Cashmere, Rocky Reach Dam

So I finally got away from Salem after another great breakfast at Dick and Gerry's.
Headed north on back roads 26 and 35 and angled up to the Columbia at Hood River. I did not want to cross on the steel deck bridge so continued along the Columbia River Gorge to Biggs where I crossed. Then searching for a new route and with plenty of time I stayed on 97 to Tonasket. Then on 20 to Republic. But I am getting ahead of myself. Just north of Yakima in Selah Washington I went to the North Country Inn where I had stayed once before. It is a lovely motel and has a pool and was very welcoming on a hot day.

Mt Hood

Hood River Dam

 

 

I stopped for lunch at this BBQ place in Cashmere Washington. I tried to figure out where I had heard that name recently and realized it is where the UMCI International Rally will be held next year. It is a really pretty spot.

 

Thought this sign inside was kind of special.

After lunch I proceeded north on Highway 97 Up passed several lakes. Chelan for one and happened upon Rocky Reach Dam. It is on the Columbia so I was surprised because I thought I had left the Columbia behind.

This is a great stop as there is a museum in the middle of the dam and a fabulous fish ladder where one can go down and view the fish heading up stream. It has beautiful grounds and really is a must see and it's FREE.

Looking west at the bluffs across the road from the dam.

Fish ladder. Looked like a great waterslide on this hot day.

On the grounds

Kirby Billingsley

Down by the fish viewing

Inside the museum in the dam. This brought back memories of the cougar I had seen to the south last year across the river in the Yakima Canyon.

Lots of indigenous people stuff and settlers and miners. Very interesting and did I  mention FREE.

 

Inside the dam itself.

This is the pipe which shoots the young fry downstream.

And so ends this episode. Next one Republic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salem Oregon

Once the rally was over I wanted to hang out for a couple of days before I headed out to Republic to the rally. Dick and Gerry Carson came to my rescue and treated me royally while I was there. A bed to sleep in. Laundry done. Guided motorcycle tours. Visits with friends. Can't ask for much more. They took me up to Ollie and May Jane's house. What a beautiful place they have and Ollie's garden is beautiful and he has a special room over a garage or shed with lots of antique memorabilia. He calls it his dog house. Sunday we had dinner and they invited over a fellow rider Don and then we all went and had coffee at Arby's that evening.

This is Ollie's around town vehicle

The following day we got up had breakfast and headed about 35 miles west of Salem to a casino so Dick and Gerry could get their free cheese. Then we stopped in McMinnville at Wendy's and had a lovely lunch before proceeding to the museum. I did not pay to go in but took all these following pictures and saw almost everything while I was there. And of course The Spruce Goose.

 

Dick and Gerry at the casino

The grounds at the casino are absolutely stunning

 

This is a statue dedicated to the son of the man who started this museum just outside the main entrance.

I liked this shuttle used to take people around the different outside exhibits.

This is the waterslide connected to the museum. Very unique. I just want to know who landed that plane up there.

The Spruce Goose. The heart of the museum.

Nice Ural bike and sidecar in the museum.

Biplane in the museum

Outside

 

Just a beautiful display and a beautiful day

Then as I was leaving I noticed this archway to a park in the vicinity.

Yes Boy Scouts of America. We had a nice ride back and had a lovely dinner at home again and then went to coffee again. The next morning I packed up and headed out. Thank you to my friends for such a nice respite. Next episode will be heading to Republic Washington.

City Hall in Salem. Pretty impressive.

Fountain across the street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BMW National Rally Salem Oregon 2013

The next morning I got up early and packed up to get to Salem at a decent hour. Arrived at the fairgrounds around 2 and was greeted by one of my favorite BMW people. Scotty. I got checked and proceeded to look around for a suitable spot to put up my tent. I swear every inch of space seemed to be occupied. This is where I finally got settled and not too mindful of where the bathrooms were.

5,178 registered for the rally and space was at a premium. I found myself camped next to Bob Leninger and his brother Charlie and Paul Chute. They were at the Lunatic Fringe and because I new them I felt at ease. I did not put the tent up right away but laid it out with my gear on top to protect the spot. It was just too hot to do anything. I then checked in with one of the vendors and set up an appointment for the next day to get a new front tire. It was not long after that I bumped into John and Shirli from St Albert. We had dinner with one of the vendors on site 10.00 for ribs and got a good portion and it was very good. Just kind of wandered around and got the layout of the place. Bumping into good friends old and new.

 

The next morning my bike getting it's new front tire

The National is always a busy place but still one manages to meet all the ones you know that are there sooner or later.

BMW bikes are everywhere with a few other brands scattered intermittently among them. There are lots of different seminars to attend and lots of booths set up to buy things and lots of friends to visit with. It is somewhat overwhelming.

I purchased this new Olympia jacket. I said it makes me look 10 years younger and 20 lbs lighter so I just had to have it.

Not a great picture because of the lighting but I went to this young ladies seminar and she was great.

Her name is Benka Pulko and she is from Slovenia and has ridden on all seven continents. Her trip was phenominal and took 5 1/2 years and I found myself crying when she finished. I bought her book but it was big and heavy so sent it home with John and Shirli so have not had time to peruse it yet.

The honey buckets so called. Always a part of every rally and I circled this particular bunch several times when I volunteered on the shuttle for several hours. Truck pulling a trailer with hay bales.

One of the many unique bikes. This one and the following were in the show and shine and I must say mine won a medal. Pretty awesome huh? I was the only one in my class entered in the show.

Best Rat bike. Phil Funnell

 

 

This was at the airhead section and seems to have some homemade add ons.

Yours truly with her bike and medal

Voni Glaves and I at Ardys Kellerman's memorial.

A pretty classy bike in the vintage display in the registration building.The next evening I had the salmon steak for dinner and it was very good also. I must say the food vendors were good and very reasonably priced. In my wanderings I did find a few more of the people I was looking for. Trust Turk to find the best place in the garden by the fountain.

This is Bruce and Jack

Tim and Dennis

Turk and Steve.

Looking back through the food vendors toward the Pavilion where the closing ceremonies were held. I did not win any big prizes or and motorcycles despite all my tickets. Anyway as is usual all good things have to come to an end. So John Shirli and I headed downtown to Next to Home for dinner and again it was very good and then John dropped me off back at the rally site as they were heading out early in the morning and were staying at The Shilo Inn.

The next morning I met De and Byron and headed across the street for a 2.25 dollar breakfast. Ham and eggs and toast. A lot of the rally goers were there and it was delightful to see a few more familiar faces. Then back and packed up. I called Dick and Jerry Carson who live in Salem to leave a message so they would call me when they arrived home from Medicine Hat and they were already home so I went to their house and stayed and had a delightful visit which I will expound on in my next episode.