(WA) Pre-WCRM Warm-up ride, April 29th 2007, All Day ride

[dinolee]

Edit:  Due to the opening of Hwy 20 (woohoo!), proposed route change to come across 20 on the way back.  Total route would be 500+ miles.

Allllrighty then.  Time to scrub in those new tires, or completely wear out those old ones before the WCRM.  Everyone and anyone is welcome, whether or not you're attending the debauchery in Fortuna.  Though, if you're not attending, we will try our damnedest to convince you to go.  Route is going to be a healthy 420+ miles, day long trip (11-12 hours), missing as much federal slab as possible.

Since I haven't been to the Grand Coulee Dam since I was knee high to a grasshopper, that's where we'll be headed (hopefully).  Route will take us from the Texaco in Monroe on Rte 2, over Stevens Pass to North Wenatchee, north to Chelan, then over to Grand Coulee.  Stop at the visitors center for pics, stop at Pepper Jack Bar and Grill for lunch.  Then loop down and connect back with Rte 2 to Leavenworth for ICE CREAM CONES!!! (it's a tradition).  We then take our separate ways and speeds, and head on back home. Forget ice cream cones, it's Highway 20 on the way back.  The view and corners are worth missing Leavenworth.

Route Map


Plan
When: April 29th, 2007, Sunday.

Where: Meet at the Texaco in Monroe WA around 7am. Address is 19101 St. Rt. 2, Monroe. Leave at 7:30am heading over Stevens Pass to hopefully warm and dry roads in Eastern WA.  Wind our way up to Grand Coulee Dam, take pics at the visitors center, have lunch at the Pepper Jack Bar and Grill.  Loop down south and reconnect with Highway 2, stop in Leavenworth for Ice Cream Cones and letting the blood flow back into numb butt cheeks.  Head back home.  Head north on 155 and connect with Highway 20 west.

Food: Tentatively at the Pepper Jacks Bar and Grill on Midway Ave in Grand Coulee.  Unless somebody knows of a better place and can lead the way.

Route: I'll post the GPS xml routes later next week, but hopefully sticking close to the above map.  Round trip is 420+ 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.  I'm going rain or shine on the western side of the state, so maybe pack external rain gear if weather forecasts predict it.

Who:  YOU! Anyone and everyone who isn't afraid of a little saddle time and numb butt cheeks.  I'd like a chance to meet up with the E. WA folks at the Hwy 2 - Rt 97 Junction north of Wenatchee.  So speak up if you're interested in meeting the Puget Sound crew there.  I believe it's a Chevron station right there.

You've got a month to plan, no excuses for softball tourney's or kid's bar mitzvahs.
Sound off if ya want to go!

disclaimer: This will be a Corner of Doom Free Ride.

[SlakeMoth]

disclaimer: This will be a Corner of Doom Free Ride.

I saw that...  

Taking ERC on the 28th, but put me down as a solid, definite, for-sure, maybe.

[Req]

I will be there.

[RexRider]

I'm a definite "possible"!  Maybe even a "likely", if Gaolee and Bizarro are in, too.    There we'd be... The Family Squid, the Heavy Metal Squidish, and the Flapping Tentacles.  

[Req]

I'm a definite "possible"!  Maybe even a "likely", if Gaolee and Bizarro are in, too.    There we'd be... The Family Squid, the Heavy Metal Squidish, and the Flapping Tentacles.  

You confuse me.

[denydog]

Perfect!  I'll try it if it's dry.  I need to finish off my tires, and test my butt before WCRM.

Corner of Doom - don't even say it!

The last ride was a lot of fun.  I was wondering if someone was going to initiate another.  Thanks dinolee, you're the man, and I'm the STN newbie.  I want to see SlakeMoth's new bike, and dinolee's voltmeter installation.

[RexRider]

I'm a definite "possible"!  Maybe even a "likely", if Gaolee and Bizarro are in, too.    There we'd be... The Family Squid, the Heavy Metal Squidish, and the Flapping Tentacles.  

You confuse me.

If we're there together, all will become clear, Grasshopper!  

[dinolee]

There we'd be... The Family Squid, the Heavy Metal Squidish, and the Flapping Tentacles.  

Wouldn't that cause, like... a rip in the Space-Time Continuum if all 3 of you were actually riding... together???

That'd be cool if all of ya can make it (if Fritz doesn't bail on Saturday night   ), I have yet to meet the rest of Bizarro's Clan.  I think I'll be scared...  

[DantesDame]

Jeebus but that's an early start time!! I'll think about it though  

[Mookie]

I'll do my best to wake up and join you guys.  No guarantees for a 7:30 am saturday wakeup from me though  

[DantesDame]

I'll do my best to wake up and join you guys.  No guarantees for a 7:30 am saturday wakeup from me though  

I'll be happy to stop on my way by and get you up  

[dinolee]

I'll do my best to wake up and join you guys.  No guarantees for a 7:30 am saturday wakeup from me though  

Good thing it's on a Sunday.

[Req]

Good thing it's on a Sunday.

oh snap!

[jsanford]

Maybe.  The mileage might be a bit high for me; maybe I could take Monday off and just stay eastside, and come home next day.  

[Montyburns]

Maybe.  The mileage might be a bit high for me; maybe I could take Monday off and just stay eastside, and come home next day.  

That's exactly what I was thinking.  Looks like a great ride but 420 miles is over my head, especially on my new bike to which I'm still adjusting.  Maybe I'll head over Saturday and hook up with you guys for the ride back on Sunday.  You will all be good and tired by that point and I may be able to keep up for a few miles.  

[ombrophobe]

I will mark it on my calendar and will definitely likely probably make it.  

Thanks for proposing it with the details dinolee!

[bizarro]

I'm a definite maybe. Need to get a new battery adaptor so I can run my Gerbing on Tritium's EX.

And, er..... is it cool for me to put that many miles on your bike Tritium? I know I can ride it and all, but to work is one thing.....

BTW, when's the last time it had its oil changed?

[mcoyote]

Maybe. Gotta see if I have any more incriminating pictures of the wife, so she'll let me outa housework.

[Mookie]

Good thing it's on a Sunday.

crikey!  who gave this guy a calendar?  

[JonS]

It looks like a good plan to me! See ya there.
Its hard to say no to possible warm weather riding.

[dinolee]

crikey!  who gave this guy a calendar?  

I blame my Publik Skool Edumacation.  

Well, cool, looking forward to seeing some familiar and some new faces.  And hopefully another viffer rider! (not that I'm biased or anything...   )

[bubba zanetti]

I am picking up a DR650 from bluepoof in Cupertino and leaving Saturday morning for Castlegar. Depending on how well the new Alaska Sheepskin works ... I might make it up that far by Sunday.  Be fun to catch you guys for lunch.

Thanks Colleen !  

[bizarro]

That would be most auspicious!

[DantesDame]

JR from Cashmere may be hooking up with us along the route too, so any details as to where/when would be helpful  

[Mr Sunshine]

I'm torn on whether to go or not.

I don't like just droning down the road anymore and anything under 100mph is droning.  Damn racing!  

Maybe if I had a cushy bike like a GS I would have a different opinion.