Oregon & Washington & Dr. Rich

[Old Michael]

Okay.

So I'm in a "Kabin" near Astoria.

I did a little exploring and picture-taking as the day ended.

The Astoria-Megler Bridge, which spans the mouth of the mighty Columbia, is the dominant feature in Astoria.

It's a truss bridge. A very long one.

From the north (in Washington) end.

That's part of Astoria on the hill there.

Nevada cruise ship.

It is, after all, summertime.

How about just two more bridge pictures?

Sky.

FJR

And another day ends. Damnit.

Shoulda leveled the camera. :lol:

Tomorrow...

 

[rushes]

Good stuff... :thumbsup:

 

[SacramentoMike]

But good as those ride starter songs are that you guys posted, you need to be corrected. The [SIZE=12pt]BEST[/SIZE] long ride, right out of the blocks song is "Wasn't Born to Follow" by the Byrds. C'mon -- tell me that "Easy Rider" wasn't THE seminal cherry poppin'1 "MC on the open road" fantasy that we have all been playing out over the subsequent years.

Kinda was, wasn't it, Rich? But looking at the vid now, all I can think is: Man, those ape-hangers look awkward. Riding two abreast? Duck-walking to turn around? Where are your freaking HELMETS? And of course, Who's that riding bitch behind you, Fonda? :lol:

Maybe I just got old.

 

[Old Michael]

Maybe I just got old.

:huh:

 

[petey]

Old Michael, what about your new suspenders? you have not said a word about them after the installation....what do think and how do you like them?

 

[rogdeb]

I'm gonna get soooo tired of saying this one day ------ Great RR Michael, frickin' great :clapping: :clapping:

 

[exskibum]

But looking at the vid now, all I can think is: Man, those ape-hangers look awkward. * * *

Where are your freaking HELMETS?

Yeahbutt . . . watching that I remember, just for a minute, in an almost sensory way, what it was about a stripped down chopper that so appealed to me back then -- minimal transportation for the invincible youth on an adventure to who knows where.

And of course, Who's that riding bitch behind you, Fonda?

Yeahbutt . . . what about the babes cavorting with them motorcyclists in the water in the clip linked in the footnote?!? Be damned if that didn't absolve absolutely EVERYTHING -- stupid, uncool or otherwise. (If you recall, it was the dude riding bitch who brought them to the commune wit da hot young wimmens.)

Maybe I just got old.

"Maybe"??? At least we can still ride great roads and see wonderful things.1 (I think the 20 something naked lovelies are out of reach, though.)

Man, I feel this strange urge to roll a fat one after that way back ride. B)

Please carry on, OM -- yer ride reports are gettin' more transcendent all the time!!

1[SIZE=8pt]Not to put too fine a point on it, but Fonda is old now too, and Hopper is takin' the ol dirt nap already.[/SIZE]

 

[MEM]

I'm gonna get soooo tired of saying this one day ------ Great RR Michael, frickin' great :clapping: :clapping:

I'm gonna get soooo tired of saying this one day ------ Great RR Michael, frickin' great :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

 

[Old Michael]

Tuesday morning.

At the KOA, they'd given me a bracelet thing for the free, all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast.

But, of course, that doesn't start till 0700.

And James Burleigh and I are always a hundred miles down the road by then.

Crossed "the bridge" again, into Washington, and kept left and up the west side of the Olympic Peninsula.

I hadn't really mapped a specific route, and didn't have a certain schedule, but I HAD to make it to Port Townsend

by 3:30 to catch the ferry to Keystone, on Whidbey Island, where Dr. Rich was to meet me and escort me to his place.

(I was using a MadMap as my primary routing tool. I know. I'm a tool.)

I pretty much stayed on 101 north, all the way up and around the peninsula. Turned off a few times, for a few miles,

to check out stuff that caught my eye.

The coastline up here is beautiful. The morning light seemed noticeably different this far north. Maybe it

wasn't really, but it looked different to me.

Almost mistook this slug for something a doggie might make. :lol:

Finally stopped for breakfast, here.

The parking lot was full, so I figured it must be popular for a reason.

Went in, and found myself in the middle of a Rotary Club meeting.

And no, I couldn't just sit in the back and listen in while I ate. She made me leave.

Sooo, I went across the street to....

And enjoyed this...

(That square "biscuit" was as big as my Sacramento Mike's head!)

During breakfast, I was stricken, for just a coupla minutes, with a strange loneliness. Sort of a fleeting melancholy thing,

as if I was realizing something was missing. The sadness began to well up inside me, and then ....

....I realized I'd forgotten to put any Tabasco on my linguica!

No wonder! What a maroon I am!

Moving along....

I continued up through Aberdeen, and Humptulips, and all the way up to Beaver. Yes, I chuckled to myself

as I thought of all the juvenile phrases and names and crude stuff that came to mind. Good thing Niehart wasn't with

me and in helmet-to-helmet communication. He brings out the worst in everyone, ...probably.

A few more snapshots, before it was "ferry time".

They eat lots of oysters up this way....

LOTS of 'em.

This is Lake Crescent, just west of Port Angeles, and a bit south of the Strait of Juan De Fuca.

(And of course, Canada -my homeland- is just across that body of water. *Sigh* It's been years.)

Aaaaanyhow, Lake Crescent is a freaking BEAUTIFUL lake. Maybe it was just my mood, or the time of day, or the

green of the the surrounding hills, but the sight of it knocked my socks off.

This photo sucks at showing how pretty it really was.

Also, it was while I was stopped here that I decided it would be good to call Dr. Rich and tell him I was gonna be

making the 3:30 ferry as planned, so that he could meet my in Keystone.

My phone wasn't in my tank bag.

I searched everything on my bike, and every pocket. No phone.

Not good. I then thought I'd just call Dr. Rich from a pay phone in Port Angeles. But, I didn't have his number.

I didn't have ANY numbers. They're all on the friggin' phone.

Learned an important lesson. NEVER ride a motorcycle. If I hadn't been riding my motorycle, this wouldn't have ......

Pressed on to Port Townsend.

Phoneless and shaken.

:lol:

Not really. But, I'd have to deal with the lost phone when I was able.

Onward.

 

[Old Michael]

At least we can still ride great roads and see wonderful things.

Yes, Rich.

Yes we can.

If I couldn't, ...I don't know what I'd do.

Thanks, all, for the thoughful posts.

 

[Old Michael]

Old Michael, what about your new suspenders? you have not said a word about them after the installation....what do think and how do you like them?

They made a VERY noticeable difference, Petey. Especially over rough and uneven surfaces, and when braking and turning. Feels much surer going fast around corners.

I think I need to make some minor adjustments. Turn-in seems a bit slower, oddly enough. Perhaps because I'd asked Ben to keep my seat height the same. I think I need to raise the rear ride height a bit, to quicken the steering, and just live with a higher seat. The Penske is easy to adjust.

I ride pretty conservatively, so it'll take me a while to sort it out. Overall, I'm very happy with it. Feels much better.

Next up.

Car tire.

.

.

Kidding.

 

[madjackdog]

I'm a little late to the party, Ernesto, but is that Wile E. in the background?

 

[FJRBluesman]

OM - You "cape disappointed" me. A bloody Corona beer? You had all those great beers and you settled for that crap? God help me.

I have not been to Oregon in years but I loved Astoria and the column (tower what ever they called it) there. Neat little area. Spent some time in Sea Side too, another neat little place. Can't do the coast without doing Tillamook and the cheese grommit. Oh the memories.

Great RR and pix. You always make it look so fun and interesting. Thanks brother.

BTW - Can you and Rich legally get married up there? Just askin'.

 

[dcarver]

I especially like this pix..

Yet again, OM delivers a great RR :thumbsupsmileyanim:

I have to go and re-read it now...

 

[dcarver]

Is it Friday yet?

Guess I'll have to wait to caption this one...

 

[MCML]

The best eye on the Forum.

Wonderful texture on those hash browns!

I have a photo, somewhere, taken twenty years ago or so on Vancouver Island, of a large slug. Perhaps a compilation? Slugs of the PNW?

 

[MCML]

The best eye on the Forum.

Wonderful texture on those hash browns!

I have a photo, somewhere, taken twenty years ago or so on Vancouver Island, of a large slug. Perhaps a compilation? Slugs of the PNW?

 

[Old Michael]

Most of 101 from Port Angeles to Port Townsend is - unremarkable.

You might as well be in Nevada.

Not sure why it was on my "scenic routes" Madmap.

But, I had to make sure I made my ferry, so I just stayed with it.

Arrived at the ferry terminal in Port Townsend, and got in the motorcycle line.

Love the "bikes on and off FIRST" thing.

Had a few minutes, so I wandered about and looked at things and people.

Beautifully sunny, calm day.

My "ride" arrives.

And off we went, on the 30 minute cruise across the sound.

Pirate's voice - "Land ho!"

I was ready to get off this boat.

Dr. Rich was waiting when I disembarked(?) and it was great seeing his crusty old ass.

We hugged and ....ahem, ...we hugged, and he had me follow him on a quick mini-tour

of the area on the way back to his house.

The Navy owns a big chunk of the island, and we went

over and watched the Navy Pilots, (who are almost as good as Air Force pilots) doing touch-and-goes

in their EA-6B Prowlers on a little satellite airstrip near Coupeville.

Then a quick run through Coupeville, where I understand a bunch of old seacaptains made their home.

Then back to Rich's beautiful place in Oak Harbor.

One of Rich's muttleys - Reba. A giant lovemuffin.

It was great seeing Susan (Rich's wife) again, and she'd of

course prepared a fantastic salmon dinner. A great meal, sitting and talking with two really special people.

Next, Rich and I hopped into his truck and he showed me a little more of the island.

It's an awfully nice part of the planet.

Helluva day.

Then, back to the RichRanch, and I was asleep before I got my boots off.

Tomorrow - Riding with the PNW forum criminals.

 

[Old Michael]

... but is that Wile E. in the background?

Maybe.

[SIZE=8pt] He doesn't like to be seen by grownups.[/SIZE]

OM - You "cape disappointed" me. A bloody Corona beer? You had all those great beers and you settled for that crap? God help me.

Simon, a man cannot live on dark beer alone.

Guess I'll have to wait to caption this one...

Carver, you shoulda seen it in motion.

Slugs of the PNW?

I KNEW that thing would fascinate this crowd.

 

[Beamer Reamer]

Awesome report. I still haven't see the mythical OM, but none of the other clowns around here quite have his style so he must be real. Real what? Dunno.

1) I know those green slimy pilings in Astoria, you stole my shot.

2) yeah and that bridge too...I thought I tapped tapped that one.

3) How come you didn't stop and howdy up the Reamer 2 at the Coast Guard base...he's will be so disappointed.

4) Wait till you see one of the big slugs...scary. Ever step on one at night in bare feet? Change your life in a second.

5) Was that one of those rat bastards I saw through the window past Dr. Rich? Skulking around pretending to eat grass?

I do enjoy these. Loved the welcome from San Diego bit.