La Grande Tour - Saturday, September 1 - 3, 2007 |
SUMMARY
Eastern Oregon in early September with good weather in prospect. Something to look forward to. True, the best rides at this time of year are after Labor Day, but the open country of the area still made for some sublime riding. We met at Elmer's at 8:00am for breakfast and left at around 9:00am. We were eager to reach Oregon's street motorcycling playground, but were not in a hurry. We overnighted in La Grande at the Best Western Rama Inn on 21st Street Tel: 541-963-3100. Sunday took us on a loop route through Enterprise, bringing us back for a second night in La Grande. Monday morning we left on the return journey to Portland.
ROUTE DETAILS
DAY 1 
- Meet at Elmer's Restaurant
at 9660 SE Stark St., Portland, OR 97216 Tel: (503) 256-0333 at 8:00am
- Go north on I-205 over the Glenn Jackson Bridge and take a right onto WA Hwy 14. Follow Hwy 14 to Maryhill and cross back over the Columbia to Biggs on Hwy 97. STOP FOR GAS (105 MILES)
- From Biggs, go east on I-84 to Arlington.
- In Arlington, go south on Hwy 19 to Condon.
- In Condon, go east on OR Hwy 206 to Heppner. STOP FOR LUNCH / GAS (94 MILES)
- From Heppner, carry on east NFD Rd 53 to Ukiah and on to La Grande via OR Hwy 244 and I-84. OVERNIGHT AT BW RAMA INN
DAY 2
- A loop ride throughEnterprise back to La Grande OVERNIGHT AT BW RAMA INN
DAY 3
- From La Grande, go south on Hwy 203 to Baker City
- From Baker City, take I-84 south to OR Hwy 7, heading west to Hwy 245
- South on Hwy 245, then west on Hwy 26
- TBD: Either branch north from Hwy 26 to Hwy 19 or Hwy 207 north to Fossil, Antelope & Maupin etc.
- Final route to Portland will be decided based on progress and preference.
- Total miles: Approx. 800
- Longest gas interval miles: 105
- Conditions as of 8/8/07: Route only partly pre-ridden, some excellent, recently improved pavement, some sections in bad repair and requiring concentration
PHOTOS
© 2007 Open Road Rider / Contributors: Photographs and Itinerary
