Mount Rainier
Well-known member
I took a one day ride to pick-up 6 Dams in WA & OR yesterday the 8th.
Having finished the 20 dams for 09 and being new to the motorcycle seen after a 34 year layoff, I have momentum going and it's hard to stop. This has been a great way to get back into the sport. I decided to visit the 2008 dams to see what I missed last year. I 'm now half way through 08 and looking forward to completing the other half before the Dam Chasing Season officially ends.
Route Map:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&m...;mid=1250197312
https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//<ht...46.717269,-120.7061&spn=3.773463,7.042236&z=7https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//<ht...46.717269,-120.7061&spn=3.773463,7.042236&z=7
Caution, as much as I intend to, I simply can't bring myself to stop and take photos of everything scenic or other wise. It's just not in me to spend time with a camera in lieu of riding long distances to places unknown. No pics along the way except for the dam photos. The adventure started early and finished relatively early. Damtour.com for more details and pics thanks to their great efforts.
Bike loaded with the obligatory chocolate donuts and orange juice, fueled and tire pressure checked the night before and got an early start.
Over Snoqualmie Pass and enjoyed the sunrise on 97 south of Ellensburg. BTW, DOT has finally re-paved I-90 east bound on the east side of the pass. This is good…….
Left 97 at Yakidaddy heading east on a rural road that still allowed for some good speeds. Horn Rapids Dam is on the opposite side of the road from the Hanford Reservation. Arrived at 7:15 am.
Off to Ice Harbor Dam for photo, half a donut and OJ and onf to number 3. A great deal of the adventure in chasing these dams is determining a route (slab/no slab) and then following it to the location. I am a map and compass guy and don't rely on GPS. Arrived at 8:15 am.
Cold Springs Dam presented a little bit of a problem in that the road leading into the dam was blocked by a power company crew replacing a light pole that was taken out the day before by someone over shooting the 90 degree bend on Loop Road. After hearing of my need to get close enough to the dam to get a photo as proof of my visit, and having come from Seattle to do so, they allowed me to pass by to run down and get this pic of a sign leading to the reservoir and dam. It took all of 5 mins. and I was very appreciative of their understanding. I offered them a donut in appreciation. Arrived at 9:15 am.
Onto McNary Dam. I had a nice tail wind up to this point. I knew what I was in for traveling west up the gorge. Big impressive structure this one. Photo, half a donut, some OJ and I'm off. Arrived at 9:55 am
On to John Day Dam which is another of the huge dams that span the Columbia River. In the gorge now with a considerable head wind. The windscreen up and tucked nicely behind it allowed for fairly good ride but very windy conditions. The FJR plowed through it with ease. Very stable platform if it wasn't for the 180 pound sail behind the handle bars. Arrived at 11:35 am. Photo, some OJ, removed a layer and I am gone.
[SIZE=12pt]Plowed up the gorge to Hood River in search of Powerdale Dam. Google lead me right to it even though I had my doubts seeing the final road leading to the dam. Not FJR friendly but again solid platform and great handling carried the day. Arrived at 12:55 pm. Full donut, OJ, photo and a brief conversation with the only other soles around. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]A couple from of all places, Redmond, WA on a Geocaching outing looking for something someone stuck in a out of the way place. "Hey, that's what I was doing………." I gave them each a donut and told em I'd race em home. For a couple of old guys you should have seen the dirt and rocks fly until we got back to pavement.
[/SIZE]
Now I was really looking forward to the nice high speed relaxing tailwind ride in the opposite direction back up the gorge to Briggs Junction and over the mighty Columbia to Goldendale and home over Chinook Pass. The weekend revenuers were out in full force from the river up to and beyond Goldendale on 97. You can count on this on the weekends on the Washington side and almost anytime on the Oregon side.
Very light traffic from Naches over the pass where it got shrouded in clouds until Cayuse Pass and then improved but still experienced a 20 to 25 degree temp. change from east to west.
Home and eager for the next Dam Chasing Adventure, which I know won't be long from now.
:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
Keep Going!
Having finished the 20 dams for 09 and being new to the motorcycle seen after a 34 year layoff, I have momentum going and it's hard to stop. This has been a great way to get back into the sport. I decided to visit the 2008 dams to see what I missed last year. I 'm now half way through 08 and looking forward to completing the other half before the Dam Chasing Season officially ends.
Route Map:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&m...;mid=1250197312
https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//<ht...46.717269,-120.7061&spn=3.773463,7.042236&z=7https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//<ht...46.717269,-120.7061&spn=3.773463,7.042236&z=7
Caution, as much as I intend to, I simply can't bring myself to stop and take photos of everything scenic or other wise. It's just not in me to spend time with a camera in lieu of riding long distances to places unknown. No pics along the way except for the dam photos. The adventure started early and finished relatively early. Damtour.com for more details and pics thanks to their great efforts.
Bike loaded with the obligatory chocolate donuts and orange juice, fueled and tire pressure checked the night before and got an early start.
Over Snoqualmie Pass and enjoyed the sunrise on 97 south of Ellensburg. BTW, DOT has finally re-paved I-90 east bound on the east side of the pass. This is good…….
Left 97 at Yakidaddy heading east on a rural road that still allowed for some good speeds. Horn Rapids Dam is on the opposite side of the road from the Hanford Reservation. Arrived at 7:15 am.
Off to Ice Harbor Dam for photo, half a donut and OJ and onf to number 3. A great deal of the adventure in chasing these dams is determining a route (slab/no slab) and then following it to the location. I am a map and compass guy and don't rely on GPS. Arrived at 8:15 am.
Cold Springs Dam presented a little bit of a problem in that the road leading into the dam was blocked by a power company crew replacing a light pole that was taken out the day before by someone over shooting the 90 degree bend on Loop Road. After hearing of my need to get close enough to the dam to get a photo as proof of my visit, and having come from Seattle to do so, they allowed me to pass by to run down and get this pic of a sign leading to the reservoir and dam. It took all of 5 mins. and I was very appreciative of their understanding. I offered them a donut in appreciation. Arrived at 9:15 am.
Onto McNary Dam. I had a nice tail wind up to this point. I knew what I was in for traveling west up the gorge. Big impressive structure this one. Photo, half a donut, some OJ and I'm off. Arrived at 9:55 am
On to John Day Dam which is another of the huge dams that span the Columbia River. In the gorge now with a considerable head wind. The windscreen up and tucked nicely behind it allowed for fairly good ride but very windy conditions. The FJR plowed through it with ease. Very stable platform if it wasn't for the 180 pound sail behind the handle bars. Arrived at 11:35 am. Photo, some OJ, removed a layer and I am gone.
[SIZE=12pt]Plowed up the gorge to Hood River in search of Powerdale Dam. Google lead me right to it even though I had my doubts seeing the final road leading to the dam. Not FJR friendly but again solid platform and great handling carried the day. Arrived at 12:55 pm. Full donut, OJ, photo and a brief conversation with the only other soles around. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]A couple from of all places, Redmond, WA on a Geocaching outing looking for something someone stuck in a out of the way place. "Hey, that's what I was doing………." I gave them each a donut and told em I'd race em home. For a couple of old guys you should have seen the dirt and rocks fly until we got back to pavement.
[/SIZE]Now I was really looking forward to the nice high speed relaxing tailwind ride in the opposite direction back up the gorge to Briggs Junction and over the mighty Columbia to Goldendale and home over Chinook Pass. The weekend revenuers were out in full force from the river up to and beyond Goldendale on 97. You can count on this on the weekends on the Washington side and almost anytime on the Oregon side.
Very light traffic from Naches over the pass where it got shrouded in clouds until Cayuse Pass and then improved but still experienced a 20 to 25 degree temp. change from east to west.
Home and eager for the next Dam Chasing Adventure, which I know won't be long from now.
:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
Keep Going!
Last edited by a moderator:
