July 26 -BBBB (109 miles)
Bend to Brookings and Back on a Bike!
We decided to have a little adventure in these dog days of summer and make a camping trip along half of the “Corner to Corner” route that Robert and Mark took last summer (see August 2009 Archives). To take Mavrik along we had to have the Jeep which also carried all the camping gear, water, food, etc. But, I wanted to ride my motorcycle as well to experience some of the adventure of the Corner to Corner concept. Robert did major maintenance on the Suzuki DR 350 including a new turn signal and rear tire and we gathered all the gear and packed it (tightly) in the Jeep and were ready to start out on Monday, July 26.
- A hail storm delayed our start for about an hour. At least it cooled the temperature from 90 to 70!
- Robert rode the motorcycle the first 35 miles on the pavement, then I took over and got soaked in a rainstorm as we passed Wickiup Reservoir, with Mt. Bachelor in the background. This picture is from a previous trip.
- A sign forest, which way do we go?
- We took Windigo Pass road and crossed the Pacific Crest Trail in a cloud of mosquitoes.
- Our first campsite, the Forest Service’s Toketee airfield, the most open area to avoid the mosquitoes!
- We were rewarded with a beautiful sunset reflected on the clouds over the airfield.
July 28 -Skookum to Elderberry (92 miles)
We woke to another beautiful day and had a leisurely breakfast. We got on the road at about 10 am and traveled some pavement to a gravel road junction where we found the World’s Tallest Sugarpine. It’s among other tall trees and we missed the sign at first, I backtracked on the bike and took pictures for Robert to see.
The World's Tallest Sugarpine.
We continued towards Tiller to gas up. All roads here seem to lead to Tiller, but sometimes a gravel road we took lead us away from Tiller!
Lots of logging on one road towards Tiller.
We passed Devil's Flat campground where we saw this restored log structure.
We found excellent camping at Elderberry Flat on the West Fork of Evans Creek.
Better yet, it had a great swimming hole! Mavrik enjoyed playing in the water, chasing a cork tied to his Barbie fishing pole!
Yay, he finally caught the cork!
July 29 -Elderberry to Argo (67 miles)
After a morning dip in the swimming hole we packed up and continued our adventure. We are in BLM land now (Bureau of Land Management) and their signage system is bizarre if it is existent! We inadvertently got on a powerline road that was rough and steep. We backtracked and found our intended road, then had to backtrack again after trying to go over King Mountain. We met a Pacific Power worker in his truck coming down King Mtn. who advised against traveling through the private property on the top of the mountain.
The powerline road. Robert scouted ahead on foot. He and Mark took this route on their bikes last year, but we don't want to risk getting stuck too far out in the Jeep!
We got back on track after trying to go over King Mountain on the right.
Our lunch break stop was at Wolf Creek Inn State Heritage Site, just west of I-5 Highway.
It was a great stopping point, as it has been since 1883.
The Ladies Parlor was a cool refuge from the intense sun and heat.
We continued on the paved but narrow winding road along Wolf Creek and Grave Creek to the Argo campsite on the banks of the Rogue River.
A rare shaded spot at the Argo gravel bar where rafters put in for a trip on the wild and scenic Rogue River.
Another swimming hole!
July 30 -Argo
At Argo we met friends who are starting their own adventure, a 3 day raft trip down the Rogue River through the Wild Rogue Wilderness. We relaxed for the day and watched many rafters arrive, pack and cast off, while others on day trips arrived on rafts from upstream to take out at Argo.
Busy packing all the gear for a 3 day river trip.
Last minute checking of directions and instructions! Which way are we going? Downstream!
Cast off! Wave goodbye and make sure Mavrik doesn't stow away!
