I have many interests besides riding my motorcycle. I also enjoy golf, swing dancing, the ocean , hiking, did I mention golf? riding bicycle among a few others.
Today was 3 of my favorites. My motorcycle, the ocean, and golf.
One of my favorite courses in the world is Salmon Run in Brookings oregon. I played with rental clubs and sandals and still carded a 93.
I guess Im not very creative with my titles. Day this and day that. But who cares?
Day 6 started in Vancouver Washington just north of Portland. The ride was pretty uneventful and made it to Roseburg before heading to the coast. I had an important stop to make on the way. Family friends Steve and Cathy Moe live in Myrtle Creek near Coos bay. I had an address but no number. I hadn't seen either of thrm since 1975. I was just a dorky kid in high school snd Steve and Cathy were two of the many "older" cool people i hung out with while working at ESS. I stopped by the house and startled Steve and we visited for a while. Cathy was in coos bay and Steve called her and I was able to meet her there. A short visit turned into 2 hours. It was a Great Visit. Then I rode into Bandon for the night.
I was encouraged to take highway 20 known as The Northern Cascade highway. In fact Woody had guaranteed I would enjoy it. He even told me that if I didn't enjoy it that he would reimburse my gas money. I stayed Friday night in Winthrop Washington and started my trek westward. The 80 miles between Winthrp and Marblemount were some of the most scenic that I've ever seen. That stretch took 3 hours due to so many picture stops. It was truly incredible. I continued west to highway 9 and headed south for about 50 or so miles. The highway 9 runs parallel to highway 5 all the way into the east part of Seattle. I stayed on highway 9 until I reached Woodinville Washington and had a great burger at Teddy's Bigger Burger. Then I had to pick up the 405 and it was absolutely horrible going through the east part of Seattle. I wanted to go over Whitby island then go south from there. However, rain was coming into the area. Although I don't mind riding in the rain it's not one of my favorite surfaces to ride on. I made the painstakingly decision the head down highway 5 into Vancouver Washington. That is where I ended up staying the night. It was a very long and eventful day on the bike.
A major aspect of travel that I enjoy is the newness of it all. Parts of this trip have been on familiar roads with familiar people. I had the honor of meeting a couple of Rick and Carrie friends (Woody and Colene along with Colene sister Maureen) I also got to ride on some great roads in Idaho and Montana.
The remainder of the trip I'm riding by myself. Rick and Carrie want to be home in time for hunting season to open next weekend. Woody told me of a great ride over the northern cascade of Washington. I was a little nervous but thougvht what the hell.
So today was saying goodbyes to friends and I set off on thks route. I went up the 41 thru Spirit Lake then caught highway 20 west ward. Went thru Newport, Colville, kettle falls, then Republic. Tbe road between kettle falls and republic was absolutely amazing. The quality of the road plus the scenery was some of the best ever. After Republic I stayed on 20 thru Tonasket, Omak, Okanogan, and Twisp and am now in Winthrop. Onlu 280 miles but it was hot and im looking forward to some great mountain riding tomorrow. Im still unsure which way im going from the Seattle area. Maybe Whitby island and take my bike on a ferry.
We are at Athol Idaho which is about 20 or so miles north of Couuer d'Alene staying at some friends. Today was a ride thru Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry then east into Montana (a little town called Troy). From Troy we followed the Bull river on "the 56" back to "the 200" around Lake Pend Oreille at Sandpoint Idaho.
From Sandpoint our destination was Curleys bar for taco Thursday. We went thru Priesr River then thru Spirit Lake into Hauser for great food, music, ans "biker games". There was about 300 bikes there.
After dinner we rode back to Athol for relaxing and visiting. We rode 272 miles. A pretty good day.
Again another great day on the bikes. It was a little cool in the morning but we were geared up. Rode to and around Crater lake then headed up the 97 to biggs junction. My way of travel is to ride till mid afternoon then pick a place to stay. We thought Boardman would be cool. Right on the river. However both hotels in boardman were full as were the next 4 full. Something about the "round up" this week. Wtf?
We run into the 3rd largest rodeo in the United States. We luckily found a nice room in Hermiston oregon. We're about 3-4 hours from our destination.
I'll try to put pictures up but i cannot figure out how to preview before I publish.
Plus Sons of Anarchy is starting.
Day 1 a success. We ended up riding 367 miles. Sutter-Redding-Burney-Mt.Shasta (I missed the state Route15 road)-past Kfalls and ended up in Fort Klamath. Tomorrow will be breakfast at the lake then a trip around Crater lake then east and north toward Washington/Idaho.
It's been 4 years since the original five-o tour. I started this blog as a way to let family and friends know when I was off my motorcycle on my original 23 day ride in 2009. It has become a great way for me to diary my travels and to share a little bit about myself.
I rode today to Yuba city to have dinner with Cindy and her kids/grand kids then meet up with Rick and Carrie who will join me on the first week of the trip. Our final northern destination will be Coeur d'Alene Idaho. We'll ride around there for a couple of days then they'll head straight home while take a longer coastal way home.
We leave tomorrow at 8 am on our way around lassen, shasta and onward to Kfalls. It's been a teamster five-o tradition local land marks like the locals. So for brother Paul, we're hitting kfalls today and " the lake" (crater lake) tomorrow morning.
Relationships come and go..friendships end, career paths change, parent/children relationships sever and commonly marriage/romantic relationships end.
If we're fortunate, an interest of those from our past will influence who we are and what we enjoy.
I would have never known about the blog world if it weren't for someone from my past nor my love of paper maps (which I still enjoy even with today's technology.
The names of those that I refer to from my past will not be named to protect the innocent (that being me)
For those who may know me and for those who do not I'm not much of a "project guy".
My dad could and would fix everything. He built rooms, cabinets, fixed all of his own cars, re did windows, poured concrete, put up his own fences, and just about everything else in between. If it could not be fixed it could be "Modified"
My mom spent years with my dad working with Habitat for Humanity. She did stucco, sheetrock, painting, and probably everything else in between.
My sister Michelle make her own soap, refinishes concrete, build decks, lays tile, and probably everything else in between.
Brother Mike does just about everything. Paints, install toilet, puts up greenhouses, if it can be done he does it.
sister Dawn and her husband Dave have basically be done their entire home. They put new siding, removed and we finished popcorn ceiling, re did the hardwood floors, and probably everything else in between.
Younger brother paul lives in Mississippi on 12 acres has a tractor works on a golf course, and does everything else in between. Right now he is putting new decking on his car hauler..Really Paul?
Then there is me. I don't like to paint, don't do concrete, don't even mow my own lawn, not really a "project guy". I have periodically had to change sprinkler heads and when I was at Orchard the lady asked me if I wanted a rewards card. I only buy sprinkler heads. That would be a no.
I used to live on 3 acres of land and really enjoyed the rural lifestyle. There was lawns to mow, fields to plow, seeds to plant, need to round up the fence line, always had something to mend, and everything else in between. After moving out of that property and being somebody's roommate I had zero responsibilities of the household with the exception of my room in my bathroom to be clean. In fact my room didn't even need to be cleaned. I spend most of my time playing. I was either golfing, riding my motorcycle, hiking, travelin, and everything else in between; with the exception of chores/projects..
I'm leaving on an 11-day motorcycle ride on Monday and had an urgent need to have a project done. I couldn't hire a handyman I couldn't bribe a neighbor, all my brothers and sisters are probably too busy with their own projects so what was I to do?
I'm taking a huge risk posting this blog. I do not want to hurt my reputation as a non project guy; however, I hope my Dad would be proud.
Now I'm off to my granddaughter Grace's first birthday party, pack the bike, ride to Yuba city tomorrow thrn head to Idaho on Monday at oh 800 hours
So its been awhile since I've written on my blog. So I thought I needed a new toy to start writing. so I went to Costco today and by day Samsung galaxy tablet. I took a picture and I'm now composing using voice texting tool. This won't be a very long post because I'm just trying it out.
I'm leaving in 2 weeks ago on a 13-day motorcycle ride through Oregon Washington and Idaho and up into courde e lein.. I'm not sure how to spell it and right now I don't feel like looking it up I think everybody knows what I mean.
So I will cut this short. I hope everybody enjoys the past posts and the future posts.
We spend our entire lives looking for the perfect mate. Some find it young and stay with that person for many years (mom and dad) and some play the unfortunate game of trial and error (me)..
I’ve told the story of how Cindy and I met, became best friends, remained best friends through separate lives and families and then reconnected.
Something just now triggered and overwhelming feeling of “she is the perfect woman for me”
…What triggered that emotion? Good Question and I’m glad you asked…
How can a woman pack 4 days worth of travel in such a small space and at the same time be so beautiful?
I’ve only raised boys in my life and I guess I’m getting a lesson on what it’s like to have girls. I assume I’ll be spending a fair amount of time “waiting for Grace”. My experience with boys is there is a process of being ready and going. It seems like girls have a process of getting ready…waiting a little longer….change what you’re wearing…walk out the door…forget something…realize your shoes don’t match your hair thingy (or whatever the heck they’re called)…change cloths again…then go…Grace must be in the process of getting ready to go.
I’m also a planner…I know where I’m going, when I’m going and how I’m getting there. However, on the motorcycle I’m always open for change. I’ve told many of people I’m turning left and I go right. (No…it’s not a lie)…Cindy and I were planning on a ride to Pescardero and end up in Santa Cruz. That would put us 3 hours from the hospital and we’ve decided we don’t want to be that far away. So, we’re turning left instead of right. We going to ride up to Sonora, the north on 49 to Placerville. If that’s not enough miles we’ll head east and maybe go through Apple Hill and further up the mountain. We’ll be packed for Oregon in case Grace makes her arrival tonight. I’m still hoping to make it to Crater Lake later this week. If not, it’s no big deal; we’ll find somewhere to ride. My goal is 1200 miles for the week minimum. We’re at about 450 and still itchin to ride.
A special thanks to Jerry for being on “stand-by” for house sitting and taking care of the place while we’re gone. It’s tough to plan when we don’t know when we’re leaving.
To Grace….
Although we’re itching to roll…there is no way in Heck ( I don’t use the “H” word) that we’d leave town before Michael’s (son) and Veronica’s (daughter in law) has their baby…My first biological to go along with Cindy’s 11. I am so excited to be able to not only have a grandbaby but to also have a little girl to spoil “I know Kira..I’m going to spoil you too”…
We do have plan B for some rides though. The first annual Teamster Horsemen Motorcycle Association poker run is on Saturday starting at 9 am and riding through the sierra foothills and arriving the Teamster Picnic (remember the title of my blog) to hang out and enjoy fellowship with other proud Teamsters from many different industries.
We’ve also been invited to ride up to Reno for part of the weekend to attend the Reno Rib cook off with “Smokey” and his family. For those who don’t remember who Smokey is I wrote a early blog about him and his ministry. He feeds the poor and homeless every Wednesday from a small church in Tracy and I helped him out every week for a couple of years. Unfortunately I’ve changed jobs in 2010 and my work schedule doesn’t allow Cindy and I to help as often as we’d like. After meeting Smokey, Cindy not only wants to help out on the ministry, but also ride with Smokey. But Smokey and I are still like brothers and he encouraging us to roll on up (biker talk for those who don’t know)
So we’ll wait for baby Grace…have the bikes packed…and leave town as soon as we know Mom and baby are fine..
On a final note…for those who don’t know me…I’m very confident in who I am and my manliness..I’ve recently stopped biting my fingernails after biting them off and on..mostly on for the last 48 years. I try to trim them myself but my crooked eye (thanks mom) makes it nearly impossible. So…Cindy and I are on our way to dinner and a Pedicure/Manicure…she won’t let me call it a pedi/mani (says it sounds gay)..
I’ll check in soon…
As David Russell Loring the first would say…”thanks for coming out”
waterfalls
El Capitan
