Member Contributer jimbob Posted April 20, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted April 20, 2014 Here is one of my favorite annual springtime destinations: Palouse falls. The Empire Builder railroad workers chiseled their tracks, tunnels, and trestles from the plains to the promised land of the west coast. This region ( NW Montana, N Idaho, and E Washington) is sometimes still referred to as the Inland Empire. I really like riding in these parts. The trains are mostly history now but you can still track them on the many gorgeous miles of roads that have been built to facilitate the regions economic progress. I will occasionally throw a few pics and blurbs up here so you guys can wish you were here! The weather has finally relented from the winter death grip to cool and windy (sometimes wet). This gets me out the door. Lots of folks used to ride these to get here: More to follow...... Another little outing on the Palouse... which is a high prairie area in eastern WA. This is near Farmington WA Those were the days........ A few more pics from last weekend......Lake Coeur d'Alene Palouse River,, i think A little ride I made to Aquarius, ID Some of the sights along the way............ Spring is starting to spring nicely here in North Idaho Last Saturday afternoon I cruised the very curvey and scenic Hwy 97 along the east side of Lake Coeur d'Alene down to Harrison. Some of the views along the way.... The bridge just before you get to Harrison.. Admiring the views in Harrison from the deck at 1 Shot Charlies There were two of these... More soon, Cheers I hope to make this route happen tomorrow.... the weather forecast is a bit sketchy, but not looking bad enough to be a deterrent... Hoping for some views like this.. Reality check tomorrow........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Polarbear Posted April 20, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted April 20, 2014 Wow!! Does that ever look promising as a ride report!! Yes please keep 'em coming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Dutchy Posted April 20, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted April 20, 2014 Superb!!!! Now get your VFR in the frames! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspanglish Posted April 20, 2014 Share Posted April 20, 2014 Wow! Is that a natural waterfall? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer jimbob Posted April 21, 2014 Author Member Contributer Share Posted April 21, 2014 Wow! Is that a natural waterfall? Yes......... Palouse falls is a natural waterfall, it is about 200' high. It is in the Easten Washington scablands. The cooleys were formed by the lake Missoula floods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Recalcitrance Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Amazing shot of the falls. Thanks for sharing your ride. Hope to see more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mofo Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 Excellent report and pictures. Looking forward to more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer jimbob Posted May 8, 2014 Author Member Contributer Share Posted May 8, 2014 OK! Here we go! Going to head down to Steens Mountain amongst other weird destinations over the next week. Hope to report back with some cool pics for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer MaxSwell Posted May 8, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted May 8, 2014 I passed through Idaho on the way home from a trip to British Columbia. I do not remember the roads I took. Just tried to stay off of the interstate. Found some fabulous mountain roads. Hoping to get back there someday. Thanks for the report and very nice pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer jimbob Posted May 9, 2014 Author Member Contributer Share Posted May 9, 2014 Max, if you are coming to the PNW ride in July, come a day early, and we can reintroduce you to some of the local tarmac. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer MaxSwell Posted May 9, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted May 9, 2014 Max, if you are coming to the PNW ride in July, come a day early, and we can reintroduce you to some of the local tarmac. Hey JimBob, thanks for the invite. In fact I hope to maximize my locally-guided time in your fabulous area. I plan to leave MN a week or two before the meet-up, do some of the PCH, and continue on toward Calgary, Alberta and points unknown. So I'll be contacting you for suggestions before I leave home. In the mean time, don't let your local deer herd know I'm coming. Just because I'm paranoid does not mean they are not out to get me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer jimbob Posted May 9, 2014 Author Member Contributer Share Posted May 9, 2014 Max, if you are coming to the PNW ride in July, come a day early, and we can reintroduce you to some of the local tarmac. Hey JimBob, thanks for the invite. In fact I hope to maximize my locally-guided time in your fabulous area. I plan to leave MN a week or two before the meet-up, do some of the PCH, and continue on toward Calgary, Alberta and points unknown. So I'll be contacting you for suggestions before I leave home. In the mean time, don't let your local deer herd know I'm coming. Just because I'm paranoid does not mean they are not out to get me! That sounds swell, Max! Ha! Keep me posted. I would be happy to help you wear down your tires a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keny Posted May 17, 2014 Share Posted May 17, 2014 Nice pics! Looks like some fun roads to! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Lorne Posted May 20, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted May 20, 2014 Dunno how I completely missed your report till today, but a belated well done. Some of your route is familiar but others I've never visited. Any chance of posting a map of the overall route? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superfunkomatic Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 I'll be in that neck of the woods this summer. I think Palouse Falls looks like it's worthy of a bit of a detour from highway 12 (Lolo Pass). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer jimbob Posted May 21, 2014 Author Member Contributer Share Posted May 21, 2014 I'll be in that neck of the woods this summer. I think Palouse Falls looks like it's worthy of a bit of a detour from highway 12 (Lolo Pass). The Falls are easy to get to off Hwy 12.. The are straight North of Walla Walla for reference.. Off 12 (Westbound) you take Hwy 261 thru Starbuck which is a fun road about 15 miles to the falls........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer jimbob Posted May 21, 2014 Author Member Contributer Share Posted May 21, 2014 I will post up a day at a time my trip last week, at least a few highlights for you.. I left Coeur d'Alene on Sat May 10th.. It was cold. 39 deg on the west plains..so i hauled ass down to south central Washington where thing started to warm up nicely.. I toook a couple pics at the Hanford Nuke Res.. From there the views got better...Mmmmm hops... The roads and the views were not too shabby, I wont bore you with a lot of prose.... Camped nite #1 near here in Cottonwood Canyon.... I had a pretty good day one, as it is now sunny and warm. I am a happy camper... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Willy Posted May 21, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted May 21, 2014 Beautiful backroads.. Someday I hope.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer jimbob Posted May 24, 2014 Author Member Contributer Share Posted May 24, 2014 Day two was from Cottonwood canyon on the John Day River down to French Glen at the base of Steens Mountain I rode some pretty bitchin and scenic roads down along the way South of Burns Or.I headed out here.. Steens Mountain came into view Shot of the awesome wildlife refuge: A shady rest along the way.. Home sweet home for the nite.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer jimbob Posted May 31, 2014 Author Member Contributer Share Posted May 31, 2014 Day 3; Monday May 12th Steens Mountain to Lake Owyhee. (had wrong map first time, fixed it) It got pretty chilly last night under a clear starbright sky.... high thirties. So i took my time getting organized until the sun started to peek over the top of the high steep hillsides.. Once motivated and rolled up, I rode the 4 miles of crunchy gravel road back to the highway in French Glen. By about 10am the sun was smiling brightly for me. The first stop for the day was Diamond Or. Not much there, but this cool old hotel might be good for a return visit some day. Another place that might be fun, With Diamond in the dust behind me i tooled out Lava Bed Rd htrough weird formations until i got to French's round barn. I found this to be cool: A really cutting edge design for the times....... The circular training track I headed north... up to a curvy Oregon Highway 20 along the Malheur River... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer CornerCarver Posted June 1, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted June 1, 2014 Great pictures, I have to see Palouse Falls one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VF1000Fe Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 I rember that place,,.. Back then (1987/August), we rode in Black & White. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer jimbob Posted June 2, 2014 Author Member Contributer Share Posted June 2, 2014 I rember that place,,.. Back then (1987/August), we rode in Black & White. Ha ha ... I have those memories too.. If I only had a digital camera back then... er, well ok, maybe that wouldn't be so good.. Great pictures, I have to see Palouse Falls one day... Palouse Falls is awesome in May, that is the time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer jimbob Posted June 5, 2014 Author Member Contributer Share Posted June 5, 2014 From the Buena Vista overlook of the wildlife refuge to the Lava Beds this region around Steens Mountain is fascinating, and I am likely to return sometime when the high country will be accessible. That will have to be in August...also I hear the bugs can be pretty bad out here. My visit has been great. I romped up over some big climbs on the smooth 2-laner Hwy 20 over the Stinking Water Mountains, and smae name creek, bombed through the canyons of the Malheur River, arriving in Vale Or. with a huge grin on my face. Hwy 20 exceeded all expectations :). Here is where i found fuel and grocery supplies for my excursion down to Lake Owyhee state Park. Just a bit south of Vale on the Hwy known as Lytle Blvd..i came to a historical Oregon Trail site.. This is Oregon, after all. Among the various exhibits was this. It make my campout trip seem pretty puny.. There are well preserved wagon ruts here too, but just take alook at most any sagebrush covered field, and there you have it.. With calm and clear blue skies above me, and time on my side, I motored up the Owyhee River canyon.. The road is fun, but not fast, and the scenery got more dramatic with every bend until I got to here : Then you get to this.... My campground views.... Happy camper Day 4, Tuesday May 13, Lake Owyhee State Park to Gooding Idaho This morning arrived much warmer than yesterday which was really nice to relax with the coffee in the mild sunny weather as the lake changed colors with the rising sun angle. Lk Owyhee State Park amenities are great and I help myself to a second shower this morning..(first one last nite) .. After putzing around camp and reorganizing my now dry and defrosted gear, I finally hit the road about 10am.. No great urgency today as I have until 6pm to finish off about 210 mile to my Sisters house. I slowly navigated the crazy road around the lake back to the dam that is the lake maker.. Due caution is advised on this road… On down the canyon I was entertained by the fishing activity, obviously this is a popular place for the linemen, cars are parked at every available wide spot. Waders are the style. The road was pretty entertaining too. Out of the Owyhee valley . Looking back took the turn and headed for Adrian OR......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Polarbear Posted June 5, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted June 5, 2014 The scenery is quite stunning. And the colors are absolutely amazing. Nice pics! Tnx C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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