FF2: Filling in the Suburbs

[krigl]

Alright! So today we've got a very simple trip, heading west from Burns to Bend.


Looking as imposing as ever, the Western Star is leaving Burns decked out in an elegant coat of emerald green, a fine ivory Angela Kelly dress and matching hat adorned with faux daffodils and orchids, and the Australian wattle brooch presented to her during her first tour of the country back in 1954. Or perhaps that was the Queen?


An Englishman's home is his Cattle. His Ye Olde Cattle. Shouldn't that be castle? Now I'm hearing the YEE music.


Out of town now.


Small scenery 'town' of Riley.




Riley's answer to Cawker City's Biggest Ball of Twine in America, it's the biggest small pile of rubbish bags... in Riley.
It doesn't look like much, but in fact the whole thing represents a delicate balancing act: if they made it any bigger it wouldn't be a big small pile any more, just a small medium-sized pile, and who would want to come to Riley to see that?




Yup. I'm gearing up already for the 10 upcoming DLCs from America's Midwest.




Sure, why not.




That hill tells me we're approaching Bend now.


Overview of a pleasant city.








Funky.




Still driving to the delivery point.




More cool AI, Jazzycat responsible again, no doubt.


Finally, we dropped the cargo off, job well done.

Dan

[krigl]

Today we're going to the sea! Won't be seeing much of it, though.


We're driving from Bend to Newport on the coast, and then back inland and down to Eugene.


Bye bye Bend.


First stop will be the scenery town of Albany. But that's some way ahead yet.




That Potemkin sure did get around.


A beautiful stretch of green.




Here's Albany.




Now on the way to Newport.




Newport.




A brief taste of briny sea air...


...and it's back inland, with a new ride and a classic white paintjob.


Heading back the way we came with a cargo for Bend. We've got plenty of time, so I'm taking the (much, some would say unnecessarily) longer scenic route via Eugene.


Thanks for the good thought, Benny, totally agree.




Eugene, Oregon. Getting a strong Alexander Pushkin vibe out of that one.


Eugene, Oregon - Yevgenij Onegin.... geddit? Ho ho ho. Sometimes I just crack myself up. But more to the point - just look at those dusty textures...


Read a post on the SCS blog site where the writer expressed a wish for delivery jobs with multiple destinations. You know, you drive to one place, 'unload' some of your cargo, and then move on to another and unload some more there. Well, I thought I'd try it out - pretend to deliver some of my cargo here in Eugene, and then continue on to Bend and deliver the 'remainder' of the cargo there.


Well, the experiment didn't turn out quite as well as I'd hoped.


Heading out of Eugene.




Some great scenery lies just ahead on the way back to Bend... ...but we'll leave it for next time.

Dan

[krigl]

So... we've left Eugene Onegin and are making our way via the 'southern route' from Eugene back to Bend.


Some really stunning scenery on this route.






The colour of that water!










A local hotel, I suppose.




Stopped for a bit to enjoy the view, and the sound of the water lapping. I could just about hear it when there was a gap between passing vehicles.




This was a crazy junction...


...with a very sharp Bend. Check out the satnav!


A bit before Bend we met the scenery town of Crescent.


Crescent Airport.




Er.... h-h-h-hi there.


A pilot boat waiting for a tanker or bulk carrier to pass by in need of guidance into the local port. "Now, if you'd just like to swing your 500-meter vessel around this clump of reeds - mind that dead log sticking out of the water there - you can park up next to those two half-serviceable canoes."


Cruising into Bend as the sun goes down.


Time to make our second delivery of the trip.


And we're back here again.

The next trip is from Ontario up to Pendleton. I was going to take something from General Mills, but almost immediately I realised it was evening, not morning, so I cancelled the job. Got a couple of nice pics though, so thought I'd post them.





That's it for today - cheers!

Dan

[krigl]

Today we're starting our last westward journey in Oregon - from Ontario via Pendleton, The Dalles and Portland to Astoria.


We're hauling rusty used train axles from Metalwest in Ontario to Metalwest in Pendleton. Fun, fun, fun.




Leaving Ontario.




A fine vista opens up beside us.








That's gotta be a whole train's worth of axles.




Passing Baker City... I think.










Those axles weigh... a lot. Good to know.


Interesting pair.


Lovely place to stop.


Awesome... don't see many of these in-game. Tempted to see if it works...


Who says there are no second chances? Passed on this one, too.




Outskirts of Pendleton. I wonder where those steers are being led to?








Metalwest... we've arrived. Time to offload those axles.

Dan

[Bernhard_]

Beautiful Pictures. Thanks

[krigl]

Thanks, Bernhard!


Today's trip - Pendleton to The Dalles, along the northern border between Oregon and Washington state. I actually posted these shots already - I wonder what on earth happened to them... could the post have just vanished? Well, here we go again.


Picked up some lumber...




On our way. I say, it does seem rather arid around here.


Okay, back to the green.




That must be Washington over the river on the right, I guess.


Wow...








Approaching The Dalles now.


Hydroelectric scheme.


That's a bone fide paddle steamer right up here in the Pacific northwest.


Houses... on the water. The Dalles is an interesting place.






It is my salmon duty to announce...




The local vegan joint.


All dolled up for our visit to the state's capital next time.


Past the church and the Moonshine Mill lies our next cargo.






Got it.


And off we go - next time Portland and Astoria.

Cheers!
Dan

[krigl]

Today we finally reach the state capital, Portland!


Leaving The Dalles.


Heading west... it's not far to Portland, and it's not far from Portland to Astoria... but there's a whole lot of photogenic stuff on the way.




Edge of Portland.


The bridges of Portland are a sight to see. I'm not sure if the city even has many actual roads... just spectacular bridges and views.














Time to drop off this heavy plant at the local shipyard.




Here we are at the shipyard. I wonder if they've got anything we could take to Astoria?


They do! And its a boat!






One last Portland bridge shot... but we'll be back.


Big Burger is watching you.




Church in Astoria. So, we've got a boat to deliver. That means we're going to see the sea, right?


Right?


Well... kind of.








What a surprise! Walmart!

Well, we're over halfway through the tour... the last sets will feature four long journeys from south to north crossing the whole state. Still plenty more to see.

Dan

[krigl]

Here we go with the first of four northward journeys.


Today, Lakeview to Burns. We'll continue to Pendleton next time.


The sun's first warming rays strike the building site near the buffalo ranch. What else can I say but: "Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo."


I was bored with driving trucks, and NASA didn't need this any more, so, yeah.




Outside Lakeview and heading north to check out some stunning scenery.












Looks kind of similar to the recent Texas shots from the Great Plains.




Store + archery?? Are those words somehow related? You can shop there AND shoot arrows at grazing deer? Okay.




Outskirts of Burns, and there's that weird smokestack again.


Heading through the downtown to the delivery point.


COMPSOGNATION - Only in Theaters! Good to see Hungarian visual artist Andras Cefalvay is reaching an international audience.




The dropoff point is outside town in the country.




Here we are - ADM.


Heading back.


New cargo to take further north to Pendleton - an excavator from Lennar.


Charmed, I'm sure.


To be continued...
Dan

[krigl]

Today we continue from Burns up to Pendleton.


Just out of Burns.






The strangely named town of John Day.


They're having a celebration. Maybe there's someone in the family called John.


This tawdry retailer is stocking Authentic Native American products... right? It's hard to imagine anyone who would want to buy such... artifacts, but then I often think the same upon passing those shops filled with garden gnomes in central Europe. They say there's a customer for everything.




Interesting little scenery town, John Day.




It's a short hop from John Day to another, lesser scenery town, Mt Vernon.


Mt Vernon.


Ah... there is indeed a customer for everything.


The stretch of land outside Mt Vernon makes me think of one of those fairy tales which starts "There once was a farmer who had two sons..."


Same location, different angle.




View!


Deer by the roadside, love it.




Approaching Pendleton now.




Rural bliss.




Arriving in Pendleton.


Near the dropoff.


One excavator delivered.


Local correctional facility on the way to the Truck Service Station.


New paintjob for a new long northward journey - Klamath Falls to The Dalles.
Cheers!
Dan

[krigl]

Today - Klamath Falls via Crater Lake to Crescent.


Sauntering through the lovely city of Klamath Falls on the way to the jobsite.




Stayed here at the motel last night.


Still around Klamath Falls, somehow.


Posh medical center.




A DC3 awaits transport to a nearby scenery airfield.


Industrial estate.


Picking up something for the forestry industry at Rustic.




One last shot from Klamath Falls.


Heading north once more.


It's Bald gate ranch... again?! Okay.


Lonely billboard near Crater Lake.


Crater Lake turnoff to the left


Like all truckers, if I'm hauling some expensive heavy plant with a tight delivery window I never fail to make detours from my route to investigate nearby nature reserves, national parks and sites of special scientific interest.




The road to Crater Lake is picturesque in itself.




Sent the client a couple of pics from my mobile. I didn't bother reading the response too closely, but the cascade of enthusiastic cuss words told me that they heartily agreed it was well worth the delay to the delivery of their machine for me to see this. I knew they would get on board 100%.


Back on the road again, passing some kind of mini traction engine for log hauling.




It's that super-strange junction south of Crescent again.


Back in Crescent. There are two forestry jobsites here, and very nice they are.


Arriving to a warm welcome from the locals.


That's it for today. Next time - Crescent to... somewhere north of Bend.
Dan