8 days, 7 States, 5 National Parks

The next day (Monday) I determined I’d need a minimum of a replacement chain as well as the front sprocket to continue safely, given the rapidly deteriorating condition of my chain. I started calling around to motorcycle shops but since most cycle shops are closed on Mondays I was only able to locate a chain on Monday. I spent another night at Dad's and on Tuesday I called about every cycle shop from Portland to Eugene, Oregon.

All had the same story... We don’t stock those sprockets. Most could get them in 3-7 days. I did learn from one shop that the V-Strom DL1000 front sprocket is also used on the 2000-2005 Suzuki GSXR750. With this info I finally found an aftermarket front sprocket at the Portland Cycle Gear. It was a 17-tooth unit listed for the 2002 GSXR750. Of course, it doesn’t have the OEM dampers, but at least the teeth were straight and upright. I made the chain swap at Dad’s and prepped for a Wednesday departure.

Monday, June 27… Silverton, OR… parts search
Tuesday, June 28… Silverton, OR… parts search

Wednesday, June 29

On the road again! I departed Silverton around 9:00am. I rode into Salem, then followed I-5 south to Grants Pass, taking Hwy 199 from there to the small town of O’Brien, Oregon. I took a bypass road into California, in the direction of Happy Camp, a narrow and scenic road with lots of elevation changes that followed several creeks and ended on Hwy 96 at the Klamath River. The temperature was topping 95° so I stopped along one of the creeks to take a cooling dip. It was a nice little spot, very secluded, and the water was quite refreshing!





I also ran across a strange sight, in the middle of nowhere.

Several stacks of crushed cars.


I followed Hwy 96 east through Seiad Valley and then took Hwy 3 south through Scott Bar, Etna, Callahan and down to Weaverville and Hwy 299.

After all these miles this was still a pleasing sign to see.


Looking across the grass fields near Fort Jones (on Hwy 3), with Mt. Shasta off to the east.


I continued south on Hwy 3 through Callahan and got to enjoy even more great twisty roads that varied from very tight 25mph turns to high speed sweepers. This carried on past Trinity Lake and into Weaverville.

Coming into Weaverville... domestic pet?


At Weaverville I took Hwy 299 east to Redding and Hwy 273 south to Anderson, where my brother lives.

Total miles: 523



Thursday, June 30

Although I had considered going east to Mt. Lassen and following Hwy 89 south to Hwy 49, I eventually decided that I would just super-slab it home. I had been on these roads before and, even though I knew them to be marvelous rides, I was getting rather road weary. So, from Anderson I took I-5 to I-505 to I-80 to I-680 to Silicon Valley (San Jose area) and home.

Sorry... no photos of I-5.



Total miles on Thursday: 248

Over 8 days of actual riding, total trip mileage was 3912.4 miles!

Garmin 276C GPS stats…

Total Miles - 3912.4
Moving Average - 58.8 mph
Total Average - 40.5mph
Max Speed - 103.6mph
Moving time - 66:30:52
Stopped Time - 30:10:07
Total Time 96:40:59

EPILOGUE:

Looking back at this ride I'm struck by the realization of just how wonderful it really was, and how it may have set a benchmark to aim toward with future extended moto-tours. The fact that I did this ride solo was certainly not a negative thing. It gave me all the time necessary to go and do exactly what I wanted to do without worrying about somebody else not getting to do or see something that I may not have been interested in.

I did get extremely lucky with the weather. Sure it was HOT in some places, and I did get into a couple of brief showers in a couple of places, fortunately never more than 30 minutes or so. Happily, I did not have to break camp anywhere in the wet -- packing and unpacking wet camping gear is not really that much fun.

I have decided that life is too short to not get away on longer rides, to make the time to get out and see new and wonderful places. Because they ARE out there! State and federal parks are established for a reason. They are special places and, in my opinion, should be included in a tour whenever possible.

Now to work on my next planned trip! I will pick some destinations I've never visited and try to link these places with as little time on interstate roads as possible. Colorado seems to be lurking in my mind. Hmmm.