Late summer and I am heading to Bend, Oregon.
Monday: Drive up island to Sidney where I catch a 2 + hour ferry to
Anacortes, WA. The odometer reads 97,545 kms. The ferry is $32 for a motorbike. Met 2 guys also on bikes. One came all the way from Mexico the other told me to go to Eureka, CA with my vintage bike. We are first off and through customs quickly. Head east on to Hwy 5 into Burlinton and south on 9. This is a lovely drive ! Trees and curves and little traffic at the start. Catch 202 through the Seattle suburb of Redmond. Unfortunately it was rush hour and a hot day. I had to revert to driving on the shoulder to get by all those dinosaur vehicles.... Now I am going around Big Lake . Beautiful and quiet.
Cutting through 2 National forests even the Interstate is beautiful and you can see Mt Rainier. Into Fall City and south onto 169. At 8 pm I arrive at Enumclaw
for my first night at Cedars Inn. I walk out to a Mexican restaurant where Negra Modelo is on tap. I chat with John about politics and riding. He recommends i ride to Mt Rainier and stop to walk the Pacific Crest trail. I have an open agenda so I will do this tomorrow.
Tuesday started out drizley but after breakfast at Charles Diner and riding 20 miles east, the sun came out.
Washington State is gorgeous, most of which I spent in National forests. Headed south and into Cayuse Pass. Elevation 4675. The ride is amazing and there are many switchbacks. I am terrified when the very small shoulder completely disappears and there is nothing..... riding on the yellow line and barely looking around. But the scenery is spectacular! I park and change to shoes and walk the Pacific Crest trail!! Only a couple of miles but bucket list check. To the west I see snow covered Mt Rainier. I read there are a million acres in this forest. Going back down the mountain seemed easier. On Hwy 12 until a stop in Packwood at noon. I get a map from the visitor centre. At a cafe I see a young woman who is clearly doing the trail. She tells me she started in Mexico 4 months ago. She is waiting for a package and has 2 weeks to get to Canada. A woman who lives in town offers to drive her back to the trail. VERY cool ! On to Randle and the take the seasonal road 131 due south. West on to 503 until the town of Cougar. Stop to rest. The mountain elevation is on the cool side and my muscles are tense. Follow the river for a while. Pass through Battle Ground, WA where there is a covered bridge. South to Vancouver where I cross the Columbia river into Oregon. Bit of a struggle to find my hotel in Portland. But finally checked into my motel after 6 pm. Rather tired so walking down the street for dinner on a lovely warm night.
Wednesday and a misty start. I drive through downtown Portland to get to hwy 26. The city is very bicycle friendly and easy to maneuver. Signs tell you what the next intersection is. Hwy 26 takes me through suburb but then opens to clear sailing. Oregon is a wonderful surprise !! I reach Government Camp at 1 pm and get a patio seat at a nice restaurant. The sun is really warm. This is a ski destination. Now south on a great paved road with little traffic. Mountains in all directions, sun shining and trees smell great. I skirt around Mount Hood. I have a light grip on the bike and feel great. Fantastic stretch.. Then there is a switch to a desert and it is a Reserve.
Go through Madras where the eclipse will be best seen next year. South on 97 to
Bend. Found my motel quickly and it is just before 5. Change and head downtown on foot. Found the commons. Lots of vendors and an open area at Bend Brewery. I sit in the sun in a nice chair with a beer overlooking a lovely space next to the river. This is a great moment of absolute relaxation. Love this space. Walk to the Bend Brewery restaurant and sit on the patio with a beer and dinner. Wonderful ! Walk back to my motel with the sun setting.
Thursday. Walked 3/4 mile for breakfast at Black Bear. Head west on 20 and through Sisters. Head north east. I have to get on 126 south as #20 is closed.... but it is an absolutely gorgeous area in central Oregon...
Maybe my best ride ever. Stop just outside Eugene for lunch. Chester gives me good directions and suggestions to see. I get to the coast hwy 101 at Florence. Stop for a picture for my mom, Florence. It is overcast. now north on this scenic coastal road. The ocean is beautiful, and no human interference. Like nothing else I have ever seen. Make it to
Newport about 4:30 . CHECK IN and it begins to pour rain.... so the bike got washed. Next morning heading out at 10 in full gear even though it is sunny. The ride up the coast is amazing. The ocean rugged and vacant of any humans. Wonderful road. Oregon State parks everywhere. The small towns on the coast are big into glass. I cross the 45th parallel for the second time here in Oregon. It starts to rain outside Depoe Bay. In Garibaldi I stop for lunch. My boots are soaked. Nice staff tells me to hang out and gives me tourist insights. There is a steam train running up the coast. Very cute. Make it another few miles and the sun appears! I stop in Seaside and hang clothing over the bike to dry. Walk the lovely giant beach. Head north to Astoria the northern most city. There is a giant bridge so i go east on 30. In Westport there is a ferry into Washington. I catch the 4:15. Now east on 4 which follows Columbia river and shear rock on the other side. It is gorgeous. Into Kelso where i get 5 interstate going north. In a bit i am in
Olympia. I find an Olive Garden. The couple next to me are riders. They suggest i go to the Phoenix Inn downtown and give me perfect directions. The hotel is now Doubletree by Hilton. The young man gives me a $ 119 US rate and a great large suite at the end of the floor. I thank him later when he is the bartender. I have a bath and quick walk around downtown.
Saturday morning found a breakfast place. A piece of cake came with my egg sandwich. I was in shock but ate the tasty thing. It was quiet downtown for a Saturday morning. Went into a few shops. Back to the Hilton to pack up. At 11 am I was at the Washington state capital government building for a tour. It is a beautiful building with marble and limestone. Headed out of town and there was low fog. On hwy 101 when it started to rain, but it did not last. This is a great road and took me all the way to Port Angeles for the ferry back to Victoria. The sun came back out and it was a stunning ride. I am a big fan of this state. I fill up the gas tank ($5) with inexpensive US gas. Sit on a patio with a beer and lunch while I wait for the 5:30 ferry. It seemed like a quick and easy trip on calm waters.
The bike odometer is 99,542 - about 2,000 kms.
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| Mt Rainer, WA |
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| West of Sisters, OR (Hwy 20) |
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| Battle Ground, WA |
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| Oregon Coast - city of Florence |
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| Pacific Ocean - Oregon coast |
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| Seaside, OR |
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| Olympia, WA |
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