I spent the second night of the trip in my friend Bob’s driveway outside of Grants Pass OR. Bob lives on several acres between Merlin and Grants Pass.
Bob’s driveway is steep and forks in about the middle, with the right fork leading around behind the house to the front. Since it’s a sharp uphill corner going round clockwise, Bob suggested taking the right hand fork and going round counterclockwise. I started up the lower driveway and paused to put it in 1st, and pressed on. As I headed up the right fork, I paused and lost traction. Trying to move forward got nothing but wheel spinning. I had no choice but to back down the hill and around the corner onto the pavement. There were some scary moments, but I got it done. Once on the pavement, I jumped on it, and pulled through the steep gravel section and was soon ensconced in Bob’s RV parking pad, designed so a sister with an RV could visit comfortably. It has a full hookup, including power, water, and sewer. What more could a trailer ask for ;-)
Bob is a fellow homebrewer, so we spent the afternoon and evening talking beer, drinking beer, eating, drinking beer, and drinking beer.
My good sense of pacing, and lots of practice had me up and at ’em in the morning while my host suffered from the previous evening. After a customary breakfast of fruit and yoghurt and home roasted coffee, I was on the road for Bend. Actually Tumulo, which is just north of Bend along the Deschutes River.