After placing the porta potty key attached to a foot long 2×4 on the table out back where the bar patrons smoke, I set off into the early morning darkness. If I really wanted the key, I would have been terribly disappointed as I have no more room on War Dog for a 2×4 with three dangling keys. Well played by the management of the The Watering Hole. Well played. No souvenirs for this guy I suppose.

After being serenaded by a pack of coyotes off in the distance while packing up this morning, I got to test out the night shot option on my phone as I went by Fort Rock. Seems my phone actually picked up some of the stars.

As I slipped into the night in the vast openness of nothingness around Fort Rock, my mind was on the long day’s adventure as it would be the longest mileage day to date on this little adventure of mine. I knew I had to travel through the Deschutes National Forest today and some of the famous red gravel roads that remind me of the small red rocks seen on the side of the road heading up to ski during the winter.

The thick gravel and the red roads were smoking fast today, no pun intended. Ok, they were not at all fast, but that is why I left early because I was aware this unique experience offered was not meant to be taken at warp speed.

Once leaving the National Forest, I would have a short ride through some dramatic desert scenery before dropping into the Crooked River Gorge. The scenery changes so quickly in this beautiful state of mine.

The smoke picked up dramatically about halfway through the ride and the headwind experienced heading down the Cooked River Gorge brought in the smoke and gave me the biggest case of cotton mouth I have ever experienced. It felt as if I had swallowed a bag of chalk. It was something different, let me tell you. There were still a lot of fly fishing going on down the river as those fish still gotta eat even with all this smoke around.

The day ended with me finding the last room available in a local motel near a small diner where I ordered the 32 oz Creamsicle Milkshake to wash down my cheeseburger and fries. I will now be staying indoors until I can make my getaway to the north in the early morning light.