Question: Wifi Access

Submitted by SAG 4 Driver, "Many folks (myself included) unfortunately do not disconnect from the real world completely during the week. Is it possible to get information on "free" wireless spots in each of the cities we are visting?"

SAG, that is a great question and I imagine many other riders are wondering the same thing. We've included a list of commercial and public sources of "free wifi", but the listings are not guaranteed and may change. In Oregon, most public libraries offer free guest internet access (usually up to one hour per day) on their library computers... and unfortunately the wifi hotspot availability is going to be very limited on your trip in areas like Happy Camp and Glendale.

Before I get to the list of wifi spots, I personally use a Verizon USB satellite/cell tower internet hookup for about $60 a month for direct internet service that doesn't rely on wifi... It can be hot-swapped from one computer to the other and has on-board software. With the device I can connect to the internet anywhere I can get a phone signal. I use the internet for my business and for investment issues every day, and if I were going on the road for a week and didn't have the setup that I do have, I might even try to borrow or "rent" one from a friend/coworker/family member for the week. (After reading some other posts it may seem that I work for Verizon... not true, it's just about the only thing to work out here "in the sticks.")

One other trick I've used in the past, to check on-computer dedicated email (like Outlook) was to create a gmail account through Google, and then have all my regular email forwarded to the gmail account. I could access the gmail system from any public computer in the US... like in a library or computer cafe. I guess it all depends on what you need.

Wi-Fi Hotspots (partial list, may change)

Medford

Central Library
205 S Central Ave
Medford, OR 97501
(541) 774-8689

Red Robin
501 Biddle Rd
Medford, OR 97504

The Branch
628 N Riverside Ave
Medford, OR 97501
(541) 776-6919

Yreka

Best Western Miners Inn (in the lobby)
122 E Miner St
Yreka, CA 96097

Village Grind
400 W Miner St
Yreka, CA 96097
(530) 842-4607

Happy Camp Area

Happy Camp Community Computer Center
Happy Camp High School
Happy Camp, CA 96039
(530) 493-5213
(This location is open from noon to 5:30 p.m., and has computers with high speed internet available to the public. Wifi may not be available.)

Cave Junction Area (Lake Selmac)

Valley Surf Internet
139 S Caves Ave
Cave Junction, OR 97523
(541) 592-4117

Carlos Restaurante
120 N Redwood Hwy
Cave Junction, OR 97523
(541) 592-4553

Grants Pass

Dutch Brothers Coffee
322 NW 6th St
Grants Pass, OR 97526
(541) 476-6358

Island Juice
1610 SW Allen Creek Rd
Grants Pass, OR 97527

PFG Computer
208 NW 6th St
Grants Pass, OR 97526
(541) 659-4790

Blue Stone Bakery
412 NW 6th St
Grants Pass, OR 97526
(541) 471-1922

Good luck SAG, and we'll update this list as more info comes in.

Question: Cell Phone Coverage

Submitted by an anonymous reader, "How's the cell phone coverage on the route?"

You will be traveling in remote and undeveloped areas for much of your ride, and cell phone signal coverage is very "iffy" in some areas. Near cities like Medford, Yreka, and Grants Pass we've been told that most of the regular carriers come in just fine -- but in the remote areas like Happy Camp, Lake Selmac, and Glendale locals use Verizon. Expect and plan for coverage "dead zones."

Question: Bigfoot Photo Op

Comment and question from D., "I'm sad to report that due to habitat loss, sasquatchs can no longer be found in Western Canada so a big part of the appeal of Cycle Oregon's visit to Jefferson State would be the propects of photographing a sasquatch up close. Do you think I could lure a creature close with peanut butter sandwiches and cold milk? Looking forward to my trip! Thank you; D. Wayne Mather Langley BC Canada(eh!)"

D., we're looking forward to hosting you as your elusive Sasquatch hunt continues. Around here we call him Bigfoot, and you can't throw a stick around here without hitting someone who claims to have seen Bigfoot in the mountains around Happy Camp.

There have been serious (?) attempts over the years to scientifically search for our beloved beast -- "Monster Hunters" was the most recent televised event with their nighttime listening stations placed in boats on the Klamath, downriver a bit from Happy Camp. I'm not sure if the peanut butter sandwich and cold milk trap has been tried yet, but I do know from personal experience that a six pack of warm Oly's (actually, only a five pack) and beef jerky do not work.

If you do not photograph the beast, there's always the giant metal sculpture of him as you enter town, and the wooden carving of him at the Post Office -- and plenty of other neat things to take pictures of on your ride. Here's a bumper sticker from the area for the last election.

Other local "legends" and oddities:

• Local Native American lore also places a mountain devil in the area, called a Putawan.
• The giant "spiderweb" you'll see in town doesn't mean there's a spider as big as a house running around loose. Someone built the (currently unverified) "World's Biggest Dreamcatcher" and put it up near Parry's Market.
• Locals say that you can regularly see UFO's from the top of Shinar's Saddle -- a mountain area close to the last big uphill climb on your way into Happy Camp on Highway 96. It's been explained that the fast moving "balls of light" are probably ground lightning, but rumor has it that an Area 52 exists near Klamath Falls and "alien technology" is being tested by "the government". Hmmmm. Not sure about that one, but doesn't every community have their little odd quirks?

D., let's hope that your Sasqutches return. Until then, feel free to look for them on your ride!

Question: Greyback Road

Submitted by a viewer, "How's the road over Grayback?"

I just went "over the hill" to Cave Junction a few days ago, and I paid especially close attention to the condition of the road.

For years there had been marked differences in the condition since roughly one half of the road is in California and the other is in Oregon. The winter snow drifts -- sometimes five to six feet -- that close down the seasonal road every year also add to the road erosion problems. In the past several years water runoff measures have been taken to keep the road in better condition.

Not being a road engineer, please take my descriptions with a grain of salt. The California side has recently been "black topped" or asphalted, and the condition is smooth and level. The center line markers -- at this point -- are the yellow tabs instead of paint. At the summit, someone has marked the "Cali" and "Oregon" line on the road with orange spray paint -- being a Greyback traveller since it was paved decades ago, there seems to always have been the painted marking.

At the painted line, you can see that the Oregon side is different. It is what we would call a standard paved mountain road -- with a few bumps and cracks here and there. It's not uncommon to see a small section of the road, usually on the downhill side, slouching a little bit due to the erosion under the road. The "slouch" causes a little bump -- worse ones get taken care of.

There is one spot in the road -- currently -- where road repair is happening due to a gully washout. The small detour to the side is probably less than 50 yards, and is not paved. Hopefully the road repair will be done by the time you all show up.

If it were me, I'd watch my speeds on the downhill side -- there are some areas where keeping it on the road is very important. Also, when you see the 10 mph caution sign and "whoa!" painted on the road (by the same state line painter?) -- it signals the beginning of one hairpin switchback.

It's a beautiful, beautiful ride. We can't wait to welcome all of you!

Question: Happy Camp Gasoline Availability

User Question: "I've heard that gasoline isn't available in Happy Camp. Is that true?"

Answer: Although all of the traditional gas stations have been closed in Happy Camp for some time, there is a cardlock station that offers gasoline and diesel. It's to the left and down the hill a bit as you enter town on Highway 96, and it's called Connor Cardlock. It should take all debit and credit cards -- you do not have to be a member. There is also a cardlock 18 miles before you reach Happy Camp, in the small town of Seiad. The next closest station is in Cave Junction, around thirty miles away -- over Greyback into Oregon.

Welcome To The Jefferson Ride Question and Answer blog.

We're a group of local folks who would like to help welcome you to our area with information and answers. Technical cycling questions should probably go somewhere else, but if you want to know what those piles of rocks along the Klamath are from, why the road over Greyback is great on one side and just okay on the other, if bears will chase you, or who built all of those rock walls... then ask. We'll try the best we can to answer rider questions, or point you in the right direction if we get stumped. We're not officially associated with the Cycle Oregon group, but we have a history in the area that gives us knowledge that you may find useful. Our motivation? Easy... we'd like your ride through our countryside to be one of the best vacations you've ever taken -- and we'd like you to come back later when you have more time to spend.

To ask a question... just comment on one of the postings and we'll find it.