david

Next week, Wayne Smith and I are heading up to Bend to spend a few days with my daughter AND properly exercise the 997s up from the bay Area through he Sac Valley, through the gap between the Sierra and Cascades, have a roll around Eagle Lake (see pic below) and up to Klamath Falls. Unsure if time will allow something other than US 97 to Bend but we shall see....if Crater Lake was only open...

I've never driven to Mt. Hood from Bend so I thought it may be perfect to do it one day while we're up there. The route that seems the most fun is below and at: https://goo.gl/qgeDXf.

If you have any recon on this route, alternates or suggestions, or want to take the drive with us (either May 23 or 24), please let us know...cheers for any and all info!

PS I'll cross-post this in the region if ok with mod...

PSS We'll try to post some trip reports...or at least some pics.

AutobahnIstLieb

Well, I don't know how well this coordinates with your driving schedule, but there are 27 fantastic breweries in Bend!


If you're looking for a side trip out of Bend, head east on US-20 (just past Worthy Brewing) and head for Riley. Go south at US-395 to Valley Falls, then catch OR-31 up to LaPine and back to Bend. There is literally no traffic and the views are breathtaking. Once you're east of China Hat on US-20, you can really open it up - in all my years of driving this route, I have never seen a cop. I'm not going to say by how much, but safe to say both my C4S and my AMG have been used almost to their full potential on the beautiful long straigtaways between Bend and Riley. Watch for speed traps on 97, however, both south between LaPine and Bend, and north between Bend and Madras.




Alternatively you can drive the Cascade Lakes Parkway - stunningly beautiful, but there will be traffic - and most of it Subarus and hypermiling Priuses doing >50MPH on this busy two-laner. But it is a lovely drive.

AutobahnIstLieb

Oh, and I should also say if you are looking for a post-drive libation, avoid Deschutes on the weekends - just too busy. Worthy, Crux, and Goodlife are brewing some fantastic beers but are not nearly as crowded as they've not had the national attention of Deschutes. Enjoy your trip - Oregon is amazing.

Sooner

That's a great drive. Be careful through warm springs, and use a radar dectector through the reservation, as the tribal police like to write tickets.

The climb up out of warm springs is a blast. Very twisty, uphill, with a passing lane. Good fun!!!

ltcjmramos

😭😭😭

I'll be watching...

david

Thanks so much for the feedback! I've been on US 20 (all the way across OR and ID) although I've never been on the road out of LaPine to the east...that looks special!

I've never done the Cascade Lakes Parkway so we'll add that into the mix...perhaps traffic will be lighter during the week?

And yup, we will be bending our arms and the Worthy, Crux and Goodlife taps sound like great watering holes! I agree that OR is special and glad that my youngest seems like she is settling down there...

david

Thanks for the feedback! The Escort is always on (along with situational awareness!) and we'll be extra special on the Warm Springs reservation.

And "very twisty, uphill, with a passing lane" is one of my joys so you've made my day!

david

I knew that you would be, although I'd much rather have the GTS in my rear view mirror!

Keep up the good job on the recovery...

Wayne Smith

Got to watch the GTS driving to and through Death Valley just recently. It won't be long until that pleasure repeats 8)

ltcjmramos

Hopefully, in two months.

z3mcoupe

Guys, I'll meet you somewhere along the way and join in I'm in Portland but it would be great to join in on the drive somewhere.

Macster

I don't drive through reservations that often but when I do I am very careful to drive below the limit, observe *all* traffic laws. Not all law enforcement vehicles are marked and you never know. Also, residents can take offense at bad driving and report you.

Macster

Just a head's up. Oregon has a ban on pumping your own gasoline so when you stop for fuel be prepared to have someone fill the tank for you. My limited experience is they make a mess by overfilling the tank and the excess runs out.

Thankfully after this experience my trips through Oregon since have been done without having to stop for fuel. Even with the Turbo I can fill up the gas tank just before entering OR from CA and drive all the way to WA on one tank and then fill up once into WA. Likewise on the way back I fill up just before leaving WA then drive through OR and then fill up again once inside CA.

Wayne Smith

Thanks for the reminder Macster.

Our last journey in that direction was two years ago. The station attendants tended to be most understanding when they saw a group of us arrive, realizing that we would pump our own. But it's not a given.

And letting them do it is the law, thanks to an accident involving the Governor's daughter many years ago.

NJ forbids pumping your own as well.

Looking forward to being on the road again.

nathan1

I travel this route often, they Oregon State Troopers patrol 97 like CRAZY! Unlike California where you can go with the flow of traffic even if that means 20+ over, they will cite you if you are 10 or more over. A good section of the road is legitimately signed for 55 mph, so it can be painfully slow. The OSP units from K-Falls to Bend actually run some equipment in their cars that emit old school X-band so you will get some warning and then they will instant on you with KA. So if you get a slow, moderately increasing X-signal, don't ignore it as you will soon get a blast of KA and then its over...

If you can find the time carve off 97 at HWY 293 to Antelope. At Antelope head north on 218 to the ghost town of Shaniko. HWY 293 is amazing, Hwy 218 leaving Antelope is so beyond EPIC coming up the grade that you will want to pull a u-turn and run it again. TRUST me, its worth the ~ 1 hour in total detour on drive to Mt Hood.