Following the Oregon Trail

On top of Castle Rock, Idaho. The road in back, and the one I road, is part of the Oregon trail.

Saturday May 21, I left Mountain Home, Idaho for the cooler air of Yellowstone. The map indicated RT 20E then 33E and then 20E again :)
As I left the hotel, I started climbing the mountain following the Oregon trail a 2,000-mile (3,200 km) historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.
These mountain passes are absolutely beautiful. All along route 20E, I was under constant watch of the snowed covered mountains while I ripped the tar below at 80 miles per hour on the long, lonely flats.
The temperature was a cool 50 degrees. It got lower as I climb higher altitudes. I would say higher 40's. The winds were calm. lots of sun on my face and the potatoes and onions carpeted the valleys to my left and right. I made a quick stop at the Craters of the Moon national monument.I made a quick stop at the Craters of the Moon national monument. I checked the extinc volcano and continued my journey East to Yellowstone.

As I passed Ashton, Idaho I entered Targhee National Forest. The temperature drop considerably and the forest got thicker. The smell of pine trees inside my helmet. Soon I would be in Yellowstone.

Craters of the Moon national monument

The view from my window. Can you believe this was a Super 8 motel?

The good thing about this ride is that I was always with the mountains on my side.

I got the official photo entering Montana

Of course, Montana is on the list too. I was 10 miles from Yellowstone

Exact route of the day:

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View of the Rocky Mountains

I made a quick stop at Craters of the Moon National Monument. It used to be an old volcano that broke its caldera.

Part of the lava flow from the collapse

15 miles to West Yellowstone, the mighty Rocky in the background. It was very cold about 45 degrees fortunately I was almost there

My noble steed C, I have to give it some camera time:)

This was dinner for the day. I was not very happy with the price $23 clams for the steak. Then again this is Yellowstone. The beer was good

There she front and centre. A picture of the restaurant I visited and of the town West Yellowstone

I almost ran out of gasoline

It was a chilly morning as always 51 F according to the news. I left Alturas, CA at 8:45 AM on RT 395 North. I filled my tank and headed towards Boise, Idaho.The air was clear and the road interesting. Lost of trees and state forest around me.
Everything was fine until I got to Lake View, Oregon. I was enjoying the ride as the road takes you around Lake Goose, a weird alkaline lake with beautiful views.
The thing is that I did not notice that the next gas station was going to be 111 miles away. Hopefully, I had my tank full and for the next 163 miles I was going to be crossing through some scary desert wondering when I was going to run out of gas.
At the end, where RT 395 intersects 20, I found a tiny little town of 100 people called Riley. I finally saw the light. I filled my tank again when I was 8 miles into my gas reserve. The next town was Burns 21 miles away. I don't think I was going to be able to do it if I didn't find Riley.

I followed 20 until I found I 84 to take it express to Mountain Home, Idaho passing by Boise. Tomorrow, I am hoping to be in Yellow Stone and take a look at Old Faithful.

Beautiful building from the 1700's in Alturas, CA

395N still in California. Altitude 4,000 feet beautiful forest around me

Lake Goose, an alkaline lake between California and Oregon. Altitude 4,500 feet

Official photo entering to Oregon. I could not take one entering Idaho.

Lake Goose

And here boys is what I saw for 111 miles. I thought I was going to run out of gas. It was so disappointing to climb up a hill and then see something similar to this picture again for miles.

Sage brushes left and right. I was almost peeing on my pants. My head planning what was I going to do if I run out of gas. Pretty intimidating!!!

In Oregon, I started to go down hill towards Idaho.

Temperatures started to climb again to 75 F but felt comfortable.

Along canyons and following the Malheur River (a tributary of the Snake River).

Snake River and the Snake Valley. Lot's of potatoes and onions here. I was already in the Idaho side.

Today's route:


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Map of my general location in the country.



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In Alturas California

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Today I  completed Highway 1. I  rode from Little River, CA to Alturas, CA for a total of 450 miles.
The trip was phenomenal. Highway 1 took me through dense Red Wood forest and along beautiful coast. The road was narrow with steep turns and sharp curves. Maximum speed posted was 20 and 15, impossible to go fast for the next 100 miles. I was not even able to take pictures one because the forest was dense and second because I had to concentrate on the ride. It was not until I got to Eureka that the terrain changed to wide long curves. I was averaging 60 miles and hour and it was really fun. Not a moment of boredom.
In  Leggett, Ca I stopped by to drive through a 2,400 years old Red Wood tree
for the modest fee of $3 dollars.
Leggett was the end of Highway 1. To continue my travel North to Eureka I took 101 North.

The temperature when I left the hotel was 50 F. All along the coast the air was chilly and humid and as I got further North, it got colder and colder. By the time I got to Eureka, the temperature felt in the 40's. I stopped in Eureka for lunch. In Eureka I moved Eastward on RT 299 E. As I moved away from the coast and headed East, the air warmed up to a balmy 75 degree. It was a relief!
My ride along 299 had many ups and downs in elevation. One time I would go as  high as 6000 then to 2000 feet. Lots of drastic changes in temperatures well.
I climbed some snowed cover mountains and as I left them behind I moved across an immense valley where the bugs where the order of the day.
I couldn't stop thinking that with each mile I ride I am getting closer to my house.
Still have that feeling of accomplishment even when I have half the trip to complete

The view of the lodge I stayed on in Little River

The view from a stretch on Highway 1

That ocean mist stuck to my helmet shield

There is a lot of construction on the highway but nothing big

Once you leave the coast you get into the forest. Great fun and very challenging road

This Red Wood tree has 2400 years.

I had to pay $3 bucks to do this. $5 for cars

This is on RT 101 North beautiful road

I was pumping gas in Weaverville and this is the view from the town. Soon I would be passing by other snow covered peaks.

First wave of a bug storm while riding through miles and miles of rice paddies

Second wave.

My pants!

This was today's route to Alturas,CA


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Time to Return Home

Today, I suddenly changed my mind. I was planing to leave Thursday, May 19 but it seems that I have to be back home earlier than I thought. For some reason, I am felling with a sense of accomplishment even when I have to do half of the trip back home. In my mind, I feel I am done and now I have to go back home.
The day looked mostly cloudy early in the morning but then it started to clear up. The sun started to show timidly on the window and that gave me confidence that the day was going to be clear. After doing my laundry, I picked up my things and say goodbye to Russ and Tina.

The plan is to go along the coast on route 1 and turn East in Eureka, CA. I crossed the famous Golden Gate bridge, stopped for the official picture and continue North to get on to route 1.

What a ride route 1 is!!! A narrow two lane road which I found very challenging. There is no time for distraction on this road. The turns are super sharp and steep. 25 miles per hour is the speed to manage this curves. Faster can put you across the yellow line. The wind was strong and cold. The mist from the ocean on my visor.

After 200 miles of riding, I stopped in Little River, CA just a few miles from Mendocino. Tomorrow, I plan to start the day early and make some progress. I don't know where I will finish the day .

My first stop in San Francisco

The wind coming from the ocean was strong and cold.

Highway 1 is challenging with very sharp and steep curves

My Chromehead brother Dennis. We met coincidentally while I was taking pictures in Bodega Bay, Salmon Creek Beach

Today's route


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