SW Washington Ride

It has been raining constantly since Easter and I was going nuts.  I installed new tires  and can't even take'm out for a good scrub in.   Heck the past weekend the snow level was near sea level and some places were white with snow or hail.  Crazy spring weather in Seattle. 

Jonesing for a ride I escaped work early for a quick half day tour of some of his favorite winter time roads in Washington.

In Washington State we get four seasons of weather unlike other areas of the country.  Say Michigan for instance where winter jumps to summer in two days or so.

The benefit of four seasons is we can ride roads road too often and see different things like we could when we had a kaleidoscope in our childhood.  Not long after his childhood some of us saw different things and didn't even have to use a kaleidoscope but that is a story of the 1970's and one best forgotten, except to remember the days when Pink Floyd album covers had real meaning.  

The inspiration for this ride was to take a photo near Lake Cushman something like this one but do it better. This photo must be taken when in winter or early spring, when the snow snow level has been less than 1000 feet during a recent snowfall.  Summer will not work as the snow melts all the way to the top of this mountain.

That did not work out due to clouds and rain in the area.  Nuts.  Now I have to wait one more year.

The rest of the inspiration was to ride the excellent farm country roads in Lewis county Washington, include Lincoln Creek, Bunker Creek and Michigan Hill roads. 

The route.

Enough talking and now for some photos.

Self portrait.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

FJR near Victor Washington

FJR near Victor Washington

I stopped at Twanoh State Park for some photos.

Along the Purdy Cut Off Road:

A little closer shot:

My favorite kind of gas.  My MPG improves 5% -note to Feds give peeps a choice.

The only tavern in Rochester Washington is for sale. A town that can't support a tavern is not a town anymore.

Farm land country in Lewis county Washington.

Near Rochester where a bar is dead, an Alpaca Farm thrives.

An Alpaca the Maserati of sheep.  Alpaca in a field.

A year ago I took a photo of the Post Office at Adna Washington.

Now it looks like this, bummer.

A barn with a wood roof.  Shaaaa some barns with a metal roof are collapsed.  

I stopped in Elbe, Washington to take a photo of this church.  Not a good photo as I was shooting directly in to the sun.

A photo of the twisties along Hwy 7 in LaGrande Washington where my FJR lost it's suspension virginity.  

The End.

Chuckanut Drive

At 27,000 miles I checked the valves on my FJR. They were a bit snug in places and a bit loose in others but all within spec. Rather than go another 25 k miles I decided to check them every 10k until an adjustment was required.
This moment came at 37,000 miles. I choose to have the work done by my dealer for I am not interested in removing the camshaft.

After waiting for parts the work was done on Friday and I picked up the bike on Saturday morning. Parting with a few Benjamins is a great way to start a weekend. It was money well spent.

With coin well spent it was time to enjoy the recently completed work. 

I contacted forum member EscapeFJRtist. We laid out a route agreeing to meet in Monroe at Patty's Egg Nest for breakfast at 9:00am.

Fontanaman lives about 40 miles south south of Monroe while EscapeFJRtist lives in Monroe. The significance of this was apparent when Fontanaman hit the road at 8:00 am, his lawn well frosted over, the FJR temp gauge indicating 36 degrees. Fiddling with he new Gerbing dual temp controller Fontanaman wondered if the unit was defective. His prior controller was a single controller - easy enough to hook up. After a quick stop the controller issue was resolved and the heated jacket did it job along with the heated grips.

We both enjoyed a senior breakfast while catching on recent events. EscapeFJRtist does not qualify for senior breakfast while Fontanaman does. Truth be told a senior breakfast is just a smaller portion something Fontanaman would have benefited from long before becoming senior.

There are a lot of great roads near Monroe and EscapeFJRtist knows them all so he led the way to Arlington, all along good back roads.

No photos yet and you are all getting bored with Fontanaman refering to himself in the third person, right?

So he whips out his camera near Lake McMurray and starts shooting.

The road is twisty around Lake McMurray.


After Lake McMurray Hwy 9 snakes up toward Big Lake with a view of the lake and golf course along with a couple of tight turns that are fun despite the lower speed limit. Just after Big Lake I shot these photos of Mt. Baker.


For a closer view of Mt. Baker.


Too bad it was an overcast day. 

We press north on Hwy 9 until we the turn off for Lake Watcom along a scenic road leading to Bellingham.


Once in Bellingham head toward Chuckanut Drive a eleven mile section along Puget Sound carved into a cliff. A few nice views but today photography was tough so I found some photos on on the web.

By eagle7cmg https://ssl.panorami.../photo/10138063







After Chuckanut Drive we head on down the Edison Cafe for lunch. After lunch we continue down along Puget Sound, to LaConnor and point south including a ride along the Skagit River to see a few eagles.

We even notice an eagle soaring along with our spirits after a great day of riding.

North Cascades Hwy

Sunday Linda and I planned to go golfing. Sunday's plans changed about 8:30am on Sunday.  Her arthritis  was acting up and she was not up to golfing leaving my day open.  So I decide to head to the North Cascades Hwy and do a loop ride to eastern Washington and home.

Here is my route:


View Larger Map

Leaving home I stopped  nearby to gas up.  I reset the trip information in the GPS.  It was about 9:30am.  It was the last time I would get off the bike until returning home.  I wasn't in a photo taking mood today.  This was ride mode day; just wanted to go out and enjoy the ride.

An what a ride.  Ah the North Cascades Highway.  Only if all roads could be something like this.  Going West to East the road starts off with a warm up out of Marblemount.  Good tight twisties, the best ones, are right out of Newhalem, then let up a bit near Diablo and start up in earnest again to the Diablo Lake Overlook.  There are a couple more tight turns after the Overlook, especially the decreasing radius turn at John Pierce Falls.  This is the older second of road, pre 1968 and it shows in the tightness of turns and construction standards - yet the pavement is very good.

After the Ross Dam trail head parking lot there is a series of very nice sweeping turns for 10 miles or more.  Just turn after turn after wonderful turn.  As you approach Rainy and Washington Passes the turns give way, just a bit, to wonderful alpine mountain scenery.

North Cascades Hwy coming into Newhalem

North Cascades Hwy in Newhalem.  Do not speed here!

Seattle City Light locomotive along the North Cascades Hwy in Newhalem.  I shot this with  a  Canon  S95 while on the go.  Not bad for 30mph, eh?

Diablo Lake from the Diablo Lake Overlook.  I shot this photo in 2003.

After the Diablo Lake Overlook the road has about 10 miles of sweepers like this one.  Perfect.  I shot this photo in May 2007 and this is west bound.

After the sweepers you approach Rainy Pass.  This is a photo of the west bound view at Rainy Pass.

After Rainy Pass you drive by this stunning formation.  It is always changing with the season.  I shot this in Oct 2012 on the go.

Same mountain peaks, same location.  I shot this in July 2007

This photos is along the way to Washington Pass and the Big Loop

Washington Pass Summit and the descent.

Descending from Washington Pass Summit - photo taken on the go.

Descending from Washington Pass Summit - photo taken on the go October 7, 2012.  You can see the Big Loop

Descending from Washington Pass Summit - photo taken on the go October 7, 2012.  You can see the Big Loop

After the Big Loop, looking east.  The Washington Pass Overlook is on the cliff, just above the road and trees on the left.

Of course the Big Loop looks different with the seasons.  I shot this photo in May 2007.

From the Big Loop the road goes down to Early Winter and on to Winthrop, Washington.  Winthrop is a western themed town where you can enjoy many outdoor activities and concerts.  Fishing, cross country skiing and mountain biking are very popular.  If you get over this way it is fun to have lunch Sun Mountain Lodge.

I stopped in Twisp to get gas with about 230 miles since the last fuel stop.  I did not get off the bike.  I road along Hwy 153 to the Columbia River and headed south to Wenatchee.

The Columbia River with smoky skies from forest fires in the mountains to the east.  Shot this on the go.

The Columbia River with smoky skies from forest fires in the mountains to the east.  Shot this on the go.

On US Highway 2 on the bridge over the Columbia River just north of Wenatchee which is completely obscured by smoke.

I was smoky all along the river and beyond to Blewett Pass where it cleared a bit.  I felt bad for the people who live here as it has been this way for weeks.  The fires will continue to burn until they get a significant rain or snow fall.

I went over Blewett Pass and took I-90 home.  Upon arriving at home I got my GPS stats.

I road 436.2 miles.

My overall average speed was 60.1mph.  My moving average speed was 61.1 mph.
With a max speed of 558 mph the Gen II  FJR is certain faster than the Gen I.

Total ride time was 7 hour 15 min.  Moving time 7 hours 8 min and stop time was 6 min and 58 secs.

The End