Last Day - Reno, NV to San Francisco, CA

Well today is the last day of the ride.  This morning I was up earlier than Connie!  Showered and ate breakfast before she even woke up - very unusual but I needed to be packed and ready to go as I am on my own today.  

I was able to say goodbye to everyone today and they sent me off with an arch over me.  So starting from the front left there is Ken, Gary, Lulu, Connie, Joyce and Patrick.  What a crew - missing was Kim who headed home yesterday.  Amazing group of people who have made me feel like I belong with them on this trip.  Connie is so fortunate to be able to ride with this group all the time.  I wish there was a group like this at home who enjoyed riding on extended rides.  

Was on the road by 8:00 am and decided that it was best to hit the major highway which was HWY 80 all the way from Reno to San Francisco.  Pretty quiet first thing but man when I hit Sacramento the traffic was heavy and at time became stop and go!  

Well while in California it is legal to split the lanes to keep the bike moving as it is so hard to stop and go on a bike.  But it can be hard to move through traffic when some of the cars needed a bit of encouragement to move over to let me through!  I revved the engine as I was trying to stay in first or second gear as I was splitting the lanes.  Fun but you do work up a sweat doing this as it is quite the workout and a little stressful making sure you don’t hit anyone.  Thankfully my rental bike and myself survived with no incidents.

Rental worked perfect the whole trip and I can guarantee you that my next bike will be a Road Glide - probably a Road Glide Special.  Loved the way the bike handled with a fixed fairing.  Pulled into Eagle Rider and Chad was very accommodating making sure bike was in good order as I unpacked and rearranged all my luggage into the bags I needed to transfer into to be able to be ready for the flight home tomorrow.  

I had decided to stay downtown this time as there was shopping around.  But man - all the name brands like Coach, Rolex, Nordstrom are a little out of my price range and I felt like a fish out of water as I walked around.  

Went back to the hotel had a shower and a bit of a nap before I went out for supper.  I decided to go to a great restaurant around the corner from the hotel - John’s Grill Steak and Seafood.  I thought I would have one last go of the Seafood Chowder - delicious!  

I sat at the bar as usually you get the locals or more entertainment of the people around you and I was not disappointed.  The two guys that sat on either side of me were very entertaining as they were bantering back and forth every once in awhile.  Needless to say I was greatly entertained.  I asked for a picture with one of them as he was priceless.    He is a retired postal worker and comes to the bar  once a month or so and the bartender doesn’t seem to mind either.  Thank you for making my night and I am really glad I didn’t ask for my food to go as it certainly was worth sitting in the restaurant.  

Tomorrow morning I fly out around 8:30 and have to be at the airport early.  So I am off to bed shortly so I can be up and make sure everything is packed and ready to go.  Looking forward to getting back to normal and not living out of a suitcase.  It will be great to see Paul and the boys as I miss them all.  

Lake Tahoe

Today we were supposed to sleep in but I was awake before 6:00 am as I was worried about making sure I had a Covid test booked today for my flight home.  So I checked out the cheapest place to book the test as it needs to be a special travel one and made sure I could make it in time as we were going to tour Lake Tahoe today.  When Connie woke up - Patrick, Connie and I headed to Mel’s Diner at the casino across the street for breakfast.  

We had kickstands up for 10:00 and we had an extra passenger on Gary’s bike as a friend of Lulu and Gary - Donna - joined us for the ride around the lake.  First stop is always for gas and then we headed up Mt. Rose and over to Lake Tahoe.  The ride up the mountain was fun with lots of twisty roads.  At the bottom we arrived in Incline Village.  The amount of traffic was crazy!  As we started to tour around the lake the traffic was heavier on the South Side.  The cars were parked anywhere they could get a spot.

My appointment for my travel Covid was on the South Side of Lake Tahoe at 1:00 but I arrived early and they were able to take me early.  It was a spit test!  A lot easier than the nasal swab let me tell you!  I rode to the test myself and then met back at the restaurant for lunch.  As we continued around the lake again the traffic was so busy that at any round about we were backed up for at least 10 minutes and it was a hot day.  

On the way back to the resort we stopped at the Harley Davidson store and I was able to purchase a tank top with the dealer logo on the back.  A great sales man came outside and took our pictures at the front of the store.  Highly recommend this dealer as everyone was so friendly.  

Back at the we headed to the pool and then the hot tub!  Relaxing night.  We ordered pizza and played cards in the games room,  I challenged Patrick to a game of air hockey and won 7-3.  LOL.     Gary and Lulu went on a walk to get a picture of the famous Reno sign for us all.  

Tomorrow I head by myself back to San Francisco!  I will be up early as I need to pack!  I received my test results back and I am happy to report I am negative and I shouldn’t have any issues getting back into Canada.  Flight is on Sunday morning so I will be spending one last night in San Francisco on my own.  Bitter sweet end to another great motorcycle adventure.  Thanks again everyone for making this Canadian Biker Chick feel right at home!  Until we meet again.  

Dunsmuir, OR to Reno, NV

This morning we were on the road again just shortly after 8:00.  Was going to be a long day again with almost 300 miles and many stops along the way.  

First stop was for gas and then we headed to our first park of the day!  We stopped at Burney Falls.   We did have to all pay at this park as it was a state park and not national park!  Joyce paid for everyone and then we paid her back.  While we were waiting the park warden was explaining to us where to park for the best access to the falls and also told us to drive down to the lake as well.  

Beautiful stop - well worth the $10 per person.  I think we all took at least 50 pictures each of the falls.  I was surprised at how excited the group was getting to see waterfalls - so I asked them and they told me that they don’t get to see waterfalls where they are from.  So that explains why they wanted to stop at even the small waterfalls.  LOL.  We are truly fortunate where we live and what we see around our area that we take for granted all the wonderful places that Ontario has to offer.  

From the falls we then rode on to Lassen Park which is a national park and we were all able to get in for free again as most of us did have passes and the ones that didn’t were able to get in as guests.  

Thank goodness as it would have been $25 per motorcycle.  This park we saw the top of the mountain where people could hike up to the top which would take you from 8,500 feet to 10,500 feet - 5 mile round trip.  Needless to say we did not do the hike but some are making plans to come back at another time to do it!

The Sulfuric Hot Springs was also quite the site right alongside the road where the mud looking goo boiled and popped with a very distinct smell.  Gross!  LOL. At the bottom of the park at the South Gate we had lunch at the visitor center.  

Another area we headed through was an area of devastation.  We are not sure what caused the devastation but whatever it was killed all the trees!  

After lunch we headed towards Reno - smoke was in the skies not too far down the road!  Wow it was a fresh fire and the smoke was thicker than yesterday!  I think we were all a little worried and the smoke did bother our eyes and throat.  Thankfully it was only for about an hour and then we were through it.  Kind of scary though when you have the ashes falling and you can feel them hit your skin.  Not hot but still worrisome.  But as we were going through the smaller villages people were just going about their business as if nothing was going on.  

Arrived in Reno around 6:00 and we checked into to another Worldmark Resort that was arranged by Ken and Joyce.  Perfect location and we were able to walk downtown for supper at a brewery and then take a walk around the town.  Tomorrow (or today actually) we are touring Lake Tahoe and I have booked my travel Covid test at the South Lake Tahoe location just around 1:00 which I hope works perfectly before we have lunch.  I should get the results today as I have to have the testing done within 72 hours of my flight.  Some hoops to go through but this trip and the company I have been with it is more than worth the hoops.  

Bend, OR to Dunsmuir, CA

Today we were kickstands up at 8:00 am again.  We needed to have had gas and breakfast all before 8.  Good to go - I was packed, gassed up and ready to go!  Today was Patrick’s turn to take the lead and we were in for a treat. The air smelled of smoke and we knew we would see some forest fires today!  

We headed to Crater Lake in a National Park.  Well typically each motorcycle needs to pay $25 per bike!  Most of the group had  a National Park pass but there were three of us that did not.  Kim pulled up to the gate and asked how much and if there was a senior discount.  So the gatekeeper reduced it to $20 per bike for the three of us.  But then she asked whether or not there was a rate for first responders as she was a nurse.  The gatekeeper then said - go ahead.  All of you can just go ahead.  Awesome!

Crater Lake was amazing - created by a volcano that had erupted million of years ago.  The first stop was a little eventful with a tip over on behalf of Patrick but not one scratch was on his bike thankfully!  It is not a matter of if you are going to drop your bike but when!  We all do it at some point especially going slow and especially fully packed up!  

We came across these old English cars that were all numbered and riding the same route we were.  One of them had stopped at our first pull out and we asked them what was going on.  They were on a road tour where they drive 250 miles each day for 4 days!  Pretty cool.  One car went past and was spewing black smoke and obviously burning oil - it would be interesting to see if they actually made all 4 days or even back to their hotel!  

Patrick proceeded to stop at several stops along Crater Lake giving us different views all around the lake.  Beautiful.  Would have been even more beautiful if it wasn’t for the smoke that hung in the air everywhere.  

We stopped for lunch at Applebees.  I am not sure that I have ever eaten there.  It was pretty good I must say however service was a little slow as the poor waitress was having knee surgery the following day and was hobbling around.  Dean, Connie’s husband, followed in his truck with their two dogs as he is heading back to San Diego today.  It was so great to see him and have him spend some time with us over the last couple of days!  

Mount Shasta was a spot we wanted to see and stopped at a vista spot to take pictures.  Unfortunately a huge part of the mountain was on fire!  Mount Shasta is the largest volcano of the Cascade Range.  It is part of the Ring of Fire between British Columbia and Larsen Peak.  The mountain itself was built by volcanic eruptions.  The fire looked like they were letting it burn as the path of the fire looked to be going up the mountain and not down at this point.  So sad to see this devastation along the trip.  We rode through areas where the forest was totally destroyed by fire.  There were already crews harvesting the trees that could be along the road allowance.  This not only cleans up the area but allows for a fire brake for the future.  

As we got further away from the mountain areas the flat lands and the lack of vegetation caught my eye.  Interesting how quickly the landscape changes.  I caught a picture of Ken and Joyce riding beside me while I was in the passing lane.  

Tonight we arrived in Dunsmuir, CA for one night.  The hotel that we are staying at is a Travelodge and Penny’s Diner is available in the parking lot.  But not only is it a Diner it is also the registration desk.  There was one woman doing everything, cook, desk clerk, waitress and bottle washer!  Craziness.  But she was quite the lady and did not like any of us trying to help her by bringing anything out to the tables that we had outside on the patio.  She would come out the door kicking it open while singing Shania Twain songs with her arms loaded with plates of food.  WOW - she was awesome!

Tomorrow we are heading to Reno, Nevada for a two night stay.  

Bend, OR - Relaxing Day

Today we headed to the Wildhorse Harley Davidson Dealership which was amazing.  Such a great selection of women’s clothing - and the staff there are awesome!  Highly recommend stopping at this dealership!  

Some of the bikes needed to be looked at. Patrick’s bike had the same issue that I had on mine two years ago while I was riding with Carolyn down east.  The heat pump went and needed to be replaced which was a warranty issue.  Thankfully they were able to fix that.  Ken’s bike needed a back tire and the dealership was able to accommodate.  So nice when you are travelling to get that kind of service and most dealerships will service the travellers first.  Kim wanted Patrick to ride on the back (ride Bitch) back to Louise’s but he didn’t - although he did get on the back for a photo opportunity - I think he was a little too scared to let Kim up front.  LOL 

I rode back by myself and headed to the grocery store to get some stuff for lunch and breakfast.  I had some crab meat from the deli and crackers and cheese for lunch.  Delicious.  I bought some boiled eggs for breakfast and will have another crackers and cheese along with a fruit bowl with such fresh blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries.  

After lunch I went to the pool just to relax and get some sunshine and swim.  Lulu joined me and then Joyce.  Finally Connie and her husband Dean were back from their lunch and walk and also joined along with Ken and their friend Steve.  Had a nap before supper.  

Supper was at Patrick’s sisters Louise and Mikes place. They moved here from San Diego not long ago but opened their house so that we could sit back relax and enjoy their beautiful private backyard.  Supper was amazing - brisket slow cooked on the barbecue, along with chicken and salmon - potato salad and organic salad freshly picked today!  Very cool tree in their backyard - a maple tree that has variegated leaves!

I took a great panoramic picture of the whole group and it appears that Dean has a twin!  LOL.

Tillamook to Bend, OR

Today we headed out at 8:00 am with kickstands up.  As we get more inland the weather is going to get hotter!  Finally - I think I will like it better than the cold - but maybe not!

We headed to Portland, OR and then when we crossed the bridge we were riding in Washington State.  Pretty cool another corner of the states - so I guess technically I have rode in all 4 corners of the USA - Florida, Maine, California and Washington - just not on one trip!

I took some pictures as we crossed the bridge from Washington back into Oregon just before lunch.  It was very windy and the wind gusts certainly moved the bike.  

From Washington State we rode back into Oregon at Hood River.  We had lunch at PFriem Brewery.   

But really the highlight was the park across the street from the brewery.  The waterfront is beautiful and made me think of my sister Cindy and her family as they love to kite board.  There was so many kite boarders and windsurfers.  

Riding alongside train tracks are interesting as where I live in the Ottawa Valley there is no more trains and hasn’t been for many years.  Even all the train tracks as they have been taken out.  But we were able to see a train and it was pretty cool to snap pictures as it was coming out of the tunnel and then I could see the train on one side of the tunnel and see the train through the tunnel as well on the other end.  Pretty cool. 

As we continued on the road the views of Mt. Hood were amazing.  We stopped a few places to get some pictures but really I think the best ones were taken along the side of the road or while I was riding.  The GoPro has been amazing as I have been able to take some great pictures along the route.  

Later in the afternoon we could see the fire that has been burning for a few weeks just before getting closer to Bend.  What an horrific site as you see the smoke but then realize that it is devastating everything in its path.   I didn’t get any pictures as it was after my battery wore out.  But the memory will stay with me for a long time.

Tonight Gary, Lulu, Ken, Joyce and their friend Steve (who joined us in Bend today) went downtown Bend and had a beer at White Water Taphouse and then had supper at Brother Jon’s Alehouse.  I told the server at White Water Taphouse that we had the Whitewater Brewery back home.  

Tomorrow is a day to go to the Harley Davidson Dealer and do a ride around the area and go to Mike and Louise’s for supper.  Thanks again everyone for another great day!  

Tillamook, OR - Rest Day

This morning we headed to the Tillamook Creamery first thing so we would be the first in line!  We were and thankfully we did go early as it was crazy busy by the time we left.  They have a self guided tour upstairs and you can try a slice of cheese.  Yum - the cheese was Pepper Cheddar and it was delicious.  We all just toured around on our own and then I ordered ice cream to have a taste.  Very good - almost as good as the Kawartha Dairy that is sold at The Scoop at home but not quite.  LOL.  

We couldn’t resist and had to get our picture taken in the Tillamook mini-van.  Yes we lined up with the other kids in order to take our turn to get our picture taken.  

Back at the hotel it was a decision to ride out today with most of the group or stay back.  Connie and I decided to stay back and the first thought was to go downtown to tour around on our bikes but we never left the room!  OMG I needed to have a nap and so did Connie.  After the group got back from their ride I decided to head over to the Fred Myers store which is like a big Walmart.  Interesting to have a look at what other places sell.  I didn’t buy much at all just some essentials and breakfast in the morning as Connie told me I’m on my own tomorrow.  She has been spoiling me every morning bringing back breakfast to the room.  She is a morning person and I am not as most people know!  In any event I am set for tomorrow as you can actually buy a boiled egg with some meat and cheese just like the lunchables that we have back home.  

Just before we were ready to go for supper we got gassed up so we are all ready to leave in the morning.  It was a little further tonight to go for supper so we all rode our bikes to a bar downtown where I had some more fish and chips.  Halibut this time though as the other times I had Cod fish.  Delicious.

When we got back to the hotel we sat in the lobby to get the lowdown on what was happening tomorrow and when kickstands are up (8:00 am!).  Glad I bought my breakfast so I can eat when I get up.  After Patrick told us all about the day tomorrow then we played more cards - I live 3 blind mice - very fun game that you can play with any number of people.  

Well tomorrow we head to Bend, OR and we actually are also going in and out of Washington State.  There are only a couple of states that I have not ridden a bike in and perhaps someday I will do those too!!

Brookings, OR to Tillamook, OR

Okay I am not sure what people are saying when they say there is a heat wave going on out west.  Far from it on the actual coast.  It was freezing today!!  Today started very cold and foggy.  There was very heavy dew on the bikes but at least they got cleaned - LOL.  Towels at the motel - well - they are rather dirty!

We wore our rain gear this morning as the mist was too heavy and we would would have been soaked before too long.  Today it was Gary’s turn to lead the ride and he had planned a number of stops to lighthouses.  It was a long day and we were not able to make all the stops but the stops we did make were well worth it.

First stop was just on the side of the road between Brookings and Gold Beach.  Beautiful views.  It was teasing us by being sunny and we thought it was going to get warm.  It did for enough time for us to ride down the road for about 1/2 hour and get warm and then we took our rain gear off (or some of us did) and then it was nice until just after lunch.  And it got cold again!

Next stop was at our first lighthouse Umpqua River Lighthouse.  We all thought it was very weird to have a lighthouse that was so far inland.  It is still operational today!  

We stopped for lunch at Florence and we had wanted to go to Moe’s but the wait would have been an hour or more.  The downtown was very busy and as it was lunch it was hard to get a spot.  The restaurant next door to Moe’s was the International C-Food Market.  We were very persistent and we were able to get a table within about 10 minutes even though they were not taking names and didn’t seem to be very organized.  LOL.  I guess you could say all of us divided and conquered until we got two tables.  LOL. Food was delivered quick and we had great service.

As there are a lot of bikes that have what they call a shark nose fairing at the front of the bike (for those non-bikers) - the group has been taking some pictures that are in front of sharks.  This painted mural was in the restaurant and we soon gathered around and the selfie-stick came in handy again.  

I have to tell you though Joyce who is married to Ken and rides on the back of the bike has an amazing neck gaiter.  Well this poor child was horrified as we were riding out of the parking lot and she turned to her mom and said “OMG there is a dog on that bike”!  Her mom simply said “Well sometimes they do that!”  Well I started to laugh out loud.  Too funny!  I have posted a picture of her as you really have to look twice when you first catch a glance.  Too cute!  

After lunch we headed to the one other lighthouse Gary wanted to stop to see.  Heceta Lighthouse was on top of the hill and next to it was the Heceta Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast.  The parking lot was down at sea level and everyone but me decided that they wanted to hike up to go see the lighthouse.  I knew it was a long ride today and there was no way I was hiking up another path today.  I took pictures from below and then put my towel down in the grass and had a little shut eye.  I was glad I did and was refreshed for the next very windy leg of the route today.  

There were a number of bridges along the ride today and man oh man it was so windy.  The gusts as we came around corners was enough to really move the bikes around.  The bridges were amazing though and the pillars on some of them were very cool.  

The views along the coast when the sun was out were spectacular today.  We are staying in Tillamook and Patrick’s sister and husband along with another couple met us here and will be with us for a couple of days.  Tomorrow we are going to the Tillamook Creamery to taste cheese and perhaps have an ice cream.  Looking forward to that.