READY TO RIDE
FROM AUGUST 2005
I had a week off, and Jeff had some days coming as well. He had a Yamaha Roadstar and I had my Wide Glide at the time. I had planned on going to Victoria to hang out with my brother for a couple of days, then head down to Oregon to see my parents. I talked him into taking a "little
trip" with me for 3 or 4 days. Looking at the map, we decided we could head east and go over to Bend, stay at my friend’s house there, and then go up Highway 97 toward Yakima. Jeff
said if we were already over THAT far, why not go visit Craig in Moses Lake? And I mentioned that we may as well go further east, then up toward Moses Lake.
So, here's how we ended up taking a week to make a 4-day trip!
I had a week off, and Jeff had some days coming as well. He had a Yamaha Roadstar and I had my Wide Glide at the time. I had planned on going to Victoria to hang out with my brother for a couple of days, then head down to Oregon to see my parents. I talked him into taking a "little
trip" with me for 3 or 4 days. Looking at the map, we decided we could head east and go over to Bend, stay at my friend’s house there, and then go up Highway 97 toward Yakima. Jeff
said if we were already over THAT far, why not go visit Craig in Moses Lake? And I mentioned that we may as well go further east, then up toward Moses Lake.
So, here's how we ended up taking a week to make a 4-day trip!
WAITING FOR THE FERRY IN PORT ANGELES, WA
VIEW FROM SIDNEY, BC
We rolled out of the garage on Saturday the 20th at 3:30am on our way to Port Angeles. Had to be at the Coho ferry dock no later than 7, usually about 2 1/2-hour trip.
We headed up thru Shelton and along the west side of Hood Canal, rather than go I-5 and
Highway 16. Temperature was 57 degrees when we left the house, and had a great run up the canal (wait until you get to see the sunrise over the canal!) until we got to Quilcene, about 2 hours into the trip. That's when the temperature dropped about 10 degrees and the fog rolled in. Got into Port Angeles and filled the gas tanks, then rode down to the ferry terminal. We had an hour to kill before boarding, so breakfast was in order. We walked over to the Cornerhouse Restaurant and ate. This is THE placer to have breakfast---old style diner/restaurant, huge portions, waitresses that call you "honey", and good prices. Hung out waiting for the boarding call, then had a great ride across the Strait to Victoria--it's a 90-minute crossing,
and the weather was beautiful. Made it thru customs with no problems and found our hotel, but the room wasn't ready yet. They let us stash our gear in a locked room and we called my brother to head out to his house. After a visit with him, we rode back into town, got into our room and showered up, then wandered downtown. Pub-crawling was in order for the night, and we did our share, by far the best place was Big Bad Johns in the first floor of the Strathcona Hotel...old time saloon with cheap beer, overly-salted peanuts, bras hanging from the ceiling and lots of people partying. A bachelorette party came in about 11 and livened the place up, even got flashed a bunch of times! Got up Sunday morning and headed back to my brother's to go north to a town called Duncan, where they were having a classic car show...fantastic ride, great scenery, and
temperatures in the low 80's. Back into Victoria to my brother's for a steak and salmon dinner.
We headed up thru Shelton and along the west side of Hood Canal, rather than go I-5 and
Highway 16. Temperature was 57 degrees when we left the house, and had a great run up the canal (wait until you get to see the sunrise over the canal!) until we got to Quilcene, about 2 hours into the trip. That's when the temperature dropped about 10 degrees and the fog rolled in. Got into Port Angeles and filled the gas tanks, then rode down to the ferry terminal. We had an hour to kill before boarding, so breakfast was in order. We walked over to the Cornerhouse Restaurant and ate. This is THE placer to have breakfast---old style diner/restaurant, huge portions, waitresses that call you "honey", and good prices. Hung out waiting for the boarding call, then had a great ride across the Strait to Victoria--it's a 90-minute crossing,
and the weather was beautiful. Made it thru customs with no problems and found our hotel, but the room wasn't ready yet. They let us stash our gear in a locked room and we called my brother to head out to his house. After a visit with him, we rode back into town, got into our room and showered up, then wandered downtown. Pub-crawling was in order for the night, and we did our share, by far the best place was Big Bad Johns in the first floor of the Strathcona Hotel...old time saloon with cheap beer, overly-salted peanuts, bras hanging from the ceiling and lots of people partying. A bachelorette party came in about 11 and livened the place up, even got flashed a bunch of times! Got up Sunday morning and headed back to my brother's to go north to a town called Duncan, where they were having a classic car show...fantastic ride, great scenery, and
temperatures in the low 80's. Back into Victoria to my brother's for a steak and salmon dinner.
BETWEEN VICTORIA AND TSAWWASSEN, BC
CAR SHOW IN DUNCAN, BC
BETWEEN VICTORIA AND TSAWWASSEN, BC
BETWEEN VICTORIA AND TSAWWASSEN, BC
We wanted to catch the 8:00 ferry to Tsawwassen out of Swartz Bay, so that meant up and on the road by 6:30. Made the ferry and got across to the mainland and over the border (after an hour in
line and a grumpy border guard who hated bikers) by 10:30. We made a quick stop for gas in Ferndale, and food in Tulalip, then rolled down the I-5 into Tumwater before stopping for gas. Next stop was in Portland, and rolling with traffic
from just south of Centralia to the I-205 Bridge kept us going at 80 mph most all the way.
Jumped off the freeway in Portland for gas, then stopped at Club 205 for beer and boobies! Hit the 205 again to head down to Albany, getting to my folks' place just after 7:00pm--437 miles after leaving the hotel in Victoria.
line and a grumpy border guard who hated bikers) by 10:30. We made a quick stop for gas in Ferndale, and food in Tulalip, then rolled down the I-5 into Tumwater before stopping for gas. Next stop was in Portland, and rolling with traffic
from just south of Centralia to the I-205 Bridge kept us going at 80 mph most all the way.
Jumped off the freeway in Portland for gas, then stopped at Club 205 for beer and boobies! Hit the 205 again to head down to Albany, getting to my folks' place just after 7:00pm--437 miles after leaving the hotel in Victoria.
PEACE ARCH, BRODER CROSSING
Tuesday was bright, clear and hot by the time we packed up and left Albany at about 2:00 pm, headed over Highway 20 thru Lebanon, Sweet Home, and over two 4000-foot passes into Sisters, where a beer was sorely needed! Got into Bend about 5 pm, and stopped at the Harley shop for
a t-shirt and called Gary to get directions to his house. Made it up there by 6 or so, had a couple of his world-famous killer Bloody Marys (OK, not world-famous, but they ARE the
best you will ever have!) and got a good night's sleep, before saddling back up at about 7:30 am on Wednesday to hit the road again. We had planned to get back onto Highway 20 to
head towards Burns, Oregon, then up to John Day, but Gary said Highway 26 was a
much more scenic ride...so off we went. Rolled thru Redmond and into Prineville where we stopped for breakfast, then headed east toward John Day. Lots of little towns along the way, and plenty of scenic views to stop at, so we just stopped when we wanted to stop. One of those stops was the painted hills out by the Fossil Beds...absolutely amazing! Turned off Highway 26 and rode 7 miles (the last mile on a dirt road, but well traveled) to a scenic overlook with amazing
views of the painted hills.
a t-shirt and called Gary to get directions to his house. Made it up there by 6 or so, had a couple of his world-famous killer Bloody Marys (OK, not world-famous, but they ARE the
best you will ever have!) and got a good night's sleep, before saddling back up at about 7:30 am on Wednesday to hit the road again. We had planned to get back onto Highway 20 to
head towards Burns, Oregon, then up to John Day, but Gary said Highway 26 was a
much more scenic ride...so off we went. Rolled thru Redmond and into Prineville where we stopped for breakfast, then headed east toward John Day. Lots of little towns along the way, and plenty of scenic views to stop at, so we just stopped when we wanted to stop. One of those stops was the painted hills out by the Fossil Beds...absolutely amazing! Turned off Highway 26 and rode 7 miles (the last mile on a dirt road, but well traveled) to a scenic overlook with amazing
views of the painted hills.
SANTIAM PASS, OR
SANTIAM PASS SUMMIT, OR
GARY & KELLY
VIEW FROM GARY'S HOUSE, BEND, OR
We got into John Day and had a drink, then headed north on Highway 395 toward Pendelton;
over two more mountain passes, one just over 5000 feet, but still hot and sunny. We stopped for a brief rest in Dale (3 buildings) for a coke and a snack, then back on the bikes for the last little run to Pendelton. We got a hotel downtown and walked down to find something to eat. The reason we picked the hotel we did was because it had a pool and hot tub, but when we got back
after dinner and changed to go soak in the hot tub, we found it was empty--and had been for years from the looks of it! Oh, well, the room was only $50...but we were pissed!
The next morning (Thursday) was a little mchilly when we hit the road about 7:30 or so, and headed up thru Hermiston to Kennewick, thinking we would stop for breakfast and then find the Harley shop for another t-shirt; but the Harley shop was just off the freeway as we headed into town, so that was our first stop. The people at the shop said there was a small, locally owned diner just down the road, so we ate there. By the time we came out, the temperature was up to about 80 and so we peeled off the coats and went back on the road.
After a brief stop in Richland at the Wal-Mart to see a friend of Jeff's, we were back onto
Highway 395 heading north. We took the cutoff to Highway 17 which cuts thru the
farmland toward Moses Lake, and what a great ride!
over two more mountain passes, one just over 5000 feet, but still hot and sunny. We stopped for a brief rest in Dale (3 buildings) for a coke and a snack, then back on the bikes for the last little run to Pendelton. We got a hotel downtown and walked down to find something to eat. The reason we picked the hotel we did was because it had a pool and hot tub, but when we got back
after dinner and changed to go soak in the hot tub, we found it was empty--and had been for years from the looks of it! Oh, well, the room was only $50...but we were pissed!
The next morning (Thursday) was a little mchilly when we hit the road about 7:30 or so, and headed up thru Hermiston to Kennewick, thinking we would stop for breakfast and then find the Harley shop for another t-shirt; but the Harley shop was just off the freeway as we headed into town, so that was our first stop. The people at the shop said there was a small, locally owned diner just down the road, so we ate there. By the time we came out, the temperature was up to about 80 and so we peeled off the coats and went back on the road.
After a brief stop in Richland at the Wal-Mart to see a friend of Jeff's, we were back onto
Highway 395 heading north. We took the cutoff to Highway 17 which cuts thru the
farmland toward Moses Lake, and what a great ride!
ALONG HIGHWAY 20, OR
PAINTED DESERT, OR
PAINTED DESERT, OR
BROTHERS: JEFF & I
OCHOCO PASS SUMMIT, OR
Came around one curve and rode past a mint farm: the air was full of mint smell that was
so great! That has to be one of the best things about riding--the smells, the sights, and the changes in air temp as you ride! We got into Moses Lake about 4 or so, and with the temp pushing 100, we stopped for a beer before getting to Craig's house. Friday morning was clear and hot as we left Craig's house at about 8 am, and we headed
back to Highway 17 to go out thru O'Sullivan Dam and Frenchman Hills on Highway 262 ...more farms and fields and so much better than just rolling down the Interstate. Joined
Highway 26 thru Royal City and down to Vantage where we got on I-90 to Ellensburg
and a stop for breakfast. Went south out of Ellensburg on the Canyon Road toward Yakima, and jumped onto Highway 12 into Naches, then after gassing up took White Pass over the Cascades into Packwood. Always wanting the scenic route, we took Skate Creek Road up out of Packwood and turned onto Highway 706 into Elbe, then onto Highway 702 into McKenna, thru Yelm and on home...almost 1590 miles after we started.
so great! That has to be one of the best things about riding--the smells, the sights, and the changes in air temp as you ride! We got into Moses Lake about 4 or so, and with the temp pushing 100, we stopped for a beer before getting to Craig's house. Friday morning was clear and hot as we left Craig's house at about 8 am, and we headed
back to Highway 17 to go out thru O'Sullivan Dam and Frenchman Hills on Highway 262 ...more farms and fields and so much better than just rolling down the Interstate. Joined
Highway 26 thru Royal City and down to Vantage where we got on I-90 to Ellensburg
and a stop for breakfast. Went south out of Ellensburg on the Canyon Road toward Yakima, and jumped onto Highway 12 into Naches, then after gassing up took White Pass over the Cascades into Packwood. Always wanting the scenic route, we took Skate Creek Road up out of Packwood and turned onto Highway 706 into Elbe, then onto Highway 702 into McKenna, thru Yelm and on home...almost 1590 miles after we started.
HIGHWAY 17, WA
NEAR JOHN DAY, OR
DALE, OR
THE BIG TOWN OF DALE, OR
ALONG THE SANTIAM PASS, OR
SOMEWHERE IN EASTERN OR
WHITE PASS SUMMIT, WA
WHITE PASS, WA