Thursday 30 June 2011

Final Day - Kalispell to Calgary


 At last, after 11 days on the road, 5800 km, Calgary, home and Dianne came into view.  It was lovely.  The day was good for riding, relatively cool and very little traffic (at least east bound, west was another story with long lines waiting at the Banff gate).  Wilf remained in Kalispell for supplies, so Guy, Gord and myself headed to Radium to enjoy Sharie and Wayne's hospitality at Guy/Lee's Radium retreat.  Very nice.  The 3 of us rode into Calgary together and then split to head home.  Great trip, great company.  Thanks all.  Jeff

600 km today to get home.

Riding along the 93 between Radium and Castle Junction

All rivers are swollen with extra melt water this season.  Lots of late season snow.

A burned up section along Hwy 93.

Day 10 - Orofino to Kalispell Idaho and the Lolo Pass

Weather was good for the morning and then rain later in the day.  But that worked great as we did a loop through some logging area and then the Lolo Pass before the wet stuff started.  Both these segments are more difficult roads with little traffic - perfect.  An excellent coffee stop in the morning at a little hut run by 2 college girls.  The Latte was very good.  Made it into Kalispell just after 6pm in the drizzle. Tomorrow is our last day with the group splitting up for the run back to Calgary.
600km, lots of twisties, sun, cloud and rain.

Sasha Metcalfe at the coffee shop.  Latte please.

The west end of the Lolo Pass road has this fun factor indicator ...

Made it to the top.


Watch out boys, They're coming up the Lolo!


Wednesday 29 June 2011

Day 9 - Goldendale Wa to Orofino Idaho. A snake, a birthday and a farewell

A most fabulous day.  Sun and clouds made it excellent riding weather.  And we were able to do the famous Rattlesnake Canyon run.  A twisty labyrinthine affair that had me giggling like a school girl.  Fun.  Awaiting us in Orofino was a great hotel right on the Clearwater River.  A real treat.  Celebrating Nancy's birthday that night was good for us as we had been practicing our Happy Birthday rendition for several nights, however it was the Macallans that Wilf brought out in celebrating the 60th that had us on our best - hope that Nancy enjoyed it too.  Marty leaves us tonight as he has an appointment in Calgary, so we shall be only 4 tomorrow.


650 km today of really great roads
 


The Blackberry Warriors in action.

Sasha visits Oregon

Canyon lookout with the 5 hombres - Wilf, Marty, Gord, Guy and Jeff

Looking down at the rattlesnake

Awesome hotel at Orofino, Idaho


Monday 27 June 2011

Day 8, Hoquiam to Goldendale, Washington. Some sun, some rain and a mountain

Another long day that started off in the rain and drizzle.  Light enough not to be a huge bother, but heavy enough to be a pain.  At least it kept the temperatures moderate, about 12-20 through the day.  Anyway, off to Mount St. Helens, we headed, making it up to the observatory by 1pm.  After that, the sun came out and the afternoon was spent running twisties through the National Forest roads to the south and east of Mount St. Helens.  Arriving at our hotel in Goldendale around 7:30pm made for another long day.  Early to bed ...
breakfast of coffee, apple pie and ice cream.  ouch, my arteries hurt.

Mount St. Helens


my Joe Rocket gloves are wearing out (less than a year old)


An un-typical (as it's straight) National Forest road.
Most look like the construction crew followed a snake when they were making the road.
685 km and one wrong turn


Day 7: Sedro Wolley to Hoquiam - 1 ferry, 1 cell, 1 whiskey, mileage, well lots

What a fabulous day.  An early start, 7am, in order to catch the ferry.  However, Gord, was not part of the early to rise plan and had to be dragged out of bed.  We did make the ferry to Port Townsend from Coupeville and then rode the Olympic Peninsula.   First up Hurricane Ridge, then over to Clallum Bay for lunch.  After that. the amazing rain forest with such incredibly large trees all around.  Marty and I went back to Clallum Bay to retrieve Wilf's cell phone that he had left there (yes, a senior moment) while the 3 other amigos headed to Hoquiam to get the beer cold.  A long day, but incredible.  Wow.
lots of miles today (770 km, including the "where's Waldo" backtrack)
on the Ferry to Port Townsend


on top of Hurricane Ridge, looking at the Olympic Mountains



the 5 hombres - Guy, Gord, Marty, Jeff, Wilf
 
Where's Waldo?  Can you spot the missing phone?

Damn, that pie was good!  I wonder what's for dinner?


She who found the cell, and we shall call her Mel.

on the Hoh Trail.  So inctedibly large trees.  Douglas Fir, I think.
 

the Pacific
I love you valentine - lit up today alot with k, ka and laser


Saturday 25 June 2011

Day 6, Colville to Sedro Wolley

An awesome day!  Great roads and great company.  Drove west across all of Washington, primarily on highway 20, which is one of the premier motorcycling roads in the US.  And it was.  Tomorrow we head out to the Olympic Peninsula.  Weather forecast is good.  Cross fingers.  Here is a video of one of the many fabulous roads - this one covered in a forest canopy (turn the sound down).

All the way across Washington, east to west


At the Inchelium-Gifford ferry crossing


Day 5, Dianne to Calgary and Jeff to Colville


Rode the Flowery Trail again.  Very nice.

WeSTOC finished Friday morning with everyone scattering to the winds.  Rain is forecast so early departures - Dianne returned to Calgary with Arlene Powell and Jeff continued on to Colville in Washington with Guy and Marty.  Met up with Wilf and Gord and Part 2 to the trip begins.  Olympic Peninsula, here we come ...