The CB1100 Community Forum

Looks like a lovely ride, pdedse. When you say 'torched' about the burnt forest, do you mean it was deliberately lit? And ... did your back hold up ok?

(07-26-2025, 05:13 AM)Cormanus Wrote: [ -> ]Looks like a lovely ride, pdedse. When you say 'torched' about the burnt forest, do you mean it was deliberately lit? And ... did your back hold up ok?

I guess "torched" does imply on purpose, but I think most of the fires are caused by lightning, sometimes carelessness.  There was a fire in 2017 in the Columia River Gorge area called the Eagle Creek fire.  That was caused by a 15 year old setting off fireworks in the forest and burned 48,000 acres, closing miles of beautiful hiking trails for over 5 years.  He was fined 36 million dollars and required to do over 1900 hours of community service.  Apparently, the now young man has been making regular payments.  And if he does all the things he is supposed to do for 10 years, then the fines are reduced or go away.  

I'm told stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal) doesn't go away by itself; rather, it worsens over time.  Makes me feel like I'm 100 when I get out of bed in the morning and I've become very conscious of avoiding certain movements.  Been doing 1.5 hours of physical therapy, stretching, other exercise 5x per week for about a month.  I think it helps some.  The steroid injection helped a lot, but after a month the effect started wearing off.  While I ride, I'm generally fine--except that 2nd day trying to ride "back east" in June.  I'm sure we all have our health issues.  

I'm going to try a slow paced, multi-day trip next week, 3-4 days...maybe!  With lots of breaks and down time.  Wife and I may be in the northwest less than 2 more years and I want to explore as much as I can meanwhile.

just around 4 corners..  ...   .and my little  one is now read for the big trip....   

[attachment=508][attachment=509][attachment=510]



.[attachment=505][attachment=506][attachment=507].

It's fun to see the wheat fields ready for harvest; that's just the way they look around my area on the other side of the world.

I rode to work.
Nice to be in crosswinds on the highway in a new jacket that fits me. My old jackets were getting baggy and it’s amazing how much that affects you being pushed around in the wind.

Interesting riding route or lots of freeway and traffic?

another milestone on Angry Bird this afternoon

Ferret  >>

It looks like Angry Bird has a reason to be angry... when it sees Django's mileage of 10,802 
His R18 never stops lately 

(07-30-2025, 12:13 PM)peterbaron Wrote: [ -> ]Ferret  >>

It looks like Angry Bird has a reason to be angry... when it sees Django's mileage of 10,802 
His R18 never stops lately 

I know, right?

Just returned from a 3 day / 2 night visit to Diamond Lake area, about 20 miles north of Crater Lake, Thielsen campground (blue X).


A long-time friend / riding buddy spends summers in Eureka, CA and we've been trying to get together for a ride so that he could show me his new '24 DR-Z400.  He asked me to put together a ride somewhere in the middle for both of us, and I chose Diamond Lake kinda blindly.  Arrived Wednesday afternoon and thankfully there were still a few sites available for 2 nights.  Since my friend wasn't going to arrive till nearly dark, I had the chance to scope things out a bit beforehand. 

Mt. Thielsen from the campground


Diamond Lake Resort / general store area; our campground on the opposite shoreline


North of the lake off hiway 138, forest service road "Cinnamon Butte Lookout" sounded promising


The burned areas...


...reminded me vaguely of a forest fire in this area, and sure enough, just over a year ago: 


I tested just a few miles of OHV trails.  Is there a name for the 2-3" powdery, thick dust that dominates these trails?  It was "interesting" on my still stock tires.



After breakfast yesterday, we set out for forest service roads that link Toketee and Lemolo lakes.  After 15 some files of riding together, we decided to split up and test out different routes and then meet up at Lemolo.  I tried a couple of promising side roads...


...but they devolved into lifting tree branches and riding under...a few times ok, but it soon became pointless.


No matter, it was fun to explore new-to-me areas.  Lemolo Lake dam area...




When we met up again, my friend Jeff told me that there was an interesting trail that he found and asked if I didn't want to try it out...


How can one say no to that?  After climbing Dread and Terror, we wanted to see what else might be in store for us.  We navigated a 12" downed tree trunk and the trail was quickly becoming overgrown, but still passable.
  
"Action" video of Jeff: 
https://i.imgur.com/c72I7jf.mp4

Me, trying to keep up: 
https://i.imgur.com/MUMVVTp.mp4

He said he saw me filming, and tried half-heartedly to do a quick wheelie...nope!
https://i.imgur.com/yNONavR.mp4

Such a fun area


Spent the afternoon in a local pizza shop while a storm blew through, and then went searching for the Umpqua hot springs to soak awhile.  A dip in the cold and fast moving waters of the North Umpqua River quickly revived me.  


Fading light, a good riding day


Jeff had never been to Crater Lake, so that was on the early morning menu.  His first view...


We passed through the entry but nobody was working there yet, so we didn't even have to pay the $25 fee for the views.




Jeff and I had our helmets on and ear protectors in as we were talking.  Some sweet ol' lady told Jeff to use his "indoor voice" as we were apparently being too loud so we could hear each other.  




Made it back to the Diamond Lake area and finished our riding time by exploring one of the OHV lanes.  This one wasn't so powdery and provided a beautiful hour of pure joy.  


By 11:30am he was on his way home as he had lots of work waiting for him, and I made it back to Gresham by 5pm.

At one point riding away from Crater Lake, we switched bikes for about 15 miles.  He said my DR650 felt like riding a cadillac after being on his 400.  Has the DR650 ever been compared to a caddy?