OK- so Elliott took care of the trip posts for the firsts four days and in the last three days I have received several requests for updates so I will follow his lead and start my first blog. Damn... I feel almost techie!
So... from day four in Portland, we all went in separate directions... Elliott continued east towards Chicago (www.rader-rider.blogspot.com), Kevin and Kickstand (Peter) went south to Bend (last I heard they made it) and after picking up Jax from Portland airport we went north to Olympic Natl Park. The ride up was awesome... tons of lush green forest and great views of the ocean. Stopped in Cannon Beach, OR for lunch and then headed north again up the 101.
In
typical fashion for this trip, we made no arrangements for accommodation (camping) and just showed up at the park and got lucky to get a great spot next to Quinalt Lake. Great Natl Park!!!
Up again and packed relatively early, we had to get moving for one of the few deadlines on this trip- the ferrys to Pender Island starting at 1230 (it takes two ferry's to get here from Port Angeles).
Trying to keep good pace was hard with the road const on Hwy 101- and some rain fell as well to get the dust to stick to everything! Got pulled over(AGAIN!) about 30mi outside of Port Angeles by the most polite Trooper ever. He said I was doing 70 or 71 (I saw 68 on the GPS) and asked me very nicly to please slow down and be safe (the limit is 60). Gave me complements on Kiki the hula girl mounted to the bike and after I told him we were trying to make a 1230 ferry said go ahead and leave but be safe and if it turned out that the bike was stolen, he'd come track me down. Didn't even make me wait the typical 10 minutes normal to do the DMV check. So, at a reduced rate of speed we went off to catch our boat.
When we arrived, there were about 10 other bikes, most of them dual sport BMW's of various types and all ADV Rider readers so we had a lot to chat about on the 90 minute ferry ride. Jax opted out of dealing with the motorcycle geeks with a cosmo magazine... good times!
On the ferry you sign a waiver that if your MC tips over you can't sue the ferry company. Their solution to the problem is to provide ropes you can tie you bike ot the side of the boat with.
Customs in Canada was a nightmare as we got pulled into secondary.
Apparently they didn't find it normal that someone would fly from Calgary to Portland to ride on a MC with a guy from SD to Victoria. So three high-school aged female customs agents took their time
dismantling the 900lb motorcle and quizzing us repeatedly... all the while making us later and later for our next ferry, leaving from the other side of the island 30 miles away.
So now on this trip I have been involved with the law in OR, WA and Canada. Great... but no tickets so far (knocking on wood).
We somehow made the next (smaller ferry) after a rediculous Friday afternoon traffic jam in Victoris alptly named "The Crawl" and are finally in Pender Island.
So
it's Sat morning and we are off to meet Jax and pick up dad from his float plane ride up here... more pics later.
So... from day four in Portland, we all went in separate directions... Elliott continued east towards Chicago (www.rader-rider.blogspot.com), Kevin and Kickstand (Peter) went south to Bend (last I heard they made it) and after picking up Jax from Portland airport we went north to Olympic Natl Park. The ride up was awesome... tons of lush green forest and great views of the ocean. Stopped in Cannon Beach, OR for lunch and then headed north again up the 101.
In
typical fashion for this trip, we made no arrangements for accommodation (camping) and just showed up at the park and got lucky to get a great spot next to Quinalt Lake. Great Natl Park!!!
Up again and packed relatively early, we had to get moving for one of the few deadlines on this trip- the ferrys to Pender Island starting at 1230 (it takes two ferry's to get here from Port Angeles).
Trying to keep good pace was hard with the road const on Hwy 101- and some rain fell as well to get the dust to stick to everything! Got pulled over(AGAIN!) about 30mi outside of Port Angeles by the most polite Trooper ever. He said I was doing 70 or 71 (I saw 68 on the GPS) and asked me very nicly to please slow down and be safe (the limit is 60). Gave me complements on Kiki the hula girl mounted to the bike and after I told him we were trying to make a 1230 ferry said go ahead and leave but be safe and if it turned out that the bike was stolen, he'd come track me down. Didn't even make me wait the typical 10 minutes normal to do the DMV check. So, at a reduced rate of speed we went off to catch our boat.
When we arrived, there were about 10 other bikes, most of them dual sport BMW's of various types and all ADV Rider readers so we had a lot to chat about on the 90 minute ferry ride. Jax opted out of dealing with the motorcycle geeks with a cosmo magazine... good times!
On the ferry you sign a waiver that if your MC tips over you can't sue the ferry company. Their solution to the problem is to provide ropes you can tie you bike ot the side of the boat with.
Customs in Canada was a nightmare as we got pulled into secondary.
Apparently they didn't find it normal that someone would fly from Calgary to Portland to ride on a MC with a guy from SD to Victoria. So three high-school aged female customs agents took their time
dismantling the 900lb motorcle and quizzing us repeatedly... all the while making us later and later for our next ferry, leaving from the other side of the island 30 miles away.So now on this trip I have been involved with the law in OR, WA and Canada. Great... but no tickets so far (knocking on wood).
We somehow made the next (smaller ferry) after a rediculous Friday afternoon traffic jam in Victoris alptly named "The Crawl" and are finally in Pender Island.
So
it's Sat morning and we are off to meet Jax and pick up dad from his float plane ride up here... more pics later.
i will call me peeps up there and have them work on getting you a ticket, kidding! love the blog...super jealous all sounds fun and beautiful. be safe ;o)
ReplyDeletedude! love the blog you frickin techie!
ReplyDeletei'll be following along