The Path Less Traveled
Welcome to my blog! I'm committing this space to my adventures with motorcycles and activities related with them. This will include all sorts of stories about repairing them, going on trips, learning different riding techniques, meeting other riders, etc. In other words, a general dumping ground for whatever strikes me. Hope you enjoy the read.
Portland Bound
Posted 07-08-2009 at 06:37 AM by Gamuru
(Here I sit reflecting on my last ride into Oregon and it occurs to me I still haven't posted anything about my first trip. Man, I'm falling way behind. Oh well...)
Two Sundays ago, my wife and I left Granite Falls after breakfast and headed down 203 into Enumclaw. Our destination was Portland, but we were going to take the scenic route getting there.
The ride down was pretty uneventful... except for when we were came into Black Diamond. (At least I think it was Black Diamond.) There I was cruising along when I felt something crawling around inside my right sleeve. I reached over with my left hand to rub it which only pissed whatever it was off. Next thing I knew, a stinging, burning sensation started to emanate from my forearm. I immediately dropped my right arm and started shaking it violently to evict the little biter. By the time we got to the next major intersection and a stoplight, the bite had grown to the size of a sand dollar. And man, did it burn! I saw no stinger sticking out of my arm and I still have no idea what it was. As I write this, there is still a faint red patch... almost a week later.
I had decided to guide us around the east side of Mt. Ranier. Not knowing how far we would have to travel around the mountain to the next gas station, I decided to gas up at the corner of 169 and 410. While filling up, I noticed a couple sitting along side the gas station taking a break. It was a guy and a gal, both riding their own sport bikes. After fueling I told my wife I wanted to pull around to where they were to ask them a question about the route over and to also get a better look at my bug bite.
They said they were from Renton (IIRC) and were also headed around the east side of Mt. Ranier. I asked if it was paved all the way and they said, "Oh sure. The roads a little rough in spots, but still a great ride." Whew! I was relieved because I've taken us on excursions only to find that we were on old logging roads with graveled switchbacks and gates blocking our progress. We thanked them, geared up, and headed out.
Wow, what a great view and the scenery going up and over. It was awesome! You'll have to take my word for it, though, as I didn't stop for any pictures. Not really sure why, either. What the heck was that building that looked like a lost giant golf ball?
On the way up, I saw my wife in my mirror frantically trying to get my attention. We pulled to the shoulder and she quickly ripped her helmet off. I figured she picked up a hitchhiker so I turned around to see if everything was okay. Sure enough, there was what looked like a small butterfly jammed up inside her mouth guard. While we were extricating him, I heard a group of bikers coming up the highway. As they went by the couple from the gas station were bringing up the rear. My wife and I both waved as the fellow on the sport bike gunned his engine, bouncing it off the rev limiter.
We got back on the road and began to catch up to the group of bikes that has just passed us. It was at this point that we came to a lookout point where you could see the side of Ranier. All the bikes ahead of us pulled in as we came up on them. With the cars that were already there, it pretty well filled the parking lot so we continued on, giving a wave to our gas station acquaintances as we went by.
It really didn't take long to get up and over the back side of Ranier. Before I knew it, we were at the "Y" intersection where we left 410 and got on 123 south to 12. We stopped in Packwood to use the bathroom only to find the Port-A-Potties were absolutely destroyed! Man, when the hell was the last time those things were serviced? Someone actually managed to crap on top of the toilet seat! On top! Frickin' animals!
We were just fixing to head out again when I look up to the highway and see the two from the gas station go by again. We finish getting our gear on and pull out onto the highway. Right around the corner I see the two riders pulling off their gear in front of the next restaurant. We wave, again, and head on down the road.
I decided to get gas in Randle. This will give us enough to to get all the way over to the west side of I-5 before we need to fill up again. We can go about 100 miles before hitting the reserve. After filling up, we crossed the street to the restaurant and grabbed some lunch.
After we got our fill, we went out to gear up and guess who went by? Yep, the two from the gas station. This was the last time we saw them, though. They must have either pulled off 12 or hit the afterburners because they were gone.
At the end of 12, we went over I-5, then turned south on 603 and headed for Vader. Once in Vader, we hooked over to 411 and headed south again into Longview. Gassed up and headed across the Lewis and Clark bridge into Ranier. Then we turned onto 30 and before we knew it we were in Portland and at our hotel.
The trip was kind of long, but very scenic. I saw a bunch of Washington that I had never seen before. The road that parallels I-5 is going into the memory banks as an alternative route for when the freeway gets jammed up.
What's up next? The return trip, of course... Stay tuned.
Two Sundays ago, my wife and I left Granite Falls after breakfast and headed down 203 into Enumclaw. Our destination was Portland, but we were going to take the scenic route getting there.
The ride down was pretty uneventful... except for when we were came into Black Diamond. (At least I think it was Black Diamond.) There I was cruising along when I felt something crawling around inside my right sleeve. I reached over with my left hand to rub it which only pissed whatever it was off. Next thing I knew, a stinging, burning sensation started to emanate from my forearm. I immediately dropped my right arm and started shaking it violently to evict the little biter. By the time we got to the next major intersection and a stoplight, the bite had grown to the size of a sand dollar. And man, did it burn! I saw no stinger sticking out of my arm and I still have no idea what it was. As I write this, there is still a faint red patch... almost a week later.
I had decided to guide us around the east side of Mt. Ranier. Not knowing how far we would have to travel around the mountain to the next gas station, I decided to gas up at the corner of 169 and 410. While filling up, I noticed a couple sitting along side the gas station taking a break. It was a guy and a gal, both riding their own sport bikes. After fueling I told my wife I wanted to pull around to where they were to ask them a question about the route over and to also get a better look at my bug bite.
They said they were from Renton (IIRC) and were also headed around the east side of Mt. Ranier. I asked if it was paved all the way and they said, "Oh sure. The roads a little rough in spots, but still a great ride." Whew! I was relieved because I've taken us on excursions only to find that we were on old logging roads with graveled switchbacks and gates blocking our progress. We thanked them, geared up, and headed out.
Wow, what a great view and the scenery going up and over. It was awesome! You'll have to take my word for it, though, as I didn't stop for any pictures. Not really sure why, either. What the heck was that building that looked like a lost giant golf ball?
On the way up, I saw my wife in my mirror frantically trying to get my attention. We pulled to the shoulder and she quickly ripped her helmet off. I figured she picked up a hitchhiker so I turned around to see if everything was okay. Sure enough, there was what looked like a small butterfly jammed up inside her mouth guard. While we were extricating him, I heard a group of bikers coming up the highway. As they went by the couple from the gas station were bringing up the rear. My wife and I both waved as the fellow on the sport bike gunned his engine, bouncing it off the rev limiter.
We got back on the road and began to catch up to the group of bikes that has just passed us. It was at this point that we came to a lookout point where you could see the side of Ranier. All the bikes ahead of us pulled in as we came up on them. With the cars that were already there, it pretty well filled the parking lot so we continued on, giving a wave to our gas station acquaintances as we went by.
It really didn't take long to get up and over the back side of Ranier. Before I knew it, we were at the "Y" intersection where we left 410 and got on 123 south to 12. We stopped in Packwood to use the bathroom only to find the Port-A-Potties were absolutely destroyed! Man, when the hell was the last time those things were serviced? Someone actually managed to crap on top of the toilet seat! On top! Frickin' animals!
We were just fixing to head out again when I look up to the highway and see the two from the gas station go by again. We finish getting our gear on and pull out onto the highway. Right around the corner I see the two riders pulling off their gear in front of the next restaurant. We wave, again, and head on down the road.
I decided to get gas in Randle. This will give us enough to to get all the way over to the west side of I-5 before we need to fill up again. We can go about 100 miles before hitting the reserve. After filling up, we crossed the street to the restaurant and grabbed some lunch.
After we got our fill, we went out to gear up and guess who went by? Yep, the two from the gas station. This was the last time we saw them, though. They must have either pulled off 12 or hit the afterburners because they were gone.
At the end of 12, we went over I-5, then turned south on 603 and headed for Vader. Once in Vader, we hooked over to 411 and headed south again into Longview. Gassed up and headed across the Lewis and Clark bridge into Ranier. Then we turned onto 30 and before we knew it we were in Portland and at our hotel.
The trip was kind of long, but very scenic. I saw a bunch of Washington that I had never seen before. The road that parallels I-5 is going into the memory banks as an alternative route for when the freeway gets jammed up.
What's up next? The return trip, of course... Stay tuned.
Total Comments 1
Comments
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411 is the way to go. I try to take that way as often as I can when time permits.Posted 07-10-2009 at 12:48 PM by allpapajohn
