And the Nebulous Journey Begins

Last year Kerry, Jim, Garry and I rode to northern California by way of Highway 101 from Anacortes, WA, to Leggett, CA, where we headed for the northern end of the Pacific Coast Highway and then followed it along the coast to Fort Bragg, CA. At that point we ran out of time and headed home, but we all enjoyed the ride so much that we decided to do it again this year.

 

Kerry invited a friend of his from Merritt, BC to join us so with the addition of Tom and his Kawasaki 1500 Vulcan, we have a group of five riders this year. Our plan was to meet in Burlington, WA because we all came from different directions and that was the easiest place to arrange a rendezvous. The plan was quite nebulous but we decided that we would ride the North Cascades Parkway to Winthrop and Twisp, WA, then head south. We considered going to Yellowstone Park but nixed that idea when we checked the weather and found that for the next fourteen days the highs would be in the 10-13C range with rain each day.

 

Right now it looks like we will turn south and ride the middle of Washington and Oregon until we figure out where we want to go. Needless to say, our plans are rather fluid at this time, but a run to the redrock country of southern Utah is a distinct possibility.

 

Garry and I pulled out of Campbell River just after noon and made a run to the ferry at Duke Point after a quick stop to fuel up in Nanaimo. We did the 170 km in just under two hours and caught the 3:15 ferry to Tsawwassen. We were fortunate enough to see a large pod of orcas which was surrounded by whale watching boats.  In my opinion they were much too close to the orcas.  A few years ago a guide from Campbell River was fined several thousand dollars for doing what these guys were doing today. Still, seeing the pod was an auspicious beginning to our trip.

 



 

The whale watching boat approached these orcas. Illegally close.

 

 

Too close!

 

 

Bull orca on his own



 

We met a man from Salmon Arm who was riding 2003 Harley-Davidson Softtail Standard. Today was his first day on a Harley and he was enjoying the ride. The story behind it was that his brother, who owned the motorcycle had died in April. Since he was the only one in the family who rode and his wife told him to buy it from the estate and enjoy it, he did just that. He wasn't thrilled with the seat though. Since his brother was, in his words, a 'shortass', he had replaced the stock seat with a thinner one to get him closer to the ground. The rider was finding the seat a little hard for his liking, but otherwise was happy with the bike.

 

 

 

Our Harleys on the ferry



 

The run to the border was quite easy and when we arrived at customs the lines weren't too long. I had three lines to choose from so I slid into the middle lane. BIG MISTAKE!!!  It is extremely frustrating to see cars that were behind you in another line on either side moving along and clearing customs while you are still seven or eight cars from the customs officer. This officer was giving people the third degree, and checking almost every trunk. For each car that he passed, the other officers were clearing three - on either side! Needless to say, my advice to Garry after that was to watch which line I chose at the border, then pick another one.

 

After clearing the border, the run to Burlington was uneventful, although after 6:30 the temperature began to drop noticeably. We arrived at the motel, checked in and as we were unloading our bikes, we saw the other guys strolling back to the motel.  They had just had dinner at the Outback Steakhouse.  Garry and I made our way to the supermarket across the street and picked up Planter's cocktail peanuts, Doritos chips, and some soda. (In the US it's 'soda', not 'pop'.) That was dinner. This is one thing that is going to have to improve!

 

 

First night's dinner. This must improve!



 

All five of us got together in Kerry's room to figure out the plan for tomorrow but couldn't help but be distracted by what looked to be, but probably wasn't, a spurt of arterial blood on the ceiling. It makes for a more interesting story to say that it was blood, though.

 

 

The crew: l to r, Jim Kerry, Garry & Tom. A fine collecting of enthusiastic almost 'vintage gentlemen'.

 

Blood? on the ceiling???



 

Tomorrow we will ride the North Cascades Parkway where the temperatures will probably be quite chilly, although the roads will be clear.  This is a great motorcycle road and the sights are well worth seeing. When we arrive at Twisp, we'll have to decide where to go from there.

 

As an aside, this trip is already starting better than the one last year. As soon as we disembarked from the Coho it began to rain and continued to shower on us quite regularly for the first three days. So far we've had clouds and sun but no rain. We'll keep our fingers crossed but once we cross the mountains the possibility of rain should be somewhat less. And that's a good thing.

 



Campbell River, BC to Burlington, WA