Roam About with "Big Hank"

parkkitchings

Adventurer
The day is fast approaching. After 19 years in Bend, Oregon I'm gonna miss this place but time for a change. Sold my house last year and have now sold my business along with just about everything else I own except for some moto's, tools and clothing which is in storage. I literally unloaded everything else....furniture, appliances, linens, dishes, friggin everything. What I didn't sell I've given away or donated to the Humane Society. Amazing how much crap you can accumulate. I had planned to do a big trip on the Strom possibly to South America but alas my old buddy Hank is hanging on so had to change plans. Didn't really figure he'd still be around at this point but I can't bear to leave him with someone and ride off. Rather than riding out of here on the Strom I'll be trailering the DR350. Still plan on doing as much riding as possible albeit mostly day rides. I will however be placing Hank in a kennel now and then and doing some overnite stuff. I really don't have anywhere to be starting this Saturday except for about three weeks in July (girlfriend got a smokin deal on a European cruise and I've got to do some painting for her) and attending Overland Expo next month. Planning on heading north over the border in August/Sept/Oct after the girlfriend commitment. Yea I know, it's going to be a rough summer/fall. I may be broke come winter but damn the funds....full speed ahead. In short, I'm homeless and not sure exactly where I'm headed or for how long. At a minimum I'll be on the road for the summer and possibly through the winter. Any suggestions on great campsites, hikes, must sees, ghost towns, rides, etc. would be appreciated. I'll be posting as internet service is available but plan to be off the grid doing as much stealth camping as I can find. Hopefully, a few on here will follow along and offer some suggestions.

Leaving Bend this Saturday. And so it begins.....

My travelling companion..... Big Hank

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New home. 2009 Tacoma with 2014 FWC Fleet.

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Modified utility trailer. My new mobile kitchen and garage.

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parkkitchings

Adventurer
Sorry for the delay but completely moving out of a place and closing all accounts is a real pain in the *** but it's now done. I left Bend last Sunday afternoon. First stop was just a couple of hours south to Summer Lake Hot Springs. A great place to camp and soak in some hot springs. Spent the afternoon prior to the soak trying to organize the camper as my packing was done hastily prior to leaving. Some pics of the hot springs and the new camper. Well, it's not really new anymore as Hank took a dump on the floor the first night in it. Guess he figured he'd go ahead and get it broke in so I won't stress out over the first scratch. Normally he lets me know when he wants out but either I didn't hear him or like I said he was gonna go ahead and break it in.

Fort Rock en-route to the hot springs.

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First night in the rig.....

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First dinner in the rig...

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Building covering the main soaking pool...

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Lots of bird life around the springs....

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More to come.....
 

UncleBilly

Observer
Safe travels on your adventure. Your upholstery is the same I have on my coaches in my Cabin. Such a nice look 😜 keep those updates coming...


Uncle Billy 🇺🇸
 

Wainiha

Explorer
Nice pics.

Do you have aftermaket springs? Those will sag pretty quickly. I have forgotten exactly which years but the newer Tacomas have a TSB to replace them.
 

mapper

Explorer
Cool, look forward to updates. I had one summer on the road before I landed in UT. I left off from Bend, where I had been "couch surfing" with my good friends and their two sons, while writing my Master's thesis. I have a very similar picture of Fort Rock from that departure. Feel free to PM me if you make it to Salt Lake and you and Hank need a roof for a bit and/or directions/recommendations. Always room at my place for a "Bender", that town has been so kind and giving to me.

Safe travels!
 

parkkitchings

Adventurer
Regret not posting up more often but I've been off the grid quite a bit. After finally getting out of Oregon I began a slow pace working my way into Nevada where I had planned to visit some old ghost towns and basically just roam about. Took as many back and county roads as I could find enroute. After leaving Paisley, Oregon and the hot springs I landed outside of Eagleville, California where I did some primitive camping on a dry lake bed east of town. Turned down a county road for about 10 miles and did some cross country navigation to the lake bed.

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Ran into this guy and we began discussing rigs. His was well built out of 3/4 marine plywood and he tried to convince me his was lighter than my FWC. I wasn't so sure about that. Real nice guy and he had done a great job on his custom build.

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Looking for a route to that dry lake bed

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Found it. Hank was glad to be out of the truck and decided to take a nap in the sun as I set up for the night. Perfect night out...no wind and perfect temps.

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Up early the following morning and headed towards the ghost town of Berlin, Nevada with a couple more real close. Figued I'd camp there for a couple of nights and unload the bike for some exploring in the area. Enroute ran into some art.

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Also checked out some sand dunes outside of Fallon.

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Rolled into the ghost town of Berlin late that afternoon. Great campground about two miles up the mountain. Decided I'd be here at least two nights to explore the area and get some pictures.

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More to come. I'll try and catch up tomorrow. Thanks for looking!
 

parkkitchings

Adventurer
Cool, look forward to updates. I had one summer on the road before I landed in UT. I left off from Bend, where I had been "couch surfing" with my good friends and their two sons, while writing my Master's thesis. I have a very similar picture of Fort Rock from that departure. Feel free to PM me if you make it to Salt Lake and you and Hank need a roof for a bit and/or directions/recommendations. Always room at my place for a "Bender", that town has been so kind and giving to me.

Safe travels!

Thanks for the offer. May be coming back thru SLC toward the end of June, first of July. I'll give you a shout if it happens.
 

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