May 13, 2010

318 miles today on the motorcycle across Oregon. Great ride. Left Bend, Oregon at 9:00am, 54 degrees, sunny, not a cloud in the sky, with distant views all around of snow covered mountain ranges...just beautiful. The gas station attendant pumping gas was dressed in a white uniform from head to toe with hat and Ken asked him if he was the milkman. Ken hadn't seen an outfit like that in 50 years. The guy laughed.

The morning ride on Rt 20 east was through what they call the High Desert, mostly flat straight road with mountain views as far as the eye could see. After lunch in the town of Burns the views became spectacular with red mountains and incredible vistas going through mountain passes and along the Malheur River. Then lots of cattle ranches and farms. Continuing Rt 20 we then started seeing lots of farms again as far as the eye could see, wheat, beet and onions...we were in onion country. The weather was sunny all day with just a few, white, puffy clouds and warmed up to high 60's. We took an afternoon break in the town of Vale and had fantastic homemade pie. I had the biggest strawberry pie with the biggest strawberries I have ever seen. Ken had his favorite apple pie and ice cream.
We lost an hour with a time change coming into Idaho then went on to Rt 84 for about 55 miles to Boise where we checked into a Hampton Inn. Tomorrow we will travel to Idaho Falls.