We started the day dreading the 326 miles of hot, high desert but when we opened the curtains in the hotel room, it was cloudy. Monsoon moisture had made it all the way up to Oregon.
As we left, it was raining to the west of us.
We soon ran into road construction – 46 miles of it. There was a major resurfacing project under way on Highway 20. Luckily we timed it just right and scooted through and did not have to wait. We passed many miles of desert.
The slow 35 mile an hour trudge through sagebrush covered terrain made us sleepy. We went over Stinkingwater Pass and wondered how it got that name. We have yet to find the answer.
We stopped for gas in Burns and stretched.
Back on the road we turned south on 395, also known as the Oregon Outback Scenic Byway. More sagebrush.
We expected road construction delays on this trip and up until today, we’d been fairly lucky and didn’t have too many delays. We hit another resurfacing project on 395 and just missed the flowing traffic. We came to a complete stop.
Two men from Kansas just in front of us were on a motorcycle trip and we struck up a conversation with them but were soon distracted by a fighter jet flying by.
Then another and another.
Just when we thought they were done, Cathy spotted one to our right coming straight toward us. Tom waved his arms at it and it flew right over us and the pilot even tilted the plane in a gesture of acknowledgment! Then a second jet buzzed right over us! It was amazing and worked better than an espresso to wake us up!
Shortly after the air show, we were back on the road which was mostly sagebrush with some ranches and farms mixed in.
Out of nowhere a huge sand dune appeared.
The result of the west’s severe drought was very apparent. We passed two lakes that we almost completely dry. Lake Abert had just a little water so that it looked more like a creek.
We stopped for a rest just before Lakeview.
Soon after, we entered California. We passed Goose Lake, an enormous lake, that was completely dry.
Once in Alturas, we gassed up and headed to our hotel. Tom’s heart sunk when we passed his favorite burger place – the sign was gone! Tom asked the hotel clerk about Harold’s and she said it was still open. Whew! Tom’s been looking forward to dinner there this entire trip. He got his double bacon cheese burger and chocolate shake. All is right in the world again.
Tomorrow we head home. The ride should be about 300 miles and we’ll take Highway 299 to Highway 89 and turn south. This is pretty ride with good roads. Then we’ll take a new (to us) cut off to Red Bluff and then drone home on Highway 70. It will be a hot ride as the temperatures are expected to be in the 100s.
This is great barn country. Here’s today’s barn pic.
Monkeybutt Chronicles 