A quick report on an overnight ride to Bend, Oregon for Sport-Touring.net's West Coast Regional Meet - WCRM 2.  WCRM 1 was in Eureka in May and folks had such a good time that a "Part Deux" was suggested.  Any excuse to ride a few hundred miles, right?

The weekend began for me around 10:45 am on Saturday morning.  I packed a toothbrush and a clean pair of socks, and hit the road.  The route today would be from Portland through Estacada on highway 224 and then on to Forest Road 42 to Detroit Lake.  From Detroit Lake, it would be US 22 and 20 in to Bend for the BBQ.

The day was just about as perfect as you could want.  Dry, sunny, not too hot, not a lot of traffic.

I stopped for gas in Estacada and next to the gas station was a very aptly named insurance agency:


Kinda reminds me of a lawyer I knew once named John Suing...

Along highway 224, I stopped for a quick picture break


Along the Sandy River


On Forest Road 42


In a basalt canyon



The meet begins, the crew gathers

The folks that showed up were from Seattle and the Bay Area, Boise, Klamath Falls and other places in the west and northwest - just the local crowd.


The amazing Bluepoof in person!!



Dantes Dame tries out the host's Ural

Dr. Gil and his beautiful new Guzzi ... and the standard Napkin of Doom



Beautiful day for a BBQ

Some folks arrived from a little farther afield than the Northwest.  Earllier in the day, the crew coming down from Seattle ran in to a couple from Riezlern, Austria who were touring North America and were in their eighth month on the road!  A little later, they ran in to them again, inerted the location of the BBQ in to one of the Austrians GPS's and a few hours later, they arrived.


Cristiane and Michael's Honda Transalps - bikes not available in North America.  And, according to Michael, apparently parts are just as unavailable here too.



As you can see, not your typical North American registration plates!



With sunsets like this, why would one NOT want to live here?

We had a terrific afternoon / evening and the stories flowed almost as freely as the beer and hot dogs.  Most of us headed out around 9:30 or so.

Sunday started with breakfast at The Black Bear Diner, then the gathering broke up.  I headed up US 97 to US 197 to The Dalles and then on to Portland.

Along highway 197 outside of Maupin



Another great day and terrific views of the mountains.

I got home around 1:00 in the afternoon, took care of some needed errands, cleaned up the bike and resumed a normal Sunday afternoon.

A few links