Ride Report Hood Canal Washington

[Fontanaman]

On Saturday I completed my first ride of the year. The route is around the Hood Canal a favorite winter ride. I posted a ride report on the same ride last year.

I left home about 7:15 and soon stopped to take this photo of Mt. Rainier.

It was a warm day for early March in Seattle with temps no cooler than 48 and during the ride we saw 58 even. It was overcast and I did encounter rain until the last ten miles.

I met my friend Brian at a Starbuck's and we caught up on our lives while enjoying a coffee.

Shortly after leaving Starbucks my Garmin Zumo 550 was not routing, aka showing me the way, but it would display the map. After a few miles I just put it away. I was able fix the Zumo when after returning home but I really don't know why the routes got scrambled.

The somewhat dead Zumo set me on edge. With out my Zumo I was suffering from GPS withdrawal as I have become completely dependent on it over the last 6 years.

We cross the Narrows Bridge, drive along Hwy 302, driving though Wauna and Victor before riding along Hwy 106 to begin our ride along Hood Canal.

My mind wandered in a good way. This was not going to be a great day for photos. Have taken many photos along this route.

On this trip this is what we found:

In March 2011 it looked like this:

Which do you prefer? Rather like a eye exam where the Doc says is this more clear or is this more clear?

Hwy 106 near Union Washington.

Hood Canal along Hwy 101

A little bit of that or a little bit of this?

Hwy 101 along Hood Canal

As we road north the skies cleared just a bit and the roads dried out and the wind picked up.

Brian along Dabob Road

Brian near Dabob Washington

We took a little detour to the Rock Point Shellfish Farm to see the sights.

My FJR

Still at the shellfish farm.

Shellfish remains.....

We road across the Hood Canal floating bridge. The wind was blowing pretty good. Notice the white caps on the right side while the water on the left is calm.

We ride on to Kingston where we catch the ferry back to the mainland.

It was a great day to be out on the FJR again and a great way to start the new riding season.

 

[RedPorscheKilla]

What a great ride Jim,

I wished my screwed up calendar, let alone my continuous blond moments, wouldn't have bothered our plans. Thanks for the great report.

V

RPK

 

[kman09]

Who says it always rains n Seattle,nice ride and great pic's.

 

[Niehart]

Thanks Jim.

Always good to see Brian mug.

 

[Fred W]

I liked your ride mo' better last year. Of course I was also riding a lot more this time last year. What can you do?

What kind of shellfish are the farming? Oysters? You didn't mention.

 

[Fontanaman]

I liked your ride mo' better last year.

Of course I was also riding a lot more this time last year. What can you do?
What kind of shellfish are the farming? Oysters? You didn't mention.

Oysters.

This ride report is lame compared to last year, but not many read the text and I did not have anything new to add about the area.

I could plagiarize myself like this:

The ride begins by crossing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge the site of Galloping Gertie the failed bridge all first year Engineering students study. It went splash in 1940. Recently the state completed a second bridge.

 

[Fred W]

Mmmm... Oysters. Im'a love me some oysters.

 

[Fontanaman]

Mmmm... Oysters. Im'a love me some oysters.

Oyster are best raw on the half shell. A cooked oyster is a sad thing. Great with a pint of beer.

We have some great oysters out here such as the Hama Hama Oyster farm and store.

 

[Fred W]

Mmmm... Oysters. Im'a love me some oysters.

Oyster are best raw on the half shell. A cooked oyster is a sad thing. Great with a pint of beer.

I am in full agreement with you there on all counts.

Isn't it amazing how every ride report eventually gets back to food and drink?

 

[Panman]

Mmmm... Oysters. Im'a love me some oysters.

Oyster are best raw on the half shell. A cooked oyster is a sad thing. Great with a pint of beer.

We have some great oyster out here such as the Hama Hama Oyster farm and store.

You sayin you swallow?

 

[Fred W]

Well you definitely don't want to just slurp 'em down like a **** star. Not with the prices they will cost you for a dozen.

 

[Fontanaman]

Small oysters or better than bigger ones. I eat'em anyway I can get them as long as they are raw. Here is a plate I shucked in 2011. Yummie!

 

[puppychow]

Small oysters or better than bigger ones. I eat'em anyway I can get them as long as they are raw. Here is a plate I shucked in 2011. Yummie!

No snow on the ground, any day like that is a great day to ride in the PNW I bet!

I have never had raw oysters before. Are they an acquired taste?

 

[Fontanaman]

No snow on the ground, any day like that is a great day to ride in the PNW I bet!

I have never had raw oysters before. Are they an acquired taste?

In the lowlands it does not snow much around there. Hazards to watch out for are vegetation on the road, leaves, moss and pine needles along with sand from winter sanding operations. With all the hills around here some roads are shaded all winter long.

Yes oysters are an acquired taste.

 

[puppychow]

In the lowlands it does not snow much around there. Hazards to watch out for are vegetation on the road, leaves, moss and pine needles along with sand from winter sanding operations. With all the hills around here some roads are shaded all winter long.

Yes oysters are an acquired taste.

Maybe I will try them sometime. I did try some BBQ Oysters some time ago in Morro Bay! Damn, were they good!!!

 

[Fred W]

Small oysters or better than bigger ones. I eat'em anyway I can get them as long as they are raw. Here is a plate I shucked in 2011. Yummie!

Unless you had a dwarf waiter-person, those were some pretty jumbo mollusks. Ours have shelsl about the same size but the meat is about half the size. Still love 'em.

There is a variety of native (non-cultured) oysters here I have learned to seek out from along the long island sound. Either along the Connecticut shore, or preferably from long island, called "Blue Points." I don't know if it's hype or real, but so far they have always been very good. I mean they are all good, but these have that creamy buttery flavor that is "to die for."

 

[escapefjrtist]

Good looking ride Fontanaman...no oysters for me, thank you.

--G

 

[Fontanaman]

Good looking ride Fontanaman...no oysters for me, thank you.

--G

Damn George you don't know what you are missing. These little sucker are darn yummie.

 

[Tyler]

Good stuff, Jim... I think I'll be hitting you up for some ride suggestions this summer... maybe even tow me and a couple of friends around! B)