Cycling Oregon; Drain to Oakland.
Saturday, Kathy and me went on a bike ride that was simply amazing. During my campaign for Secretary of State I traveled all over Oregon but I’ve never been to this back road section between Drain and Oakland. This is some of the most scenic country in the state. The ride is not simple it has some tough, long hills. But the landscape, the scenery and the parks along the way are simply amazing. If you don’t cycle get in your car on a nice sunny day and take a drive.
Directions: Start in Drain, take 99 south. Just outside town a few miles turn left on Boswell. Go to the end of Boswell take a right. You will parallel I-5 for a few miles. When you get to the intersection that takes you under I-5 go left under the highway. On the other side take Elkhead Road and follow the signs to Oakland. Total mileage is about 60-miles.
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Someday I hope you post a map of Ricks favorite rides-some nearby and some far away. Put the locations of covered bridges on it too? You are a good influence on us Rick. The “Rails to Trails” effort might need a recognizable spokesperson like you. They advocate installing off road bike corridors on abandoned railway lines. It would be great to see you making the case and lobbying for that outfit someday. Many people do not bike for fear of the cars. I do not blame them. The old rail lines offer a safe solution to that. Many in Eugene would ride to the coast regularly (me included) if they had a safe, scenic corridor like the ones Rails to Trails has established.
It might be good to link them in here at your site ?
Rick this is probably one of the most scenic rides you can take from Drain to Oakland, while reading your story on the trip, I had noticed after looking on the map exactly where Boswell Road was – at my old age into my 40s, its hard sometimes to remember where exactly in the world in the sticks of Douglas County and the Applegate Trail where this road was. I think my late grandfather used to take me for rides along that road as a kid while growing up in Yoncalla.
Going under the I-5 bridge at Elkhead? How could I ever miss that one? Not in a million years, I think of Elkhead Road as the main drag between Oakridge and Yoncalla via Elkton. At least that area has changed so much over the years my family still has my late grandfathers farm intact – so, as I could probably say, this is one scenic by-way to Oakland with so much to offer. Maybe next time, I'm down on the ranch, I'll take the ride out to Elkton and Oakland as I return to some childhood memories of the Applegate Trail.
Enjoy!
Jeff, sometime when you go to the ranch invite me out for a visit? My wife and I thought that was some of the move beautiful country around.
This is what I love about the internet is you connect with people you never thought you'd connect with.
I took a picture of the Rock Hill School House on a bike ride one day and a woman wrote to tell me her great grandfather gave the land to the school district for 50 bucks. Where are you going to get that kind of information? The internet is like a giant campfire and we all get to sit around telling stories.
Jeff, sometime when you go to the ranch invite me out for a visit? My wife and I thought that was some of the move beautiful country around.
This is what I love about the internet is you connect with people you never thought you'd connect with.
I took a picture of the Rock Hill School House on a bike ride one day and a woman wrote to tell me her great grandfather gave the land to the school district for 50 bucks. Where are you going to get that kind of information? The internet is like a giant campfire and we all get to sit around telling stories.