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We arrived at the site of Mr. Bolon's
demise at 7:30 pm.
A secluded meadow, it was a drizzly September evening in 1855 that A.J. Bolon,
returning from a council with the Yakama Chiefs, had stopped here with a small
party of Indians he had met on the trail. They made camp and started a fire to
dry off, as they were cold and soaked to the bone. Bolon's companions turned on
him, pinioning his arms while they slit his throat. Attempting to conceal his
fate, they burned his body and slaughtered and burned his horse. They were found
out and the Yakima Indian war ensued.
Babe didn't seem comfortable in this ill fated glade- she absolutely refused to
leave the sidecar. With sundown approaching, we turned around and went looking
for the route East towards Satus Pass.
heading back down off the ridge, looking North across Goldendale towards Mt.
Hood. Sunset is approaching, I need to find my road and get to the campground...
I found my road and was making good time. I expected to be at Brooks Memorial
State Park with plenty of time to set up camp before dark. Then I rounded a
corner and came upon the mother of all gates. My route went thru a conservation
closure! Looking at the posted closure map, it was clear my plans had been
thwarted and probably my intended route for tomorrow was toast as well. Nothing
to do but double back to Goldendale and book up US 97 towards camp. I pulled in
right at sundown and set up camp in the dark. Made dinner and had a cup of hot
coffee laced with cinnamon schnapps and rum. Day one was completed. Sunday I
would get up and head North for Yakima and the Unrally.
We were up. I had some coffee from the thermos and a handful of dried apricots
for breakfast. We packed up and broke camp, leaving Brooks Memorial state park
at 7:30 am. I pointed the bike North up 97.
Babe was as disappointed as I was to find that the Eastern leg of my intended
route was also closed and gated. We chose to stay on 97 North over Satus Pass to
Toppenish, then over the Yakima River to the Yakima Valley Highway which we took
most of the rest of the way into the rally...
We pulled into the KOA around 9:30 (just in time for the pancake breakfast!). I
had a chance to say hi to Chris Dodson before she had to leave. Chris and her
husband Jim have been a force in the sidecar world for a number of years,
publishing HACK'd the magazine for and about sidecarists (
www.sidecar.com/hackd ) . Jim
died recently of cancer; a memorial service was planned for the Yakima Rally,
which I had hoped to attend. I found when I arrived they had held the service
Saturday night. I was very sorry to have missed it- by all accounts it was a
beautiful service. Jim will be missed by all of us. I hope Chris will continue
to put out a first rate magazine( I know she will) and I look forward to seeing
her again. God speed Jim.
Jay and Tara Giese, of Dauntless Motors, hosted the Yakima Sidecar Unrally...
Jay brought a variety of sidecars for sale including a Nefiti Cabriolet. This is
a Finnish high performance sidecar Dauntless has just started importing. The
sidecar wheel is linked to the bike's front wheel and turns with steering input,
making for surprisingly light and quick turns. I don't find the Nefiti listed at
Dauntless' web site, but it seems like Jay was talking around $7,000 installed
you provide the bike. They are only offering it for attachment to three models;
I disremember which bikes. Obviously, one of them is the Gold Wing. Jay did say
it could be hooked to other bikes, but Dauntless Motors wasn't supporting them.
I think if you waved a handful of cash at him he might relent...
http://www.dauntlessmotors.com/
http://www.peak-trailers.com/index.htm
All photos and articles Copyright© Vernon Wade 2005 unless otherwise noted
