October 21: Fall Fun, Not Fog
With temperatures in the 70’s and sunny skies in Bend, today was the perfect day to escape the fog in the valley and go visit my best friend, Michelle. Add in lunch at my favorite eatery there and it ended up being a great day for a ride!
Heading south on I-5 towards Salem this morning, I breathed in the fresh fall air, enjoying the rumble of the bike and the wind in my face. The air was thick with fog and dripping with moisture, heralding the beginning of the colder months ahead. Glad to have my extra layer and electric gear, I continued east on highway 22 towards Stayton.
As I rode through the Santiam State Forest, I couldn’t help but appreciate the beautiful pops of bright red, orange, and yellow colors on the deciduous bushes and trees surrounding the bases of the evergreens and lining the roads. Leaves lining both sides of the road created a welcoming mat as I continued towards the Detroit Dam.
Winding my way around Detroit Lake, I pulled over several times to admire the glistening blue waters underneath the blue sky, with tributaries meandering over round river rocks and boulders. The road wound its way along the river for miles as I made my way into Marion Forks. Heading east on highway 20, I stopped before Sisters to admire Mount Washington and the evergreens surrounding it before continuing into Bend.
In Bend I met my best friend Michelle for lunch at Jackson’s Corner, a delightful eatery with locally sourced food cooked fresh to order. My egg and homemade Boursin cheese omelet with Olympia Provisions Ham was light and flavorful. The crispy potatoes and local butternut squash were delightful accompaniments to round out the meal.
Of course, the best part of lunch was having time to catch up with Michelle. I feel so blessed for this friendship that has spanned several decades and been a source of comfort and strength through both good and bad times.
As I headed north out of town there was a fair amount of haze, likely from a controlled burn. It was harder than usual to see the mountains to the west as I was leaving town but I was able to enjoy the fields and farmlands along the way.
As I drove through the Mount Hood National Forest, I managed to get a few good looks of Mount Hood before being enveloped in the fog and rain surrounding the Portland area.
