Uraling back to Colorado - Day 61: Covered Bridges with Bluekat and Ron

Great day for motorcycle riding today here in Willamette Valley, Oregon!  Temperatures ranged from low 60s to low 70s, sunny, mildly windy.  Traffic was light for the most part and I had a knowledgeable guide this time guiding myself and Ron to several covered bridges for which this area is known.

Kari, aka Bluekat, who has not been on a motorcycle since December of last year due to taking care of her daughter; who is now a cancer survivor, led the way and we enjoyed county two lane roads all morning long as we rode our way through several covered bridges:

 Larwood Bridge over Crabtree Creek

1939

 Shimanek Bridge over Thomas Creek

1966

 Hannah Bridge also built over Thomas Creek

1936

 Valencia is running well....

 Gilkey Bridge

1939

A truck damaged it and it was "reconditioned" in 1998

Hoffman Bridge

1936

Crabtree Creek

Kari, aka Bluekat, left us shortly before noon somewhere near the town of Sweet Home.  Ron and I rode a short distance to the town, had a quick lunch at the Subways Shop.

After lunch it was a few more miles of riding which included going over Foster Dam, the towns of Brownsville and Crawfordville before we finally arrived back at Ron's house in Lebanon, OR.

I'd reached 500 KM since the engine was rebuilt, so it was time to do an oil change.  The oil itself didn't look too bad, and it was missing that creamy bronze color which has indicated metal contamination due to the self-destructed races on the control rod bearing.

There was however, more swarf and some large metal flakes stuck to the magnetic plug used on the oil drain hole.

 Looks bad doesn't it, but in the end, most of it was the usual swarf, the 

large metal bits were probably lodged in some cranny of the engine and remained

even after Robert of Raceway Services cleaned out the engine casing.

Valencia's odometer is at 36,852 KM, I will be doing another oil change at 37,500 and probably one 1500 km later, much earlier than required, to ensure no further large metal shavings keep showing up.  I changed out the oil in the engine along with the oil filter.

I take Valencia back to Raceway Services tomorrow to have them check and probably re-torque the heads on Valencia.  Then, all being declared OK, will start once again heading home along I-84 and the Columbia Gorge.  Wish me luck!

Here's my planned route, lot of slab time I know, especially moving at URAL speed.

At this time, thinking my overnight locations will be Pendleton, OR, Twin Falls, ID, Price, UT and finally.....home!