2021 Pashnit Touring on a Hayabusa

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Happy Camp Rd / Indian Valley Rd has been closed to any vehicular traffic for weeks as salvage logging takes place. Piles and piles of trees like matchsticks were strewn about. The logging company pushed them off the road just enough to allow traffic by for the holiday weekend.

Salvage logging in the aftermath of the 2020 Slater Fire

Quite a difference from the shots I took in May 2019 a short time ago of the same road.

 

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Finally reaching the edge of the fire line, where the road is closed on the Oregon side.

The forest just outside the fire line. This is what did not burn.

Reaching Cave Junction, Oregon. We're now in another state, and we still can't escape the smoke. A local told us the only place there isn't smoke is along the Pacific Coast, about 100 miles to the west. But no plans to go out that way. These tours & routes are planned a year in advance.

 

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We reached Baldini’s Restaurant in Merlin, Oregon, and happened to run into the owner of this family restaurant. I've used Merlin as our lunch-stop multiple times while riding through SW Oregon on previous tours. However, the owner explained they were short-staffed, only the cook was there and one other person who would be willing to take our orders. The owner said they are hiring but can’t find anyone that wants to work, a lament we’ve heard from other proprietors we work with for these motorcycle tours.

But… they could feed us if we didn’t mind sitting outside. Last year, in 2020, we did most our lunchtime in local parks after visiting a local grocery store. I advised the owner we’d be most grateful for any food they’d be willing to prepare. And it was delicious. Great find in Merlin, Oregon. I hope they find locals willing to work.

 

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Your order please?

Small town yellow pages

Does carrot cake taste like boogers?

 

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I might skip the carrot cake and go for the chocolate

 

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That Cathy, always smiling.

Headed into the Rogue River Valley for Galice

Rogue River

 

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Bridge over the Rogue River. This water flows 215 miles from the Cascade Range to finally reaching the ocean at Gold Beach.

Below us, this fella was diligently digging for gold, chipping away at deposits of sediment along the river bank

Dig, swirl, dig, swirl.

I kept waiting for him to shout, 'Eureka, I have found it!'

 

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This stretch of the Rogue River is all about Rafting. And yup, still smokey.

This must be the deluxe rafting tour as the shirtless dude was doing all the work

 

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For comparison, it's not always like this.

But sometimes yes. Same weekend, almost same spot, in 2017.

Previous visits with other tour groups have been smoke-free but I had to go all the way back to 2012 to find a smoke-free visit here

 

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I love single lane roads. Pavement is awesome too!

This was Lower Grave Creek Rd along Grave Creek into Wolf Creek

 

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There are two of these large loops. The first to Galice and back along the Rogue River.

The second large loop starts in Glendale, through Cow Creek, and circles around to Riddle.

Greeted by brand-new pavement on Cow Creek Rd headed back into the mountains.

 

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The riders loved it!

 

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Finally arriving in Roseburg for the night, great day of riding!

 

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End of day Libations

 

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We had been told the only place there was no smoke from wildfires was along the Pacific Coastline. Off we went, headed on a fast jog to reach Powers, our pivot point through the forest. The Oregon Coast Range is demarcated by a series of main roads headed west out to the Pacific Coast. In between these main routes running parallel are single-lane paved logging roads. They are surprisingly well-maintained. We assume, maintained by the logging companies.

They make for awesome motorcycle rides. But first we had to reach Powers via Highway 42 over the Coast Range. We’re close enough to the ocean to run into thick coastal fog that burns off midday. It drops the temperatures and makes for a welcome alternative to the smoke.

Road 542 into Powers, Oregon

Powers, Oregon is a tiny former logging town built on a bend in the Coquille River that was once a company town. As in, the logging company owned and operated the entire town. Today, barely 700 people on a good day and reached by zipping down Road 542 along the Coquille River. Road 542 is twisty, and fast. And super fun.

Road 542

 

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We’ve used Powers as a lunch stop in previous years, but the town is not big enough for a gas station. In California, there is fuel everywhere, Rural Oregon is the complete opposite. Fuel stops, and range, have to be carefully planned out.

Main Street, Powers, Oregon

The general store seemed to be the only open business in town

 

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Time Warp 30 years. A video drop slot.

Strong hands required

 

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A few years ago, this was our lunch stop

Today, all boarded up.

 

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What's the widest tire I can fit on my Mustang? I might know a guy.