2 Wheel Trip
A Passion for Motorcycle Trips
August 2007
We set out heading
North, not sure how far (but let's grab the Passports just in case).
And for a change, we don't have to rent bikes this trip.
(click on pictures for the large version)
Our first day ended up in the California wine country, taking
every back road we could find, and generally not making much of a
dent in our North-bound aspirations.
Discovered HWY 128 heading N-W to Mendocino with the help of the
locals. Great road, along the river, and passing through a vast
red-wood forest.
Mendocino was quaint, with cute fog clouds rolling in
Heading North to Eureka things got colder, nothing a short stop
on an over-pass to layer-up can't fix.
North of Eureka, you start to notice that when road signs mention
animal crossings, you may want to take it seriously: Elk !!!
Taking HWY 199 N-E to Grant's Pass Oregon was a great idea, a
road that is extremely scenic and very challenging at a healthy
pace.
Spending time riding the roads between I-5 and 101 is the best
way to ensure great roads, and almost no traffic (or authorities for
that matter)
not to mention more animals
Florence, Or. is a charming coastal town
A little fog can't hurt, let's go up the coast again
(somehow the fog was not so cute anymore)
After getting seriously wet, we headed to Portland
Then up to Washington we decided to take HWY 4 along the historic
Lewis & Clark trail heading West along the Columbia River. After
all, a little rain and fog can't hurt.
That was an understatement. It's wet, really wet, and foggy. Not to
mention windy, and oh yes, wet and foggy.
By the way, did I mention that Washington has a knack for weird
road signs.
We crossed over to Astoria on the Oregon side to try the long
bridge
Then it got really wet, the kind that gets through no matter what
you are wearing.
So we finally headed back inland to see Mt. St. Helen, using 504
to get up there. Great road, lots of rain
and the volcano is very imposing although we never got a full
view through the clouds
HWY 26 from Portland to Mt. Hood and down to meet HWY 97 is very entertaining, and highly recommended. And a night in Bend Or. is apparently the only way to get a good meal in that State.
Continuing with the volcano theme (and having had enough of rain)
we had to stop at Crater Lake Or. which is much better to look at
than any picture you've seen. Yes the water is that blue....
Heading South, if you can avoid Klamath Falls Or. do yourself a
favor and skip it. Nothing there but endless clouds of green bugs.
Finally continuing on 97 South along Mt. Shasta to meet I-5 and get back home.
Motorcycles
- BMW R1200C
- Harley FatBoy
- Honda VFR 750