U.S. 395

When roadtripping, road selection is everything. Well, okay, maybe not everything. Who you are going with plays a big part too. But since I am stuck with little old me, road selection is key. The right road offers views, interesting local flavor, and something more than just McDonald's and 7-11s. When you are talking road trip on a scooter, add to that little traffic, frequent enough service stops, and slow speed limits, if you can manage. U.S. 395 between Carson City and Mammoth Lakes fits the bill perfects (except for the slow speed limits, but you can't have it all, eh?) When thinking about this adventure and what routes I might take, Saxtor suggested 395. Not knowing anything about what I would be looking for in a route or road, I committed to nothing, but did commit the suggestion to memory. Through a funny occurrence of out of date maps, local suggestions, and weather, I ended up on 395. I can't say I've been on a more breath taking stretch of road. Anyway, since I am sitting on a sidewalk in the town of Lone Pine, CA writing this with the most tenuous of internet connections, I'm unable to add the usual spice of wit and pictures. I'll write more soon.

Friday April 27 2007

File under: travel, road trip

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on Fri 27th Apr, 2007 04:06 pm PDT Emily said: Sounds and looks like this leg of the trip is treating you a bit better than the last time we heard from ya' in the frosty mountain. Happy Travels. ************************ on Fri 27th Apr, 2007 06:46 pm PDT Mom said: The North Cascades Highway opened yesterday--it is a really pretty road--and close to home :-) ************************ on Fri 27th Apr, 2007 07:38 pm PDT Jule said: Wren, I found those tent stakes. they were in my clean laundry. ************************ on Fri 27th Apr, 2007 08:30 pm PDT Mom said: Oooh,ouch, those poles must have played havoc with the washer and dryer. ************************ on Sat 28th Apr, 2007 01:41 am PDT Saxtor said: I've seen my share of US highways, and I really can't think of another more spectacular than 395. And to top it, that very section is precisely what cinched it for me. Did you, by any chance, stop by Travertine Hot Springs while passing through Bridgeport, CA? It's so close to the road, but so out of this world...The only other piece of road that has rivaled 395 in my travels was OR162>OR138 from Klamath Falls, OR, through Crater Lake to Roseburg, OR. Maybe on the way back... ************************ on Sat 28th Apr, 2007 01:52 am PDT Saxtor said: Also, I meant to commend you on making such good time. By my estimates you've gone over 1100 mi. in 6 days or ~183 mi. per day. Not bad for Scoot Scoot. Any geocaches? ************************ on Sat 28th Apr, 2007 08:57 am PDT Jule said: Saxtor! You are a human calculator! ************************ on Sat 28th Apr, 2007 06:42 pm PDT Andrew said: Hey Kid! I'ma Computer! ************************ on Sun 29th Apr, 2007 05:17 am PDT Sean said: Have you peed anywhere cool? ************************

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Harry, I Cant Feel My Fingers

Last night, I camped near Eagle Lake, just NW of Susanville, CA. Elevation: 5000 ft. Pulling in just at sunset, I set up camp under a juniper(?) tree and fixed some Frito chili pie over my hobo stove. As I sat watching darkness slowly fall over this weird and wonderful landscacpe, I reflected on what diverse countryside I saw in just 1 day at 35 mph. Flash forward to morning. Being able to see your breath while still in the tent isn't a lot of incentive to get up. Camping where you probably shouldn't be is. Lo and behold, it is even colder outside the tent than in. Heavy frost covers scoot scoot. Wearing almost every item of clothing I brought, I still had to stop every 20 minutes on the ride in to Susanville to warm up. Luckily, hot chocolate and hash browns were waiting at the local casino. As the sun starts to rise and the elevation falls, it looks to be shaping up as a great day for my ride into Reno and beyond! For those who don't get the picture or headline, listen to this

Thursday April 26 2007

File under: travel, road trip

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on Thu 26th Apr, 2007 11:02 am PDT Saxtor said: KICK HIS ASS, SEABASS! ************************ on Thu 26th Apr, 2007 11:12 am PDT Wren said: I haven't decided if I am Dumb or Dumber. (Thank you smart alecs, but "Dumbest" wasn't one of the choices.) ************************ on Thu 26th Apr, 2007 11:43 am PDT Jule said: What about dumberest... I think you need some leather! that will warm you right up. ************************ on Thu 26th Apr, 2007 12:10 pm PDT Amanda said: For some reason I can't picture Wren in leather... or maybe it's that I don't want to. :) ************************ on Thu 26th Apr, 2007 08:36 pm PDT Jule said: I meant pleather! ************************ on Fri 27th Apr, 2007 06:44 am PDT Sean said: Don't you hate pants!?! ************************ on Fri 27th Apr, 2007 07:35 am PDT amanda said: i thought the outback was just like that? ************************ on Sun 29th Apr, 2007 07:26 pm PDT Wren said: FYI, my ride so far has be leather free. Pleather free too. ************************ on Tue 01st May, 2007 02:21 pm PDT Sarah said: I just knew you'd end up with snot frozen to your face sometime during your trip! ************************

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The Columbia River

The Columbia River is just awesome. Not "awesome" in a "totally tubular" or "Mom, those were some awesome potatoes" kind of way. We are talking "awesome" like aweinspiring, full of awe, etc. Driving along the Columbia gives you vistas around every turn. Driving along the Columbia on a scooter surrounds you with the vistas as well as the sounds, smells, and even temperature and humidity changes (which do add to the overall feeling.) As I proceeded east, the sky ahead was blue and the sky behind was grey, which is quite typical of east of the mountains vs. west. Having that great weather made for the morning's scoot all the more enjoyable. I crossed the river at The Dalles and before I knew it, I was out of beautiful river gorge country and into beautiful rolling hills grasslands country of Eastern Oregon. (Oh, but just before I crossed the river, I came across this sign that I couldn't help but take a picture of.)

Tuesday April 24 2007

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on Tue 24th Apr, 2007 05:52 pm PDT Saxtor said: The Dalles is somewhat of a special place. First, my Dad spent a better part of his adolescence there. Second, Celilo Falls is located very close to The Dalles, and has been a fixation of mine for many years. I hope to be able to see it at some point in my lifetime, and get very excited when there are rumblings about opening the Columbia dams to showcase the falls. Third, The Dalles is home to Project 02, aka goo ************************ on Tue 24th Apr, 2007 05:55 pm PDT Saxtor said: I think I broke the comments... ************************ on Tue 24th Apr, 2007 06:37 pm PDT Andrew said: Gretchen just laughed out loud at your error, Saxtor. ************************ on Tue 24th Apr, 2007 07:33 pm PDT Saxtor\'s Boss said: typical ************************ on Tue 24th Apr, 2007 09:25 pm PDT Mom said: Oh, Columbia, you gem of the ocean, you. Wait, didn't someone already say that? But I don't think anyone has compared her to my potatoes before--cool! ************************ on Thu 26th Apr, 2007 10:07 am PDT jenelle said: on the wroad again... i just can't wait to get on the wroad again... the life i love is riding scoot scoot to the end, and i can't wait to get on the wroad again. ************************ on Sun 29th Apr, 2007 03:24 pm PDT Trista said: well, i hope you stopped to get some Doritos and AJ... that's some fantabulous prices there in Googleville! ************************

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The Civilized Leg

Three days in with about 500 km down, I'm starting to get into the road trip mentality; equal parts of extremely tangible logistics (Stop for gas? Left or right? Is it going to rain?) with the extreme intangibles (illogistics?) (I am where I am. Neither "left" nor "right" is better.) These first 3 days have been wonderful; relatively few miles per day, a comfortable place to sleep each night, and a chance to figure out the newness that is long distance scooter travel. Today, however, the civilized leg of the journey is over. No more comfortable places to stay. No more frequent service stops (which are so handy for my 1.3 gallon gas tank.) No more semi-familiar terrain. Today, I take off on the wilder side. The "plan", as such, has me following the Columbia River east out of Vancouver to the east side of the Cascades before heading south on the back roads of Oregon. I'll eat when I'm hungry and I'll camp when I'm tired. This "wildness" is going to be an adventure. But that's what I in it for, right?

Tuesday April 24 2007

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on Tue 24th Apr, 2007 08:33 am PDT Sean said: Come to Iraq! The roads are in pristine condition for Scoot Scoot. But the soda's here are made with "sugar," instead of that sweet sweet high fructose corn syrup. So go with the crab juice. ************************ on Tue 24th Apr, 2007 05:26 pm PDT Andrew said: Mountain Dew? ewwwwww! ************************

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Road Trip!

"Road Trip!" Those words have always evoked a spectacular sense of freedom for me. In my day, I've gone a few doosies. There was the high school road trip to mythical South Whidbey. And who can forget Duck Itch Lake up in Canada? Both the eastward and westward Marilyn roadtrips were not to be forgotten as well. The time has come for a new page in my road trip history. Much like the road trips of yore, this one is about the journey as much as the destination. What makes this one different, however, is that there will be no sleeping in the back of the car, picking up hitch hikers, locking the keys in the car, or blasting the stereo full blast. This road trip is just me, Scoot Scoot, and the open road. So with my sleeping bag bungeed on, a shiny new trunk for my laptop (can anyone say "internet addiction"?), and perhaps an unrealistic sense of enthusiasm, I embark. Stay tuned to BdW for reports from the road.

Sunday April 22 2007

File under: travel, road trip

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on Sun 22nd Apr, 2007 11:44 pm PDT Horge said: You ever read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"? It's a good book. A bit dense on the philosophy, but kinda cool in promoting the worth of road trips via motorcycle... ************************ on Mon 23rd Apr, 2007 06:35 am PDT Nesbitt said: If you make it all the way to Baltimore you will be my hero! ************************ on Mon 23rd Apr, 2007 06:42 am PDT Sonya and Kate said: If you and Scoot Scoot make it to good ole Iowa, we will let you sleep in a bed and give you a meal if you want! ************************ on Mon 23rd Apr, 2007 10:43 am PDT Sweet Julie said: You are so right- I hear the words "Road Trip" put together, and I start packing too! ************************ on Mon 23rd Apr, 2007 11:07 am PDT Saxtor said: Wren! Since you'll be going right through the area, let me recommend going to this spot. The earthcache has been deactivated, but that does not matter. This is possibly one of the most amazing spots I have ever visited, and would be a wonderful pitstop on adventures through the area! I await future (and hopefully regular) updates! ************************ on Mon 23rd Apr, 2007 02:09 pm PDT Saxtor said: I didn't think of it until now, by my hot spring suggestion goes quite well with your affinity for water features. And unlike your others, in this one, homelessness isn't a prerequisite for bathing! ************************ on Tue 24th Apr, 2007 12:13 am PDT Horge said: If you make it to Bosnia on that thing, then you will also be my hero! And I'll give you a couch to sleep on and some chow as well :) ************************ on Fri 11th May, 2007 04:44 pm PDT Micky Rourke said: lo-tech, just what I expected. ************************

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