Last days of this big Adventure

Marty put new tyres on the BMW and front brake pads so the bike is all ready for the journey north in a few days time.
We have decided to just gang out in Portland as it's too dam hot to go riding plus there are so many fires in the areas we wanted to visit it isn't practical to go there.

So tonight after a very lazy day (again) we went to Lardos for dinner with Andrew Denise Jon and Lynette. They had no pina colada beer so I had a watermelon one which wasn't that great. Then Denise and I had a Darker and Stormier cocktail which was rum and ginger and had a bit of a kick to it.

The Gormans and us went across the road to the crepe cart for dessert before returning home.

Saturday and Andrew and Denise shot off to a family reunion early this morning and Jon had gone up to Bend so once again we blobbed all day. Still very hot.

We walked up to Woodstock and had tea in the Thai restaurant then strolled home. Andrew was back so we had a wee chat then hopped across the road to Jon’s where we are currently sleeping.

Another lazy day reading but we did go to another free concert. This time it was the Portland Symphony Orchestra playing along with a local band who were very good to. The rose gardens in the park were lovely.

Monday and the days activities were the same as previous days. Tonights concert was supposedly a blue grass one but we think it was more folk but still good. Watching all the little kids .

We failed to fire on Tuesday but Wednesdsy morning with Andrew in charge we were all loaded into the car just after 8am and on our way to the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville.

The main attraction was the Spruce Goose. What a gi normous plane that is. It made the other planes look like toys. We spent all day wandering around the two huge buildings. An adult dose of planes!

We went to a little bbq joint for dinner. Was nice. Then back to Portland.

A nice day out.

Bad sleep. My bladder sprung a leak and I made at least 4 trips to the loo before 6am. Had to have a wee sleep in to compensate.

Another lazy day but a free concert to finish. It was Portland's own Patrick Lamb and he was very popular with the crowd.

Friday morning we all headed up to Tenino to a motorcycle swap meet. Andrew misjudged the distance thinking it was about 80 miles away but it was much further. There were a couple of nice bikes there that Andrew and MJ were smitten with but not enough to part with any dollars. Marty picked up a brake plate he's been hunting for, for quite a while  so he was very happy.

We had lunch in a nice little 50’s style diner then returned for a final sweep of the swap meet.

I slept most of the way home but still needed an early night.

Our time of blogging in Portland gas come to an end so Saturday morning we got the bike packed up, said our farewells to Jon, Andrew and Denise and headed off. Felt a bit strange being on the back.

A few miles up the I5 Marty pulled over as he said the brakes felt a bit squidgey and not there. He had a brief look and everything seemed to be ok and the brakes were back so we carried on. Several miles later a couple of guys in a mini drew alongside and were looking at the bike. Next thing they are pointing at the bike with a large note in the passenger window. I couldn't read that  but hot the hint and told MJ that we needed to pull over and check the bike as something wasn't right. No easy task when you have to cross 4 lanes of fast moving traffic but we did and when J hot off and inspected the bike we discovered that the front right brake caliper was floating in the breeze. Both bolts had disappeared. MJ found a bit of string on the roadside and tied it up.

The BMW GPS was able to tell us where the nearest BMW dealer was but we had no cell ph coverage so we sedately rode to the nearest food outlet so we could make a ph call to see if they were open and had the parts and we could have lunch. Luckily for us they were open till 5 and had the bolts and were about 50 miles away just south of Tacoma.

We turn off the freeway and the first turn we have to make after that is impossible because they had closed the bridge. This threw the GPS into a real spin and was no help at all. A few minutes later we spotted a couple of policemen so we stopped and asked them for directions. They went one step better and one of them escorted us right to the BMW shop.

We left there an hour or so later and considerably poorer.  The bolts were a bargain st $9 but purchasing our missing left hand pannier was not. But it looks really good having all panniers on so we just won't think about the cost.

Marty was very impressed with the purple PD they had for sale. He will gave to settle for the photos.

The closer we get to BC the smoker it becomes. Landscapes just disappear in the haze.

The border crossing was very quick and painless.

We arrived at Cultus Lake about 1.30. The smoke haze here is really bad.

Packed all the miscellaneous bike parts into the side panniers. Just as well we have the extra bag as John had quite a few bits and pieces for us.

Came to our motel in Chilliwack about 6 and went and had Chinese for tea and dairy queen for dessert. Going to have to straight onto a very strict food campaign when I get home!!

The smoke has made my eyes a bit sore. I'd hate to have to live with this for weeks and weeks.

All our stuff is packed and ready to go. Tomorrow we take the bike to the freight forwarders and we head to the Airport. The trip is done and dusted.  Had a great time but we are looking forward to coming home.

Blobbing on the Oregon Coast

We moved over to Jon’s place today as Andrew and Denise have gone to Minnesota to visit family. Had a very lazy day. Went to Lardos with Jon and one if his mates for dinner. It is a cycling hangout for them. Nice food and beer. I had a couple of pina colada beers. Very nice. Even MJ had a couple.
I had to buy one of their T shirts which has this slogan on it "Bringing fat back" and a picture of a pig with all the different cuts of meat. Might be my new cycling shirt when I get home.

Repeat of yesterday except tonight we walked up to another of Jon's favourite eateries then went to a supermarket where we had dessert on their open air balcony along with an ale then walked home.

We got ourselves organised,  washing done, house tidied and were on the road just after 1pm heading for the beach house at Rockaway Beach. Was a lovely ride. Bit hairy getting out of Portland as Mrs GPS still not talking to me. I had a near miss when I made a bad lane change. Things settled down once we were on the highway heading west. Stopped at a Pizza Hut  in Garibaldi for a drink.

The beach house is lovely. A easy 1km walk to the beach.

Water wasn't that warm and it is not a safe beach for swimming so we just paddled.

Walked up and down the main shopping block checking out the shops.  Bought a butter dish in an antique shop that sells fake antiques. The lady who served us reminded me of Blanche off the Golden Girls.

We went to a bakery for coffee and a scone and were very disappointed. Won’t revisit there.

Blobbed out for the rest of the day.

Woke to rain so canned the idea of the train trip. It cleared later in the day do we wandered back into town and grabbed something for tea.

Tried the Grumpy cafe today. Far superior and the guy in charge was very personable, cracking jokes with all the customers. We had a good old chat to him when we were the only ones left. He said we were the 3rd NZ couple he’d had in the last 3 weeks. Normally doesn’t see many at all..

Marty met a couple of the neighbours who were wondering why the front door was open and no car in the driveway. Once they were satisfied we weren't robbing the place they toddled off.

We are getting very lazy but it us nice to relax after all the miles we have done.

Set of for our friend Mark's place in Toledo. Lovely ride down the 101 but heaps of traffic so speed wasn't an issue. A reminder of the perils of swimming in these waters  was seen along the way with medics attending to a prone swimmer on one of the beaches we passed. Didn't look good.

In Newport the police were all go attending to a motorcyclist who had come to grief. Sadly he hadn't heard of the benefits of protective clothing so will be suffering a bit of gravel rash amongst other injuries I guess.

I overshot Mark's driveway so had to do a ten point turn on the gravel road. Bugger!!

Had a lovely evening with Mark, his new wife, Theresa (of 2 weeks ) and their friend Lang. He too is a motorcyclist and the boys disappeared for a couple of hours to check out his collection. He has some rare machines including a cyclone. One if only 4 v twins known of and worth in the region of a million dollars. Marty preferred the Ivor Johnson which he bought off Steve Mcqueen’s estate. He had Harley’s and Excelsiors as well. Nice man with lots of tales to tell. He grew up with the likes of Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood and Bud Ekins.

After Theresa returned from church and Mark and MJ reappeared from Marks “shop” having checked out his bikes and projects we went to a favourite restaurant of Mark’s in Newport for lunch. It had fabulous views of the beach.

We then were given a guided tour of  Newport and their little town of Toledo. Was great.

Played a board game which nobody won but was a bit of a laugh.

We got on the road just after 11. Had a bt of sea fog thru Newport but then it cleared and we had a pleasant ride back to Rockaway Beach. Traffic was way less which was nice. We stopped at the Tillarmook Creamery to do some cheese tasting but the crowds were ridiculous so after using the loos (queues out the door and down the corridor for the ladies) and a quick look around we left.

After unpacking and having a coffee we went for a walk into town and bought a few supplies. Had tea in the local pizza place. Was quite expensive at $31 for a medium pizza but it was yummy and we have enough left over for another meal.

Today we finally got to do the train trip to Garibaldi. It was fun. Hard case how so many people stop and wave to the train as it goes past.

Afternoon tea at Grumpy’s cafe then home to relax.

Left over pizza and Van Camps pork and beans for tea which were sadly lacking in pork but they hit the spot and were washed down with coffee.

We rode up to Astoria today which is about 60 miles up the coast. Lots of traffic so was a slowish ride. Quite a bit if sea fog so not much to see. I thought Astoria was a quite little seaside town but it is quite a big busy place. We ended up going right thru the main shopping area which wasn't fun. Eventually we were able to turn around and begin our search for the Column. Marty spotted the sign so a quick U turn and we headed up the hill to where it stands. Cost us $5 to park.

We climbed the 164 steps to the top. I wasn't too pleased when on several occasions I had to relinquish my spot on the handrail to others, but If I hadn't no one would have moved. Quite a view from the top. Took the necessary photos then climbed down.

We thought it would be cool to ride over the Astoria bridge which crosses the Columbia River. It is 6.5km long. Nearly missed the on ramp for it but I spotted it as we sat a some lights and told MJ that we needed to change lanes. There was a gap so we took it. He didn't realise that I meant two lanes but we made it and got to ride over the bridge, then turned around and came back across and headed back to Rockaway Beach. Traffic was a bit lighter but there were some useless drivers on the road. We stopped for late lunch at a Chinese restaurant. We each came out with a doggy bag for tea.

The thick sea fog meant there was no seeing the sea and coast at all.  Bummer because if would have been very nice.

Time to head back to Portland. Traffic through Tillamook was at an almost standstill but once we were thru there it was fine. The pleasant coastal temperatures soon disappeared and by the time we were a few miles onto the 26 East it had risen to 35°. Was over 36° by the time we hit Portland around 3.15. Traffic wasn’t too bad and I only made one wrong turn which we were easily able to correct and despite the heat was a stress free ride to Schiller Street.

It was only after I got off the bike and out of my hot bike gear that I suddenly felt very light headed and faint. Then things started to look blurry with black dots so I knew I wasn’t good. Lots of water and cold wet towels later I started to feel human again. Heat stroke!!

Recovered enough to go to a concert in the park with Andrew and Denise. It was a Earth Wind and Fire tribute band and they were very good.

Got to get used to the heat of Portland again.