Don and Barbara's Grand Adventure

[Gator]

Either that or their laptop crashed. I hope it's the whole jackpot and motorhome thing. I'll volunteer to drive it. We really would like to hear from them though.
Gator

[Bikebum]

I just heard from don and Barbara; they have been in Yosemite until this morning without wifi. They are spending tonight in Grover Hot Springs State Park and will move to Lake Tahoe tomorrow. Still snow on the ground at altitude and temps in the 50's. The temp is around 75 where they are now. They will try to post pictures tomorrow.

[Gator]

Glad that you heard from Don & Barbera. I figured that it was something like that. Sounds like they're still having fun.Wish we had those kind of temps down here. Can't wait for more pics.
Gator

[dkl]

Don and Barbara's Grand Adventure

Yes, we are alive and well and right this minute are in S. Lake Tahoe, CA. We
spent the last week in Sequoia/Kings Canyon and Yosemite National Parks.
Because it's "waterfall season" in Yosemite (who knew there was such a thing?), we were extremely lucky to be able to get reservations at a campground there. The bad part of that was, we were only able to spend 1 night at Sequoia/Kings Canyon and that just was not enough. The park is beautiful and very interesting and is on our list of places to return to.
Yosemite is every bit as gorgeous as all of the pictures we have seen especially this time of the year when the snow melt in the mountains does make all of the waterfalls thunder down the sides of the formations.
Yosemite also has a grove of giant Sequoias, one of which is about 2700 years old.
One thing we have learned in the last few weeks is that these folks out here don't have a clue about distance. We decided to take a hike into the Sequoia grove and the sign with directions and distance read .7 miles but I swear it was more like 7 miles and the sign failed to mention the fact that the trail went straight up the side of the mountain. More exercise than I had all last year.
We have had some awesome rides in the last few weeks. The road into the southern part of Sequoia rivals "the Dragon" and was really fun fully loaded and pulling the trailer. CA hwy 155 was a lot of fun as well and after the muted colors of the desert and Death Valley the trees, grass and flowers were a welcome change. Yesterday we came across Ebbetts pass on CA 4 and there was still a lot of snow in the upper reaches of the mountains with temps in the 50's. Don says he drove most of the way is 2nd, 3rd and sometimes 1st gear. No centerline and barely enough room for 2 cars on the road.
Today we drove from S. Lake Tahoe over to Carson City,NV (to get to a Walmart) and went from 70's to upper 90's in about 30 minutes.
Straight down the mountain, fast sweepers and finally rounded the tires on the bike to look like motorcycle tires.
Next we head toward the coast for a few days to see what is happening over there.
BTW: We spent last night in a CA state park, paid $23.00, no power, pay showers and no light in the men's room. Times are really tough out here.
More later.

[R90srider]

Thanks for the post Barbara. I was wondering how you all were doing and I see there was no cause to worry. Sounds like you are having a great time and seeing sights of a lifetime.

As they used to say on the Grand 'Ol Opry, "Keep those cards and letters coming". Looking forward to your next update.

[Vance]

I'm just jealous...can't help it!!!!

[bamabmw]

BTW: for those of you who remember Ed Ferguson who was with the service department at Carlos's, he is still here in Las Vegas. In fact, he was working for this dealer until last December. Ed packed his camping gear in his canoe and pulled it with his BMW and once got yelled at for launching the canoe at FDR State Park in GA when we had a meeting there.
Would have been nice to see him again but not this time.

Oh my !!! I remember "Special" Ed.............
He nearly caused a wreck on road on the way to the Durango colorado MOA National rally. Someone went to pass a truck and there was "Special Ed" with his bike and that dang long canoe behind him in front of it. The car passing nearly wrecked them all when he saw there was more than motorcycle several feet ahead of the truck. We (mu ex, my dad and I ) were behind the truck too and saw it all. It was a trip !!!!!!!!!

[dkl]

Don and Barbara's Grand Adventure

We made it to the coast Monday and spent 3 nights in another of California’s state parks. These folks really need to come to Alabama to find out how it’s done!
This time we were at Patrick’s Point SP and it was better just because of its location, a spit of land that juts out into the Pacific Ocean. We got to sleep with the sound of the surf in our ears, but we also got the heavy mists or dews and the early morning fogs that go with it. This park had a beach where I am told you can still find ocean polished agates that wash down from Oregon. It also has several points where we watched for migrating whales (unsuccessfully) and where we spotted several sea lions sunning themselves. We were able to see quite a few sea lions from an overlook enroute to the park one morning. We had stopped to take pictures when the strange noises caught our attention and we saw the sea lions sunning on the rocks (sea stacks) and playing in the water…quite a site to see. The ocean here is beautiful but nothing like Gulf Shores or the Florida beaches.
Bob, we had breakfast at the Samoa Cookhouse one morning..quite an experience..thanks for that tip.
We moved up to Oregon, through Redwoods National and State Park this morning. We met up with ferocious winds again as we hit the state line so we checked into a motel and hope for a calmer day tomorrow.

[R90srider]

Glad you enjoyed the Samoa Cookhouse. I really enjoyed going there also. We had lunch each time there and I would like to have their breakfast also. Maybe next year after the Redmond MOA.

Hopefully, the weather wasn't so bad when you rode through the redwoods and you had a chance to do a little hiking in the forest.

Looking forward to your next post.

BTW - The Chicken Rally went well this year and you trained deputy Tim well. He showed up with a western hat and gunslingers belt with his one bullet. His water pistol didn't scare many folks though . Ron Shea won the bike.

[jdubeemer]

Can someone tell me what Don is holding up in the pictures of him?

[dkl]

Don and Barbara's Grand Adventure

Jim, that is a plastic bag from Southern Trails, an outdoor supply store in Montgomery. We were in there right before we left, telling the owner about our upcoming trip and he asked us to bring the bag along and send pictures back so he would know where his bag had traveled.
Bob, thanks for the update on the rally. We talked with Jamie Saturday night, but had a very poor connection and I forgot to ask who won the bike. I am so glad that a club member won it, although I was hoping it would be me, ha ha.
We had not heard that the 2010 rally is going to be in Redmond, but if it's in the same facility as last time, it should be a really good one. Don & I really enjoyed that one. The weather has been good, as far as sunshine but the winds have given us a hard time in places.
We are in Newport, OR tonight and plan to visit their aquarium tomorrow before we turn east and head for the Columbia River gorge in a day or two.
I love the coast and it is beautiful but I am about tired of the twistie roads (but don't tell Don that) and the winds for a while.
We are going to post some more pictures tonight so check them out when you get a chance.
More later.

[R90srider]

Morning Barbara and Don.

The 2010 MOA National will indeed be at the same location in Redmond and I am looking forward to going back there. The Redmond and Reinbeck rallies were my favorites, but the facilities at Redmond were the best. My tent was on plush grass facing the distant show covered volcano, Mt Hood ( I think that was the name of the mountain). The view is spectacular.

If you are tired of the twisties, but want more excitement, try kite flying on the Columbia River in the gorge . Kidding aside, while going along the Columbia River Gorge, find a pullover where the kite fliers are in action and watch them for a while. The sport is exciting and fun to see.

Thank you for your photos and stories about your adventure.

[dkl]

Don and Barbara's Grand Adventure

Hello from Washington. We had a lovely day at the Oregon State Aquarium on Monday then headed east off the coast. We spent last night in Salem and got all the way to the Columbia River Gorge just north of Hood River, OR today. We made a detour to Timberlake Lodge near Mt Hood on the way here. That lodge was used for the exterior shots of the hotel in "The Shining". It was built by the WPA in the 30's. Mt Hood still has lots of snow, skiers and snowboarders.
We are staying at a private rv park/campground. The grounds are beautiful, nice soft grass and extremely clean and they even have wi-fi. What their website does not show, however, is the train track about 30' away or the continuous drone from the cars crossing the grated bridge across the river. Good thing we are both heavy sleepers. Will let you know how that works out later.
We plan to do some riding in this area tomorrow and head to Mt St Helens later in the week.
More later.

[BMWWANDRR]

It was great reading about your trip...we didn't know you were going until we heard at the Chicken Rally. We have spent the evening reading your posts and looking at all the great pictures. Greg REALLY wants to take a trip like this. Be careful..ride safe..and keep the posts coming. We envy you guys!!!

Greg and Melanie

[BMWWANDRR]

The 2010 MOA National will indeed be at the same location in Redmond and I am looking forward to going back there.

Is this the MOA National Rally?