79 in a 55
28-Aug-05; 13:25; Hwy 197; South of Dufur, OR;
Smile at the nice law enforcement officer that didn’t ask you to unload the entire bike to see the registration and insurance papers under the saddle.
Smile at the nice law enforcement office that asked you to slow down, as to avoid hitting the local deer at 80 mph.
Smile at the nice law enforcement office that gave you a warning instead of a very large ticket.
Trip Summary:
Odo: 3078
600 miles in 2 days.
Awoke. Highway. Train delays. Motorcycle shop. Interstate. Cross over. Curves. Overlooks. Pics. Curves. Dam. Pics. Gorge. Leaf-cutter ants marching across the breaking waves. Back and forth. Dozens. Individual. Leaves pointed high. Neon pink. Lemon chiffon. White board-bodies catching the wind. Flourish at the turn. Marching to natures song. Climbing north. Curves. Wrecked bicyclist. Blood flows from header. First aid kit put to good use. EMTs. Take my leave w/ wave to Trooper. Climbing. Curves. Mt Adams. Open road. Curves. Blue farmhouse, from a classic western cinematic dream. Curves. Lone bicyclist. Symmetry as we pass. Alone. Riding. Somewhere… Land falls away. Curves. River. Inviting and calm. Stop? No. Hunger drives. Urges me onward. Missed turn. Spot irrigation. Unfriendly faces. Mistake realized. Backtrack. Melting in my leathers. Curves. Faster riders overtake. Curves. Greasy cheeseburger and Pepsi. No fries? Curves. Art Museum. Gold, plaster, and bronze. Pics. Stonehenge replica. Bad alignment in concrete. Screaming children abound. Disappointment. Poor facsimile compared to knowledge. Experience of reality. Escape. Basalt cliffs. River far below. Desert-scape at 100mph. Green stalks with golden ears. Grasslands. Tree farms. Vineyards. Inter-mixed. Non-linear. In my mind. In time traveled. Interstate. Crossing back into… Rolling hills at 100mph. Deviate. Near and deer, as dusk permeates. State Park. Camping ground. Stopped. Setup. Sunset. Cooked. Freeze-dried lasagna. Stars above. Half-hidden. Leaves frame the vision. Longing for an open space. Slept/awoke/froze. Slept/awoke/froze. Slept/awoke/froze. Slept/awoke/froze. Need. Better bag? Daylight. Leathered. Gone before shadow touched valley floor. No traffic, but one in lime green. Pepper-black cattle suckle. Gaea’s breast. Warm and bountiful. Quail scurry. Fly into the blue. Deer stare. Sprint over golden acres. Hawks interrogate. Circle and wait. Curves. Slow. Empty. Devotees and walking dead. Civilization? A boy with brownish-gray tee, yellow number blazing, red gloves and bat stares. Exit. Front wheel skims. Tarmac. 90mph launch. Another escape. Curves. Valley entered. Basalt towers. Memorizes. Curves. Rocks on roadway. Still no traffic… for a time. Fossils. Hike. Time forgotten. Pics. Aggravated ankle. Curves. Where did fuel go? Curves. Score + Red Bull & H2O. Rolling hills at 80. Mountains in distant haze. Like eastern approach to Colorado’s range, but not. Masking in their true nature. Looming above. Volcanoes. Curves. Drop into valley. River full of laughter and rafters. Green and blue, white water chop. Greasy cheeseburger with fries & OJ. Watch. Listen. More H20 before I go. Climb back out. Curves. Open rolling upland. Law Enforcement. Relief. Mellowed pace. Gorge. Eastern Historic Highway. Curves. Curves. Curves. Overlook. Pics. Curves. Curves. Wandered. Interstate. Western Historic Highway. Curves. Traffic. Bicycles. Curves. Traffic. Curves. Curves. Interstate. Traffic. Home.
Got it?
More to follow once I get some sleep.
