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| From coast to coast time for a new bull-bar!! |
With one more state ahead of us we pushed on to complete the TAT (TransAmericanTrail). Our journey finished with a 781 mile trek through Oregon to the Pacific Coast. Heading out of Idaho we landed in Payette OR. pointed north we traversed along the Snake River to Huntington OR. before turning west along the Willow Creek Rd. through the Baker Malheur National Forest. Camping was abundant on this strip and we took advantage of it after racking on many bumpy miles. Strawberry Mountain Wilderness area and the Strawberry Mountain range unfolded as we took the twisting and turning TAT trail past Canyon City and then to John Day. As we drove through bear country we picked our campsites carefully and kept a look out for any evidence of those fury, walking wild beasts (aka BEARS). We cruised at about 6500ft el made our way through Black Canyon Wilderness and Big Summit Prairie.
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| Tunnel to darkness |
We noticed lots of National Forest Service trucks in the area as well as US Army vehicles. What we did not know was that we entered what must have been the staging area for Fire Fighting. We started to see some make shift helipads with very large rubber pool like containers that previously held fire retardant. Driving onward the scenery was wonderful. Oregon Sugar Pines are thick and abundant in this neck of the woods! We dumped out on Hwy 26 and took it south west to Prineville, here we loaded up on provisions and fuel. There was a burn ban in the area so no campfires except camp stoves. We made great use of ours as Tailgate Quesadilla Bar was a nightly occurance after a long day on the trail, washed down with some frosty Chick-a-Lobs...that low carb beer.
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| Camping on the Rouge River OR. |
Heading South on Crooked River Hwy we headed to the Deschutes National Forest and west through Newberry Crater over to La Pine. From there on out we saw more US Army vehicles and National Forest Service guys as it seemed they were doing some back burning. So heads up on road closures!! With green trees and beautiful vistas Oregon was impressive, tons of free or low cost camping- we had a blast along the way. Then we saw a make shift airfield with at least 3-4 helicopters complete with fuel, maintenance and service vehicles. We stumbled upon the headquarters for a air assault on forest fires that have been raging in the surrounding area.
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| Up in the Deschutes National Forest |
This was a group of some pretty bad-ass pilots doing what looked to me as some pretty dangerous flying. Further up the trail we started seeing signs of road closures blocked by armed US Army personnel in over-built hummers and menacing automatic weapons.
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| Not Snow?? |
We hoped that out TAT trail was not one of them, no such luck!! What to do? Re-route! Pulling out all our maps we started looking for an alternate route. Of course there were plenty of ways around on asphalt, but we did not want to end the TAT that way! We made our way to the US Army check point and started talking with the two young women soldiers guarding the closed off road.
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| Back burning |
After about 20 minutes of chit-chatting with the soldiers we learned to stay straight at the turn off sign and that would lead us back on the right and safe track. It added a few more miles but what the hey! We were determined to finish the TAT on a dirt road just as we started it. Taking the last 150 miles to the coast was almost bitter sweet as I knew the journey was coming to completion and I also knew that my good buddy Chris, Trixie's stand in navigator, time was also running out!
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| Fire Fighting helicopters |
Coming up the Elk River we saw Port Orford our exit point to the TAT. It was a windy cold day with fog rolling in from the seashore (typical PACWest). I was excited to see the ocean again after having said good-bye to it in the early part of May, in Georgia outside of Savannah.
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| TAT to the Finish Oregon Coast, Port Orford |
We both felt a feeling of accomplishment me more so than Chris, but we both had a blast for sure!!! I felt a little lonely for Trixie she had come all that way and we both weren't here to give each other a big hug...
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| Oregon Coast |
After being so elated for completing the TAT we pointed north up the 101 to Seatac Airport and Chris's flight home to TX and to get my big hug from Trixie in Tacoma!!
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| Sit-in Navigator Chris |
You may think that the adventure was coming to a end, heck No!! We have a lot more exploring to do and some of it may even be in your own backyard!!
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| OR. Coast camping, Check out the Troopy! |
See you on the Trail!!....
🚙...../\/\/\..
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| Trixie's on the right! |
Authors note: For some of you who don't know, Trixie and I were married back in December. We both ran away to Las Vegas and got hitched at the "Viva Las Vegas" wedding chapel by a out of costume Elvis impersonator, go figure!! Since then we have had a whirl-wind tour as honeymooners and Overlanders thanks to all for your loving support!!
Cheers!!!
