Todd Duncan Tennyson
Well-known member
It has been a spell since I was on the duckboats page, and in the heat of summer, it seems like a long time away from birds in the spread.
I thought some of you folks might enjoy the photos of the big country we have out here.
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A while back, a buddy of mine sent me some photos of the Stonehenge that was built as a war memorial. It is about 105 miles up the river from where I am.
I’d never even heard of it before, so I decided it was something I’d better gear up for and check out in person.
Woke up before dawn and gathered myself together.
Grabbed my ½ Gallon of water, and ½ gallon of gas, and about 15 bucks for odds and ends.
Something I have notices is that when you are off the beaten path and you need something, credit cards are not much good.
Headed east.
Up through the Columbia River Gorge, and along the old farmers highway.
Crossed over the river at Biggs and recognized the way the roads bent and folded over the land from the maps I’d looked at before.
I knew where to go.
It was surreal and strange.
I had the whole place to myself, and walked around it,
Then went inside.
Was relieved that I didn’t have to deal with any druids.
There is a commanding view from up on the hills above the river.
I could tell it would be a good day for sky photos.
The kind of day where the clouds are way up high and look like horse tails that are whipping and flowing.
I didn’t want to waste such a good sky, so I decided to go to where the land and the sky would both be breathtaking, in the hopes that I could get a few choice photos, and run some old dirt roads and open range.
I decided to cross the river and head south through Condon and on to Fossil.
The last time I was up this way, there were not any windmills. Now they are everywhere, and as the day started to warm, they started to spin.
It is liberating to roll hundreds of miles of backroads and not even see another vehicle.
The town of Fossil has something for everyone. They’ve got a quail crossing sign, and even a steel mammoth statue.
Had to backtrack along a river to get to the town of Spray. It was getting hot, and I needed a Gatorade and the Pig needed gas.
I could see guys out fishing and pontoon boating in the river. Looked like it would be a good day for flinging a hopper to a hungry bass.
I pumped my gas and slammed my fluids and rolled toward Mitchell. Up over vistas and ridges. Things were perfect for landscape and scenery viewing.
Rolled through an area known as the Painted Hills. It was pretty amazing, and to have it all to myself was a real gift.
It was starting to get really hot.
Especially with boots, gear, double knee carhaarts, full body armor and a black leather jacket (to ensure I’d not sustain injuries in a spill, but die of heat stroke instead.
I stopped at a wayside and soaked my head and my shirt and jeans with a hose. Felt a million times better. It was 97* at least.
On my way out of the Painted hills area, I came to a fork in the road that said Ashwood 36 miles. I remembered that town from long ago, I’d been there, and it was a good shortcut (albeit a bumpy road and a stream crossing).
I like to ride roads that have a sign indicating “No gas or services. Rv Bus and truck traffic is not recommended”. Especially when they underline and italicize the (not recommended) part.
I had about enough gas, and figured I could coast down the hills if I needed to. So I did.
Made it to Ashwood, they’ve even got a Post Office, although they have no gas!
If you learn only 1 thing from this writing, may it be that Ashwood has no gas.
Right after I snapped the Ashwood P.O. photo, 3 immature pheasants flew in and landed between me and my bike.
I looked at them and they looked at me, looked at my bike and stood there. They were hot too, had their beaks open and trying to cool down.. they split and ran for cover and hunt for hoppers.
Made it to Madras on a whisper of fuel and headed through the Indian Reservation. I stopped along the way on the rim, and took it all in.
Was a pretty good day for scenery.
Bout 12 hours in the saddle and probably close to 400 miles total.
Done on 2 mini mart $2 sandwiches and about 9 qts of Gatorade.
I thought some of you folks might enjoy the photos of the big country we have out here.
.......................................................................................................................................
A while back, a buddy of mine sent me some photos of the Stonehenge that was built as a war memorial. It is about 105 miles up the river from where I am.
I’d never even heard of it before, so I decided it was something I’d better gear up for and check out in person.
Woke up before dawn and gathered myself together.
Grabbed my ½ Gallon of water, and ½ gallon of gas, and about 15 bucks for odds and ends.
Something I have notices is that when you are off the beaten path and you need something, credit cards are not much good.
Headed east.
Up through the Columbia River Gorge, and along the old farmers highway.
Crossed over the river at Biggs and recognized the way the roads bent and folded over the land from the maps I’d looked at before.
I knew where to go.
It was surreal and strange.
I had the whole place to myself, and walked around it,
Then went inside.
Was relieved that I didn’t have to deal with any druids.
There is a commanding view from up on the hills above the river.
I could tell it would be a good day for sky photos.
The kind of day where the clouds are way up high and look like horse tails that are whipping and flowing.
I didn’t want to waste such a good sky, so I decided to go to where the land and the sky would both be breathtaking, in the hopes that I could get a few choice photos, and run some old dirt roads and open range.
I decided to cross the river and head south through Condon and on to Fossil.
The last time I was up this way, there were not any windmills. Now they are everywhere, and as the day started to warm, they started to spin.
It is liberating to roll hundreds of miles of backroads and not even see another vehicle.
The town of Fossil has something for everyone. They’ve got a quail crossing sign, and even a steel mammoth statue.
Had to backtrack along a river to get to the town of Spray. It was getting hot, and I needed a Gatorade and the Pig needed gas.
I could see guys out fishing and pontoon boating in the river. Looked like it would be a good day for flinging a hopper to a hungry bass.
I pumped my gas and slammed my fluids and rolled toward Mitchell. Up over vistas and ridges. Things were perfect for landscape and scenery viewing.
Rolled through an area known as the Painted Hills. It was pretty amazing, and to have it all to myself was a real gift.
It was starting to get really hot.
Especially with boots, gear, double knee carhaarts, full body armor and a black leather jacket (to ensure I’d not sustain injuries in a spill, but die of heat stroke instead.
I stopped at a wayside and soaked my head and my shirt and jeans with a hose. Felt a million times better. It was 97* at least.
On my way out of the Painted hills area, I came to a fork in the road that said Ashwood 36 miles. I remembered that town from long ago, I’d been there, and it was a good shortcut (albeit a bumpy road and a stream crossing).
I like to ride roads that have a sign indicating “No gas or services. Rv Bus and truck traffic is not recommended”. Especially when they underline and italicize the (not recommended) part.
I had about enough gas, and figured I could coast down the hills if I needed to. So I did.
Made it to Ashwood, they’ve even got a Post Office, although they have no gas!
If you learn only 1 thing from this writing, may it be that Ashwood has no gas.
Right after I snapped the Ashwood P.O. photo, 3 immature pheasants flew in and landed between me and my bike.
I looked at them and they looked at me, looked at my bike and stood there. They were hot too, had their beaks open and trying to cool down.. they split and ran for cover and hunt for hoppers.
Made it to Madras on a whisper of fuel and headed through the Indian Reservation. I stopped along the way on the rim, and took it all in.
Was a pretty good day for scenery.
Bout 12 hours in the saddle and probably close to 400 miles total.
Done on 2 mini mart $2 sandwiches and about 9 qts of Gatorade.
