Day-Day is a big neighborhood dog. He looks like a blond German shepherd with long hair. He runs free, walks by our yard, visits our dog - he has a kind 'face', never barks, never runs. I talked to him a couple weeks ago explaining about our dogs.
I met him one day when I took one of my co-Committee members home. I asked if that was her dog. She said yes, his name is Day-Day, 10 years old, and asked if he bothered us. I told her no, he came to visit and was very nice.
Last night I had my stepper situated just right where I could watch the Miami Heat get beat and where I could look out the front window. Not only did I see Dwayne Wade get injured but I also saw a bunch of dogs and a little kid walk by our front fence. There are usually no people who walk there - just dogs, since it is just a weedy path. There was a little kid, maybe 3 or 4, 2 little puppies, a medium sized dog, and - Day-Day! It was raining and almost dark so I was a little concerned about the little person. I watched as she walked down the path with the dogs, maybe going to the neighbor's house. The child sat down on the path between the neighbor's house and ours. Since I recognized Day-Day, I called her house.
Sure enough, my acquaintance was gone, but her daughter said she was missing her daughter. I asked what her daughter's name was and told her I would start walking her home as her mother walked over for her. She was about a 1/4 mile from home.
I started down the road and called out her name. She stopped, as did all her dogs. I told her my name and that I knew her Grandma and mentioned her by name, showed her where I live, and that I had just talked to her mother and her mom wanted me to walk her home. She was crying and didn't want to go with me. Day-Day was glad to see me, as were the puppies, so I asked her if those were her puppies and told her I knew Day-Day. She pointed to the neighbor's house, so I told her that wasn't her house, that her house was back the other way.
I could see her mother coming so I showed her and asked her if I could walk her over to her mother, but she would have none of it! Probably the only things not scarey about me was that I had on my Cookie Monster sweat shirt, which she kept looking at.
When her mom arrived, I told her she trained her well, she wasn't about to go with a stranger! Mom said she had sent the little girl out to feed the dogs while she went to wash clothes. When she came back, the daughter was gone. She went looking for her in the other direction. Grandma called today to thank me for taking care of her grand-daughter and for recognizing Day-Day.
It was a strong reminder of something that happened to me 60 some years ago. In fact, it was about this time of the year and I must have been about the same age. Our family was out root digging. The roots grow where there is lots of sagebruch. Our dog's name was Rover. He was a black and white collie-looking dog. He lived for almost 20 years! Anyway, I got lost - following Rover - probably what this little girl was doing, following Day-Day. I was so scared I was crying and going wherever he went. I finally found my parents and family. They didn't know I was lost until they saw I was crying because they could see Rover's tail and the top of my head so they knew where I was - but I didn't!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Last Leg - River Run 2008
Alrighty then! First we found the mailing place and mailed off our dirty clothes and purchases at Laughlin to ourself. When we left Kingman it was a gorgeous day! I took pictures of flowering cacti at the gas station. The ride to Vegas was pretty. The little flowers that I'd never seen before were along both sides of the road. We ate lunch in Vegas at the same place we ate on the way down. The ride to Tonopah was nice - saw a few bikers going our way. One other one from Oregon. Spent the night at the Clown motel again. Found a different (better) place to eat. As we neared Battle Mountain, the trip was nice, but the sky started to look weird. We didn't know what it was. Pretty soon the wind started and we figured out it was a dust storm. We gassed up in Battle Mountain and turn west toward Winnemucca! Were we in for a ride! The wind was so bad I could hardly keep my bobbing head still! The only respite we received was when a truck passed us and held the wind off for a few seconds! I've never been in that before and do not want to do it again! It was a LOOOONG 60 miles! The police were stopping traffic in Winnemucca and wouldn't let trailers (or bikes) go north, so we holed up in the motel after buying peanuts and pop. The KFC was right next door so I bought take out there. There were some other Natives there so we had a little visit. Turns out they were related to one of our neighbors. The neighbor is someone I don't know well so I told her this lady said hi and she knew exactly who I had seen!
The ride became, maybe not worse, but not much better. We awoke to snow all around us (again). It was 23 degrees F and we headed out - one of us could wait another day, but one of us could not. We froze! No other idiots were out on the road with us! At Denio, I again begged and pleaded to stay the night but it fell on deaf (literally) ears. On we went north and west after gassing up, Oregon or Bust! I can still feel how numbingly cold I was! I could hardly move! The driver asked me if I saw that antelope we almost hit and I didn't even care! Finally, we arrived in Burns and remarked at how warm it was. When we saw a thermometer, it was 40 degrees F!
Again my pleas to stay the night we ignored. I don't remember much after that except we did make it home safe and sound! It was a trip to remember but not one I want to do again. I'd love to go to the River Run again, but the weather makes me hesitant!
We talked to a friend in Parker, AZ today, April 26, 2009. He said it is a miserable 104 degrees there right now. We probably couldn't handle that so here we sit in 50 something weather killing weeds!
The ride became, maybe not worse, but not much better. We awoke to snow all around us (again). It was 23 degrees F and we headed out - one of us could wait another day, but one of us could not. We froze! No other idiots were out on the road with us! At Denio, I again begged and pleaded to stay the night but it fell on deaf (literally) ears. On we went north and west after gassing up, Oregon or Bust! I can still feel how numbingly cold I was! I could hardly move! The driver asked me if I saw that antelope we almost hit and I didn't even care! Finally, we arrived in Burns and remarked at how warm it was. When we saw a thermometer, it was 40 degrees F!
Again my pleas to stay the night we ignored. I don't remember much after that except we did make it home safe and sound! It was a trip to remember but not one I want to do again. I'd love to go to the River Run again, but the weather makes me hesitant!
We talked to a friend in Parker, AZ today, April 26, 2009. He said it is a miserable 104 degrees there right now. We probably couldn't handle that so here we sit in 50 something weather killing weeds!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
River Run, 2008
The wind was terrible! The driver is somewhat protected by the windshield, but the passenger's head is doing the bee-bop-alula! At some point, you just hang onto the person in front, try to keep no daylight between you, and grit your teeth, all the while grit is getting in your teeth! At Tonopah we stopped at the Clown Motel, fitting, huh? The next day - finally - the Eye on the Prize began some serious viewing! We were able to begin the fine art of stripping - first the leather jacket, then the next layer, then the next - coming from 23 degrees to 90 degrees F takes some effort!
In Las Vegas we were able to stop and enjoy the sun and warmth! Had lunch and prayed our way through the Vegas traffic. We saw on TV earlier that a dump truck had dumped its load right on the highway we were going to traverse. They had time to clean it up before we arrived. Gravel and bikes do mix, but they shouldn't.
Then, the clear sailing, beautiful, hot drive to Kingman! I saw more beautiful flowers in Nevada than I have ever seen before - Spring in Nevada is the time to go! The cacti have beautiful flowers as well as the tiny yellow flowers that were all along the roadway. We started seeing the bikes as well.
The War Pony was terribly dirty. We met some riders who came from Salt Lake City. They thought they had a long trip until they heard how far we had come. We had gone about 850 miles. We did have the dirtiest bike! As soon as we checked in to the motel, we dug out the always present cleaning materials. The motel supplied a bike washing area. We hosed him off and shined him up to prepare for our arrival in Laughlin.
There were so many bikes - all kinds, all colors, all sounds! I cannot do the River Run justice by mere words - one would have to be there and I strongly suggest that it be done. At one time in the past there were gang problems but not at this time.
We drove with many others from Kingman to Laughlin, about 30 miles. It was at least 90 degrees F every day we were there. We went from Kingman to Oatman, where the burros take over. The trip, about 20 miles from Laughlin, consisted of bumper-to-bumper bikes. I know, bikes don't have bumpers but you can figure it out. In Oatman, there was standing room only - no place to park - so we just drove through, very slowly and very loudly! Most riders turned around at the end of town, which is just a couple blocks, but we went on the 'back' road to Kingman, the old Route 66. It is a gorgeous ride, lots of turns, and much cooler than the Laughlin side.
More tomorrow about the ride home.
In Las Vegas we were able to stop and enjoy the sun and warmth! Had lunch and prayed our way through the Vegas traffic. We saw on TV earlier that a dump truck had dumped its load right on the highway we were going to traverse. They had time to clean it up before we arrived. Gravel and bikes do mix, but they shouldn't.
Then, the clear sailing, beautiful, hot drive to Kingman! I saw more beautiful flowers in Nevada than I have ever seen before - Spring in Nevada is the time to go! The cacti have beautiful flowers as well as the tiny yellow flowers that were all along the roadway. We started seeing the bikes as well.
The War Pony was terribly dirty. We met some riders who came from Salt Lake City. They thought they had a long trip until they heard how far we had come. We had gone about 850 miles. We did have the dirtiest bike! As soon as we checked in to the motel, we dug out the always present cleaning materials. The motel supplied a bike washing area. We hosed him off and shined him up to prepare for our arrival in Laughlin.
There were so many bikes - all kinds, all colors, all sounds! I cannot do the River Run justice by mere words - one would have to be there and I strongly suggest that it be done. At one time in the past there were gang problems but not at this time.
We drove with many others from Kingman to Laughlin, about 30 miles. It was at least 90 degrees F every day we were there. We went from Kingman to Oatman, where the burros take over. The trip, about 20 miles from Laughlin, consisted of bumper-to-bumper bikes. I know, bikes don't have bumpers but you can figure it out. In Oatman, there was standing room only - no place to park - so we just drove through, very slowly and very loudly! Most riders turned around at the end of town, which is just a couple blocks, but we went on the 'back' road to Kingman, the old Route 66. It is a gorgeous ride, lots of turns, and much cooler than the Laughlin side.
More tomorrow about the ride home.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Electrician and Wind and Memories
The bathroom light would not come on this morning. The fan and heater and outlet all worked so I called an electrician. He did not know when he could be here so here I sit, waiting, 5 hours later. The Hog rider had a lunch meeting, to return after lunch to pick me up. We were going to ride to Shaniko, Antelope and that area. It is warm, 70's, but the wind is beginning to pick up so I'm guessing the ride, although still fun, would not be comfortable in the wind. I should have washed clothes and hung them on the line, but the electrical box is right beside the washing machine; I didn't want him to have to put up with that if he had showed up quickly.
One year ago, we made the decision to make our first trek to the River Run in Laughlin, Nevada. We'd have to go through a few states and weather conditions to get there, but our Eye on the Prize was 90 degree F weather there.
As we left home it was raining. Sixty miles south it was still raining and becoming colder. One hundred miles south it was snowing and we were riding in slush. We stayed the night in Klamath Falls, awaking to an inch of slushy snow on the Hog. We continued on south, even in the spitting snow and cold. The thought of our children calling out Dumb and Dumber to their loving parents began creeping through my mind, could they be onto something? After seeing 2 snow plows, one of which had been in a wreck with a UPS truck, one of us pressured the other to stop at the next motel. There actually was one in Adan, California. It was snowing pretty hard when we stopped at the motel. The startled look I received from the young man at the front desk was probably because I had on leathers, helmet, dark glasses and came in from a snow storm. They must have needed the business pretty bad, they let us stay. The rate was very reasonable and the room was huge. There was even a stall for the War Pony. We immediately cranked up the heater. There was a store down the street, that and a gas station, were about the size of the town. We grabbed some sandwiches and soda and went back to continue the warming up phase.
Our cell phones did not work down in that hole. One of us thought about calling our daughter-in-law, the only person we knew who had a landline, but the clearer head prevailed and we were convinced no-one would be worried about us.
The next day we awakened to more snow. We waited a couple hours for the sun to come forth but it was not to be. As we were packing up the pony, a pickup pulled up beside us. The guy asked where we were headed - we told him the River Run. He said he had planned on going on his Harley but family obligations prevailed. After some discussion, he told us what the road conditions were, told us we were Brave and Braver (or something like that) and sent us on our way.
He was absolutely correct! The road was really bad for about 5 miles. There were some inches of snow, with ice underneath. We have never asked the Pony to traverse such a path before and hope to never again! The War Pony was great, the driver was great, and the scenery was fabulous! We were on a slight incline, overlooking a stream down below. We hoped the Hog would not go down, we would not be able to pick him up on the ice, and there were no other dummies, I mean brave people, out and about.
Just as he said, after the long 5 mile ride, the road cleared up and we were on our way again! We stopped in Susanville for breakfast. As soon as I turned on my phone, I heard panicky calls wondering where we were and what happened! Somewhere along the way the tables have turned and the childlren are worried about their dumb parents, when, for so long, it was the other way around!
More about that trip tomorrow!
One year ago, we made the decision to make our first trek to the River Run in Laughlin, Nevada. We'd have to go through a few states and weather conditions to get there, but our Eye on the Prize was 90 degree F weather there.
As we left home it was raining. Sixty miles south it was still raining and becoming colder. One hundred miles south it was snowing and we were riding in slush. We stayed the night in Klamath Falls, awaking to an inch of slushy snow on the Hog. We continued on south, even in the spitting snow and cold. The thought of our children calling out Dumb and Dumber to their loving parents began creeping through my mind, could they be onto something? After seeing 2 snow plows, one of which had been in a wreck with a UPS truck, one of us pressured the other to stop at the next motel. There actually was one in Adan, California. It was snowing pretty hard when we stopped at the motel. The startled look I received from the young man at the front desk was probably because I had on leathers, helmet, dark glasses and came in from a snow storm. They must have needed the business pretty bad, they let us stay. The rate was very reasonable and the room was huge. There was even a stall for the War Pony. We immediately cranked up the heater. There was a store down the street, that and a gas station, were about the size of the town. We grabbed some sandwiches and soda and went back to continue the warming up phase.
Our cell phones did not work down in that hole. One of us thought about calling our daughter-in-law, the only person we knew who had a landline, but the clearer head prevailed and we were convinced no-one would be worried about us.
The next day we awakened to more snow. We waited a couple hours for the sun to come forth but it was not to be. As we were packing up the pony, a pickup pulled up beside us. The guy asked where we were headed - we told him the River Run. He said he had planned on going on his Harley but family obligations prevailed. After some discussion, he told us what the road conditions were, told us we were Brave and Braver (or something like that) and sent us on our way.
He was absolutely correct! The road was really bad for about 5 miles. There were some inches of snow, with ice underneath. We have never asked the Pony to traverse such a path before and hope to never again! The War Pony was great, the driver was great, and the scenery was fabulous! We were on a slight incline, overlooking a stream down below. We hoped the Hog would not go down, we would not be able to pick him up on the ice, and there were no other dummies, I mean brave people, out and about.
Just as he said, after the long 5 mile ride, the road cleared up and we were on our way again! We stopped in Susanville for breakfast. As soon as I turned on my phone, I heard panicky calls wondering where we were and what happened! Somewhere along the way the tables have turned and the childlren are worried about their dumb parents, when, for so long, it was the other way around!
More about that trip tomorrow!
Trees and Ice Cream
Tuesday - another very warm day, so warm that we had to stay home and water trees and rose bushes today. I took pictures to add but not sure how to add them just yet so you'll just have to picture them. The roses have some leaf buds and some leaves, but no flowers. The Oaks have serious leaf buds. The lilacs have purple buds but no flowers yet. The Mountain Ash have leaves and small flowers (they should flower soon and attract hummingbirds within a month). Shilo's vine is starting anew - I cut it back completely. The wisteria is weighing heavy on the arbor I made a couple years ago. I'll have to add more uprights or the vine will take it down! It's budding. Grandpa's pear/apple tree has hundreds of flowers, but last year it did the same thing, then froze, so I hope it comes to fruition this year! They taste great! His pear tree out front is also blooming, the fruit from it is not very tasty. Grandma's lilac bush is huge and about to bust out in bloom. Her rose bush is finally starting to recover from being abused 6 years ago (!) when we moved in and added onto the house right there. Grandpa's flowers, daffodils up front, tulips under a tree, and little purple flowers, are starting to show up. I never know what he has planted where until they arrive!
We took the War Pony to town to the DQ to have burgers and ice cream. We ran across an old friend and had a good visit. Then it was back home to more watering and weed pulling.
I forgot to mention on our trip to Sisters we saw lots of deer - 2 in downtown Tumalo and a little herd on the Old Bend-Redmond Highway. Time to be careful - biking and deer don't mix, well, very well, anyway. Just a few miles today, but very worth the trip!
We took the War Pony to town to the DQ to have burgers and ice cream. We ran across an old friend and had a good visit. Then it was back home to more watering and weed pulling.
I forgot to mention on our trip to Sisters we saw lots of deer - 2 in downtown Tumalo and a little herd on the Old Bend-Redmond Highway. Time to be careful - biking and deer don't mix, well, very well, anyway. Just a few miles today, but very worth the trip!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Time wasters, such as grocery shopping and banking, slowed down the riding today. Around noon, the temp was in the 70's F; time to go to the local Mexican food place, Mazatlan, for lunch. It was great, chicken enchilada and tostado. Before we arrived in Madras, across from the Lake Simtustus, Pelton Park turnoff, the two Mountain Sheep, transplanted about 4 years ago, were grazing. I have seen them twice this year - before that, I had decided they left; if they did, they returned. After lunch, it was on toward Terrebonne, right on Lower Bridge Road, which used to be known as the back road to Sisters.
The last time I drove my parents on this back road, they told me what was around every turn! At one point, Mom said "There's a little house up here around the corner," and sure enough, there it was. They traveled that road frequently in their younger days, crossing the back of the reservation.
On one of our trips when I was a youngster, a hail storm hit us. The kids were in the back of the pickup with the 2 dogs. The folks stuffed the kids up front with them (7 of us!) and the little dog stood under the big dog until the storm was over. It was a good one!
On the way to Sisters on this road, you come to what used to be called the Dicalite mine. It was also called the kitty litter place. It is actually diatomaceous earth - made of diatoms from years long ago living in water - now known as the high desert, although located beside the Deschutes River. Now that earth is sometimes used in the making of fireproof doors, among other things.
The 'back road' hardly had any homes along it; now there are not only many homes, but they are very nice homes, homes with big pastures, lots of irrigation, and beautiful animals! We took the road around (northeast) of the town of Sisters - houses everywhere! What do all these people do! Sisters used to be a tiny, beautiful, tree-laden logging town; now it is a tourist attraction.
Eastward we went toward Bend from Sisters. Haven't been on that road for quite a while as well. It was the same thing - almost solid housing developments almost to Tumalo where we turned left toward Redmond. From there we took the Old Redmond-Bend road, on to Redmond and on home.
Yesterday we rode 257 miles. Today it was a mere but hot 139 miles. We arrived back home around 4:30. Yesterday was leather jacket day, today wa a no jacket day.
The last time I drove my parents on this back road, they told me what was around every turn! At one point, Mom said "There's a little house up here around the corner," and sure enough, there it was. They traveled that road frequently in their younger days, crossing the back of the reservation.
On one of our trips when I was a youngster, a hail storm hit us. The kids were in the back of the pickup with the 2 dogs. The folks stuffed the kids up front with them (7 of us!) and the little dog stood under the big dog until the storm was over. It was a good one!
On the way to Sisters on this road, you come to what used to be called the Dicalite mine. It was also called the kitty litter place. It is actually diatomaceous earth - made of diatoms from years long ago living in water - now known as the high desert, although located beside the Deschutes River. Now that earth is sometimes used in the making of fireproof doors, among other things.
The 'back road' hardly had any homes along it; now there are not only many homes, but they are very nice homes, homes with big pastures, lots of irrigation, and beautiful animals! We took the road around (northeast) of the town of Sisters - houses everywhere! What do all these people do! Sisters used to be a tiny, beautiful, tree-laden logging town; now it is a tourist attraction.
Eastward we went toward Bend from Sisters. Haven't been on that road for quite a while as well. It was the same thing - almost solid housing developments almost to Tumalo where we turned left toward Redmond. From there we took the Old Redmond-Bend road, on to Redmond and on home.
Yesterday we rode 257 miles. Today it was a mere but hot 139 miles. We arrived back home around 4:30. Yesterday was leather jacket day, today wa a no jacket day.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Finally! HOG weather!
Do we go left or right at the intersection? We turned left on Hwy. 26. Right on Tribal road to Simnasho.
The 2 year old burns have left blackened pines on Beaver Grade, but there is now lots of space for the buttercups (ranunculus). It reminds me of when I was much younger, my dad would bring home buttercups for my mom. I brought buttercups to my parents' home when they were older and he was not able to drive and pick flowers any more. My sister had arrived just before me bearing a huge bouquet of various flowers from her husband's garden! We learned to bring flowers from our father who was always bringing the prettiest flowers to home - buttercups, tiger lilies, white lilies, lady slippers; probably flowers that are not in the woods any more (where he always worked) because of the logging that has occurred.
We arrived at Simnasho, where the gas is reasonably priced, turned left past Levi's house, on to Wapinitia. In Sahaptin, Wapinitia means 'flat place' which it is. As others came forth, not understanding the meaning of the word, they 'moved' the name further west to the mountains and called it Wapinitia Pass. Not too fitting! One of the dangers of motorcycling is cattle! A whole herd was entering Wapinitia as we were, but the HOG scared them right back into their pasture.
We have not been to Pine Grove for years so it was left at Highway 216. There isn't much left of Pine Grove, not even a store. There are fond memories, though. During the flood of 1964, the bridges around home were washed out. Some fools drove a pink cadillac to Pine Grove for the necessities that are, necessarily, packaged in cases. There are also stories of meeting up with a Chief there, but those will not be repeated at this time.
Turning around, we headed east on the highway to the intersection, then left to The Dalles. There was one recent kill of a deer beside the highway. The Circle of Life goes on - the turkey vultures were feasting.
There is usually at least one deer in the fields around Tygh Valley, but not on this trip. There was a calf out beside the road, we suggested that he go back to join his herd.
We motored, loudly and quickly, up the Tygh grade towards The Dalles via Dufur. The trip was beautiful and we started meeting other cyclists.
Cherry trees are almost in full bloom in The Dalles. As we drove towards the Columbia River I thought about my parents. Mom was raised in the Indian cabins (shacks) behind what is now the Shilo Inn. After their marriage and many children, my parents frequently visited the 'development' where my grandparents and other members of the family lived until The Dalles Dam was built in 1958. Mom said as they came by horse and wagon, the kids had a song they sang to the river as they approached. Every time I drove my parents to visit the area, I'd try to get her to remember the song. She never did, we have to come up with our own.
Arrow leaf balsamroot is is full bloom everywhere. That's a sign that the salmon are coming! Yay! Good travels for them!
One of Mom's stories concerned apple orchards that used to be on the road to The Dalles. Grandma was driving the horse and wagon and mom and her brother were riding horses. The kids stopped to pick a few apples. A policeman stopped grandma and told her that her kids were stealing. She said her kids do not steal and threated the man with her bullwhip! She went on her way.
It was always fun to go there. The banks of the river were like the beach back them. There was lots of sand and red 'flowers' that we called sandflowers. The 'big' house (I realized later in life it wasn't very big) was where my grandparents lived. It had a big porch where the women would sit outside and get food ready. Apparently all I could do was peel 'taters because that's all I remember doing. They cut them in large chunks and we had boiled potatoes and salmon. Yum! The scraps would be thrown out the window right back into the river.
Today we went on to Burgerville in The Dalles, one of our favorite places to eat. We then crossed the bridge over the River we turned east, past Maryhill Museum, and on to Goldendale. I had driven past Goldendale but never stopped. We did today and it is a very nice little town. When my children were younger, we drove by Goldendale once and there was a huge 'junkyard' of old used cars. My daughter asked what it was so we told her it was a place for old bodies (we must have forgotten to say car bodies) where you could take body parts if you needed them. She said that was GROSS.
Anyway, on back to the bridge at Biggs Junction where we gassed up. The super was $2.43, the cheapest we'd seen. We went west on I-84, back to The Dalles. As we passed the old shacks again, I was reminded that where the OSP now is, used to be a peach orchard. We'd drive by it to see Uncle Joe and Aunt Ruth.
We went on to Cousins Restaurant to have apple and strawberry cream pie. Expensive but very good! In Tygh Valley, we saw a coyote where we expected to see deer in the pasture, but there were none.
Onward to home the way we came! The temp today when we started was in the 60's (F) and in the 80's when we arrived home, from 11 AM to 6 PM. We met about 100 other riders. Good Ride! Go War Pony!
The 2 year old burns have left blackened pines on Beaver Grade, but there is now lots of space for the buttercups (ranunculus). It reminds me of when I was much younger, my dad would bring home buttercups for my mom. I brought buttercups to my parents' home when they were older and he was not able to drive and pick flowers any more. My sister had arrived just before me bearing a huge bouquet of various flowers from her husband's garden! We learned to bring flowers from our father who was always bringing the prettiest flowers to home - buttercups, tiger lilies, white lilies, lady slippers; probably flowers that are not in the woods any more (where he always worked) because of the logging that has occurred.
We arrived at Simnasho, where the gas is reasonably priced, turned left past Levi's house, on to Wapinitia. In Sahaptin, Wapinitia means 'flat place' which it is. As others came forth, not understanding the meaning of the word, they 'moved' the name further west to the mountains and called it Wapinitia Pass. Not too fitting! One of the dangers of motorcycling is cattle! A whole herd was entering Wapinitia as we were, but the HOG scared them right back into their pasture.
We have not been to Pine Grove for years so it was left at Highway 216. There isn't much left of Pine Grove, not even a store. There are fond memories, though. During the flood of 1964, the bridges around home were washed out. Some fools drove a pink cadillac to Pine Grove for the necessities that are, necessarily, packaged in cases. There are also stories of meeting up with a Chief there, but those will not be repeated at this time.
Turning around, we headed east on the highway to the intersection, then left to The Dalles. There was one recent kill of a deer beside the highway. The Circle of Life goes on - the turkey vultures were feasting.
There is usually at least one deer in the fields around Tygh Valley, but not on this trip. There was a calf out beside the road, we suggested that he go back to join his herd.
We motored, loudly and quickly, up the Tygh grade towards The Dalles via Dufur. The trip was beautiful and we started meeting other cyclists.
Cherry trees are almost in full bloom in The Dalles. As we drove towards the Columbia River I thought about my parents. Mom was raised in the Indian cabins (shacks) behind what is now the Shilo Inn. After their marriage and many children, my parents frequently visited the 'development' where my grandparents and other members of the family lived until The Dalles Dam was built in 1958. Mom said as they came by horse and wagon, the kids had a song they sang to the river as they approached. Every time I drove my parents to visit the area, I'd try to get her to remember the song. She never did, we have to come up with our own.
Arrow leaf balsamroot is is full bloom everywhere. That's a sign that the salmon are coming! Yay! Good travels for them!
One of Mom's stories concerned apple orchards that used to be on the road to The Dalles. Grandma was driving the horse and wagon and mom and her brother were riding horses. The kids stopped to pick a few apples. A policeman stopped grandma and told her that her kids were stealing. She said her kids do not steal and threated the man with her bullwhip! She went on her way.
It was always fun to go there. The banks of the river were like the beach back them. There was lots of sand and red 'flowers' that we called sandflowers. The 'big' house (I realized later in life it wasn't very big) was where my grandparents lived. It had a big porch where the women would sit outside and get food ready. Apparently all I could do was peel 'taters because that's all I remember doing. They cut them in large chunks and we had boiled potatoes and salmon. Yum! The scraps would be thrown out the window right back into the river.
Today we went on to Burgerville in The Dalles, one of our favorite places to eat. We then crossed the bridge over the River we turned east, past Maryhill Museum, and on to Goldendale. I had driven past Goldendale but never stopped. We did today and it is a very nice little town. When my children were younger, we drove by Goldendale once and there was a huge 'junkyard' of old used cars. My daughter asked what it was so we told her it was a place for old bodies (we must have forgotten to say car bodies) where you could take body parts if you needed them. She said that was GROSS.
Anyway, on back to the bridge at Biggs Junction where we gassed up. The super was $2.43, the cheapest we'd seen. We went west on I-84, back to The Dalles. As we passed the old shacks again, I was reminded that where the OSP now is, used to be a peach orchard. We'd drive by it to see Uncle Joe and Aunt Ruth.
We went on to Cousins Restaurant to have apple and strawberry cream pie. Expensive but very good! In Tygh Valley, we saw a coyote where we expected to see deer in the pasture, but there were none.
Onward to home the way we came! The temp today when we started was in the 60's (F) and in the 80's when we arrived home, from 11 AM to 6 PM. We met about 100 other riders. Good Ride! Go War Pony!
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