Oregon Outback: Fandango Canyon and Summer Lake Hotsprings

[kurtw]

I can't write a ride report to do this weekend justice. But I'll try. But first I have to say what a great group we had for this ride.

Everyone had their act together and ready to pull out of Bend bright and early. It was chilly but not so bad that it interfered with the riding. The route out of Bend got us warmed up a little bit.



It's always good to know that someone knows where they're going. Our man with the plan, Greg.



More fly-bys on the red cinder of Sand Springs (I think).







We had some snowy patches on along this road as we climbed higher. I was a little nervous about the decision to ride the big 640 on this trip beforehand. The snow patches were the only part of it where I was starting to get a little nervous. None of them were a problem but I wasn't sure how much more snow we would be seeing.

Green Mountain - John arrives on his cool XR600.









More...

[kurtw]

12 guys on dusty tracks need a lot of space to spread out to let the dust settle between riders. Fandango Canyon had plenty of space! It was cool to watch the individual dust clouds rolling through the canyons and valleys.



Cows and Riders










Seminar on Advanced Techniques in Flat Tire Repair

[kurtw]

All-in-all, Fandango was a terrific route and had my favorite bits of riding from the day. I'll have to go back and explore some of the other tracks there sometime soon. The big 640A was a champ on this ride. As a matter of fact, I would almost say that this was a perfect ride for that bike. I really like the that kind of riding on it.

I think we hit Paisley around 2pm or so after logging about 150 miles of 95% dirt. Everyone had a late lunch at the cafe there. Those that were turning around for a return trip that afternoon were very conscious of the time of the 150 miles still to ride. The two groups shook hands and said goodbye.


For us campers, it was just a few miles down the road to Summer Lake Hot Springs, where our support driver, Dave waited with all our camping gear and more good food and beer than you could probably find in any other 100 sq mile chuck of south-central Oregon.



We set up camp in a rush, eager to clean up and relax in the sun and soak in the bath house.



Summer lake was funky. I liked it. It's uncanny how random places in the middle of the desert tend to attract the strangest assortments of people.





After a soak, dinner, and dessert, it wasn't long before I was ready for one of the soundest nights sleep that I've had in quite a while. Oh, Dave brought us desert.



Morning was beautiful and the morning really lit up the snow on Winter Rim behind the lake.







We couldn't enjoy it all day though...still plenty of riding to do.

[kurtw]

We backtracked up Fandango Canyon again. It was at least as much fun the second time as it was the first.

Plus there were lots of wild horses out enjoying the morning with us.  I think I have more 'horse-power' but I'll be damned if I could get far enough ahead to get a good photo.




Cattle guard, take two










We ended up winging a fun route from Chrismas Valley to Fort Rock and then up to Hole in the Ground. I love those pumice roads.







Home

[bubba zanetti]

 

Oh I am lovin this ...  

[DogBoy]

Fantastic report Kurt.  

Love this pic:

[1moreroad]

40 mph average off road speed?  You are soooo much faster than me!  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Sweet! Isn't that hot spring the best??

[kurtw]

Sweet! Isn't that hot spring the best??

I'll be back to Summer Lake. Great place to just hang out and relax.

[sagerat]

Missed you on Sat. but what a great ride you had.  You'll have to show me on the map.  I so want to ride up and camp on Winter Ridge this summer.

And your typical excellent pics.  

[XLR8]

Cool  

I keep forgetting there's a offroad report section.