wanderer Posted September 30, 2021 Author Share Posted September 30, 2021 On 9/17/2021 at 8:38 AM, betoney said: In Idaho, US12 from Lewiston to Lolo Montana is not to be missed. Another great option from Lewiston is heading South on WA129 and OR3 - Rattlesnake Grade - you'll thank me later. Thank you! Wow. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted September 30, 2021 Author Share Posted September 30, 2021 (edited) So a quick update. Wednesday 9/22 - San Diego to Los Banos, 396 miles. Late afternoon start, after work. Mostly notable for inability to get a hotel room at Harris Ranch. or Best Western, or Travel Lodge, or Motel 6. I had figured it is a Wednesday night in September, who needs to book ahead? I was told it was the harvest and many migrant workers were in the hotels. So after 30 minutes of looking around, another hour of riding north to Los Banos. Thursday, Los Banos to Brookings OR, 519 miles. Mostly notable for the smokey CA36. and the Incidents :). Friday, Brookings to Portland, 348 miles. Nice ride up the coast, and cut over on OR34 to Corvallis and I-5. Nice relaxing ride on 34. Sunday, Portland to Seattle WA, 174 miles. Uneventful, except that threatening weather is on the way. no weather on the ride, but dumping rain 2 hours after arrival. Monday, Seattle to Republic, 349 miles. With heavy rain threatening, I decided to forgo WA20 "North Cascades Highway". I chose I-90 E to get across the mountains into the drier areas as quickly and safely as possible. Still caught a lot of rain. Overcast and grey the whole day. Side trip to Leavenworth, strange little Bavarian village. Nice, but not the time for brats or beer. Coffee and nap. Then up to meet the WA20 east of the Cascades (more dumping rain along the way). A wrong turn, left near Pateros, had me join 20 at Twisp for more mileage than planned. Then 20 all the way to Republic WA for the night. Damp and sprinkly at Republic. Tuesday, Republic to Missoula MT, 394 miles. Damp, some sprinkles. I stopped in Coeur D'Alene to ponder the next step ... responsibly turn south or adventurously continue east. I chose east, and right as I was leaving the whole eastern sky was black with storm clouds, while the west was sunny. Ominous. I almost turned around. Much dumping rain on the western side of the Bitterroot Range, but it started to clear up closer to Missoula. Wednesday, Missoula to Enterprise OR, 309 miles. Best riding of the trip so far. Late start. With a late (noon) checkout, leisurely morning with a run and breakfast, I stalled to let things warm up. I was worried about snow or ice on the US12 over Lolo Pass. While there was fresh snow on Lolo Peak, there was none near the road, and I don't think there was any ice, but for the first half I was very cautious on anything wet. US12 was a beautiful and curvy motorcycle road, along the river. I had a wonderful nap on the river. WA129/OR3 was a beautiful twisty road through golden (California like except for the interspersed pines) hills and mountains. Incredible curves through canyons. This helpful sign begins US12 to Lolo Pass. Along US12 Overlooking WA129 OR3 approaching Enterprise. That catches us up. Weather has been a theme - checking, rechecking, monitoring temperatures in fear of ice. but it has worked out so far. Since I left Seattle, I have left every morning not knowing where I would lay my head that night. Late in the season, it has been easy to find a room everywhere after that first night. I have to make my way southwards now. Edited September 30, 2021 by wanderer add images 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member 2and3cylinders Posted September 30, 2021 Premium Member Share Posted September 30, 2021 Good luck heading home. I look forward to visiting my kid in SD this winter and getting some riding in, so I'll LYK. We can meet up at the Chicken Pie Shop and Rudfords, then head up through Valley Center and over to Julian and Mt. Palomar, etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporting Member betoney Posted September 30, 2021 Supporting Member Share Posted September 30, 2021 8 hours ago, wanderer said: Best riding of the trip so far. US12 was a beautiful and curvy motorcycle road, along the river. I had a wonderful nap on the river. WA129/OR3 was a beautiful twisty road through golden (California like except for the interspersed pines) hills and mountains. Incredible curves through canyons. I'm glad that you enjoyed that area, the riding is superb. I wish that you could have experienced this trip in the sunshine as it is simply stunning, you really have to time it perfectly this time of year. Last Thursday and Friday I was in the same North Cascades/ Omak/ Grand Coulee area and it was mid 70's. I highly recommend you schedule another trip up here in the summer. It doesn't ALWAYS rain in the Pacific Northwest. These were taken just 1 week ago. 4 ***2015 Candy Red FJ-09*** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted September 30, 2021 Author Share Posted September 30, 2021 yeah, my timing was unfortunately off. Beautiful the day before I arrive and the day after I leave. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member keithu Posted September 30, 2021 Premium Member Share Posted September 30, 2021 @wanderer it sounds like you're having a great trip! Good call on crossing from the coast to the Willamette Valley on OR-34. You got to enjoy the nicest stretch of the Oregon coast, and OR-34 is the best way to cross the Coast Range: Excellent motorcycle road with very little traffic. Bummer that you missed WA-20 though. I rode it the last weekend of September 1996 during my first official "Saddlesore 1000" ride. I encountered cold and rain for 60-70% of that ride, but WA-20 was blessedly dry when I crossed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member 2and3cylinders Posted September 30, 2021 Premium Member Share Posted September 30, 2021 5 hours ago, betoney said: It doesn't ALWAYS rain in the Pacific Northwest. But it is today! https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/forecast/Default.aspx?zone=WA567 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporting Member betoney Posted September 30, 2021 Supporting Member Share Posted September 30, 2021 35 minutes ago, 2and3cylinders said: But it is today! https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/forecast/Default.aspx?zone=WA567 But, its dry tomorrow... I'm going riding. 👍 1 ***2015 Candy Red FJ-09*** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member 2and3cylinders Posted September 30, 2021 Premium Member Share Posted September 30, 2021 I have to admit there's no where decent in the immediate vicinity to ride, though SE Wisconsin is less than an hour away. However, we've had the most perfect stretch of weather I can remember over the last couple months you can imagine. Maybe about 3/4 of an inch of rain total as we're in a severe drought. It's been mostly sunny relatively mild days, low eighties and humidity, nice breeze. It's just I haven't been able to ride since my surgery and it's REALLY driving me nuts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted October 3, 2021 Author Share Posted October 3, 2021 I made it home to San Diego just before 4pm. The roster of nights' lodgings: Los Banos CA Brookings OR Portland OR Portland OR W Seattle WA Republic WA Missoula MT Enterprise OR Lakeview OR Bishop CA new miles on odometer: 3752. I'll post a little more later. I may have a worthy picture or two. or maybe not. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member 2and3cylinders Posted October 3, 2021 Premium Member Share Posted October 3, 2021 Curious how many shekels your little jaunt cost you less souvenirs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted October 3, 2021 Author Share Posted October 3, 2021 2 hours ago, 2and3cylinders said: Curious how many shekels your little jaunt cost you less souvenirs? I can calculate approximately. Hotels ranged from $80 in Republic to $235 in Missoula, if I recall correctly. Average about $150, for every night except Brookings and Portland. I usually ate two meals, a breakfast and a dinner. Dinner always sitdown, usually a bar & grill, includes some beer. maybe it is $50 a day. At 45 mpg, 83 gallons; at $4/gallon, $332. Total maybe about $1050 lodging + $500 meals + $332 + miscellaneous snacks and drinks from the service stations. It's approaching $2000. Some of the eating out (but not every day) I'd have done at home as well. My wife will see it all totaled up on the credit bill eventually. My wife does associate me with all the gas stations on the bill. She once asked me what a gas charge was, I stared and stared and couldn't figure it out, and then she said "oh wait, that was my credit card! I just always associate the gas stations with you!" 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted October 3, 2021 Author Share Posted October 3, 2021 continuing ... Thursday, Enterprise to Lakeview, 410 miles. I took OR244 to cross over to US395. I'd describe this as more scenic than exciting. (Wednesday would remain the best day, places I must revisit when it is drier). There was a little excitement along straight flat sections of US395 where my watch might or might not have recorded speeds into triple digit mph. I find a huge difference from 90mph to 100mph in terms of general stability and sketchiness, which has been universal across the few bikes I've experienced (I don't really think it is a T900 thing). Just the plain wind forces and consequences of a little bump or rabbit in the road. Along 244. I was amused to see some curves in US395 labeled by mileage. why some? why not all? It did not seem that the named curves were any more noteworthy than other curves. I reached the middle. Long straight fast 395. Friday, Lakeview to Bishop, 436 miles. Lakeview looks a bit depressed. Shuttered storefronts and all. I started the day with a run up into the hills from Noni's Trailhead (looks like a memorial for Noni who seems to have died in a bicycle/automobile incident a few years ago). Nice trails, and a little butte with a great view just a couple miles in. The ride was US395, with the little bypass around Susanville, and a minor diversion along NV 208 & 338 to prolong my stay in Nevada. 395 by Goose Lake. Overlooking Monolake. Impressive wall of smoke in the distance. It filled the whole valley for 10-20 miles around the June Lake exits. Saturday, Bishop to San Diego, 343 miles. At this point I am on familiar ground and decided to minimize distractions and just get it done. However, it is becoming a tradition for me to stop in Randsburg for a milkshake. The Joint in Randsburg is hopping. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporting Member texscottyd Posted October 3, 2021 Supporting Member Share Posted October 3, 2021 Excellent write ups, @wanderer! It looks like a fantastic trip… I’m more than just a little bit jealous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted October 3, 2021 Author Share Posted October 3, 2021 Yes, great trip! Too bad about the weather, but even that has its pleasures. There is something satisfying about being in the geared up cocoon, intent on the road and avoiding hazards, puttering away. As I cruised down a nominally boring 395 and the Sierra receded, I thought about how zen it is sometimes just to focus on the road ahead. And then in San Bernardino and Riverside, lane splitting in the slow traffic, again there is a zen like focus on making safe progress. When done with balance, every aspect is pleasurable. (I would not want to be stuck in Riverside traffic every day!!) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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