This museum is located at the Nampa Airport, and is primarily dedicated to military aviation from WW-I through the Space Program. I was overwhelmed with the amount of memorabilia, pictures, displays including aircraft and vintage cars. They also had a very large archive of information on individual soldiers. I spent over two hours and realized that it would take two weeks to be able to take everything in.
I hit the road and started heading West again.
I had planned on stopping to take a picture when I entered Oregon; however, the "Welcome to Oregon" sign is on the river bank, and the bridge's concrete barrier extended 1/4 mile past the sign. When I could pull off, there was another sign that said "No Stopping. Emergency Parking Only." I thought, getting the picture was urgent, yet not emergent.
Now along my route, there is a part of the road that looked cool. Just to the East of Pendleton, OR:
http://mapq.st/Rc1Ltv
It looked like it would a roller-coaster of a ride. As one approaches, there are warning signs that read, "FIRST WARNING - 6% Grade for 6 Miles," the "SECOND WARNING," then the Speed Limits based on GVW, then the "FINAL WARNING."
The view from a Scenic Viewpoint at the top of the hill. As I started down, it was actually an easy ride, nice sweeping corners, on a bike it was great! The poor truckers though... going 18 to 37 mph. There are runaway truck ramps every two miles on this decent and the second one had been recently used! The tire ruts extended more than halfway up the ramp! I can only imagine how fast that truck had to have been going to make it that far up...
When I hit the bottom, I had to hold my breath. The smell of hot brakes from the three trucks I passed was overwhelming! It actually burned when I took a breath.
So for those that haven't figured it out, I finally arrived at my destination!
When I pulled into the motel, I met three other bikers who are friends with each other, that had rode in from Seattle & Longview, WA and the other from Boise, ID.
From right to left, meet Paul, Bill, and John. We sat and talked for quite a few hours. It is amazing that complete strangers, who have a common interest, can bond and become friends. Since my room was on the opposite side of the parking area, they told me to pull my bike over to theirs... "Strength in numbers!" I did so, as I knew that they would watch over my bike as if it was their own!
Four bikes in three spaces. Those white signs on the wall... read "Please do not back in." Right! John was the only outlier.
Now, a four day weekend to explore, familiarize, and take in my temporary home!
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