Picto Diary - 17 July 2020 - Coos Bay to John Day
Above: Kaffe 101. Coffee House. Coos Bay, Oregon. 17 July 2020.
Escape the Insanity Tour
Out and about on the Duc
Breakfast. Christian place. A coupla (sic) Bible study groups going on. Scriptures on the walls. Egg, sausage biscuit. Peaceful.
Today: Coos Bay, OR to John Day, OR. Via Duc. 375 miles.
"Go to the woods to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries." Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
Above: Umpqua Lighthouse and Duc. Umpqua, Oregon. 17 July 2020.
Escaping the Insanity Tour
Out and about on the Duc.
Friend, restoration expert, John Lambert, did restoration work here.
"Go to the woods to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries." Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Above: Elk. Reedsport, OR. 17 July 2020.
Escaping the Insanity Tour
Out and about on the Duc.
OR SR 34
"Go to the woods to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries." Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Above: Patsy McKensie"s Stage Shop, Cedar Flat, OR. 17 July 2020.
Escaping the Insanity Tour
Out and about on the Duc.
Patsy's homemade clam chowder.
"Go to the woods to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries." Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Above: The Sisters and the Duc. Sisters, OR. 17 July 2020.
Escaping the Insanity Tour
Out and about on the Duc.
OR SR 126
Was thru this area two years ago, on way from Ashland, via Crater Lake, Bend, Madras, and Pendleton on my way to Walla Walla to stay with friends. SW to NE.
This time I traveled, due east, 375 miles from Coos Bay, through the Bend/Redmond/Sisters area to John Day. W to E. OR 34, OR 126 and US 26 segments, most of the way, new roads for me.
The final road segment today, 160 miles non stop from Sisters to John Day was a joy. Not so warm. 84 degrees. Virtually empty, new surface, curving, undulating highway. No wind. Stark, hilly, sandy, brush covered, empty, but for the occasional ranch by a stream, landscape. Ever hypnotizing Duc drone. No Walking Mask People. No Walking Dead. No Zombies. Nirvana ride.
This is out back, empty, Oregon. Big skies. Big scenery. Vistas. Bypassing Portland, today a good setting for a post apocalyptic Max Brooks or Stephen King zombie, mask people, or triffids novel.
Regretted, as I rode through Sisters, not taking the time to locate six one time friends who live in, or have second homes, in the area. Bruce and Cindy. My Citi boss in Calcutta, early '70's. We went through the All India Bank Employees Union wars together. Keith and Juliana. We were friends in Tokyo in the mid 80's. Jim and Sue. US Consulate officers in Calcutta during the early '70's.
TIMDT and Mwah (sic) were through Sisters on a motorcycle jaunt circa 2000 and had a pleasant visit with all three couples. Bruce left Citi in the mid 80's to go work for Phil Frost's Nike, in Japan. Sue was a docent at the High Desert Museum outside of Bend. Jim and Keith, each separately, accomplished trans US and back bicycle rides.
Above: Outpost Pizza Pub and Grill. John Day, OR. 17 July 2020.
Escaping the Insanity Tour.
Out and about on the Duc.
Senior Menu:
Meat loaf, baked potatoes, veggies, IPA.
Two John Day memories come to mind. Circa 2002. Moved my bike, sans helmet, from parking place to park on the other side of the street. John Day cop spotted my heinous violation and gave me a ticket for riding helmet less. Helmet laws are dumb. So is riding without them. Circa 2006. Shared a Post Hotel room in Lake Louise with Mr. Z3. Forgot to put on wedding ring post shower before going out to dinner with Mr. Z3. On return to room couldn't locate ring. Gave hotel manager my number in case my ring turned up. No accusations. Two days later, as I was riding into John Day, my cell rang. It was the GM of the Lake Louise Post Hotel. Post Hotel had my ring. I surmise that the hotel staff got the third degree, and at least one of them was fired.
"Go into the woods to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries." Jean-Jacques Rousseau