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| After 3 weeks being sloth's in the Pacific Northwest it feels good to be back on the road again. The Hummer is loaded with our worldly possession, full of fuel and we are driving south on US 395 through Oregon. The sun is shinning and the air is a cool but a comfortable 60 degrees. |  |
| The Hummer is pleased with our choice of routes. We were headed out of Bend Oregon on US 20 eastbound toward the intersection with US 395. I was driving, and I asked the Hummer navigator, Kim Franz to reference the head up navigation display to locate a "short cut" to US 395. These two highways form an oblique corner from US395 north/south direction and US 20 east/west track. After a few minutes of searching she reported finding two "roads" that made the cut. The first one was called "Wagon Tire Road", other was "Butte Road" We opted for the more colorful name and in few minutes I was reducing the air pressure in the Hummers as we turned south on to the dirt road. | |
| The high Oregon arid landscape rolled out in front of us. On the far vista were low hills covered in sparkling white snow and on either side of the Hummer the dry sage and creosote bush slid by silently. The "road" started out as well graded dirt track. That lasted all of half-mile and the Hummer was all smiles when the first splash of muddy water went cascading across the hood and windshield. The wipers were on more then they were off in the next 20 miles. About halfway across the short cut we came to a gate in the road bearing a sign "Posted - No Trespassing". After a few moments consulting the HUD, and finding no alternate route, we assumed the sign was refereeing to someone else. So we open the gate and drive through feeling a little pensive. |  |
| From this point on the trail got a bit rougher, but still easily passable with the Hummer. Approaching a small rise we were surprised to find that snow was still drifted over the track. I approached with a little apprehension, but the Hummer never lost a beat. A few slithers and wobbles later we topped the hill still heading south through the forbidden land. In the distance we could see the green roof of a house. In my mind I worked my reason for being on this road. None of the arguments sounded good to the adult listening in the back of my mind. So I ignore him and pressed on willing to deal with the consequences of my actions. Passing a decrepit and abandoned homestead relieved me bit. The only problem now would be finding a locked gate on the other end of the road. | |
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We passed another older more weather beaten two-story house. It was so old that that the paint was no longer apparent. Just weathered gray clapboard.
I breathed another sigh of relief. The "No Trespassing and we mean
you signs" were also getting more infrequent. Finally US 395 came into view
and we rolled up to a barbwire gate. A last sigh came with the absence of a lock. K2 hopped out and opened the gate and we left the forbidden land
behind. The Hummer was grinning ear to ear as we inflated the tire back to 40psi. I took the shotgun seat and K2 settled down for the drive down
US395. Kim and Kim |
