Santiam Canyon, Oregon May 16, 2009

This was a short but beautiful ride up the Santiam Canyon to Salmon Falls. We had six motorcycles on this ride which included Eric riding his Honda Shadow Sabre, Ricardo riding his Suzuki Intruder, Jim riding his Harley Fat Boy, Dan riding his Harley Fat Boy, Russ riding his Honda Magna, and me riding my Honda Shadow Sabre.

The trip started at my house in Stayton and we followed back roads over to Jordan, Lyons, Mill City and Gates, Oregon. From Gates we crossed over Hwy 22 and took Gates Hill Road to Elkhorn Valley. Then a quick ride up North Fork Road and we arrived at Salmon Falls. It was a warm day and the river was running high from snow melt.

Sadly, we learned that evening on the news one of the people we'd seen at the falls dove into the river and never surfaced. Here is the news story:

Body of drowned swimmer recovered near Salmon Falls Park

By Kimberly A.C. Wilson, The Oregonian

May 29, 2009, 8:45AM

Divers with the Linn County Sheriff's Office recovered the body of a Salem man reported missing earlier this month after jumping into the Little North Fork of the Santiam River at Salmon Falls Park.

Family and friends had searched the riverbanks since Anthony Dupuis, 20, struggled in the water on May 16th. Search crews with the Marion County Sheriff's Department were stymied by high water levels, frigid water temperatures and swift currents, suspending their efforts on May 17th.

Along with the Linn County Sheriff's Office, Marion County deputies resumed the search yesterday morning because dry weather over the last several days contributed to improved river conditions, said Marion County Commander Kevin Schultz.

Divers found Dupuis just below Salmon Falls Park.

Chatting before the ride at our place in Stayton, Oregon
(l-r): Russ, Kevin, Jim and Ricardo

Back road between Mill City and Gates, Oregon

Thomas Creek at bridge near Jordan, Oregon.
Folks were playing with radio controlled rock buggies on the rocks.

Going up Gates Hill Road between Gates and Elkhorn Valley

Going down Gates Hill Road between Gates and Elkhorn Valley

North Fork Road in Elkhorn Valley near golf course

Kevin at Salmon Falls on North Fork of Santiam River

Ricardo at Salmon Falls on North Fork of Santiam River

Dan giving Ricardo a helping hand while Jim gives Ricardo a not so helping foot at
Salmon Falls on North Fork of Santiam River

Group shot at Hiatt's Tree Farm in Sublimity, Oregon
(l-r): Russ, Kevin, Dan, Eric, Jim and Ricardo

This route was about 70 miles.

Map of the route we rode:

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