Day 13 (Last Day): Ontario, OR to Portland, OR - 390 miles
Just did this stretch from Ontario to Baker City in the spring. The landscape is rolling hills and way more scenic than southern Idaho.
Pulled in to see how things were going in North Powder, the gateway to the Anthony Lakes Ski area. A little rehab going on.
Met up with a college buddy and his wife in Pendleton for lunch. Only the second time we've seen them since college. Good to catch up.
Downtown Pendleton
Major rodeo, the Pendleton Round -Up, is held here annually
Back on the road for home. Before long, you are out of the ranching country and back to following the Columbia River - all the way back to Portland.
Biggs Junction
West of Biggs Jct
More Columbia Gorge
Hood River
Mt Hood in Oregon
Cascade Locks and Bridge of the Gods, again
Arrived home in the early evening. Felt good to be home, but felt a little hemmed in by the city and all the traffic.
Another great trip in the books with my patient and fabulous co-pilot. Most days we were in the car at 8:30 and rarely made it to the hotel before 6 pm, many times later. Gonna have to cut the daily mileage down because there is always too much to see and too many things left behind. The same trip at only 250 miles/day results in 17 days in stead of 13.
I called my dealership as soon as I got home because I was now 11,000 miles since my last oil change. I told the appointment person who I was and what I wanted. She said I'm not ready yet - and I told her I was at 19,000 miles. She said they had me at only 8,000 in June for my last one, am I sure about the mileage? Did I have a busy summer? I said yeah, and 4,000 were just in the last 2 weeks. She said "I have you down for 8:20 am next Tuesday." Thanky much.
Some Final Thoughts on the M5:
The LCI M5C - what can I say? Zero problems. Never put air in the tires. Never needed oil, or water or wiper fluid. I've had 4 BMW V-8s now - never had a problem with any of them. They all seem to get better with age. I feel like they really hit their stride at around 20,000 miles. I love the M1 and M2 buttons. Passing is a breeze when needed. Freeway driving with the radar cruise control is tremendous and 2 lane twisties with the suspension tightened up is marvelous. Never get tired of driving this car. But I'll be at 22,000 miles after year 1 and thoughts begin to creep into my mind with what to replace it with and the timing of that event. Will the supply chain shortages end anytime soon? What's the last month I can order another M5 in this cycle? Do I want an M8?
Aw, who cares. I'm just going to keep driving this car for now.
Thanks for tagging along this far. You're a real trooper. Or a lonely person. Whatever.
Safe travels.