2024 Pashnit Touring on a Hayabusa

[pashnit]

We tried to pitch in to help Steve defray the costs of feeding our group, but he refused any reimbursement.

I haven't seen this guy in over 20 years, but I remembered him. He did a solid inviting the entire group to him home and feeding the crew.

 

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Another day of record temps was predicted the following day with temps in the high 90s inland. It was time to head to the ocean to escape the heat.

 

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A lot of Central Oregon looks like this. The eastern side is a desert, but no one tells you that in the brochure.

Several years ago I found this super awesome stretch of road in the Coast Range- Alsea-Deadwood Highway & Lobster Valley Rd near Alsea, Oregon.

 

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I knew it was s-curve twisty, single-lane, fast, and likely deserted through thick forest.

What I didn't know is this stretch of Lobster Valley Rd was all new pavement. Pure bliss.

 

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Lobster Valley Rd

Ever in the area of Central Coastal Oregon...

 

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Lobster Valley Rd

 

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Random intersection in the middle of the forest and this road headed off into the forest - hmm. Problem I know this road goes out to the ocean, but no idea if it's paved all the way. Problem with taking random roads in the forest is they can turn into gravel logging roads at any time, and I can't risk that. Looked interesting through.

We could feel the ocean getting closer, temps dropped 10 degrees

 

[pashnit]

Peter had his own support vehicle for the Ducati Streetfighter. His son was following the tour group in a pickup with extra fuel.

Although Peter had figured out how to get the bike off 'Race Mode', it was still burning through gasoline. Streetfighters are not known for their gas mileage. If you afford a $60,000 motorcycle, you probably don't care much about gas mileage.

 

[pashnit]

One of the fellas on this ride lived in Central Oregon. He suggested two places for me to check out. The tallest peak in the Oregon Coast Range is just up the road he suggested, Mount Mary 4097 ft wasn't too far away.

Temps drop 10 degrees for every 4000 ft you climb, at least that's the general rule, and we were looking for a way to get out of the heat.

Summit of Mary's Peak at 4097 ft. Problem was the temps were still 90 degrees at the summit.

The heat also creates a haze. Betcha with clear air, this is a great view of the Oregon Coast Range.

 

[pashnit]

Okay ya seen it? The riders were ready to go. Plus we were all getting low on fuel and had to drop into the closest town to top off fuel.

Highway 34 into Philomath, Oregon, turned out to be a super awesome ride. Fast and twisty

 

[pashnit]

Highway 34 into Philomath, OR & then we turned right around and headed out to the ocean riding Highway 34 twice, both directions.
Awesome motorcycle road hugging the contours of the Alsea River through the Coast Range out to the Pacific Ocean.

 

[pashnit]

Regrouping in Waldport, OR. The temperature dropped 50 degrees as we reached the ocean. 100 inland, 50 at the ocean.

15 bikes parked in front of this little store and the owner walked out and wanted to chat with everyone and see where everyone was from.
Always friendly in these small towns. Plus, every small town has a community billboard. I always take pictures of these.

 

[pashnit]

My buddy who was local suggested a viewpoint along the ocean at Cape Perpetua

It wasn't raining. These was just so much fog, it was condensing on the leaves of the redwoods.

It wasn't raining, this was just coming off the redwoods above.

 

[pashnit]

As we walked out to the viewpoint over the ocean, we were met with a blast of wind off the ocean, the fog seemed to be vertical coming in from the ocean.

How ya like that ocean, sure is something isn't it. We could hear the ocean waves below us, but couldn't see anything.

Xavier & Randy

 

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Jeff leaning into the wind to stand up, he stayed nearly vertical with the ocean wind

Putting some major mileage on my Bridgestone T32s. Brand new when I started this ride.

 

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Leaving Cape Perpetua

 

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When you live in Oregon, love your Mercedes but rail against 'The Man' with your camouflage wrap, German Shepard and a set of oars.

My local buddy also suggested Thor's Well just a mile away. Didn't know anything about it.

 

[pashnit]

Thor's Well was well worth the stop. A giant hole in the rock. As the waves come in they come shooting up through the hole sometimes 10 feet straight up shooting sea water everywhere. Never turn your back on the ocean goes the saying.

Getting near it though was every man for himself climbing down to the ocean.

 

[pashnit]

Don't get to close. This thing was crazy & unpredictable.

 

[pashnit]

Everywhere I take Peter, he's always beside himself. This is amazing, he says, I never seen nothing like this he says is his thick Polish accent

They don't have one of these in Houston, Texas I asked,

Nothing like this anywhere, he replied.