In this episode, we explore this extraordinary tale of warfare transformed into friendship, and how a small Oregon coastal town became the unlikely setting for both conflict and healing between former enemies.
During World War II, Oregon became the site of the only enemy bombing of the U.S. mainland. In 1942, a Japanese pilot flew a float plane launched from a submarine and dropped incendiary bombs on Mt. Emily near Brookings. The mission was to ignite massive forest fires that would compel the United States to divert resources from the war effort in the Pacific.
The attack failed to cause significant damage, but the story didn’t end there. Decades later, that same Japanese pilot made a remarkable return journey to Brookings. This time, he came not as an enemy but as a friend, presenting the town with his family’s 400-year-old samurai sword as a symbol of peace and reconciliation.
Far out in the “Wild West” of Canada lies Bella Coola. If you want to get to the small town on the Pacific, there is only one road leading there. It is constantly monitored and yet remains dangerous. Gravel roads, narrow hairpin bends and steep mountain slopes make the highway in British Columbia a particular challenge.
Discover the story of Oregon’s Lower Deschutes River in The Last 100 Miles, a powerful documentary about the fight to restore a once-pristine river damaged by well-meaning changes. Anglers, scientists, and locals rally to protect this wild place. A must-watch for conservation advocates.
Meet David Toste, or “Toast” as we call him at Dirty Freehub, and Michelle Taylor. In this episode, Toast, Michelle, and Kira Corbett of Dirty Freehub take a ride along the Deschutes River Trail in Biggs, soaking in the stunning views of the gravel route while also connecting with the experience of being fully present in their bodies. Both David and Michelle have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a condition that has shaped their journey into gravel cycling. Instead of focusing on limitations, they celebrate what their bodies can do—when they can do it. In this episode, they share their personal stories of living with MS and reflect on how this “snowflake disease” manifests differently for each of them, offering a powerful reminder of resilience and adaptation.
Meet Giselle Distad, a graphic designer and outdoor enthusiast originally from Iowa, now living in Oregon. Giselle shares her inspiring story of returning to cycling after donating a kidney to her father. After completing surgery, Giselle shares about her recovery journey getting back on the bike including the importance of listening to your body and the physical and emotional challenges with life-changing experiences as a donor and recipient. At the six-week mark, Giselle reached a turning point in recovery. She offers heartfelt encouragement to anyone considering kidney donation that it may seem daunting but to listen to your body and not shy away from the opportunity to make a significant impact in someone else’s life.
In this 2.5-minute video, learn about the 2025 canal piping project near Madras . Once completed, the project will conserve 7,000 gallons of water per minute by preventing seepage and evaporation. It will also save the average farmer between $20,000 and $150,000 per year in irrigation pump operating costs.
In this episode, Geoff shares his inspiring journey of recovery, the creation of the AdvenChair, and his groundbreaking 4-day expedition through the Grand Canyon, featured in the Outback Film – DREAM BOLDLY. He discusses the physical, mental, and emotional challenges he faces while navigating life with a disability, and how the AdvenChair has empowered him to experience the great outdoors once more. Geoff also offers valuable advice for others with similar challenges, particularly those interested in gravel cycling, and explains how others can be more supportive and understanding of the obstacles people with disabilities face.
Visit Central Oregon has announced that seven recipients will be awarded a total of $280,000 in grant money as part of the Central Oregon Future Fund. Now in its third annual cycle, the grant program supports local tourism projects that benefit both visitors and Central Oregon residents. Visit Central Oregon selected the seven recipients from […]
BEND, Ore. — Visit Central Oregon is granting $280,000 to seven different tourism-related projects throughout the High Desert. The money comes from Visit Central Oregon’s Future Fund, which raises money through Oregon’s transient room tax.
Meet Don Miller, a professional photographer and cyclist. Don is an avid cyclist who shares the unique characteristics of maintaining cycling with age. As an experienced cyclist, Don discusses what motivates him to ride and shares about transitioning to eBiking so that cycling can be for all. He also offers advice to others transitioning to eBikes.
In this 2-minute video, explore the history of Shirk Ranch, home to David Shirk and his family in the early 1880s. Shirk Ranch was part of a border movement of ranchers and settlers into southeast Oregon, shaping ranching life that persists today. The ranch illuminates how early settlers to eastern Oregon relied on the landscape for their livelihood and day-to-day life. The cinematography in this video is outstanding!
In this 3-minute video, discover the beauty and importance of this remote sagebrush-steppe ecosystem—a unique landscape that supports pronghorn, sage-grouse, mule deer, golden eagles, and more. There’s nothing else like it in the world!
I pedal my gravel bike up to the shaded overlook at the Painted Hills Unit, a particularly beautiful part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. I’m halfway through the day’s gravel ride on one of the area’s dozen routes with my dad and his friend, and we’ve made a split decision to stop […]
In this episode of The Connection , we speak with Michael Orwick, an oil painter whose work is deeply inspired by the unique light and atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest. Michael shares his artistic journey, from studying illustration at the Pacific Northwest College of Art to transitioning into landscape painting. He describes his creative process, which focuses on capturing fleeting moments of illumination during sunrise and sunset, using layers and a mix of warm
and cool colors. Michael also explains how his style leans towards impressionism, using optical mixing and broken brushwork to create energy and movement in his art.
He draws inspiration not only from the Pacific Northwest but from his global travels, including a year-long trip where he painted with children from orphanages around the world. We are thrilled to incorporate some of Michaels work in our upcoming ride guide and possible future collaborations with Michael and other artists alike.
Michael is the artist that provided the art in the Eastern Oregon All Access Gravel Guide and the Western Oregon All Access Guide.
Bighorn sheep in the Deschutes River area went extinct in the 1940s, but thanks to a reintroduction effort in the early 1990s, their population has grown to 600. Learn how to spot these muscular creatures among the basalt cliffs with wildlife biologist Jeremy Thompson in this 2-minute video.