[rfsx15]

Craig and I are new TW200'ers. Craig is an experienced biker and I am brand new. We both recertified/certied recently. The bikes are 2008 + 2009 machines purchased used with a few extras added as you can see.



After working in the garden all morning it was time to beat the heat (95+ degrees in the north valley of Merlin, Oregon). We decided to travel up Quartz Creek Road and try and find a way out with having to back tract. We do not have a GPS (pending!). However Craig has a good sense of direction. We enjoyed great terrain, beautiful vistas and a fun ride. About 1/3 of the road was paved, the rest compacted to loose gravel. You have the road pretty much to yourself, being it is a logging road, 1 lane. We met only one other person for the entire 20+ mile trip, which took about 2-3 hours, including stops. We did eventually come to Hog Creek Road which dumped out onto a main road back to Merlin (thankfully!).



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Here is the start of the trip in the Adventist Church parking lot, next to the garden. We are only 1 block off of the main drag through town.

Driving west on Galice Road out of Merlin, in about 1/2 mile Hugo Road takes off to the north. 3 miles up Hugo Road we connected to Quartz Creek Road.

This is the start of Quartz Creek Road. The first several miles have a few houses, but after that the road belongs to you. The first 6 miles or so are paved and shaded, making for a very pleasant trip.

Once you hit gravel there are alot of curves and ups and downs, mostly ups, some requiring 2nd gear to climb.

 

[xdac]

How do you like your t bag on the rack? I just made my self a knock off of the cycle rack and plan to use the tbag on there. Do you find that it moves around too much or do you have it strapped down pretty good?

 

[rfsx15]

Continuing....



Here are some vista shots along the way...

 

[rfsx15]

Here is a shot of Merlin airport on the left, Merlin on the right and way in the back, next to the large mountains is Grants Pass. It is a bit hazy, probably due to some recent fires. This is the dry season and forest fire season for this area.

Here is a picture of Craig...

and myself. Craig kept telling me to back up just a little more...

The ride takes a toll of your behind. Craig is taking a saddle break.

Plenty of shade along the way.

We finally find a road that looks like it goes somewhere. There are numerous side roads that you could spend all summer exploring. This is the junction of Quartz Creek and Hog Creek Roads.

 

[rfsx15]

Now to wind it up....



After alot of high country gravel roads (which were packed to slightly loose....and oh, by the way, it's best to be lead machine or you have dust for lunch) we hit about 7 miles of paved road down to the junction of Hog Creek Road and Galice Road.

Take Galice Road east about 4 miles to Merlin, or west about 8-10 miles to Galice (there is a great restaurant there).



Near Galice are several other logging roads. One goes to Onion mountain, a 37 mile trip through the mountains, and the other goes to Agnes and on over the Pacifice coast. We have taken the Onion Mountain trip already, and are priming for the coastal trip...hopefully this year.



The TW's are great bikes and funto ride. the 2008 is geared 15/50 and the 2009 is geared 14/47.



Regards.....

 

[rfsx15]

We like the T bags very well. They have 4 straps that secure the bag nicely to the rack. There does not seem to be any play at all. The bags have stiffened sides which helps a great deal. We are new to this off road stuff, learning along the way. Craig recently had a flat rear tire. We had it fixed by a cycle shop. It went flat on our trip to the coast (trailed the bikes). So we went to WalMart and bought some green slime, put it into the tire, pumped it up and never had another problem. Probably the next purchase will be some hangers for side mounting stuff in the back. I have the handle bar brush guards but they are not installed yet.



Regards...

 

[Gerry]

Looks like you guys had a Great Day! Nice pictures, thanks. Gerry

 

[City Man]

Looks like agood time was had by all of you

 

[1Scorpion]

Great pics ! We don't have scenery like that in Florida.