Yesterday we drove from La Pine to Eugene via Hwy. 58. We didn't leave the RV park until 9:00 and then made a quick stop off at the McDonald's in La Pine for English muffins and coffee. We chose Hwy. 58 for our journey West since it didn't seem to be as curvy as the road out of Sisters. Well, 58 didn't appear as "squiggley" on the map anyway. :)
It turned out to be a great road for getting us over to Eugene. With the exception of several passing lanes for slower traffic, it was mainly a 2-lane highway. Wow, I love those 2-lane roads! Before you get to the town of Oakridge you drive next to Odell Lake for a while. We stopped to admire the deep blue of the water. There were a few white caps out there.
The only mountain pass mentioned in our book Mountain Directory West, was the Willamette at 5,128 foot elevation. Piece of cake after Monarch Pass in Colorado. It did caution us about a tunnel right in the middle of the long Westbound descent. We paid attention to the warnings. Looked for the tunnel, saw it and proceeded through without incident.
It was another beautiful drive. The road was curvy through the mountains, but slowing to 40 mph around those curves made the drive easy...no white knuckle driving here!
Soon we were down from the mountain and the road took us right to Interstate 5. We found an RV park for the night close to the Cummins Northwest service center. We have an 8:00 am appointment today. After our service call we'll be driving to the coast. If my wireless card works, I'll make a post! Hey...gotta run, we don't want to be late for our appointment!
Until next time.....so long for now!
7 comments:
Those mountain tunnels are always a bit of an attention getter as you approach them. Even though the tunnel height sign tells you there is lots of room it is just the sight of this hole in the rock ahead that still throws doubts into your mind about really fitting through there. Same with overhead bridges & low underpasses. I once broke a plastic vent cover in a previous Class C going over a covered bridge. Not because the overhead steel structure was too low but because the heavy warning sign they had suspended in the center of the bridge was too low!!!!
I love the two lane roads also. I seem to relax and enjoy things a little more on them. Interstates seem more stressful to me....everything going past you really fast. Plus nothing in the way of views.
I agree with Bayfield those tunnels can be intimidating...the visual says "watch out."
Travel safely and hope you don't have to wait long at the service center.
Mike & Gerri (happytrails)
I agree with Al, those tunnels sure look intimidating when you approach them. I always duck just as we enter - as if that is going to do any good at all!! Nice pictures of the lake too - the water sure is a deep blue.
We took Highway 58 last year when we came home from Crater Lake/Diamond Lake. We stopped for one night at a very nice RV park near Oakridge. You and Bruce have been on a lot of scenic roads!
Beautiful drive! I love being on the road. An adventure around every corner. Have fun! The Camp Host Housewife
I used to work out of Eugene, driving either Willamette or Santiam pass on my way to the East coast. You should try to get through either pass in the Autumn, the colors are almost blinding. Beautiful scenery on both.
And you and Bruce will do well on the scenic roads in Oregon. There are a lot of them, and you'll never be able to use them up. Just keep showing us your journey, and we'll follow right along.
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