> > > Wet Leather : The Gather 99 : Crater Lake : Sticks and Stones


11 August 1999


To: WL
From: "Kathy E. Gill" 
Subject: Sticks and Stones
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Left Bend about 12:30 on Monday -- had planned to take the 
"sensible" route up 197 to Yakima and back across 410 or 12 
for some scenery. But my subconscious brain rebelled and I 
found myself on 26, headed for Mt. Hood.

Took 35 around the east side of Hood - a bit of construction, 
but no major winter damage to the road. Dropped down into Hood 
River - myOhmy it was hot. Stopped for lunch (it's now 3 or 3:30) 
at Riverside Inn. Excellent tomato/beef soup. Had planned to run 
over Stevenson-way and then take forest service roads up to 
Randall (east of FSR25). After talking with my waiter, decided to 
try Trout Lake to Randall (SR 141, FSR23).

I shoulda looked at the OREGON map.*

FSR23 is not so well maintained as FSR25 ... baby trees alongside 
the road ... buckled pavement ... fallen tree limbs ... etc. Still, 
nice, quiet ride with no cars. Peaceful. Reach the intersection with 
FSR90, turn R to head to Randall. Less than 100 yards -- yipes! 
Gravel. Not just _any_ gravel, but piles of loose gravel. Road sign 
reads "unequal road width next 17 miles" ... but not a word about 
gravel. Re-check my map - yes, that is a *solid* line. Sigh. Guess 
I'll take FSR90 down to 25 ... means lots of extra miles. [imagine 
traveling from 4 o'clock "up" to noon clockwise versus counter-clockwise].

FSR90 seemed in better shape than 23 .... still littered with wood 
debris and some rocks, but nice road. Then I cross a bridge and the 
sign reads "Pavement Ends."

Damn! I am NOT going to turn around again. 

Recheck my map - figure worst case is 10 miles of gravel. And this 
looks better than the other -- "hard pack" -- so, with My Gravel 
Experiences (tm) of Wednesday bolstering my confidence, I set off. 
I only stop once -- looking at a dip leading to left hand curve and 
hill of indeterminant height -- to ask myself if I really want to do 
this. <shrug> No, but it's better than the alternative.

Turns out that this section of road is less than 2 miles of mess -- 
then I return to tarmac.  

FS25 is not as i remember her from June. Construction -- some chip 
and seal -- but, like the other roads, pretty empty. This really is a 
Nice Road! Thought about taking the turn up Windy Ridge - but I really 
wanted to get home before too late (I had already given up on getting 
home before dark).

Stop in Randall to pee and hydrate -- and stretch and gas up. I'd 
been riding for 3 hours, covered 125 miles, and was stiff. Throttle 
hand was tired. Best gas mileage I'd gotten on the trip, though. Is 
there a lesson there? ;-)

Original plan was to take 12 east to 123 to 410 .... bright sun in 
eyes when I looked west on 12 confirmed this plan. Rode like bat outta 
hell on 12 to make time -- trip over Rainier was lovely and peaceful. 
Taking turns a wee bit slower than on Thursday (or anytime during the 
trip) but making up for it in the straights. Drop down into Enumclaw 
just before dark - 80 miles in little over an hour and a half.

Clean face shield (what is it with these bugs?) and do 410 to 167 to 
405 home. Most of my day has been spent riding solo with almost zero 
other traffic. Brings me back into civiliation gradually. There is a 
feeling of culture shock seeing all these lights and cars. At least I 
had a day (today) to re-adjust before heading back to work. And time 
to get a massage & steam. ;-)



Kathy

*The OR map shows that FSR23 has unpaved section in the middle. Of course, 
it also shows that FSR90 is unpaved, except that it's paved in that spot. 
Oh well.



Mt. St. Helens 



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