July 5 2023 Day Twenty Nine

 July 5 – Colby WI – Day 29

 

I consider this day 29 since I’m back on the road and don’t need to write much about my short time home before hitting the road. Shelley and I had a great time celebrating Eagan Fun Fest and making arrangements for the Harley Davidson 120^th Anniversary the weekend of July 14 on my trip home from New Hampshire. We decided we might as well commit to the weekend, so Shelley got airline tickets and I got the tickets for the H-D festival at Memorial Park in Milwaukee, the same park that hosts Summerfest every year. The tickets aren’t cheap for a visit to the park, but for Saturday there will be some good bands playing, the 2 I’m interested in are the Foo Fighters and Pat Benatar.

 

So, you might be asking why I’m in Colby WI, my childhood hometown, but I have to catch a ferry in Milwaukee, and this will put me about 2 hours closer. It’ll still be an early morning to get up and get ready to make sure I make it in time, but it should be a quick turnaround in the morning since the only thing I’ll have to do is take a shower. The bike is packed and fits in the garage next to my dad’s KIA even if the battery is dead that kept me from moving it. That’s just what I needed, room for a packed bike so I don’t have to pack and unpack even though it is routine once again. 

 

A short ride so I left about 4:30 Eagan time, same time different place and made a quick trip. It turned out to be a good thing that I saved my trip until later today because the latest renter of my old bike returned it while I was home, and I was thinking I hadn’t seen the bike since I left so had to make sure it at least got cleaned and it is in better shape than I remember. It does seem to have a minor leak in the primary which was just fixed last year so I am going to have to check on some kind of warranty on that kind of work; old bike with a lot of miles so I guess I can’t explain. 

 

Once in Colby and make sure the bike fit in the garage, I figured I should get something to eat to headed to Curtiss and the truck stop and sure enough, all the ribs you can eat. I remember my dad talking about their specials and I hit one of them he always talked about. All you can eat, but I could only handle half a rack so not much more than that. They were pretty good ribs so I’m glad I had them. Back home to my childhood home, parked the bike and decided to walk downtown to see what was going on. Stopped at the VFW and tonight was horseshoe night, but nobody that I knew that it was time to head to Hunter’s to see what going on there and I couldn’t believe it, the other side of the bar was full of high school kids eating after they just got done with a football game. Well, I said I’m not going to sit across from them and stare at them that I joined them. Not something you’d see at many states with underage drinkers sitting at the bar, but that’s what you have to love about Wisconsin. I had fun visiting with them and talking Colby Hornet football from my days to theirs.

 

There was an older gentleman that came to the bar, and he did sit across from the rest of us. After the kids left, I did talk to the guy, sorry I don’t remember his name, but he knew my dad well since they were in Lion’s together and since my dad’s health isn’t that good, he did send his prayers. He was interesting talking to, and I found out about a dateline special in was in, something about Dill creek in Unity which was the scene of a murder of a pharmacist. We used to live on a farm in Unity that I am thinking it might be the same creek we had about ½ mile from home that we usually play on. How interesting to find out a murder in a small town that close to Colby.

 

Ok, I am writing this 3 days later while at a bar that I am sitting next to and talking to the owner that I’ll have more later, and you’ll want to see the story for July 7^th. 

June 30 2023 Day Twenty Eight

 June 30 – Eagan MN – Day 28

 

I’m home after a long day ride and thought a number of times about calling it a night before reaching my destination, but as long as it is showing me getting home before 10:00, I have no problems riding in the dark, especially when this close to home. It was a long ride too, according to my bike’s trip planner, 928 miles in about 12 hours at an average speed of 80mph, yep, I was hitting it hard.

 

I did get another early start since I knew it’d be over a 12-hour trip since waking up early and not being able to get back to sleep since I was thinking about the ride. Packed the bike, which gets easier every day and took my shower to wake up for the days ride. It wasn’t that late at night before because the wedding partiers left the bar early so all I had to finish up was my story for the day.

 

It is pretty nice riding this early, around 8:00 am in the morning across Montana when I am pretty much the only one on Hwy 200 across the state on my way to I94 to home. Sure, it is a 2-lane road, but very few curves and hills that I was able to hit it hard and ride it like a freeway. Sure, I thought about the occasional animal that could cross the road, but I kept vigil about watching the ditches. Most of it was prairie with no ditches, but I only saw deer in the distance and none on the road. There were the occasional elk crossing, so I kept an extra eye out for them cuz that could be worse to hit. 

 

It seemed to be a long stretch heading East, but with so much space only for me, it turned out to be a good ride toward the interstate. I did hit another Motorcycle Advisory – loose gravel and construction ahead that you may want to consider an alternate route. I didn’t even think about stopping and checking for a different route, because I knew whatever it would be a lot further out of the way that I went for the construction zone. The same thing as some construction with the same warnings about loose gravel and the speed reduced to 35 miles an hour for a 10-mile stretch that I think I can muscle my way thru. The helping factor that I was on the road by myself that I didn’t have the horrible dust to deal with and could slow it down if I had to. This construction zone wasn’t nearly as bad as some of yesterday’s and still none compare to how bad the 10-miles of construction on the ‘Going to the Sun’ road had. 

 

I did make sure to get gas since the towns were a bit sparse along Hwy 200, but again a nice ride since there is close to no traffic on the road. I did hit another stretch of construction close to Glendive just before getting on the I94, but it was construction where the pavement was grooved since they had shredded the top layer of pavement and was paving over. The nice thing on this road is it was only the East bound lane and since I could see a long way in front of me, I rode the lane going against traffic and only pulled into the construction lane when there were vehicles coming. Not many to consider that I made really good time. 

 

On to I94 toward home and this will be my first time riding this road for as many years that I’ve been riding that I’ll be taking the northern interstate home. I have taken I90 home too many times that this will be a good break. I did notice for being wide open much like South Dakota that the speed limit was only 75 mph instead of the 80 that SD allows. That didn’t stop me from riding it like I do I90, fast. 

 

I didn’t have the luck today of another rain free day, I ended up at the wrong place at the wrong time and got drenched. Another one of those rides where I could see the rain coming down in the distance, but every time you’d go around a curve, you’d be riding away from it that thought that was hopefully going to happen to me this time as well. Well, my luck ran out and just as quick as I rode into the rain, I had to pull over since it was a horrible downpour. Nothing to get the bike under that I just turned on the hazard lights and sought shelter for myself in some trees so I wouldn’t get any wetter than I already was. It was a quick shower and as soon as it hit and just down poured it was over and time for me to hit the road again. Now I’ll need my jacket because I’m chilled and drenched that I’ll have to warm up and dry off later. Just as I’m getting my jacket on a couple of bikers go by, that was me on most of the other rain occasions that I’ve been on that I was coming thru just after the rain and only have road spray to deal with, but not this time. It wasn’t far up the road, and it started to get hot again that now I could use gas and get the jacket off so the rest of me can dry out in the heat. There were a few times it looked like I was going to hit rain again, but this time luck was on myside that I only hit road spray and missed the full-on rain. 

 

I crossed into Minnesota and noticed that I still had about another 4 hours to get home, but again as long as it was going to get me home before 10, the only thing to stop me from pushing it to home would be running out of gas that I did make sure that wasn’t going to happen to fill up when I needed to. I did get home earlier than expected and that might’ve been because I did push it a little thru the Twin City traffic just to get home. Now I get to relax for a few days, get things done around the house that need to get done and pack for my next trip out East. Not sure how soon I’ll leave for that, but stay tune, more to come before this summer riding is done. 

June 29 2023 Day Twenty Seven

 June 29 – Lewistown MT – Day 27

 

In Lewistown MT, still over 800 miles from home and had a horrible day, but it might be getting better. A group of women just showed up to the bar from Green Bay Wisconsin and they are in town with their husbands for a wedding but ditched the guys for lady’s night. Have already had a nice chat with them and that is really the one of few things that did go well today. 

 

I got up a little earlier since I wanted to work my way home, packed the bike which was a breeze and showered for the ride. I was going to get going to head to the West Glacier entrance but decided to stop at the front desk to checkout and ask about my best way to the entrance. It turned out to be a good thing that I asked, because the very helpful receptionist and her friend told me that I needed a pass at least the day before to be able to enter that way, something new the park had started and now that I know, well I didn’t sign up for a pass yesterday. They did have a voucher for a gift shop by the entrance that I can login to their website and purchase a ticket so that is just what I did. The signup said I would get an email shortly and that it might be in my spam, but after waiting half an hour, no email for the entry ticket that the receptionist called the boutique and they said they might have been sold out that I should try again. This time I did get a negative message that they were sold out so as the receptionist said, I can drive the extra hour and a half and get into the East Entrance up until July 1^st. Ok, I have a plan and it won’t be ‘Going to the Sun Road’ but will be going against it. 

 

Guess what, yep, that first pass that I signed up for was sitting in my spam email, but it wasn’t sent until an hour after I had signed up.  I guess it would’ve been a good idea for me to stop at the West entrance because I happened to go past it to get to the East that I could’ve really saved myself the headache of the day and that was doing the ‘Going away from the Sun Road’. Not so much going away because by the time I got into the park it was already 1 in the afternoon. I took a nice road around the south side, which was a nice ride, but stopped at a couple of different places until I found out I had to head up North to St Mary’s to get on the ‘Going to the Sun Road’. Well at that time I guess I am probably going with, but that’ll definitely cut into making it East closer to home since I have to head West on the sun road. 

 

Not the greatest ride because of all the slow cars and I swear, people don’t know how to drive tight curved roads. I got stuck behind a number of slow vehicles and soon everyone was stopping in the road to take pictures instead of pulling into the many turnoffs that most people use. At one point the person in front of me obviously cannot drive a large SUV, they were really having problems.  The Scenery is spectacular, and I did stop for a few pictures, but the ride would be so much more enjoyable if you took out the people who don’t know how to drive which would be the majority of them. Now the worst part was the last 9 miles of the road heading West which might explain why I didn’t see very many bikes on the path, there was 9 miles of construction, loose gravel and not the loose kind of gravel when they are repaving a road, but road under construction loose gravel that was squirrely and so, so dusty that it was absolutely horrible and probably took an hour alone just to go 9 miles. I have a feeling they were telling the bikers on the West side before they entered the park so most decided not to and I really wish they would’ve let me know thru St Mary’s because I would’ve turned around and spent another hour riding back East behind horrible drivers instead of the construction. 

 

Ok, finally out of the park and now I had to check which way is going to be the best home and I have a conflict between what Siri is telling me and what the bike wants to take to get home. If anything, not sure I’ll be able to get to home by Friday that I might as well just go for it and will decide along the way which way I want to go. The first part happens to be the same hour and a half ride I already took to the East entrance, so I know this road pretty well. I did spend a little too much time trying to decide which way to go, but now with me ending up in Lewistown MT, I guess my route will be the North Dakota route which who knows, still could change.  I dd reach a gas station where Siri wanted me to head toward Billings which would be the longer way home and the bike wanted to bring me here, and the gas attendant said I’d be better off heading toward Billings, that ok, I made my own decision and thought I’d keep going where I was going. Part of it is I think I was ready to call it a night cuz I really didn’t want to push it. 

 

On my way into town, I did see a Super 8 with a sports bar next door and did stop at a gas station again and asked the attendant about hotels and he said the Super 8 is pretty good and clean and there is one downtown across from a brewery which the brewery is great, but the hotel a bit sketchy. I did drive downtown to see and sure enough Yogo Inn across the street from what looks like a nice brewery. Well, this time I listened and headed to the Super 8 only to find out they are booked for the night. Great, now someone else has made a different choice for me that I am only partially grateful for, again the ladies and now their husbands with them from Green Bay, someone to visit with in this hotel I ended up in, the Yogo Inn and the attendant at the gas station was right, a bit sketchy and not as nice as the Super 8 might’ve been. Having the company from Wisconsin to talk to makes a difference and this stay may not be too bad even though packing the bike in the morning may be as sketchy as the Inn.  Ok, a horrible day, but I guess everyone will have at least one bad day of travel. Again, nocking on wood another dry day, now I might need two more to get home. 

 

Before I forget and not sure where to insert, on my way toward Lewistown I did run into the loose gravel construction warning for bikes where they were doing the patching of the highway. Now that kind of construction loose gravel I can handle especially since the entire stretch is only 35 miles an hour which didn’t help me get any further than East that I’d of liked to have gotten. One final note, my bike turned 50,000 today and even though the baby is super dirty, she’s still stupid fast. 

June 28 2023 Day Twenty Six

 June 28 – Kalispell MT – Day 26

 

I made it to Kalispell MT, and it was quite the ride here from Seattle. I just finished a very good Mexican dinner and am having a few margaritas to write this story. I could’ve stayed at the same hotel I did some 17 years ago when I was here last, but more on that later. 

 

I was up as my usual ride time has been when I’m riding for the day, and I don’t know why it is earlier on those days than my relaxation day.  It might be that once I do wake up and checkout the clock, I start thinking about my packing and how the trip might go for the day that I just can’t relax and sleep longer. Not that I need to because with over a 7-hour trip ahead of me, I might as well get going earlier rather than later. I did get the bike packed and took my shower for today’s ride and while I was getting ready for my ride, I thought I might have to text Steve to see when he’d be back for me to say ‘goodbye’ just as he walks in the front door. Apparently, he was doing the mornings watering that Catherine had to take the car to her morning breakfast meeting, so he was there after all. Because it was chilly this morning, I did go for the full leather up, pulling out my chaps and putting those on as well as a long sleeve shirt and the heavy leather jacket, better to be comfortable instead of cold. I did get a close to 9 am start, that’s Pacific and today I will lose an hour after today’s ride, so the sooner the better.  I’d really like to thank Steve, Catherine and the kids for letting me stay and extending my stay for a day so I could experience a little more of Seattle. It was a great stay and I really enjoyed being able to visit with them.

 

Steve’s direction to the interstate East was easy enough and since I passed a gas station on my way before getting on the freeway, a perfect place to fill the tank, have a breakfast bar and get my morning Mt Dew. Good directions to the interstate and because I had warmed up with the gas stop and heading East away from the morning gloom, I actually started thinking I could’ve skipped the full leather for this trip this morning. That did soon change when I started going thru some of the passes to get over the mountains on the way to the East part of Washington and it didn’t seem that far that I was over them and in the plans of Washington that things did start to warm up. I was surprised along the trip to see a sign to Yakima and how it was only 38 miles from the I90 that I was on because a few days ago when I was planning my trip from Portland around Mount Rainier, I considered going thru Yakima, yep the same Yakima that not only was I head East, but South that maybe I could’ve made a sunnier trip to Mount Rainer. Well, that’s not my stop today that I’ll keep pushing on.

 

Like I had mentioned I was now in the Washington plains and things started warming up quick that once I got to Moses Lake, I saw the seas’ part and figured it was time for a full makeover. Not, quite a full makeover since I still have to wear a helmet, but got rid of the chaps, the jacket, long sleeve shirt and lubed up with sunscreen that now I can enjoy what I’m hoping will be a short ride with only the helmet before a full makeover. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before, but because the back of the helmet (which I love by the way) has a lip that always gets hung up on my jacket that sometimes I can’t turn my head fully that I really do prefer not to have both the helmet and leather jacket on together. Not that big a deal and I always deal with it without issue. 

 

On to Spokane and I remember this city from last year when I was heading home this way from Portland, today a much quicker trip here than then. I was watching my map ad I knew it’d be soon that I’d be crossing the border into Idaho that I can then get rid of the helmet and ride naked the rest of the way, not fully naked, but no leathers, no helmet and fully lubed. I did make a mistake taking the state line exit because I thought it’d be a quick off and on, but once I found I had to make a few turns for gas I just got back on the freeway and yep, exit 2 will be a good place for gas and getting rid of the helmet, yeah, I jumped the gun with excitement. Got my gas, put the helmet away and checked whether I want to now take the alternate route thru the mountains to Kalispell or stay on the freeway until the last minute. That also included checking the weather that it looks like rain and thru the mountains maybe more likely and over a 4-hour trip that I might as well stick with the speedway because it was only 3 ½ hours and if I hit rain that it’d be easier running the freeway thru rain. 

 

Oh, the other thing coming into Spokane is I did notice the mountains in the background after coming from the plains of Washington state so no wonder they built a city here instead of in the plains, never thought about that before. I’m now enjoying the wind blowing thru my hair, I mean over my bald head, and it sure looks like rain in those there mountains. I do remember this ride from last year home from Portland and much nicer riding it dry and warm which wasn’t the case last year. I did go past the place I stayed at last year, but no reason to stop and take pictures, I just remember. Soon I did have to get off the interstate to head North to Kalispell and I figured a good time once again to get gas, because I don’t know how many gas stations there’ll be a long that way that I might as well be safer than sorry. 

 

Ok heading north and sure enough there are thunderstorms ahead of me. My directions did tell me another 10 miles and I’ll be heading East again instead of North, but for the rain and lighting in front of me I should probably think about stopping soon and gearing up for the rain. I did push on even though the closer and closer I’ll eventually be in the rain and after going thru a town where I saw a couple of bikes parked thought it would’ve made for a good stop. No, I didn’t stop and soon enough that right turn paid off because now I was only riding alongside the rain. Yep, heading north again, but far enough East that I had just missed the rain because for some reason it’s moving from East to West here. I did get cold enough though after having missed the rain that I did have to make a stop to put my jacket on and really no place along the road to pull over, but I did notice that each mailbox did have a patch of pavement that I can park the bike on one of them to leather up. Did just that at a really small house with a light on and if anyone was home, they were probably wondering what I’ve been doing. 

 

So far so good, but it still looks like rain in front of me that I keep praying to mother nature to work with God and keep me dry. I did go thru a nice city by the lake about 17 miles south of Kalispell and as I was going thru thought maybe I should just stop here, some nice hotels and restaurants that I can make those 17 miles up tomorrow. Yep, great thought, but once again I kept pushing on and with a lot of luck got to Kalispell rain free. So far so good with rain on this trip, while I’m knocking on wood that I hope to avoid any other than the little bit that I did hit in South Carolina and Florida. I did punch in directions to the Glacier Harley shop even though it might be too late and eventually I pulled into a bar full of bikes. Nothing but gravel that to get my bike turner around and parked I needed a couple of the bikers to give me a push and they figured I’d be riding for a while because of all the bugs the bike, sure have and the baby needs a wash. I went inside and there were a few gangs here. One guy identified 3 of them and I was amazed, they all get along cuz I’ve been in some places that when one gang is there, no others are allowed.

 

I did ask a guy if he had any suggestions for hotels and he mentioned 2 just up the street, a nice one a cheap one next to a Mexican restaurant that I might as well check them both out. A mile up the road and I pulled into the cheap one which is right next door to the expensive hotel, and I asked a couple who had their bike there what they thought, and they said not so bad and has some remodel done, rate about 130$. I did decide to check out the expensive one and when she said, 230$, I figured I can go cheap. Ok, room booked and apparently not next door to the Mexican restaurant because it’s up the road a bit. Oh well, I get a room, am dry and it’s only for a night that I might as well take it. Not much of a room, but enough to shower, feel human again and head up the street to the Mexican restaurant which I do, and what do I see, Motel 6, the same one I stayed at back in 2006 that if I would’ve drove just a bit further would’ve been right next door. Oh well, like I said I have a room and am dry so that’s all I can ask for tonight. Tomorrow onto the road to the sun. 

June 27 2023 Day Twenty Five

 June 27 – Seattle WA – Day 25

 

Day 25 and I’m still in Seattle. I had planned a quick trip thru, but after talking with Steve and Catherine, they easily convinced me another day to relax and enjoy the Seattle experience is a better idea than hitting the road that how could I refuse. Not only did that help that I could sleep in, but I was able to get a blog written, relaxed enjoyed the other half of sandwich from the night before for lunch and got to explore Seattle. 

 

Ok this is how the day went; up a little later, wrote a couple of stories and posted them, got cleaned up headed downtown for the Seattle experience, met Steve and Catherine downtown, had a few drinks and went to a great seafood restaurant for a great meal. How’s that sound, yeah, I agree, not enough detail. 

 

I was able to relax a bit for the morning and it must’ve been the ride the day before because I really zonked out for the night and had a great night sleep that after getting a phone call from a company back home in the cities, yeah, they don’t realize I’m on Pacific time I kept relaxed a bit longer. I did mention to Steve and Catherine that their pillows are the best pillows I’ve had on my trip, and I think I need a set for myself at home. It was a comfortable sleep and I think I needed it after yesterday’s ride. Steve offered me his train pass so I figured the afternoon downtown Seattle would be the thing to do since both were going to meet me later for dinner, that I had my other half of sandwich which was just as good as the night before and got cleaned up for my trip. 

 

Steve gave me directions to the train which seemed easy enough and where I should get off, but I don’t think I listened very well since I think I asked him repeatedly which exit from the train I should take. Yeah, probably had something else on my mind that I wasn’t paying attention to listening. No problem walking to the train station since it was downhill and I did ask someone how I use the card where they pointed me to the ticketing machine and mentioned something about a yellow scanner, where I scanned the pass and the machine kept asking me to deposit 8$ for my days ride. I did ask another guy because like I told him as far as I knew the pass Steve gave me was for unlimited rides that I shouldn’t have to pay. After a bit of confusion, the guy pointed me to another yellow post to scan the pass and sure enough that worked. Why yellow on the ticket machine and a separate yellow post, I guess I’ll never know.

 

Once on the train and after looking at the stops along the way I finally remembered what exit he told me, but first I also had to remember where I came from incase, I have to get back home by myself. No problem, I think I can remember that. It was a normal ride downtown and after coming upstairs out of the tunnel I was a bit confused on where I was and should’ve remember just head toward the water and I will find the bars and such that I need to visit from the last time I was here a couple of years ago when the football crew got together in Seattle for a Seahawks’ football game. A group of guys that we pick a different stadium each year to go to and watch a professional football game, just to say we did, in case you were wondering. 

 

I did think that maybe visiting the Seattle space needle was the thing to do before I started drinking for the day that I asked one of the many Seattle downtown ambassadors how to get to the needle. Easy enough if I go up a few more flights of stairs to catch the tram to the needle and back that it should be easy enough, but you feel like you’re doing nothing but climbing hills or stairs in this city that I hope to make it to the top. I did make it and once again, Steve’s pass came in handy that this time I figured out how to scan and how to get in, no problem.

 

To the space needle and the last time and only time I’ve been up in the thing was 17 years ago on my big bike trip that I might as well do the same thing today. Not a problem getting a ticket, but it was over $40 up and down that I guess I’ll take my time once up. Pretty cool up on the observatory and sometimes you feel a little daring leaning against the glass which leans out instead of in. Yes, if it ever broke, you’d fall, but not too far since they have fins to catch you, not that I think even possible since the glass is 3 layers thick and I’m sure not glass, but Plexiglass of some type. Well, I did find out that is nothing because once you go down a level to the spinning level (use to be a rotating restaurant) the glass is in the floor that you’re now standing above your death. If this glass bottom broke, I didn’t see anything that would stop you other than the ground below. Now that was pretty cool and I tried to get a selfie video of me laying on the floor, but a little hard to do when you can’t see the background around me. Oh well, at least I did it. A fun experience and I’m glad I did it.

 

I did take my time since I didn’t want to get to happy hour too early, but once on the shuttle back it was time to find the Market Place to see the Market and find the Old Stove Brewery I know to visit. I only figured that out looking at the football trip photos, but at least I now know how to get to the water, just walk downhill. I did enjoy walking around the fish market and got to sample some great smoked salmon that if I had the room, I’d probably order a bunch to take with me. Oh well, maybe next time, but I’m sure it might be in the same situation, me on bike with little extra room to pack. 

 

Made it to Old Stove brewery and started my drinking and pictures of the sites around and guess what, today I can clearly see Mount Rainer from downtown Seattle. Why couldn’t it have been this clear to see yesterday when I rode to it, cuz I bet that site is unbelievable when in Paradise. I guess that’s the way the dice roll, but I won’t be riding there today to see it, remember it’s a 2-hour trip and I already have a beer in me. I was able to catch up on things with Shelley back home and I still had some more drinking to do before Steve and Catherine made it downtown, where of course that means another cocktail before dinner. It turned out to be a beautiful day even if it did start out a little gloomy and cold. 

 

We made it to Anthony’s Pier 66 a higher end seafood restaurant near the water where we had a very entertaining waiter taking care of us. He was full of stories and inquisitive about where we were all from and how we ended up in Seattle. We had a great meal, starting out with 2 different type of oysters and we all agreed which were the better of the 2. For me I also had to have the Anthony’s trio to get a taste of a number of things, Mahi mahi, a prawn and their crab cakes which are to die for. All very good and I thank Steve for picking up the tab. A great meal and a great visit. 

 

Now it was time to head home, and we took the route along the water because apparently if you walk that way there will be less uphill than where we came from, but it was still uphill to the train station, just not as far a climb even though you do get to go down to the subway. Back to our stop for home and once again, mostly a walk-up hill to the house that I’ll be tired from all the up and down today that a good night’s sleep will be well deserved. Tomorrow I head to Kalispell and am still debating which way to take, the interstate most of the way or part of a scenic trip, more on that later. 

June 26 2023 Day Twenty Four

 June 26 – Seattle WA – Day 24

 

Made it to my Seattle connection, Steve and Catherine’s place and the timing was almost perfect. As I pulled into the driveway Catherine was riding in on her bike, an electric version of a bicycle and as I pulled my bike into the garage noticed my bike had just turned 49,001, I missed the perfect 49,000 by just a mile. At least my bike is parked, and I get to relax after a great sightseeing day around Mount Rainer.

 

It did start out sunny in Portland and after getting the bike packed and me showered, I had to say my ‘goodbyes’ to Stephanie and Danny. I very much appreciate them letting me stay and being able to visit for at least a night that I already look forward to a return trip and a longer stay, hopefully sometime soon. I did get the bike cover back to Tom and he wished me a safe trip and after having worked out my rout e for the day around Mount Rainer, it was time to start my 7-hour trip to Seattle. It was pretty chilly riding North out of Portland that I had thought a couple of times about putting on my long sleeve shirt and leather chaps, but I kept going and eventually it warmed up a bit after I left the freeway and headed East toward Rainer.

 

The start of my trip was to take the freeway and eventually head to Paradise which is one of the highest points at the base of Rainer that although it I about an 18-mile ride once I enter the park, it’ll still be over an hour ride to Paradise. The nice windy, curvy mountain roads when you’re climbing and elevation. I made sure I kept on top of the gas so made a stop before heading to Paradise suspecting there wouldn’t be gas there and sure enough saw a sign about the next service being 89 miles that a fill now is probably a good thing. I did still keep thinking about leathering up since it was getting a bit colder, but I persevered and kept pushing on, Once I did make it to the Mount Rainer National Park entrance cars and campers were being held because there as some kind of incident happening on the road to Paradise that the road is closed until the police arrive to take care of the situation. I did have to park and wait and soon after the police squads, probably about 5 vehicles headed up the road, a motorcycle came down screaming by us thru the in lane with the police vehicles in hot pursuit. I was close enough to the biker as he went by that later I thought about things I might’ve been able to do to dismount him from the bike, but I don’t think any would have turned out good. I did ask the ranger if the bike was the problem and without any more explanation yes, the police were trying to catch the biker Not sure what he did in or around Paradise, but he doesn’t make it look good for some of us law abiding riders.

 

It turned out to be about an hour wait and I was on my way up the road, which remember is only 18 miles, but a road that’ll take about an hour to ride, I did catchup to a line of vehicles with a camper slowing everything down that thankfully they soon pulled off that  went around on the shoulder, maybe not the thing to do, but at least got to the beginning if the pack that I could ride a bit faster before hitting the next slow group of vehicles. The road wasn’t as curvy as the switchbacks in the Black Hills of South Dakota so easier to ride and it was a nice road all the way up and there is still quite a bit of snow on the ground around Paradise. I did get some good pictures of the snow, but not a very good picture of Mount Rainer since the mountain had weather of its own so was clouded over. Oh well, at least I made it to just over 5400 feet that it was a nice place to visit with the visitor center and a nice Inn that might be worth staying at some time.

 

Ok, time to head down the way I came because my next stop will be Chinook Pass which means a bit of a back track before I hit another road to once again head East. This time I thought about gas but would’ve had to back track even further that I went for it and the first road I took was horrible. A very rough ride and slow speeds since it was once again a curvy road, but the road condition was inclusive to ride fast that I did have to slow it down quite a bit. A bit further than the kind of road that I was hoping to ride, but eventually I was back out on a decent road, Hwy 12 that not only has gas that I might as well get but was a much better road to ride. 

 

I did make it to my turn for Chinook pass and was getting a little spit from the clouds, remember the mountain has its own weather that I did have to slow it down for the curves since I don’t need to slide off the road. Once I got to my turn toward Chinook, I checked out my map and it was only a 3 ½ mile ride that I would backtrack on that as long as I’m here, I should do the pass. Again, a bit more spit, but nothing to get the raingear out for. I did make it to the pass and was able to take in some great scenery and more pictures that sorry, this trip I’m not sharing the photos that I have been able to take and miss not having my goPro along because I would’ve been able to grab some really nice videos. Oh well, maybe next time and it won’t be the fast trip I’m taking this time. 

 

On to Seattle and it’ll be less than 2 hours that it’ll be a good time for me to pull into town. It did get quite a bit warmer once I was out of the elevation of Rainer and even though I didn’t get a full picture of the mountain, at least some that will remind me of the trip. Ok, back to where I started, bike parked, time to unpack, a shower to get rid of today’s ride which wasn’t as dirty sine there was little freeway riding, and I did have a jacket on all day and time for dinner. Me and the family, Steve, Catherine, Shawn and Luca headed to the nearest neighborhood Italian restaurant that I am plenty hungry, we had a nice dinner and I have half a sandwich for lunch tomorrow and we did have some time to visit where we sat on the back patio and had a great visit. For me to get a little more of the Seattle experience, I will stay for my relaxation day which just might take me downtown Seattle. Stay tune for one extra day in Seattle,

 

June 25 2023 Day Twenty Three

 June 25 – Portland OR – Day 23

 

Yep, my second day in Portland and today is my relaxation day. No need to get on the bike today that I’ll just enjoy the Portland vibe for the day. I did have to finish my ride summary from yesterdays’ ride so I can capture my averages for the day, and it was the right time to be messing with my bike because the neighbor Tom asked me if I wanted a bike cover. The same as a year ago when I was here and he loaned me the bike cover he has that doesn’t have a bike to cover anymore, that is until today. He did talk about selling it with the rest of his biking gear since he doesn’t ride anymore, but as long as he can find a use for it, why get rid of it.

 

Ok, like I said I get to relax and enjoy the vibe of Portland, so the first good thing is I was able to sleep in cuz nothing pressing that has to be done today and without Stephanie and Danny here, I get to entertain myself for the day.  I did remember that there was a donut shop that I saw just down the street that I figured today would be a good time to try their donuts. Not the kind I had expected cuz I was thinking the Krispy Kream kind, but oh well I will try a couple of flavors that might be ok, and I probably should of checked when they said gluten free and dairy free that it wasn’t going to be anything like the bad kind of donut s I like. They were ok, but I could’ve really used something a little better to start my morning, 

 

I did hear from my hostess that they were going to be home earlier than they first thought and if I was still there, we’d be able to visit for a little bit. I figured this trip I can do the same with all my stops with one day on the bike and the next day to relax that I let her know that I’ d be there and get some beers for us to enjoy later. I also find out that I was on my own for dinner that I have just the place to eat later. In the meantime, without the donuts doing what they were supposed to I decided to go the fish market just down the street and have some clam chowder that I missed the other day in San Francisco since that nights Italian restaurant that we went to had it on special and ran out before I could get an order that this place should be as good. It was great clam chowder and today they also had the oyster truck open that I thought an oyster shot might hit the spot which it did just that. It’s great that everything is within walking distance because I was able to pick up some beer the same way.

 

It was also a good day for me to get caught up on a few blogs that I had to write, because it’s not always the best to write about the day at the end of the day because if it is a late night, I still need my sleep to. I was able to piece together a couple of stories so I’m at least caught up and will have to see when I can write today’s story which happens to be tomorrow. Yep, it’s already the 26^th and I’m writing about the 25^th.

 

Ok, it’s about that time that I should really get ready for dinner that it was time to shower and put on my best for a really nice dinner. Tonight, it’ll be at the same butcher shop I was at a year ago that I remember how good the beef was. It was still a bit early after getting cleaned up that a stop at the beer truck would be a good place to visit again for a couple more sour beers before I go and dine on my own. I wasn’t surprised to see 3 of the same guys I saw the other night sitting in their same spots drinking away and thanked them for their suggestion of pizza the night before, but I don’t think they were interested in inviting me into the conversation that it’s ok with me, I can spend my time talking with the bartender about my travels and maybe some suggestions on a ride tomorrow. Apparently, he bikes, even though it includes some off roading so did have some suggestions. 

 

I did make it to the butcher shop and after hee hawing whether I should have a wedge salad with dinner or not, I did order the ribeye like I had last year and found out that was filling enough that I didn’t need the salad after all. It was once again a great steak and well worth the cost. Actually, cheaper than a few places back home that I’ve been to that have ok ribeye compared to what I had tonight. It also turned out to be a good time to plan my bike trip for tomorrow since it is only about a 2-hour drive from Portland to Seattle that I should include a little site seeing and with the bartenders help, East around Mount Rainer sounds just like the trip to take. I did reach out to Steve; my Seattle connection and he was a big IMO for the Rainer trip.

 

Time to get back to the house and the timing was pretty good because Stephanie and Danny were just getting home so I got to help unpack. They described the foraging weekend that they had, and it sounded pretty interesting all of the different plants they now know they can eat. Not that they need to right now, but if ever comes the time they will be ready. Soon after they unpacked, we headed to a local German pub to visit and have a few brews before returning to the house where me and Danny had a late night of visiting. Always great to see them both and I really enjoyed having some time to visit. Maybe next time I can plan a longer stay because there is so much to do in their local Portland neighborhood.

June 24 2023 Day Twenty Two

 June 24 – Portland OR – Day 22

 

Made it to my Portland OR stop and made it in record time. According to Dennis, Crater Lake is pretty cold this time of year and the speedway drive thru Northern California is pretty nice that I should be able to drive the speedway and see some pretty nice sites along the way, which I did just that, more on that later. 

 

It started out with the San Francisco June gloom, so I had to leather up with my now second long sleeve shirt and hit the road fairly early, about 9, but I was ready for the ride. I wanted to get gas for my start and eventually found a gas station to fill up and hit the road around the bay East toward Oakland. While riding the road there was water on both sides that had me wondering how bad it might be running off the road on a bike into the water and whether I’d be able to get out either before passing out from the cold or how hard I might hit the water. Yeah, I don’t know why I was thinking like that, but the thought did cross my mind incase a tire blows. It was just a 2-lane road, so I guess anything could happen and I’m wondering how it did turn out for anyone who did run off the road.

 

Well, at least I’m heading East away from the ocean that by the time I did make it to the speedway, I5 heading North the sun was out and there were stretches where the weather was warming up. Not enough to get rid of the jacket completely, because there were some passes that I was going thru which were cold, but not as cold as some of the other riding thru California that I’ve been doing. The other thing I noticed is there aren’t really consistent gas stops along the freeway that I might be used to in other states, sometimes I have to drive a little further for gas than a quick off and back on. There was one place where I did get off, drove a couple miles for a gas station filled up and needed to use the bathroom with not luck because the restrooms were out of order. Great, so I put on my helmet to ride across the street to use their gas station and the same thing, Rest room out of order. I asked the attendant, and he said either the gas station across the road or Carl jr’s next door, well now, I know which one I have to use. 

 

At this gas stop I thought it’d be a good idea to try to ride without the jacket so packed my long sleeve shirt and leather jacket away, but up the road aways before getting back on the I5, I figure it a bit chilly that what’day know, a great time for the lighter jacket that I have packed for a bit more of the trip. It is finally going to get used and we’ll see how many other times on this trip that will happen. 

 

Back to the ride and Dennis was right, after I got past Redding and skipped the road to Crater Lake it was a great ride thru the passes. Much like my riding thru the smokies, but definitely different with higher elevations, I notice a number of then around 3000 and windy curvy roads that it had me depending on the edge of my tires quite a bit. No slipping or sliding needed when hitting the curves hard but going up and coming down. The scenery was really ice including when I enter Oregon and the ride was great. I did eventually need gas and the heat was now on me that it was time to get rid of the jacket and see how good of time I could make that I stopped at a familiar town for gas and rid of the jacket Medford. No not the Medford Wisconsin that Dennis happens to be from, but Medford OR, I figured it only fitting. I will need at least one more gas stop before making it to Portland so according to mileage and how far after, I figured Eugene OR would be my next stop.

 

Ok, the heat is back on, and it wasn’t long that I seemed to be in the plains again and none of the passes that I’ve already gone thru. I did hit it hard and even though there were times I thought about white lining it, new Oregon doesn’t condone such riding that I just had to use more lanes than most to get around people. I took full advantage of the bike getting around traffic and arrived to my next stop, Stephanie ad Danny’s around 7, just in time to shower and get something to eat. Steph and Danny are gone for tonight, but I knew just where to go and got to enjoy the neighborhood beer joints and eventually Detroit style pizza. It was a great night of some brews, a couple of slices, more brews and topped off with an ice cream cone for the walk home, what a night.

 

I would like to thank Dennis, Amy and their kids for letting me stay with them for a couple of nights. I was a great comfortable stay and I really enjoyed visiting with them. I’m hoping I get to see them back in Wisconsin sometime this summer. It’s always great seeing them. 

 

And another thing I remembered about yesterday’s ride; how many signs I saw about taking the next exit for Crater Lake. Someone might have been telling me something, but I’m sure I’ll be back when I don’t have to do a quick trip like this one is turning out. 

June 23 2023 Day Twenty One

June 23 – Larkspur CA – Day 21

 

 

Today was a day for relaxation normally after a day’s ride. I had a comfortable sleep last night and it was a good thing the bed had a comforter on it, because it was still cold, and I needed the cuddle to keep me warm. Dennis was busy at work and since I had just seen the Winchester Mystery house the day before, noticed there was a movie about the place that after writing a story for yesterday I thought that would be a good thing to watch. I did spend the morning taking care of some business, but not much going on with ‘business’ since I am on vacation.

 

What an interesting movie and maybe the story is s little far-fetched from what I saw at the mystery house, but there were scenes that reminded me of the small steps for a lady who was just over 4 foot and had arthritis so had problem climbing stairs. The morning and part of the afternoon went quick and soon it was time for happy hour and early one that Dennis and Amy had a house they wanted to show me on the way to the arena. A pretty old house in Mill Valley and it’s one of the few homes in California that actually has a basement. A walkout basement which had an awesome view of downtown San Francisco and an old house that will take a bit of work to fix up. Quite the place to fix up, but with the kind of view of the bay, definitely a nice location to live.

 

From there it was on to the local marina that Dennis and Amy are members to and it eventually turned into a nice day after all. Maybe still a little chilly, but once in the sun it felt pretty good with the warmth of the sun. Dennis did buy me a long sleeve shirt for the rest of my vacation, thanks much and he must’ve picked up on my comment when I did get there and told him I had only packed on long sleeve shirt for the trip because I didn’t think I’d need one on this trip. Ok, I did pack 2 jackets, but I have yet to wear my light riding jacket and should’ve stuck to one jacket, the leather for the trip. Oh well, maybe I’ll still get some use out of after all on this trip.

 

It was a great happy hour, and we noticed a capsized sailboat in the bay that a couple of kids were working on to get upright. They did manage and there was what appeared to be a lifeboat helping them that once they were docked, I figured I had to ask them if it was a training exercise or not which they said no, they just capsized. It was a different kind of boat too that was easier to get upright than other small sailboats I’ve seen,

 

Tonight, Dennis and Amy have made dinner plans at a fancy Italian restaurant with some friends, that it’ll be a good night of eating and having a few more cocktails. The restaurant was in San Rafael just up the road a little way and after finding a parking ramp behind the restaurant and parking, I put a couple of bucks into the meter to pay for a few hours only to find out that parking after 6 was free. I guess it pays to look at signs a little closer. Once seated their friends showed up, Brendon and Suzanne Dolan and for some reason that name was familiar to me. Well as it would happen to be, Dolan is the last name of one of my curling skips and his brother Steve who is in Seattle is who I will be staying with when I do get to Seattle. No relation to Brendon, but what a small world where I’m meeting others with familiar names and old history to share. Brendon was talking about his trips to Ireland and his heritage and how there are a lot of Dolan’s in Ireland. We have a great meal, and it was great visiting with some of Dennis and Amy’s friends while I’m traveling thru. 

 

Ok, tomorrow it’s on to Portland and I can’t decide whether to take an 11-hour trip and go thru Crater lake or just stick to the faster 9 hour trip by speedway. Stay tune and see what tomorrow brings,