234 miles between Eugene and Sutherlin, Oregon

[j2x]

Fortunately the weatherman was right on this weekend, for once. It had ained on and every day for the last week and this week is looking to be more of the same, but Saturday was supposed to be at worst cloudy, but no precipitation was expected.

Here's the route (using everytrail.com- free to use, btw)
http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/display...22.102.39.html

I met Riley at about 9:30am on Saturday. This is Willamette St. and, like, 42nd looking south. Very foggy!


Lorane Highway was empty, dry, and still quite foggy.


We had other plans, but Cottage Grove- Lorane Road is a fun little cruise.


I had already filled up in town, but Riley had the pleasure of paying $4/gal for regular in Lorane before we really got started. I snapped this while looking west from the gas station.


This was my first new road of the day. I'd tell you what it's called, but Google Maps doesn't have a name for it. It's off of Siuslaw River Road and connects south to Elk Creek Rd. Riley has been riding in the greater Pac NW since before I was born, so I give him the respect his experience justifies and trust his routes. I swear he's been on every road in the area and all I have to do is suggest a destination and an estimate return time and five minutes later, after consulting his trusty road atlas, he has an awesome route all worked out. Even better, he keeps it all in his head. No fangled GPS for this guy (though I am happy to use it to record our trip).

The sign says "Forest Road"

Great road with NO other people to speak of. Lots of typical canyon twisties & rollers. About five hundred feet of total elevation.








When we reached the top of the ridge it was impossible to tell where the fog ended and the clouds began.




The intersection of Hardscrabble Road (which we took) and Upper Smith River Road/ OR37. Upper Smith River Road, by the way, was an absolutely AMAZING stretch of super twisty roads in gorgeous dense forest. I have spent a lot of time on the coastal part of Smith River Road that goes through Gunter and out to Gardiner on the coast, but NEVER this far east and this stretch of road made the whole trip worth it. The best part is that it's so close to Eugene.




Hardscrabble Road was quite pretty, too. It's around 11am and I still hadn't seen more than a few cages since I got out of town.


We ate lunch at 12:30 at a great local Elkton cafe & bakery, Tomaselli's, that Riley swears up and down he's been to several dozen times. The food was great and I wish I hadn't had such a big breakfast before I left. They had a fantastic selection of fresh pastries that looked delectable, too, of which Riley partook but for which I hadn't nearly enough room.


I think that this is Mehl Creek Road.


We did explore a road that Riley said he had always wanted to see, but hadn't ever had the opportunity because of conservative riding partners, but I was more than willing to explore virgin roads. The road's name is Cougar Creek Road and it soon turned to gravel.


Not that that stopped us.

But we did stop soon after because I only had about thirty miles left in my sieve of a tank and I wanted to be assured of my arrival in Sutherlin (nearest gas) prior to exhaustion.

Pretty sure this was Tyee Road


To be honest, I have no idea at the present where exactly these pictures are (maybe someone recognizes them?), but the roads I took them from were all part of a truly fantastic Saturday. [edit: I think they're after Sutherlin because Tyee road was pretty along the river and all, but not very twisty and very flat. We did a loop SW of Sutherlin through Melrose, but they weren't from there, either. I think it's Elkhead Road on our way to Elkton.






On our way back home, this was the intersection of Scotts Valley Road and London Road/ Shoestring Road.


Shoestring was another new road I was introduced to on this trip. Apparently had some washout this winter and looked like this. Fortunately a lane was still open and we were able to continue on our way.


Shoestring was pretty nice, huh? I figured there were SO many worse places to be.


Riley took me right to this little park he knew about that was somewhere before Cottage Grove (I can't find it on Google and I don't remember it's name...), but he said there were wild Peacocks there. Now, while Riley may be prone to exaggerate a little more than the average man, he's not been one to outright lie, but I couldn't believe- Wild peacock's at some random tiny park in BFE? He said they were on the way, and sure as sh*t, there were peacocks all over the place. Turkeys, too.


I was home around 5:30 and had 234.4 miles on the odo. Sure was a great day with my Valkyrie and and sure am glad Riley could show me all these new roads.

Additionally, I really don't know where or when this was, either. Somehow it got out of order and I think it was at the beginning of the trip, but I can't recall.


While I'm sure some of you are still under the weather, and that really is dreadful, but be assured that the enlivening season of spring is nearly here! I'm SO glad the rain is beginning to give us at least a few days a week of mostly dry weather.

[TripleTee]

Wow - love that Tiger! I have ex-in laws still living in Sutherlin (also used to live in Roseburg myself) so I know the area well - GREAT riding throughout the area! Nice report and great pix!

[ZSNUGZ]

Thanks for the ride info. My wife and I must have just missed you as we had lunch in Elkton also. You are so correct this is a great place to stop. Saturday was a great day to be on a bike.

[pashnit]

Just plain cool. I think this one is the absolute classic shot. Meandering road, trees, green fields, the bike. One of the greats!

[Ally House]

James,
Great post! I can't help you with the Douglas County names, but I do think you've named it right. What a wonderful day for a ride! We were caging it home from Ashland and had beautiful weather until we hit snow coming up over 30th to go home. Had an inch of ice on the deck Sunday morning, but we did get the deck done. Yesterday was a great day for a ride, and a day off...so I got sick. I have a severe case of PMS. (Parked Motorcycle Syndrome!)

I loved your shot of Shoestring. I've been to a fair number of calls on the Lane County end of it, but I've managed to miss the washout.

Ally

[demenshea]

Thanks James,
What a great sounding ride! I must say that I do miss the nice tree lined roads that Oregon provides. After living Reno for I year, I go, "trees?? What's that?".
I hope to get up that way again this year to see family, as the weather allows. It is still quite cold here, lows in the 20s, highs up to 50. I know you have gotten a bit o' rain this year as well. No wonder it is sooooo green and pretty there.

I'd love a tour around your area and to see Ally as well. I'll have to let you know when i escape northbound!

Thanks again for the wonderful spring post with some great pix of great roads!

[j2x]

Originally Posted by demenshea

Thanks James,
What a great sounding ride! I must say that I do miss the nice tree lined roads that Oregon provides. After living Reno for I year, I go, "trees?? What's that?".
I hope to get up that way again this year to see family, as the weather allows. It is still quite cold here, lows in the 20s, highs up to 50. I know you have gotten a bit o' rain this year as well. No wonder it is sooooo green and pretty there.

I'd love a tour around your area and to see Ally as well. I'll have to let you know when i escape northbound!

Thanks again for the wonderful spring post with some great pix of great roads!

Consider it an open invitation, demenshea. Ally and I have been trying to get together for the last couple months, too, but our schedules have conflicted. Like I've said, I'm in rolling therapy nearly every weekend.

A buddy and I went on a four-day ride a couple years ago that took us through Reno (a good friend there has been under f*ing house arrest for the better part of this decade) and all I remember is two things: how flat and straight the main roads were going into and out of Reno and how much I wanted a dual-sport after seeing all the gorgeous open desert range. I don't remember the name of the HW, but we left Reno heading almost perfectly straight north through an Indian Reservation- 60 miles or so of minding the speed limit in a straight line.

Take care, I'm going to the coast (Bandon) Saturday morning, anyone wanna come?

[billy_b57]

Having just moved from Eugene up to Portland I have ridden that route it is a great ride . Awesome phots .
Billy

[lilith]

We did a similar ride on October 19. however, we started in Roseburg, went through Tyee, to Elkton (stopped at Tomaselli's, excellent cinnamon rolls!), Drain, Lorane Highway to King Estate Winery. Excellent lunch! Then from the winery we went to Cottage Grove, past Cottage Grove Lake into London then on Shoestring Road to Elkhead, Oakland then Sutherlin. Shoestring Road still has the washout you have pictured above. Other than two other spots of dirt (not gravel) road on Shoestring the ride was perfect. Peacock's are still at Mildred Kanipe Park. We'll definitely do it again. Good to see that someone else has taken it and loved it. BTW, fabulous pictures!