The Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route, Day 3

Seneca Factoids:

Day 3; 184 miles (546)

Leaving Delintment lake 132 miles into a gas tank should concern a normal man.....

But having the KTM supertanker along; I figured we could do a little gas transfer if necessary. The KTM carries 7.5 gallons, but only 7 are usable, which meant that if we both ran out of gas, the final half gallon was going into my tank.

With an IMS 4 gal tank on the XR, Tom went onto reserve at 171 mi, then ran the left side out at 181 mi. The extremely low position of the petcock on the IMS tank allows only 1 quart "per side" which provides about 10 miles, then you have to lay it over to get the other quart. We transferred gas from the tanker and I ran out again at 211 mi. We transferred again and jumped on the pavement for Canyon City. During this last 17 miles, the KTM ran so low that Zander had to pressurize the tank while riding with the vent tube in his mouth. At the Canyon City Texaco (241 miles from Christmas Valley) the XR took 4.179 gallons (in a 4.0 gal tank) and Zander took 6.985 gallons. Either we were 'on fumes' or the Canyon City Texaco "has its finger on the scale"..... In any case, plan your fuel for this section as you have to make it to Seneca (yes, there's gas in Seneca!).

We ate lunch in John Day, and also bought a rear tube (100/110X19") at the local Les Schwab tire dealer (!!!)

We left John Day and blasted along the fabulous Sugarloaf Ridge road, intending to camp at the Malheur Ford. As we got closer, we noticed the OBDR route arrows pointing away from the ford sending us north on big, wide two-digit forest service roads. Tom smelled a rat and we vetoed the OBDR arrows. We figured either the ford was too deep, or maybe there was some sort of faux-environmental bullying where the route planners had to avoid the ford. In any case, we needed baths, so we headed for the Malheur, following the GPS to the ford.

During this time Tom's GPS started to crap out, shutting off. This was not good, as the GPS had already proven to be essential to "making the route".

Arriving at Malheur ford, we found the river was low, and would be easy to cross. Malheur ford is a great place to camp, with a picnic table and a crapper too! We had baths and a large burrito dinner. Tom removed the 3.00X21" tube and replaced it with the 19".

The day's gas crises prevented us from taking photos.

But we did take a little movie. Click here to see a little 'action' on a loaded dualsport bike.

This is a Quicktime movie (848K) If you don't have Quicktime, download the free player here.

If you like log movies, here is another one (not related to OBDR).