Hi there! Welcome to our 2009 road trip... our latest adventure on the highways of life. When all is said and done, we will have covered about 5,400 miles from June 27 through July 19.
In the Trip Itinerary section you'll find our planned routes for this trip, showing for each travel day our proposed route and mileage, and major attractions we hope to see along the way.
We'll post the pictures we take, along with comments about each day's ride.
So check back with us often, and share with us our latest adventure. And remember... comments are welcome. Sit back, relax... and keep the shiny side up!!
July 15, 2009
Started out this morning and headed down the freeway... US 101 controlled access, 4+ lanes each way, might as well be an interstate. Hit I-80, I-580, I-205, I-5... reminds me why I like to stay off the superslabs. But I digress...
Left San Rafael and headed into San Francisco. Crossed the Golden Gate bridge... $9.00 toll. Rode through downtown San Francisco and crossed over the Oakland-Bay bridge... no toll. Apparently, you have to pay to get in, but you can get out for nothing. But I digress...
The Golden Gate bridge was pretty fogged in so we could only see about a third of it at a time. The Bay bridge is a double-decker and we were on the lower deck so couldn't see much then either. When we got onto I-580, the BART tracks run along between the east and west bound sides of the road. Some of the stations were pretty strange looking.
We saw a bunch of wind generators. Only about half of them seemed to be running. Don't know if thy were broken or if they turn them off when they don't need the power. But if they break that often, are they really all that practical? But I digress...
Had breakfast at Beeb's Sports Bar & Grill, part of a public golf course in the Livermore area. We had pulled of the interstate and stopped in the parking lot to check the map and make sure we were still heading in the right direction. Someone getting clubs out of the back of his SUV stopped to chat about the bike and where we were going, and he recommended the place. He was right.
I've attached two short video clips below that Maryann took with her camera while we were riding along the Avenue of the Giants yesterday.
Attachments:
July 14, 2009
Foggy again this morning, but it burned off quickl, just in time to reveal another coffee shack. And then a UPS truck with a trailer. We rode through the Avenue of the Giants, a 30+ mile section of old US 101 through forests of extremely large coastal redwood trees. Finally got back to the coast.
That's where you find the sheet-metal dinosaurs and King Kongs. If you can find it anywhere, you can find it in California. Except for those damned "vapor recovery" gas pump nozzles. You only find those here.
As long as we were near the water, the temperature stayed cool, low 60s. As soon as we got away from the coast, the temp started to go up. By the time we got to San Rafael it was up to 94. Too bad we can't store up some of all that cool so we can use it on Friday and Saturday when we'll be in Death Valley and Phoenix.
The ride down coastal highway 1, even though it was a truly beautiful ride, took longer than we expected, so we cut the ride short a little and cut over to US 101 just north of Petaluma.
July 13, 2009
Got on the road this morning under overcast but dry skies. First thing we see is another of those damned coffee shacks. But we made it to breakfast at The Station in Bandon, Oregon. Finally, about 50 miles down the road, the clouds lifted, the sun shone through and it turned into a beautiful day.
Saw lots of coast, lots of Pacific Ocean, lots of big rocks in the water. Here we are standing with our backs to the sea, waiting for a "sneaker wave". They say that to avoid sneaker waves you should keep your eyes on the water so I figured if we looked the other way one would show up. None did...
I don't know if you can tell, but the trike (Harley, of course) in the next photo has the rear end of a 1957 Chevy. We've seen a lot of motorcycles on this trip and I'm sad to report that most of them have been Harleys. Have seen a few Wings, but not so many that you couldn't count them on your fingers and toes.
Of course another coffe shack showed up almost immediately. And no sooner had we crossed the border into California and the price of gas shot up 30 cents a gallon. You just gotta love California.
On one beach we stopped at, there were shoes all over the parking lot. Seems everyone just left them there so they could go dip their toes on the cold Pacific Ocean. Had to dodge around them just to park the bike.
Now we have almost 3,900 miles under our wheels and about 1,400 to go. We should be back in Tucson sometime late in the afternoon of the 18th.
July 12, 2009
Not many photos today. We woke up to rain, lightning and thunder. Waited until 9 AM for things to clear up, but they didn't. Donned our FrogTogs and headed down the road in the rain.
We had planned to go all the way to the California border and back up to Cave Junction so we could go to Oregon Caves National Monument tomorrow morning, but after reading about the requirements for the cave tour, decided it was to strenuous for Maryann. We decided to change today's destinaton to Coos Bay with a stop at Sea Lion Caves, about 80 miles north of Coos Bay.
But it was cloudy and foggy and rainy, sometimes light and sometimes hard, all he way. Still raining when we got to Sea Lion Caves, so decided to skip that also and just headed on to Coos Bay. Shortly after that, things started to dry up and the sun actually poked through the clouds occasionally. Most of the time it was like riding in a rain forest. It was raining... we were riding through a forest... get it??? rain... forest... rain forest... Oh, just forget it!
Anyway, since it was raining most of the time and Maryann was wearing her cold weather (the temp was high 50s, low 60s all day) gloves, she had a hard time turning the camera on and off.
During a brief lull in the storm we had breakfast at The Dory in Cloverdale. And these little drive-up espresso shops are everywhere, and this one was a little fancier than most.
July 11, 2009
If you were looking for this post and couldn't find it, don't worry... it's not you... it really wasn't there. But here it is now...
Woke to a beautiful day. Had breakfast in a cafe next to the motel, gassed up the bike and headed for Mt St Helens. Rode 50 miles to the end of the road, as close as you can get from this direction. Took anoher self-photo while we waited for Ranger Sasha to begin her every-hour-on-the-hour presentation. Tried to get the mountain in the background, but didn't succeed too well.
We then headed south and then west along the north side of the Columbia River (remember what I said about this river showing up very time you turn around). We crossed over the river into Oregon near where it flows into the Pacific, using the Astoria-Megler bridge. This bridge is over 4 miles long. I was concerned it might have a steel mesh deck, but finally found a video on U-tube showing it had a paved deck. No problems.
Ended up a few miles down US 101 in Seaside, Oregon. What a zoo that place was! Talk about a tourist-trap! And the sky was starting to cloud up.
July 10, 2009
Started out thos morning with a very damp fog, but it eventually burned off and the skies cleared up. Lots of strange items out there: strange bridges, strange trucks, honey buckets.
Met a friend of Maryann's for breakfast in Olympia at the Budd Bay Cafe, on the waterfront of what on the map appears to be the lowest reaches of Puget Sound.
Continued on to Mount Ranier National Park. Had to adjust our route: the road through the park was closed at the east end, so we had to return back to the west entrance rather than driving all the way through.
These little coffee shops are everywhere. Turn around three times and you'll see four of them.
Ended up in Castle Rock, Washington. Tomorrow we'll see Mt St Helens.
FYI, for those inquiring minds following this track closely... I found out that the "red powder" on the snow in some places is algae... snow algae. And they call it "watermelon snow".
July 9, 2009
Woke to cloudy but dry skies today. Had to be in line for the ferry 90 minutes before departure time, so Immigration and Customs could do their thing. Took another self-photo while we were waiting. On the way out of Victoria harbor we saw a few floating houses and a couple of cruise ships.
The ship in front in the photo is The World, which isn't really a cruise ship but rather a floating condominium complex. The 'passengers' are owners of their on-board accomodations, and as a group they own the ship.
Finally got back on the road again and rode around Olympic National Park and Crescent Lake. Finally got a view of the Pacific with lots of driftwood on the beach. Ended up in Aberdeen, Washington.
Rode over the 3,000 mile mark today, with about 2,400 to go.
July 8, 2009
Still in Victoria today. Woke up this morning to more light rain. Decided to take the bus down to the harbor area and look around. That way we'd avoid the parking hassle. They have double-decker buses here. The largest ship in the harbor today is the MV Coho, the ferry we crossed on yesterday and will again tomorrow. Yesterday there was a cruise ship docked as we came in. There are these really cute, really little tug-boat-looking ferry/tour boats in the harbor. Very expensive to ride. Saw a group going out for whate-watching, but I found a whale without having to pay to see it. We walked around but we could have taken a horse carriage tour or a pedi-cab tour. We didn't. We did take a tour of the parliament building, and one of the guides was portraying the pioneer woman Nellie Cashman. You may remember her because of the restaurant bearing her name in Tombstone. She lived a lot of her life here in Victoria and a lot of it in Tombstone, and a little of it in Tucson. Walked around the Royal British Columbia Musem, and saw some totem poles. Didn't go in, too expensive. I guess we're just too frugal (or is it cheap) to be a really good tourist. Walked through Chinatown, too.
Tomorrow we get back on the bike and start our return trip. Hopefully, the rainy drizzle will let up.
July 7, 2009
OK, here I am in Port Angeles waiting to get on the ferry to Victoria. Very old-looking motorhome waiting next to us. Inside the ferry is like being in a cave. Some really huge trucks also making the crossing. Five bikes on the ferry, we're the only GoldWing, all others were Harleys, including one trike. Took a while to find our motel, but after we did we headed to Butchart Gardens. Very colorful place. I recommend it to anyone coming this way, but unlike us, I recommend you see it WHEN IT ISN'T RAINING!!!!! It really does put a damper on things, literally and figuratively.
July 6, 2009
Left Bellingham this morning after filling up at IHOP. Headed down I-5 to Burlington, then across SR 20 to Whidbey Island, down to Keystone to catch the ferry to Port Townsend.
See Jerry waiting for the ferry. Notice he is wearing his rain gear. Realize it was raining. Notice the ferry is missing. Where is the ferry? The rain stops. Finally, the ferry shows up and we're first in line to get on, after the walking passengers, of course.
Ferry ride was about 6 miles, arrived at Port Townsend. Back on the road to Port Angeles. Here we see big log trucks, metal seagulls, odd sculptures, half done totem poles.
Had dinner at Rick's Place. Play it again, Sam! We'll always have Paris.
July 5, 2009
Today we left Coulee City and headed for Bellingham. On the way we stopped at Chief Joseph Dam, another large hydroelectic dam on the Columbia River. Seems like every time we turn around, we're crossing the Columbia River. Saw several piles of these huge wooden boxes. I can only guess that they're used in harvesting apples, which seem to be growing everywhere here. Any place they're not growing apples, it seems they're growing cherries or grapes. Must be raising cattle somewhere: saw one of those "Eat beef, it's what's for dinner" signs. Ate breakfast at Magoo's in Omak. Finally rode into the Cascades area. Lots of very rocky mountains, lots of flowers, lots of water, even a totem pole. Rode through the town of Concrete.
Mileage-wise, we're about at the halfway point of our trip, 2,700 down, 2,700 to go.
July 4, 2009
We are now into our second week on the road and had another beautiful day. Rode only about 150 miles from Pasco, WA to Coulee City, WA. We visited Grand Coulee Dam and took a tour of the dam. Picture 1 was at taken at last night's motel... we really didn't want to bar-b-q last night. #2 - on the road to the dam. #3 - Grand Coulee Dam from the Visitor Center. #4 Can you figure out who is in the diving suit???? right, it's Jerry. #5 - Birds nest and yes there was a big bird in it. Not sure what kind. #6 - Taking the dam tour.(it is alright to say dam tour according to the dam guide who would answer our dam questions after his dam talk) #7 - Heading back to Coulee City and our cute little room for the night. #7 - Tree trunk carving that we found on our tour around the city.
July 3, 2009
Got up at the crack of dawn this morning (photo 1). Maryann really needs to put on her glasses before she tries to see what time it is. Stopped at Brother's Diner for breakfast(photo 2 & 3). Stopped at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (photo 4 & 5). Saw a lot more beautiful scenery (photo 6 & 7). Filled the tanked at the Lazy Wolf Resort in Spray, Oregon (photo 8). Saw lava deposits every where we go (photo 9 & 10), this whole place must have been one giant volcano at one time. Thirty miles out in the middle of nowhere, we found a soda machine in a bus stop, and it was running (photo 11). Saw a lo of farm country, also. Don't know what they were growing but some of it was green and some of it wasn't (photo 12). Mostly, I think they were making hay while the sun shown, but since there were a lot of grain silos around, they must've been raising some kind of grain (my momma didn't aise no dummies, you know). Finally, we crossed over the Columbia River into Washington, just a little ways downstream from the McNary Dam (photo 13). Tonight we are in Pasco, Washington.
July 2, 2009
Comments below follow the potos to the left.
We left Weed, California, this morning and headed for Oregon. Had a better view of Mount Shasta this morning since the cloud cover had gone away. The view of the mountain in the rear view mirror is really kind of cool. After crossing the border we travelled by Upper Klamath Lake, then passed another fix-er-uper. Came across Crater Lake National Park, where we took a self-portrait. More snow again (yes, it had a red tint also, and no, I still don't know why). Signs all over the place say this is bear country, but this is the only one we've seen. We stopped at the Lava Lands Vistor Center of Newberry National Volcanic Monument. And before we finally got to Redmond, Oregon, we saw this weird structure growing out of the ground. No idea what it is.
July 1, 2009
Photo 1: On the road again, departing from South Lake Tahoe. Photo 2 & 3: Beautiful, and probably really cold, Lake Tahoe, on the California/Nevada border. Photo 4: Ventured briefly into Nevada and had breakfast at the Tamarack Junction Casino just outside of Reno. Photo 5: Fred guarded the bike while we ate. Photo 6: Stopped at the Visitor Center for Lassen Volcanic National Park. Photos 7, 8 & 9: Rode through Lassen VNP, saw lots of snow, a semi-ice-covered lake, and "yes", the snow has a red tint (sorry, don't know why).
Tonight, we are in Weed, CA, in the shadow of Mount Shasta. Actually, it's about 10 miles away, but at over 14,000 feet, it looms over two miles above Weed. Really kind of imposing. And the folks at Lassen says it's still an active volcano. So I hope it waits a few days before erupting again.
So far we have traveled 1,654 miles, with about 3,650 to go.
June 30, 2009
We left Mariposa this morning and rode to Yosemite Village, in Yosemite National Park. As soon as we left there and got onto Highway 120 which goes through the park from west to east (or east to west -- depends how you hold the map), it started to rain. Seems like every time I come to this park, it rains. Been here twice, rained both times. We'll be back through here again in a few eeks. If its raining then, I may have to take it personal. By the time we got to the top of Tioga Pass, the temp as down to 52. Once we got out of the park, the sun came out and the temp went up to the 70s. We ended up in South Lake Tahoe.
Pictures show a fix-er-uper we thought we might settle down in, a temporary bridge crossing the Merced River where a landslide had wiped out the road. I think the bus driver ducked when he drove under this rock leaning oer the road. We saw some white water rapids on the river, Yosemite Falls in the distance, rode through some tunnels, saw some snow pretty close up, and tried to figure out where this guy in front of us was going to go surfing. Had lunch at Bodie Mike's BBQ in Lee Vining, just at the east side of the park, right on Mono Lake.
June 29, 2009
A long day in the saddle today. Only 320 miles but a lot of them were ridden slowly. Rode through Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park, as well as Giant Seguoia National Monument. Hard to tell where one began and the other ended. But the scenery was magnificent. Pictures show some of this scenery. Temperatures ranged from 68 at the bottom of Kings Canyon during a brief rain shower to 106 when we got back down to the plains, where we saw plenty of citrus orchards and grape vines. Had to make a couple of U-turns. some roads on the map aren't on my 5 year old GPS,and even when they are, without names or numbers its had to tell just where you're supposed to go.
June 28, 2009
Rolled out of Needles a little after 7 this morning. Went across I-40 to Barstow, west on SR 58 and up US 395 to Pearsonville. Talk about your "Miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles"! These roads make I-10 to Phoenix look like scenic highway.
Yesterday the temperature hit 100 at 10:45 still 30 miles from Gila Bend, and stayed above 100 the rest of the day, peaking at 111. Today it was pretty warm up to Pearsonville, but then we started climbing, from 2,500 to 9,200, and temp dropped back into the 80s. Of course, the bike pegged the temp guage doing that climb. Warmed up again as we dropped back down to 2,000 and ended at 106 when we got to Porterville.
Pictures show a Beemer on a trailor (what a way to treat a bike), the front of the restuarant in Ludlow where we had breakfast, two showing the "miles and miles", a group of bikers we got directions from when we got lost, some of the scenery at 9,000 feet, a herd of rafters on the Kern River, and the Black Bear Diner in Porterville for dinner.
350 miles yesterday and 388 today (GPS miles, not odometer miles)
June 27, 2009
The first day of our trip was pretty uneventful. We left Tucson at 9:35 AM, after the AZ-K monthly breakfast gathering. Stopped in Gila Bend for gas, at an I-10 rest area for a butt break, and in Parker for more gas. Got to Needles around 3:30 PM. Somewhere along the ay, Maryann lost her neck scarf, and the left saddlebag latch broke again. Here's a picture of Kodie (AZ-K's mascot) saying good-bye to Fred. Fred doesn't look too pleased to have to leave Kodie behind. Other pictures include crossing the Colorado river near Parker, arriving at our motel in Needles, and us waiting for dinner at Denny's
7/13/2009 11:28:07 PM - 002077595952
Looks like you all are having a great time and trip. When do you plan to return to sunny hot Arizona? Be safe
Becky
7/11/2009 6:40:53 PM - 002020595187
Hi guys. Wish we were there with you, sounds like a great ride. Red snow algea? Weird stuff. At least you're out of the heat. Someone turned the oven on here. Take care.
7/11/2009 2:31:33 PM - 002020864691
Enjoy following your trip... The scenery is just beautiful...Stay safe and havew fun!
7/10/2009 1:28:39 PM - 002075572589
Hi Jerry and Maryann,
Looks like you are oast the half way point and it looks like you are having a wonderful trip. The scenery must be simply breathtaking, many of your photos lead one to believe that. I've noticed that are many other motorcycles in many of the pictures. So, that area must me a motorcycling mecca. Enjoy the rest of your trip and keep the photos coming. Also, enjoy the cool temps of the Pacific Notrhwest while you can because it is HOT here. Will be 110 or above this weekend.
Smitty
7/9/2009 3:03:09 PM - 002020595187
Sounds like you guys are having a great ride. Wish we could be with you. We got home from Wing Ding and are now relaxing. Kodie had a nice surprise waiting for her in the mail--tell Fred thank you from her, his Kodie Poo. Have a fun journey back and we'll see you soon.
Elizabeth
7/4/2009 3:12:19 AM - 002075695956
Hey guys!! We miss you--Wingie Dingie would be even more fun with you here. We're enjoying ourselves. Looks like you are too. Love the pictures. Kodie is also having fun and making new friends.
Elizabeth
7/1/2009 3:47:38 PM - 002076354690
MaryAnn and Jerry, We are really enjoying your trip. Wish we could be with you. Keep safe and hopefully leave the rain behind you.
Donna & Dan
6/28/2009 2:21:46 PM - 002020864691
Have a safe trip... You guys look great... We'll miss you at the wedding !!.. We'll continue to follow your progress..
Bob and Ann Marie
6/27/2009 3:03:08 AM - 002022354239
Hope you two have a great trip to the Great Northwest. Some of the areas you will pass thorugh in Washington are very near where we lived in Gig Harbot and we have ridden most of them ourselves. Enjoy, be safe and say hello to Washington for us.
Dan & Nina
6/25/2009 9:14:27 PM - 002075572589
Jerry & MaryAnn; Looks like another fun filled trip for the two of you. Enjoy your trip and keep the rubber side down. Talk lots of pictures and hopefully this year you will not need to buy a new monitor (LOL). Have fun
Smitty