(WA) Pre-WCRM II Warm-up ride - May 10th, All Day ride

[dinolee]

Dam, almost forgot to schedule it this year (get it, Dam, a pun... )  So lets try Coulee v2.0 again this year.  Assuming that SR 20 will be open by then, howza about the same route again.  I tried to come up with something different that didn't involve interstates or WSP infested roads, and could be done in a day, but came up with nada.

Anyway, here's the chance to check your farkle arrangement, scrub in new tires and brake pads, and get used to that numb feeling in the buttocks before the WCRM.



Plan
When: May 10th, 2008 Saturday

Where: Meet at the Starbucks in Monroe at the Rt. 2 & 522 Junction.  Address is 18629 SR. 2, Monroe WA 98272. And if this meeting place doesn't exist this time, it's not my fault.  Take off east on 2 -> 97 -> 104 to Coulee.  Have lunch at Pepper Jacks Bar and Grill.  Then head north up 155 to SR 20 and back to home.

Time: Meet at 7am'ish, departure at 7:30 am.  I know this is early, but it will be a 13+ hour day of riding.  So quite yer griping.

Food: Tentatively at the Pepper Jacks Bar and Grill on Midway Ave in Grand Coulee.  They had pretty decent food last time, as long as you like burgers and pepper jack cheese.  Please bring additional snacks, liquids, and ibuprofen to use through out the day.

Route: Hopefully sticking close to the above map.  Round trip is 500+ miles from Monroe and back.  Planning on coming home before sundown, but we'll probably be pushing it.  We'll do gas and biological stops about every 100-110 miles.  Leaving rain or shine on the western side of the state, so maybe pack external rain gear if weather forecasts predict it.  And if SR 20 is open, it will be cold up at the 5000 ft elevation, bring layers and/or heated gear.

Who: Anyone and everyone who wants to shake off cob-webs before the WCRM, or just have a fun day in the saddle with a fun bunch of people.  If you're in E. WA and want to meet up some where at the backside of SR 2, post up and let us know.  For a review of last years festivities, the old thread is here.

Post up, sound off if you want to attend!

Edit: Due to Mothers Day being on Sunday, and not wanting to get any guys in trouble, the date is changed to Saturday.

[Mr Sunshine]

You should be down in Portland racing with OMRRA not riding around the block.  

[denydog]

SR-20?  That's just crazy talk!

[Tritium]

Ooooh. Unless something important comes up, I'm in. Even though I'm not going to the WCRM.

[Vladimir]

I'm tentatively in!

[JonS]

I'm tentatively in!

+1

[MuddDawg]

I'm tentatively in!

+1 more.

[bubba zanetti]

I will meet you guys for lunch at that Dam town.  

Just give me a rough ETA and I will come on down.

[Req]

Ooooh. Unless something important comes up, I'm in. Even though I'm not going to the WCRM.

+1.  And if you miserable bastards leave me behind at the dam again, I swear to god I will use harsh language.  I may even shake my fist menacingly.

[greench440]

Another definite maybe.  I'll meet you all in Levenworth again.

[opus]

Hmm.  I *might* make this.  I'd have to come up the Saturday before, though.

I'll watch this thread.

[Vladimir]

+1.  And if you miserable bastards leave me behind at the dam again, I swear to god I will use harsh language.  I may even shake my fist menacingly.

Hey you caught up... eventually.  It's not our fault your bike was combustion challenged...  

[Req]

Hey you caught up... eventually.  It's not our fault your bike was combustion challenged...  

That was the SECOND time.  Y'all also left me at the dam when I was fiddling with my fuckin' helmet camera, and I caught up then too, after going quite a bit faster for quite a bit longer than I usually do.  

The combustion challenged thing is what happens when you let a ScottOiler run dry, apparently.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I'd like to say that "I'm in!", but I'll be "in" California that weekend

Ride safe!  

[Galo]

Ahh, phooey....Damon, dammit, cant you plan something that's SOUTH of Seattle so I can ride up, meet you guys somewhere, ride with you and peel off on my return ride somewhere close to the OR border?

 

[Req]

Ahh, phooey....Damon, dammit, cant you plan something that's SOUTH of Seattle so I can ride up, meet you guys somewhere, ride with you and peel off on my return ride somewhere close to the OR border?

 

But Galo, Hwy 20 is north of Seattle, and it's worth it.

I bet we could come up with couch-space for ya somewheres...  

[dinolee]

Ahh, phooey....Damon, dammit, cant you plan something that's SOUTH of Seattle so I can ride up, meet you guys somewhere, ride with you and peel off on my return ride somewhere close to the OR border?

 

Bah, take I84 to 97 and meetup at Leavenworth.  Of course, that's 300 miles, so you'll have to leave at 4am.  

Honest, I tried to come up with something interesting towards the south that didn't involve 101 or SR 12 with 50 million WSP traps.  But until the weather and other smaller passes improve conditions, I couldn't come up with anything.

[Galo]

Bah, take I84 to 97 and meetup at Leavenworth.  Of course, that's 300 miles, so you'll have to leave at 4am.  

You're sick..........

[aplejax]

bike sighting just now. Flat green klr, pretty pink box attached to back of seat, STN sticker on bike and helmet, black aerostitch = colleen on her way to CA!  We tried to get your attention, but our big ugly rv couldn't keep up!  Have fun on your rides tomorrow everyone!  Be safe

[DJStevieB]

We be in!  

[Dr Gil]

I don't feel in all honesty that you should call this event a "WCRM II Warm-up ride"...it is the warm up ride for WCRM V and the name should reflect as much.

My point being that your planned ride is a "warm-up" ride for WCRM V and not just a 2nd "warm-up" ride...that's far too confusing.  

I have lost respect for both you and your planned ride.  

Until such time as you decide to mend your ways and amend the titles to your threads I can no longer acknowledge either your existence or your planned rides.

Sorry about that, you seemed like such a nice boy.  

Dr. Gil

p.s. wish I could be there  

[greench440]

p.s. wish I could be there  

You can be there, you just need to leave a little earlier than Galo.  

[Galo]

You can be there, you just need to leave a little earlier than Galo.  

Do I hear a gauntlet being thrown??
 

[MuddDawg]

I double dog dare you to show up.

[greench440]

I triple dog dare you.

[Galo]

I triple dog dare you.

Dem's fightin' words!!!!!!

[Galo]

Aw, crap.......with a reeschedule I had to do today on an upcoming biz trip, I'm spending that weekend in fecking Shenzhen, PRC!
 

[dinolee]

I have lost respect for both you and your planned ride.  

Until such time as you decide to mend your ways and amend the titles to your threads I can no longer acknowledge either your existence or your planned rides.

Sorry about that, you seemed like such a nice boy.  

Dr. Gil

p.s. wish I could be there  

Hence, I will contemplate my penance and bow my head down in humble respect during the entire 500+ miles of the warm up ride.  But all know the bowing of the head is just for aerodynamic benefits.  

[DJStevieB]

I haven't read EVERY post, however......

May 11 is Mother's Day.

Soooooo.............. what can we use for an excuse to get away all day?

I'm assuming yall have some Mother's somewhere?

And no, she can't come along!

[dinolee]

May 11 is Mother's Day.

DOOOOH!!!  Man, I screwed up on that one.  

Well, I guess a cell phone call from the dam will have to do.  

[Mr Sunshine]

I'm told my Mother that I'll be in Portland racing that weekend and she is more than welcome to come down and watch.    

[opus]

It's relatively easy for sons to get away with just giving the mom a card or flowers and not dedicating the day.  The guys with children and wives are going to have a harder time.  I once bailed on Mother's day to go mountain bike riding with a buddy from Minnesota who I hadn't seen in 5 years, on the only day he could go before he went back, and never stopped hearing about it from the wife.

Well, now she's the ex...       Hmm...  

[SlakeMoth]

Can we bump it up to Saturday?

[bubba zanetti]

May 11 is Mother's Day.

That takes me out. I completely forgot.  

[MuddDawg]

Bummer.  I might be able to get away with Sat., but its only a "might" as I am out of town for work the week prior.

[dinolee]

Okay, to prevent any fellow riders from making a bad ethical call and going for a ride on Mother's Day, the day is now on Saturday, May 10th.  The original post is changed to reflect the new date.

[bubba zanetti]

Okay, to prevent any fellow riders from making a life altering decision and going for a ride on Mother's Day,

Fixed that ...

No can do Saturday, have a great ride those that can  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Fixed that ...

No can do Saturday, have a great ride those that can  

Oh that's bad! Making excuses for Sunday and then when the date is changed, suddenly "unable" to go to that day either.  

[Stray Cat]

Well, since we were going over on Saturday and then meet up with everyone on Sunday in Levenworth, I guess we will be out.....  
Greench440, let's talk this weekend about doing that anyway. Merrilee and I are game for that, as far as I know.

[greench440]

[bubba zanetti]

Oh that's bad! Making excuses for Sunday and then when the date is changed, suddenly "unable" to go to that day either.  

I thought you were the Den MotherTM not the Den OgreTM  

Meanie

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I thought you were the Den MotherTM not the Den OgreTM  

Meanie

   See you on the 3rd!!!

[bubba zanetti]

   See you on the 3rd!!!

PM me your route and I shall meet you somewhere interesting.

[denydog]

Okay, to prevent any fellow riders from making a bad ethical call and going for a ride on Mother's Day, the day is now on Saturday, May 10th.

No!!! Not Saturday.  Now I won't have an excuse to avoid my mother on mother's day.  Wait!  I can still tell her I'm riding Sunday.  No that won't work, my wife will give me hell for lying.

I guess I'll try and make the ride whatever day.  I can't pass up a chance to ride in brilliant sunshine, and mid 80 degrees.  

[SlakeMoth]

Just to confirm - I'm in, and guilt-free.  

[DJStevieB]

Geeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...............

Sorry, Dinolee for the hastle BUT YOU need to pay attention to STUFF like Mother's Day. Remember, Mother's Day, birthdays & anniversaries aren't worth the PAIN of the "constant NAGGING.

Believe me.

Really.

 

We guys have to make points whenever we can.

Saturday's cool!

[opus]

I don't think I'm going to make this one after all.  I'd have to come up on Friday night after work and crash or camp somewhere, then either do it again Saturday night or ride 175 miles home after a 500 mile ride.  Probably not the best ride to take after being grounded for 2.5 years.  /sigh

Have fun, though.  

[katego]

I'm a definite maybe. Here's to hoping that my yard project is done before then.

-k

[opus]

I don't think I'm going to make this one after all.  I'd have to come up on Friday night after work and crash or camp somewhere, then either do it again Saturday night or ride 175 miles home after a 500 mile ride.  Probably not the best ride to take after being grounded for 2.5 years.  /sigh

Have fun, though.  

Aw, fudge.  Maybe I'll take Friday off.  Don't count me out yet.

[ol Rocket]

Well,shucks.  I thought I could head up and surprise the troops for lunch as I always wanted to meet Bubba.  But now that he won't be there...

[FetterRuck]

.... never stopped hearing about it from the wife.

Well, now she's the ex...       Hmm...  

I firmly believe that is the best way to remedy that situation.  

[JonS]

Okay, to prevent any fellow riders from making a bad ethical call and going for a ride on Mother's Day, the day is now on Saturday, May 10th.  The original post is changed to reflect the new date.

The way to avoid these situations is to move about two thousand miles away. Then a card and flowers is more than enough.
 Saturday works fine, btw.

[denydog]

Still looking forward to this ride, and hoping desperatly for good weather.  I'll be ready.  The delivery truck shoud be showing up soon with a Stebel Nautilus Airhorn so I can signal you guys to get out of my way!  

Speaking of good weather, I've been looking at this weekend's forecast, and thinking of a last minute decision to join the Washington BMW riders on the Rain Run to Manzanita Or as a warmup to the warmup.

[katego]

Let me know how your Stebel intall goes Deny. Where are you gonna put it?

-k

[Mookie]

If the weather is good and somebody near the front has a radar detector I'm in  

[dinolee]

If the weather is good and somebody near the front has a radar detector I'm in  

If I may quote the very friendly and nice WSP Trooper who pulled me over on Canyon Rd. last year, on my way to Galo's pre-WCRM feast: "Oh, is that a radar detector? Didn't help, did it?"    

[denydog]

Let me know how your Stebel intall goes Deny. Where are you gonna put it?

Not sure where it's going.  Getting kind of tight with the audio mixer and the H.I.D ballast taking up room.  The air intake is under the right fairing.  I'm hoping to find some room under the left.  I'll just have to pull it and see.

"Oh, is that a radar detector? Didn't help, did it?"    

That's why I like to follow a radar turner on-er or two.

[DJStevieB]

Hey, Jon. I'm putting TWO of those bad puppies on my FJR. There's a guy on the FJR Forum who sells a special harness for the FJR's (more current draw).

Also, just installed the tank bag.  

Also, just installed my new billet kickstand (the stock one doesn't work when the bike is lowered!).

Here's the rides I'm on so far

1. Tomorrow's fundraising ride leaving from Redmond (Whidbey Island loop).
2. The  (WA) Pre-WCRM II Warm-up ride - May 10th
3. The annual Volcano Ride in Packwood in June.
4. The FJR Rendezvous in late July.
5. The Sportbike Northwest thing in Stevenson, WA. in late August.

[DJStevieB]

Bump!  

[jsanford]

I don't think I'm going to make this one after all.  I'd have to come up on Friday night after work and crash or camp somewhere, then either do it again Saturday night or ride 175 miles home after a 500 mile ride.  Probably not the best ride to take after being grounded for 2.5 years.  /sigh

Have fun, though.  

175 piddly miles?

Surely we can find you two places to crash!

I believe I'm in for this one, guilt-free.

[opus]

175 piddly miles?

Surely we can find you two places to crash!

I believe I'm in for this one, guilt-free.

I'm taking Friday off and heading up early.  I'll camp somewhere Friday night and meet you guys on Saturday morning.  Then I'll either camp again Saturday night or slab it home depending on my mood.   Or possibly beg some floorspace somewhere for my thermarest.  

Gotta do at least one camping night before I head down to WCRM IV.  I haven't motorcycle-camped since the 2005 National.  Gotta make sure I still have everything I need since I'm taking 10-14 days or so for the WCRM and that will be all camping.

[opus]

Hey, so, uh, how cold and for how many hours are we talking on 20?  I don't have any heated gear at the moment and was wondering...  

[Tritium]

Hey, so, uh, how cold and for how many hours are we talking on 20?  I don't have any heated gear at the moment and was wondering...  

It's only *really* cold for 30 miles or so, if I recall correctly. Do you have heated grips? Don't wear vented gloves.

[dinolee]

Bah! If Saturday is as nice and warm as it was today, I'm releasing my inner squid and wearing mesh for the entire day.  

It was very noticeably chilly going through the 15 foot snow chutes.  But it won't be until the return trip back, so hopefully it won't be below 40 degrees.  Definitely bring a neck turtle, and liners for the gloves.  It should be a bit warmer then it was last year.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Still chilly and some melt water on the roads, but otherwise they're clean and smooth  

[opus]

Hey guys,

I'm not going to make this ride.  I've got some contract work that I have got to get done this weekend, plus I still need to do a few things on the bike before it's ready.  Plus I'd be riding back to Vancouver on Mother's day and my son's birthday.  Plus I don't have insurance figured out on the bike yet.

I was really looking forward to it.  Maybe next year.

Have fun!    

[dinolee]

Bummer.    We'll create a life size cut-out of ya, and take it's picture in front of the dam.  

Well, weather looks decent in the morning, and all day on the other side of the mountains.  A chance of drizzle after 9pm on the west side, but we should already be home before then.

Hey guys,

I'm not going to make this ride.  I've got some contract work that I have got to get done this weekend, plus I still need to do a few things on the bike before it's ready.  Plus I'd be riding back to Vancouver on Mother's day and my son's birthday.  Plus I don't have insurance figured out on the bike yet.

I was really looking forward to it.  Maybe next year.

Have fun!    

[denydog]

Well, weather looks decent in the morning, and all day on the other side of the mountains.  A chance of drizzle after 9pm on the west side, but we should already be home before then.

   So what forecast are you looking at?  Rural West Slopes Northern Cascades and Passes, WA

"Saturday: A 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41."

I'm hoping it looks better as we get closer to Saturday, but I'm very tempted to do the ride by myself Friday.

[DJStevieB]

I'm still in.

We had our last Salsa lesson last night. I had so much fun that I pulled a thigh muscle.

Hurts like heck!

Should be OK for Saturday.

One thing. I like to stop for pictures a lot (for my journaling).

[dinolee]

Okey Dokey, tomorrow's the day.  

• Please be gassed up / topped off before the departure time of 7:30am.
• There is a highly likely chance we will not take SR 20 on the way back.  If that is the case, we will go down 97 and connect with 2 or I90 depending on weather conditions.  If somebody has an iPhone or an internet enabled phone, please bring it so we can get real time info during lunch. Hopefully the weather will be hitting much later in the evening.
• Bring a couple of containers of fluids, snacks, and some favorite OTC pain relievers.  Start taking the pain relievers in the morning.
• If you don't have heated gear, bring lots of layers you can add/shed during the trip.  Bring some inserts for your gloves too, for going over the passes.
• If you don't have GPS, please bring a copy of a WA State map in case of separation or the need to head back early.

C-ya bright and early in fantastic downtown Monroe.  

[denydog]

Well DJStevieB and myself decided to do a pre-run of the route today to check it out.  It checks out

I dubbed it the Silver Bullets run.


I did get us lost in Grand Coulee.  I, along with my misinformed GPS went to Pepper Jacks Bar and Grill, only it wasn't called that.  I asked the waitress if it used to be called Pepper Jacks.  "No, that's up the street" she said.    We ate there anyway, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it.


The North Cascade pass was in good condition!


I'd do the ride again tomorrow, but I don't think I have enough tire left.  Have fun guys!

PS, Maybe I'll run down to the start tomorrow to see you guys off, and deliver a sticker.  

PS,PS  Now I know why DD is always talking about LoupLoup Pass  

[Req]

PS,PS  Now I know why DD is always talking about LoupLoup Pass  

+1, good sir.  That road is awesome.

[DJStevieB]

Awesome??? No, Sir. It's AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, Jon, I hope the dog is okay.

The trip was super.... long, but super! My FirstGear Denali coat, heated vest & BMW insulated gloves took care of the cold spots (mostly Hwy 2 through Stevens Pass & some over Hwy. 20). I had a regular set of gloves, too. Denydog led most of the way so his nuclear suit blasted a majority of the cold! Wear warm clothes in layers.

Note: Stay on the road through Loup Loup Pass. There's brown sand stuff on the edges. I warned you!

A pic or two:

Here's the Silver Bullets at Pateros.


Above Grand Coulee Dam


Washington Pass


Silver Bullets enjoying the view

[MuddDawg]

Sorry people for not showing up.. Got home last night at 10pm, and didn't have a 14 hour day in me for this ride.  I hope all went well, and everyone gets home safe.

[denydog]

Well, it's 6:00 pm and today's group should be nearing the home stretch!  Hope you guys are ahead of the 80% chance of rain predicted for tonight.  Looks like you might be  

BTW-  I put the beemer on the Pit Bull stands and spent an hour or two cleaning it today.  Damn wet spots on 20!  Here's a VERY rare photo of dirt on my bike, from yesterday.  

Sorry people for not showing up.. Got home last night at 10pm, and didn't have a 14 hour day in me for this ride.  I hope all went well, and everyone gets home safe.

What a wimp! (like I should talk)  

[DJStevieB]

Hi Jon,

Just did a write-up for our trip. It's in the Ride Report section. Feel free to add to the thread.

I just got my bike all clean right before the downpour. Even had time to use the yard blower.

Thanks for the great time, Jon. By the way, terrific leading!

[Req]

Thanks everyone for the great ride today, although it is a shame about the the freezing rain on the way home.  Kinda took most of the fun out of Hwy 20.

[katego]

I'm home. The Sauk Valley road and the road from Darrington to Arlington was a nice way to finish off the ride. (I am not counting the sprint home on I5). Thanks to all for putting this together. The weather was good for most of the day and I stayed dry on the inside.

-k

[DJStevieB]

Thanks everyone for the great ride today, although it is a shame about the the freezing rain on the way home.  Kinda took most of the fun out of Hwy 20.

Freezing rain???? Ain't no stinkin' freezin' rain............. proof!



 

[DJStevieB]

Somebody tell us about today's ride? I assume youse guys came back safely? Hmmmm.... Hello, hello, anyone out there?

[MuddDawg]

Beuller?................... Beuller?.......

[dinolee]

Beuller?................... Beuller?.......

I'm awake, I'm awake, really, I am, I think.

I arrived home at 8pm'ish.  Took a look at the mud streaks across the bike and was really glad I washed it the day before...    I popped a couple ibuprophen, curled up with the rottie on the couch and passed out for 10 hours.  I hope I'm not getting to old for this...  

So, a BIG thanks to all those who attended: Kate, Jessica, Jon, Chris, Chris.  Another big thanks to Kate for rescueing this navigational-challenged-broke-down-gps ride leader from taking the entire group up into Canada.  We almost got to visit Bubba!  Around Nespelem, my Garmin Quest refused to acquire satellites.  And combined with my inability to read road signs, we ended up going every direction but west.  

The day started with the meet at Starbucks, Denydog and Dano met the rest of us for some general chitchat and lava hot latte's.  We take off under dreary skies (but no rain!) down highway 2.  Stevens pass was a bit chilly, but nice conditions.  

First bathroom and gas break at Brewster.



A few WSP encounters, but no stops or tickets.  Just outside of Brewster, we had Super Trooper do an immediate pull off into the median ahead of us and aim the K-Band.  I swear this guy had a scowl on his face as we passed too.  

We all did the obligatory high speed run across the desolate highway 174.  I think the viffer got a new GPS top speed of 135 (musta been a tail wind).  But the max speed indicated was 235, so I'll take that instead.   Arrival at Coulee was met with local police escort, apparently he heard about the 174 run.    Just kidding, there was a parade or something going on downtown, so we all got detoured on back streets to the dam.

Of course, we visit a dam, and I don't get a picture of the dam...  



Lunch at the Pepper Jack, a well deserved rehydration and burger stop.  We met up with Chris on the Concours at the restaraunt, he was going the clockwise direction of the route.

Arrival at Omak, and my GPS cannot acquire satellites if my life depended upon it, and it did.  Req pulls up beside me, and I stupidly say "My GPS is broke and I can't figure out which way is north?!?".  What I should have said was "I'm a complete dork, and really want to go west on 20..."

So Req does what I asked, and takes us north 97.  I offer a thousand humble apoligies Chris!  

I filter to back of the pack with Katego, who understands my spastic hand signals of "Where should we be going?!?"  She points me in the right direction, and I ziz-zag through group and get us turned around.  Kate takes the lead, and get us set on highway 20 west.

Final gas and pitstop, and some chuckles about Omak at Winthrop.



Loup Loup was dry, and it's usual level awesomeness.  Around 5pm, the rain starts.

Washington and Rainy pass have very wet roads.  And before Rockport, we get stuck behind a local yokal in a Silverado who thinks he can hang with sport riders in the rain and block us.  If I had a dollar for every time this dipsh*t cut the yellow double, I could have paid for gas on this trip.

Luckily at 530 junction, we break off from this arsehole and get the road to ourselves.  Jon takes the leads after the road drys out, and we enjoy dry roads to final gas stop at Darrington.

I play leap frog with a guy on a West Coast Chopper monstrosity with a 10 foot wide rear tire down Highway 9 until I got home.  I arrive, wet, dirty and tired.  But happy!  Now were's that ibuprophen and couch...

Thank you all again!  

[denydog]

Sounds like you guys had a good ride.  Not as wet as I'd feared.  You should have ran by Canada.  

[JonS]

The only comment I can make to dinolees excellent wrapup is that rather than taking the lead, I suffered a case of red mist for a shot while, which isn't a good thing.
 I had never seen that dam before and couldn't get over how big it is. Mostly, I had a great time and enjoyed the company a lot.

[DJStevieB]

Great job, guys! I'm glad everything turned out okay.

Dinolee, I lost a satellite also in the stretch. May I make a suggestion?

TAKE ALONG A FUGGIN' MAP!

There, it's all good with the universe.



I'm from this state and I've never seen the dam. I've never been on the Loup Loup.   For me, Friday's trip was a journey that goes into my memory archive forever. Sometimes, getting lost is part of the fun. It's also nice to ride with good people. I had good company (even though denydog kept yelling at me! ).

It's difficult to relate the motorcycle group ride "feeling" to other people. It's kinda fun to pull up to someplace, and ya just know there's people thinkin' "I wish I could do that". When I pull off my helmet, it's funny to see the expression on some people's faces ... "Hey, he's an old guy. WTF!".  

This particular trip route really deserves two days. There's so many cool roads and so many neat things to see just in the relatively small area of the ride route.

Many more great rides to come!

Cheers all!

[jsanford]

Not much to add (other than I wish I had heated gear!) other than some photos:


Dam.


More Dam. Hard to illustrate how large of a concrete structure it is.


The bikes.


Snow-ridin' Chris contemplating the dam, and our bikes. The pretty F800 is mine (just kidding, katego).

[Req]

So Req does what I asked, and takes us north 97.  I offer a thousand humble apoligies Chris!  

No worries sir.  I even looked back and queried "All good?" and got a thumbs' up.  

Washington and Rainy pass have very wet roads.  And before Rockport, we get stuck behind a local yokal in a Silverado who thinks he can hang with sport riders in the rain and block us.  If I had a dollar for every time this dipsh*t cut the yellow double, I could have paid for gas on this trip.

That guy was a dick.  Slowing to 30 in the turns and then stomping on the gas in the straights...  Bastard.

[katego]

I arrived home at 8pm'ish.  Took a look at the mud streaks across the bike and was really glad I washed it the day before...    I popped a couple ibuprophen, curled up with the rottie on the couch and passed out for 10 hours.  I hope I'm not getting to old for this...  

Man I wish that I could have slept in this AM. I was up at 5:40 when my alarm went off. Brought to me by the letter "S"... not just for Saturday.

So, a BIG thanks to all those who attended: Kate, Jessica, Jon, Chris, Chris.  Another big thanks to Kate for rescueing this navigational-challenged-broke-down-gps ride leader from taking the entire group up into Canada.  

No worries... so much for the STN super-secret route to hwy 20.  

The day started with the meet at Starbucks, Denydog and Dano met the rest of us for some general chitchat and lava hot latte's.  We take off under dreary skies (but no rain!) down highway 2.  Stevens pass was a bit chilly, but nice conditions.  

When I pulled up I thought that we would have another silver bullet ride with Dan's & Jon's silver machines, plus my grayish F800. Thanks for the stickers Denydog!

We all did the obligatory high speed run across the desolate highway 174.  I think the viffer got a new GPS top speed of 135 (musta been a tail wind).  

Nicely done. At one point I looked off into the distance & think hey we are loosing ground on another bike, turns out it was D's CBR(?).

Of course, we visit a dam, and I don't get a picture of the dam...  

Here ya go!

Lunch at the Pepper Jack, a well deserved rehydration and burger stop.  We met up with Chris on the Concours at the restaraunt, he was going the clockwise direction of the route.

I filter to back of the pack with Katego, who understands my spastic hand signals of "Where should we be going?!?"  She points me in the right direction, and I ziz-zag through group and get us turned around.  Kate takes the lead, and get us set on highway 20 west.

Good thing too.   I was going to turn around & wait for the rest of you to come back.  


Loup Loup was awesome and Disautel was not bad either. I love the rock tumbles as you climb up to that pass. One of these days I will ride over there & camp or something so that I can ride both of those passes when I am fresh.

Here are a few of my pics from the day.





And my GPS tracks.


So were are doing this again next weekend right?   See y'all at WCRM!

-k

[opus]

Good thing I didn't go.  My bike would have messed up all those pretty shots.  "Who brought the VFRetarded?"  

You guys are screwed for WCRM, though.

[nwconk]

I enjoyed meeting for lunch.  I must admit to riding the route backwards so I could do 20 in the morning.  

On the return just a bit of rain from Cashmere to the summit.  Oh and the normal nasty traffic starting at Index.  A good ride all and all.  Back around 6:30.

--chris