I bicycle in to town to pick up a switch from Napa. Back at the RV I get that installed and everything works as hoped. Now the key just serves to lock the handlebars instead of starting the bike. But it’ll get us on the road until I can fix it properly while we’re at Jackie’s.

We go for a test ride into town to check out Rogue City. It’s a cute little town. We stop and peruse the museum yardsale but don’t see anything we can’t live without. Ashley does spot a really nice white and baby blue 55 Chevy Bel Aire that she took a liking to.

Bike is working fine, so we layer up and head back up toward Crater Lake. I top off the gas in Medford and we head on our way. It’s very clear today so we see Mount Hood. No idea how in the world we missed it yesterday – it’s a big, snow-covered mountain that towers over everything around it. But we were both surprised to see it.

We arrive at the visitor center with 93 miles on the odometer.That’s awfully close to the 100 that I aim to refill at. Find out that the park’s gas station doesn’t open for another month or so. Blech… The closest gas station is about 35 miles away, either direction we head.

The center is small and snowed in. They have a covered, closed in hallway that serves as a tunnel through the snow leading in from the parking lot. We watch the park film, pick up post cards and then head up to Rim Village (2 more miles).

What a view! You just can’t go wrong with mountain lakes, and this one is surrounded by the rim of the old mountain, snow everywhere, and even has an island inside it! We scramble across snow along the edge of the rim, careful not to get too close. Unstable edge (according to the sign) and a 900′ slide down into the lake – it would be an amazing sled ride, but not something we want to have to scramble back up this afternoon.

Into the lodge, we pick up a coffee to share and then walk back out onto the snow to find a seat. We split the coffee and I sketch Wizard Island, out in the lake.

Coffee gone, toes chilly, and sketch done, it’s time to head on down the mountain. Fortunately, it’s mostly downhill and we coast for much of the trip. I go pretty slowly, letting everyone pass me. This slow speed is a welcome change – a little more relaxed. We pull into the gas station still running, 133 miles on the odo. Took quite a bit of gas to fill up – I don’t remember the exact capacity but I think we pushed it pretty close.

On home from there, uneventfully. Ashley puts together supper and we eat. I visit with our neighbor and then we settle in for the evening.

We wake with our alarm and get ready for the day. Lots of layers, we climb on the bike and prepare to set off. It doesn’t want to start, as if the battery is dead. Ashley gets off and I duck walk it closer to the RV to hook up the charger. One more try and it starts right up, so off we go.

About 40 miles later we stop at Lake of the Woods resort/marina to refill the gas. Whew! Mid-octane, no ethanol, boat gas. But we’re awfully low and need the fill up so we buy our most expensive tank of motorcycle gas ever. And then the bike won’t start. The key won’t turn and when we force it nothing happens.

Pull over into a nearby parking space and start fiddling with it. The conclusion that I come to is the ignition itself has given out – perhaps from all of the salt mist from being so close to the ocean for so long. Whatever the cause, it won’t start and I don’t know how to hot-wire it.

Fortunately, we have signal so we’re able to call our bike insurance for a ride. They cover up to $250 of towing fees, which will get us to the nearest mechanic shop. I call them and, if I’m right and the ignition simply needs replaced, they can get the part in by Thursday and work on it the next week. Um… no. We confirm that the tow truck can take us back to the RV, ok that we’ll pay the additional $240 on top of the insurance’s portion, and sit to wait for them to arrive.

Ashley calls and lets the park know that we won’t be making it for the snowshoe walk.

There are certainly worse places to be stuck… we head into the restaurant and get some fries for me and coffees for both of us. Use their wifi to get online – Ashley updates facebook and I research some potential fixes for the bike. With food and beverages finished we head out to the picnic tables overlooking the lake and enjoy the view. Beautiful blue lake surrounded by wooded hills and fluffy clouds passing by in the sky.

Dan arrives in the tow truck and we set about getting loaded. He gets everything strapped down securely and we pile into the truck and head down the mountain. Quite a delightful conversation we had – he’s from the area originally and points out quite a few features along the way. We also talk about travel – he lived in Hawaii and then worked as an over-the-road truck driver for 9 years. Very interesting.

Back at home we unload and take a break to relax. I head out and start working on the bike. Our neighbor comes over and sees what I’m doing. He has a couple of suggestions and offers any number of tools in case I might need them. Bypassing the ignition allows me to get the bike started, but the temporary jumpers are just that.

It’s after supper time, so we eat. Tomorrow I’ll head into town and get a switch.

We wake early and compare our options for the day. The trails that draw our interest leave us getting back to the RV after our check-out time (so that we can move one spot over). After some debate we decide to head on back so as to not risk any sort of disciplinary action, saving the trails for another day. We pack up and re-load the motorcycle before heading north once again. A quick stop at the visitor center nets us post cards for the park and we mosey along.

Once again in Oregon, we stop for gas. The whole no-self-serve thing seems weird. A fella comes out and pumps gas for me. “No, there’s still room, keep on adding.” Half a gallon more doesn’t seem like much, but that’s not only an additional 25 miles, but also roughly a quarter of the tank!

We get back in time to move spots. After migrating and laying out our gear to dry in the sun we grab lunch and showers. Ahh… Nice to be home.

We stroll about the campground and prepare for tonight’s at-home date. Have a fabulous time together while enjoying our supper.

We made sure to turn off our alarms in order to sleep in as late as possible. Forecast calls for rain and we want to wait it out. Eventually we decide it’s time to get up and moving so we make breakfast, get changed for the day, and finally head out on the bike. This time the visitor center’s open so we get a pass for the Tall Tree’s Trail – only 50 vehicles allowed each day. We are warned that it’s a gravel road and asked if that’s ok on the motorcycle. I have to bite back a laugh. Yes, gravel is fine, even 6.5 miles of it.

Away from the center we head, winding up and down the mountains and aiming for the Tall Trees. Only 4 other vehicles parked when we pull into the lot. We grab our rain gear and head down the trail. What an amazing place! Very reminiscent of the Sequoia groves (the Redwood is a cousin of the sequoias, after all) though the trees are less massive at the base. They’re taller, but 300+ feet is hard to compare with 350+ feet from our vantage points. Everything is so green, with such a variety of undergrowth that we haven’t seen in months. Ferns and moss abound! It’s beautiful and we mostly wander in silence as we hike among the giants.

For lunch we find a perch on top of a fallen tree, protected from any rain by the branches above us. We wonder which of these trees is Hyperion, the tallest tree in the world. It’s specific location isn’t shared in order to protect its roots from being trampled, but since this is the only grove that has limited access we assume that it must be in here. There are certainly a few giants and there is plenty of water accessible from the river running just beside the grove to help them grow big and tall.

As we ascend from the valley toward the parking area the rain picks up in earnest. We wait at the covered pavilion for the rain to slow, giving our jackets some time to drip dry before re-donning them. Back on the road, we top off our water bottles and decide to call it a day. There’s more hiking to do, but no short-ish trails that we can attempt without facing rain and risking getting caught out after dark. We head back to camp.

After supper we head into the tent, just in time to avoid the next rain shower. We read for a bit and then turn in. I must not have slept well last night as I’m drowsy before the sun sets!

Packed up and started ambling north. Finally crossed the border into Oregon – another state, woohoo! Pulled into the Walmart at Grant’s Pass for some last produce for the week and stopped at the BLM/USFS office for wild camping suggestions. They didn’t really have any recommendations for 30′ motorhome so we headed to Valley of the Rogue state park, with campground. Good price for full hookups, plenty of space in the spots, and no leveling needed as we just pulled in and were ready to go!

Planned out our week, with a two night visit to the Redwoods and Saturday’s trip up to Crater Lake.

Slept in late again before bundling up and hopping on the motorcycle for a 1.5 hour ride into the southern entrance to Lassen Volcanic. The road is closed at the visitor center, but at least we can make it that far. Continue reading →

Slept in late – it’s going to be cold up in the mountains – then bundled up and rode up to Lassen Volcanic National Park. The main road through the park is still buried underneath feet of snow, up to 9, and thus is closed. Continue reading →