was waning, Darryl, Dan and Mike managed to get the cats back into the bag so we could safely enter the I-5 Corridor traffic to Canyonville and the hotel, where we could unwind/gear-up up for the quick shuttle bus ride to the impeccably manicured landscape of a climate controlled, flashy casino.
Back to the masks and cell phone signals, back to security cameras and neon lights. Back to the busyness and lack of personal space, back to the man made attention getters, we were back to societies abundance.
We were also back to hysterical laughter while we dined together in the midst of it all.
…Some things have to explain themselves.
🟣🟣🟣 DAY 3 – Check attitudes and complaints at the door
Despite its busy corridor of commerce, Interstate 5 in the southern regions of Oregon host some of its smoothest and most scenic roads to be found along its asphalt veins.
Grants Pass is a community along the route where the Rogue River runs through and is home to the Hells Gate jetboat trips.
Boarding the 4 hour tour, little did we know the royal treatment can also be disbursed at any moment and today was the day! One of the jet-boats powerful motors decided to take some time off, but the remaining 2 motors were able to drop us off at the secluded lodge where a private feast was served on the outdoor log deck overlooking the river. All ours!
After our new boat arrived we continued down the Rogue to hells gate, then back to Grants Pass via the divers “Dash and splash” route, knowing it would be the perfect ending for the 104 degree parking lot full of black heavy leather that awaited to hang on our bodies.
Heat is never the choice for a biker, but when the destination is a Lodge along the the water, any obstacle is worth it. So we followed Dan West on Hwy 199 toward the coast and into California, where we stopped for some heated relaxation time at the sausage factory in Cave Junction- a family owned shop that is a “don’t miss” for the meat lover.
Continuing to follow Dan and Jen to her parents lodge along the Smith River we parked on one side and crossed the swinging foot bridge into a secluded memory of a bygone era.
Fruit trees and gardens all bursting with produce, baby piglets, and chickens pecked the ground nearby.
It was a tranquil afternoon of food, drink, riverfront property tour and splash in the water before returning to Crescent City and a great nights sleep.
🟣🟣🟣🟣DAY 4 – When random acts come together
“Where the best part of the road to film?” Was asked, slicing through the light foggy morning, as 14 riders loaded their bikes for the trek home.
“Anyplace sunny!” The obvious answer lingered in the air, as the group snickered in realization that the sunshine on the Pacific coast can sometimes, like perspective, be a little elusive.
With rolling camera as witness, the 11 bikes said goodbye to the forested Oregon coastline as we headed for sunshine and… Eureka! There IS another side of the stoplight octopus.
Dan and Jen led us through the scenic backroads avoiding the stress inducing trap the bayside town presents. Seamlessly we entered 101 South of town and made our first fuel stop along the sunny Riverwalk in Fortuna.
After shedding a few layers, Mike led the group South into the infamous Richardson’s grove Redwoods and the next fuel stop at the Patriot station in a hot but beautiful, Piercy. “Home” was almost around the next few corners.
Saying goodbye is never fun, but came quickly at the crowded pumps in the 106 degree heat at the “Burger and Gas” station in Hopland. Some continued on while some admittedly were delaying the inevitable- having to get back on the bike, return to where they started, put away the helmet, take off the leather, …and re-employ a kick stand.
“If you want to learn about others, travel. If you want to learn about yourself, travel with friends.” – anonymous
Julee Sherman
Ride Captains – Mike & Julee Sherman and Dan & Jen Shilling
Click the Google Photos Image to open the Ride Album in Google Photos