Biker blog 26 Wallowa Lake Ore.

Biker blog 26
Wallowa Lake, Ore. 200 mi. 2 bikes

We saw 12 deer at lest it was a wonderful day, clear blue skies you could see for ever we had been tying to get there all summer and we finally made it! We saw three deer in the field on top before the first stop at fields springs 25 min. from home. After a breakfast of biscuits and gravy made from scratch at home it seemed to be a perfect day for a ride. We discussed our plans.

Up and over the rattle snake grade, named so because of it’s numerous switch backs, had a lot of rocks and rather big ones on one turn near the top, and some loose pea gravel an most of the rest of them, it kept us on the alert watching out for that and on bufferd grade too. I wore my leather coat sand chaps it was cool enough need it, until we dropped off the pass before Enterprise, Ore.

There are wide open expanses and you can see the whole area in places it was wonderful! I love smelling the pine trees in the national forests we drive through! The old homes and things we sees along the way make me feel connected to our ancestors that pioneered and had adventure-some spirits like we do. Not to many of the trees have turned their fall color yet we noticed. It’s great having the c.b. so we can communicate, like when a deer decided to cross in front of us. We love to dream of building a cabin and discuss possible properties we see along the way.

The views of the mountains are spectacularly breathtaking and we always enjoy that. We forgot our camera this trip so we will have to go back again next year. In Enterpise I spotted a new shop we had to turn around for and go back to, it was closed Uncommon Thread a fiber shop with quilting fabrics, and other art gallery with rustic furniture and open next door with sculpture bronzes for the foundry, yet another reason to return.
It’s only open Mon. - Fri. a fun place to tour someday.

On through town, we went to the next town Joseph, Ore. more awesome shops, museums, galleries, the place has exploded in growth and the tourists have swelled the population today greatly as there is an alpine fest – with a German theme going on this weekend.

It’s hard not to stop but it’s well past lunch and our sandwiches are calling. We brought a picnic lunch to eat at the park. The view of the lake is awesome as we drive in ~ Absolutely breathtaking with the spectacular and majestic mountains in the background. We’re excited and exhilarated after our ride.

We see two old deer in the park old and getting round slow, waiting for handouts to be fed right under a “Keep wild life wild sign”! =D Nobody takes the time to stop and read the sign and they ignore it as they pet these tame granddaddy deer. As we eat our lunch we realize how cool and fall like the weather had gotten. The recent rains have made things lush and green again, and snow is on the tops of the mountains towering over us.

After lunch we go to check out the fishing tackle shop and the boat launch. It is closed for the season. We see six other bikes cruise through.

We drive over the creek bridge, the water is low it is normally loud with rushing waters, some times we seen red salmon spawning in it. But none today and the lake and stream are both low and we head to the tea shop I call it. I get a new journal and some new music dh get to listen to it first on his bike. (No music player on mine.)

Dh gathers literature for various cabins to read, I enjoy craft booths of vendors selling their wares all kinds of hand made items, in this open air craft fair is fun a lot of the people I recognize from previous visits and labor day celebrations, spring craft fairs and dogwood festivals at home and some are new.

Germen polka music is playing in the old rustic hall, people in costumes are playing music and dancing to add to the ethnic flavor of this event. It is wonderful. It’s time to go the day has flown by to fast.

I’ve put 111 mi. on my bike. I need fuel as we head out of the park, we see two more young spike deer tame, one has a card board paper roll on it’s antlers some on walks right up to it and removes the toilet paper roll. We see two more deer walking through the lawn of a home grazing like nothing else is happening.

We will be back, one year we were down there or four times. Back to town , I try not to look at the yard sale ha! Past the perfect for a KOA property for sale. To town to fuel up and through the road construction it is done for the day just like I thought they would be. It is unusual to run in to it on Sunday they were doing a street in town.

No center stripe for 36 mi. but good roads. It is such a joy to make this trip, we make the bikes dance around the twisties up and down the two grades coming home and buzz gleefully on the strait parts nonstop pure bliss 85 miles back home. We order a pizza and I dash off for some more fuel for the next trip that awaits us. See you then!