Saturday dawned beautiful and sunny with forecast highs in the valley to be 84˚F (28.8˚C). We initially intended a ride to the coast to escape my allergies but with a high in Newport of only 58˚F (14.4˚C) we decided against it. No need to freeze at the coast when we can stay toasty warm in the valley.
We rode to coffee and talked about where to ride. With no decision made yet, we headed downtown to my office to leave our gear while we walked to the post office (the rack was delivered for the XT) and had Indian buffet for lunch. Tasty, but we ate too much.
After lunch we decided it was too darn nice to go home and Troubadour pointed us south with intentions of riding the Alsea Falls twisties. We took a slightly different route which put us on Highway 34. A left turn took us through the hairpin twisties and the road to Mary's Peak in the Siuslaw National Forest. With Troubadour in the lead he opted for a scoot to the top on Mary's Peak - a detour of just over 9 miles of twisties each way. It is a narrow 1.5 lane paved forest service road with no dividing line. I don't usually like it due to the high number of jacked up pickup trucks barreling down the mountain on your side of the road while trying to pass the bicyclists. Saturday was better. There didn't seem to be as many people out and around, maybe because Oregon State University's commencement was the same day.
Fun fact - Mary's Peak is the highest point in the Oregon Coast Range at 4,097 feet.
We took a few photos while at the top.
Back down the twisties to Highway 34 and then towards Alsea. We made a left turn in Alsea to ride by Alsea Falls and into Alpine. Judging by the number of cars parked along the road we opted not to stop at the falls thinking it was busy enough to fill the parking lot and those cars were the overflow.
The road around Alsea Falls, until you get close to Alpine, is a 1.5 lane road with no dividing line as well. Very popular with motorcyclists and bicyclists alike.
From Alpine we turned North and headed home. It was only a 100 mile loop but Max's odometer did turn over 8,000 miles finally. About time.
* * * * * *
Yesterday just after lunch I was sitting on the sofa something caught my eye in the front yard. I thought it was a large dog until he raised his head. Not nearly as dangerous as the bears others have been seeing and he was kind enough to 'fertilize' the front lawn while he was there too.
- Au Revoir
"You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive." - Author Unknown
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Now that looks like a great day out!
ReplyDeleteIt was only a few hours, but we enjoyed it. Haven't been out much lately.
DeleteWill have to look up Highway 34. Sounds cool.
ReplyDeleteHighway 34 is the preferred route to the coast for two wheeled traffic. It isn't as direct as Highway 34 so it usually keeps the RVs and Semis off of it.
DeleteAlsea falls is of a back road from it. Along with Lobster Valley and Five Rivers (other good ones when the road surface isn't too bad or if it has been repaved)
I must say, Brads bike looking sparkling...
ReplyDeleteMmmm..nom...nom..nom....venision.....lol
I take it you heard about the 3+ hours of detailing it took to get Lucy that shiny?
DeleteAnd as for the venison - he was limping - I think you could have taken him.
I was offered 8 leg of venison for 400 dollars. Do you think thats too dear?
Deleteget it?? too dear/two deer.....
Aye, ok I'm away.
two dee..
ok,
see ye later.
Bahahaha, I like the way you think Mike.
DeleteNice photos and it looks like you had great weather for the trip. Now, if it can stay that way for a while...
ReplyDeleteWe had sun/clouds off and on but no rain. I hope it stays nice too so it is warm when you come down.
Deleterogey, ooooh venison, mmmm.... and here ive been raw vegan for 27 days... lol... mmmm....
ReplyDelete27 days already - good for you.
DeleteMy mom was big into hunting so I grew up eating venison and moose meat. I used to have to help cut up and wrap the carcass. No way I could stomach it now. I can say moose was better than deer, in my opinion.
dang hit send too soon... how was it with your new top box?
ReplyDeleteIt is great. Didn't even notice it back there. Same for the ride to work today. I'm very pleased.
DeleteTrobairitz:
ReplyDeleteOne of the benefits of having a riding buddy is to explore those side roads. I saw the road to Mary's Peak but I didn't want to ride up there by myself. There was no one around and I often get the feeling that I am not alone. I tried to find Alsea falls a few times but now I know where it is.
I found Hwy 34 too fast for me. I do not know the road but from Waldport I was well under the speed limit but it didn't feel right to go faster so I just went scenic speeds.
I don't blame you for not going to the coast. Last year when it was 100°F in Bend and high 80's in Corvallis, it felt like it was freezing in Waldport.
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
If you like the forestry road we took in Eastern Oregon last year - you know the one you said turned into flatland - then you'd like the Mary's Peak Road. Twisties, no guard rails, tall trees, cliffs, even a waterfall. The road Just isn't as long as the one in Eastern Oregon.
DeleteAlsea Falls is hard to find from Alsea - there are no signs. Off of Highway 34 you have to turn onto the Alsea-Deadwood highway then make one other left turn to get to the correct road.
We prefer Highway 34 over Highway 20 as there isn't as much traffic unless you count Sunday drivers in the summer but we can usually pass them.
Will you adopt me, please? I love your idea of a great riding day, starting with a coffee stop and an Indian lunch buffet! And that scenery and those roads!
ReplyDeleteAnytime, just say the word.
DeleteWe sat at coffee long enough we were hungry by the time we left. That is typical for Saturday though. We get to coffee about 9 and stay until close to noon.
Looks like a great day out, nice that you got to ride some twisties without the pickup trucks making it scary. That view is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI love that you get wildlife in your front yard.
Yeah we really have to watch out on our not quite two-lane roads. Some people like us take the backroads for the twisties and to0 enjoy the day - others just like to barrel through them.
DeleteIn the 7 years since we bought our house we've seen raccoons, possums, bunnies, deer, and voles in the yard. Over a year ago they did some work in the tree farm behind us and we haven't seen the bunnies since. I miss the bunnies.
Don't ya just hate it when the road goes and gets all twisty on ya?
ReplyDeleteMust have sucked...
28 degrees! I can't remember what that's like...
It was nice to have some twisty roads. Seems like lately they'd all been straight. Was nice to have a longer twisty ride.
DeleteI guess you guys are heading into winter aren't you? You teased us with sunshine and warm temps all winter so I guess it is our turn now.
Very nice selfies!
ReplyDeleteBambi's older brother is cute too. Is that a flesh wound on his ribs? I know you're vegan, maybe he knows it too and figured hiding out at your place would be safer than wherever he was when Elmer Fudd took a pot-shot at him.
Thanks David. These were the best ones, the outtakes were quite amusing though. Brad had to take over, every time I went to take a pic I either hit the record button or turned the camera off. Doh!
DeleteBrad asked if that was a bullet wound too. He was limping and they do get hit quite a bit on a busy street just a few houses down from us. They cross the street to get from one treed area to the next. We think this one may have been grazed by a car and that could be a wound from that.
It's that deer again!
ReplyDeleteIs that the same deer from your picture Nikos? Man he gets around.
DeleteWonderful post about a great adventure! Loved the deer photo. I miss seeing them daily out my door!
ReplyDeleteYou guys are a cute couple too!
Thank you Deb.
DeleteIt isn't often we see them in the front yard, they usually walk by the back wire fencing and ogle the tasty shrubbery. We've seen our rose buds out front go missing so we had a feeling they ventured out there.
It is a dog, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteA big dog wearing his reindeer costume.
DeleteGreat little outing. I miss being on the road with Roland. His Vespa is still in storage, but it looks like things will hopefully be settled soon, once we have a new home (alas, not one with wildlife though...)
ReplyDeleteSoon you'll be back on the road with Roland.
DeleteAny word yet on the job front and where you two will eventually live?
Looks like a nice day out....:-). I love the dear coming that close up. That doesn't happen here in Ok where we are right now unless you are out of the city limits. I love the velvet on his little horns...sweet baby! :-).
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't a long ride, but it was a nice one.
DeleteWe see quite a lot of deer around here as we are on the edge of town with a lot of forest. I think this one was either last years or two years old. I feel bad for his limp though, but I guess it could have been worse. A limp is better than being roadkill.
Nice to have a visiting deer, but I hope he doesn't decide your yard is a good feeding spot. You and Brad are such a cute couple. Looks like it was a nice ride day.
ReplyDeleteWe noticed yesterday in the front yard the Himalayan Honeysuckle shrub has had it's blooms nibbled. We are assuming it was the deer. He's left the roses alone though which surprises me.
DeleteThank you for the couple comment. It makes me chuckle. We've been together 19 years (married for 17) and people still think we are newlyweds. Maybe that is the secret to a happy marriage.