Monday, April 27/15
No early stuff today so we ambled down for breakfast, watched the news and generally took our time getting into the day. After packing up and checking out we departed Kennewick mid-morning and started heading East.
Lori and I put our heads together and plotted a course South-East to Ontario, Oregon right on the Idaho state line using all the backroads we could find while maintaining a reasonable forward direction. Once out of Kennewick we grabbed Hwy 12 east to Walla Walla rolling through farmland and scrub. After passing through town we realized we'd missed a turn so it was a a quick backtrack of maybe five miles where we found the sign for Hwy 125 which passes through Walla Walla and quickly turns into Hwy 11 at the Oregon state line. There's was minimal traffic and very little people out and about. Other than farming the only other major employer I could see was a huge prison on the outskirts of town.
Once into Oregon we have a clear shot south on Hwy 11 and are soon at the junction of Hwy 204. Now things got interesting. Hwy 204 rises up out of the farmlands and the grain fields fall behind as your steadily climb up into Umatilla National Forest. This was my first time on 204 and I was impressed with the turns, the rising and falling of the hills and with spectacular views this road is well worth the time. If you're in this part of the state you have to give this road a ride. Eastern Oregon has become one of my favourite destinations for great riding with little to no traffic, fantastic views and good road conditions.
Hwy 204...Fantastic!
Lori on the mountain.
Continuing on 204 arrive at Elgin and stop for a coffee at one of the little coffee shacks that have sprung up like mushrooms all over the North-West. Speaking of mushrooms, next to the coffee shack were two women seated at a table buying wild mushrooms picked in the fields and forests by the locals. The two gals buy the mushrooms on behalf of an organic distributor`where the pickings are destined to high-end vegetarian restaurants although one woman said the bulk of the mushies end up overseas for medicinal purposes.
After coffee it was onto Hwy 82 for a round-about route through Island City and on to Cove and lastly ending up in village of Union.
We`ve dillied and dallied all day and with the later start we`re getting tired, from what I don`t really know, hungry and wanting a shower and some relax time. We opt to jumping on the `Slab`for the last few miles down to Ontario our destination for the night. Thanks to Booking.com I have our hotel lined up and waiting. We pick the next day`s destination and I then line up a room so we`re not scrambling in the evening when you tired and hungry from a long day`s ride.
There is Mexican restaurant a 15 minute walk from the hotel so off we go looking for some dinner. I really like Mexican food and this place....well....it wasn`t the greatest. My burrito dinner platter was tasteless even with generous shots of hot sauce. The precursor chips and salsa was a let-down too as the salsa(?) was all watery with no substance. The best thing about my dinner was the Pepsi was cold.
Now Lori was intuitive enough to ask the waitress what her favourite entree was. It turns out this is the way to go as Lori thought her chicken fajita dish was very good but she didn't like her ice tea so she scooted into the bar next door and returned armed with an icy cold Bud.Smart gal my Wahine.
A nice walk back to the hotel and I'm feeling tired so I dabble with a crossword puzzle but it's tough fighting my closing eyes so it's pack it in and live to fight another day.
Day's milage:
281.9 miles
458.0 kms.
Steve
Ontario, OR
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