10/31/14 Tawm's Annual GAG Ride: Eastern Oregon
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 10:20 am
Thursday - Getting There
For around a dozen years I've had my Great Annual Gifford (GAG) Ride in the Gifford Pinchot N.F., but last year we decided to change things up and had it in Ukiah, Oregon. We really had a great time, so this year we pondered where might be another great place to ride with friends, so we arrived upon the LaPine area.
On Thursday, Scott Wilson and I met up in LaPine and headed to the camping area with the dogs. Upon arrival, we noticed that we had the place to ourselves (surprise!) complete with firewood and fire pit. So we set up camp, stapled up road signs to alert others and settled in.
It was warm, slightly overcast and quiet. We discovered some deer hooves that hunters had left and kept trying to come up with some sort of Blair Witch Project sign to make. The hooves only got the dogs excited to try to chew on when we weren't looking. In fact there were deer skins, more hooves and even an outdoor toilet that hunters had also left - crazy! As it got dark, we could hear a vehicle at a high rate of speed coming up the highway. It sounded like it was going so fast that it must be someone going past our camp to another location. Suddenly the brakes came on suddenly and the truck practically skidded to a stop and turned it. Keith Reams and Dave Klug pulled in - nice! Now I didn't have to stare at Scott's ugly mug all evening!
Out came the cocktails and beverages and we milled around the campfire all evening...
For around a dozen years I've had my Great Annual Gifford (GAG) Ride in the Gifford Pinchot N.F., but last year we decided to change things up and had it in Ukiah, Oregon. We really had a great time, so this year we pondered where might be another great place to ride with friends, so we arrived upon the LaPine area.
On Thursday, Scott Wilson and I met up in LaPine and headed to the camping area with the dogs. Upon arrival, we noticed that we had the place to ourselves (surprise!) complete with firewood and fire pit. So we set up camp, stapled up road signs to alert others and settled in.
It was warm, slightly overcast and quiet. We discovered some deer hooves that hunters had left and kept trying to come up with some sort of Blair Witch Project sign to make. The hooves only got the dogs excited to try to chew on when we weren't looking. In fact there were deer skins, more hooves and even an outdoor toilet that hunters had also left - crazy! As it got dark, we could hear a vehicle at a high rate of speed coming up the highway. It sounded like it was going so fast that it must be someone going past our camp to another location. Suddenly the brakes came on suddenly and the truck practically skidded to a stop and turned it. Keith Reams and Dave Klug pulled in - nice! Now I didn't have to stare at Scott's ugly mug all evening!
Out came the cocktails and beverages and we milled around the campfire all evening...