Pacific Northwest trip

[NinjaBob]

Saturday the 19th we were forced to alter our planned route via  awesome WA 20 due to forest fires, shortening ourr day from 320 to 260 miles. We began the morning with a ferry ride across Puget Sound into downtown Seattle. The Washinton State Ferry system lets two wheel customer go to the front of the line so we enjoyed a nice view from the front of the boat.

[fz1grl]

Yes  enjoying the posts but we did miss you last weekend at the BS Rally.

[NinjaBob]

Thanks! Miss you folks at Theodosia, but after 6000 miles and 18 b days on road had a bunch of domestic catching up to do.

[bcd]

I don't get on here every day, but I do try to check in regularly.  I tend strongly toward lurker rather than poster, so I apologize, Bob, for not giving you feedback. I'm really enjoying this thread about your trip!  PNW is a region I hope to ride in the future, so thank you for sharing!

[NinjaBob]

Thanks Byan! Glad you are enjoying it.

[dpippin]

Bob
Just curious on tire wear on yo're 6000 mile trip.
I have a Tracer GT and usually get around 4000 miles on a set of tires

Dougt

[NinjaBob]

Bob
Just curious on tire wear on yo're 6000 mile trip.
I have a Tracer GT and usually get around 4000 miles on a set of tires

Dougt

Doug,  before the trip I had just over 5000 on the OEM Bridgestone T32s and they looked only about half done. I hate to change tires with that much tread left but I did, to Dunlop Road Smart 3s.
Now at 6200 miles on the Dunlops they too look only about half worn. Of course we know looking half worn does not mean they will last another 6  or even 3 thousand as tires seem to wear faster as the tread gets thinner.  But I am definetely getting significantly more than 4000. 

[tunerider335]

Bob, glad to relive the ride again.  Definitely many lifetime memories with a great group of riders.  Keep them coming!  Glad you are here to document it!

Beautiful sunflowers!


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[NinjaBob]

Thanks Scott, was great sharing the ride with you. Thanks for contributing the picture!

[NinjaBob]

Our wildfire avoidance route took us on US 2 through Snoqualnie and Wenatchee National Forests and along the Wenatchee River and back on another stretch of the Columbia River. We turned off of US 2 at Coulee City onto WA 155 for our final leg to Gand Coulee population 972, next to the Grand Coulee Dam.
We had a pleasant stay at Trail West, a small but nice mom & pop motel.

Sunday August 20 was a 350 mile ride to Hungry Horse, Montana. Although the highway into Grand Coulee was mostly flat and straight our road out of town took us up a winding trail up the mountain. I was not ready for major twisties first thing in the morning! But the Tracer's tires felt good on the smooth pavement and I soon got into the zone. Old Coulee Hill Road soon fed back into WA 174 and we were soon back on US 2 but we soon reached Spokane and got on I-90. We were soon back in Idaho and passing through Coeur D'Alene and Coeur D'Alene  National Forest. After crossing into Montana we exited I-90 at St. Regis and rode state roads 135, 200, 382 and 28 and once again US 2 for the final leg to Hungry Horse and our motel the Mini Golden Inns Motel.

Hungry Horse, population 828,  is another Dam town, established to house workers that built the Hungry Horse dam, completed in 1953. The original town name was Damtown but  later changed to Hungry Horse. The name comes from a local legend about two horses that escaped and almost starved to death in deep snow.

A cute little town but not really photogenic. This is my only photo. I observed the warning and took appropriate action.

[STLTHMSTA]

Bob
Just curious on tire wear on yo're 6000 mile trip.
I have a Tracer GT and usually get around 4000 miles on a set of tires

Dougt 

Well Doug, if you slow down once in a while you might get a few more miles. I'm sure the middles have tread.  ;^)     TM

[NinjaBob]

I do have a secret for extended tire life. Riding like an old man.

[NinjaBob]

The overnight in Hungry Horse was strategically planned to facilitate the tricky execution of  the highlight of the entire trip, The Going To The Sun Road through Glacier National Park, perhaps one of the top ten motorcycling roads in the USA. I had attempted to ride the Going To The Sun from the estern end on my way to the first STAR (Sport Touring Association Rendesvous) in 1991. Unfortunately it was still closed in June of that year do to snow. So I was as eager as my comerades to ride it. Unfortunately due to road construction and high demand vehicle reservatioins are required to enter the road from the west entrance.  The chances of all four of us getting reservations for the same time were slim to none but Kevin found a hack. Boat tours are a big thing in the park and visitors with boat tour tickets were giving entrance passes. We all bought 25 buck tour tickets. I was a liitle skeptical but it worked like a charm. We were all granted entrance, however only 3 made the ride. The problem was 9 miles of mud. The first 9 miles were under construction and dirt. And it was beginning to rain. The lovely Park Ranger at the entrance warned us that road conditions were treacherous. Having total my Concours on a muddy road a year ago I was not willing to risk my 4 month old Tracer 9GT. I told the guys I'd meet them at the Eastern end of the park.
I backtracked to US 2 and rode it mostly in light rain to East Glacier.

So, the following photos of Glacier NP are are not mine:

   








I hooked up with the guys in Browning. Their bikes were covered in mud. One had gone down and suffered cosmetic damage, a torn pants leg and minor road rash.
I was not regretting by decision to bail out.

[STLTHMSTA]

I do have a secret for extended tire life. Riding like an old man.

I rode like an old man when I was much younger. Hahahahahaha!!!   Still do.    TM

[tunerider335]

The overnight in Hungry Horse was strategically planned to facilitate the tricky execution of  the highlight of the entire trip, The Going To The Sun Road through Glacier National Park, perhaps one of the top ten motorcycling roads in the USA. I had attempted to ride the Going To The Sun from the estern end on my way to the first STAR (Sport Touring Association Rendesvous) in 1991. Unfortunately it was still closed in June of that year do to snow. So I was as eager as my comerades to ride it. Unfortunately due to road construction and high demand vehicle reservatioins are required to enter the road from the west entrance.  The chances of all four of us getting reservations for the same time were slim to none but Kevin found a hack. Boat tours are a big thing in the park and visitors with boat tour tickets were giving entrance passes. We all bought 25 buck tour tickets. I was a liitle skeptical but it worked like a charm. We were all granted entrance, however only 3 made the ride. The problem was 9 miles of mud. The first 9 miles were under construction and dirt. And it was beginning to rain. The lovely Park Ranger at the entrance warned us that road conditions were treacherous. Having total my Concours on a muddy road a year ago I was not willing to risk my 4 month old Tracer 9GT. I told the guys I'd meet them at the Eastern end of the park.
I backtracked to US 2 and rode it mostly in light rain to East Glacier.

So, the following photos of Glacier NP are are not mine:

   








I hooked up with the guys in Browning. Their bikes were covered in mud. One had gone down and suffered cosmetic damage, a torn pants leg and minor road rash.
I was not regretting by decision to bail out.

It was beautiful once we got past the mud!  I was white knuckled a few times…. I took my time at my pace….  We passed several cruisers going the opposite direction.  I’m sure they weren’t happy with the road conditions!


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