Don't wash your bike!

Some things get smaller as a result of being immersed in water... it that what happened to this bike? It is certainly not a toy with its kick-starter and all.

Exploring the North Cascades

I have admired 3,285m (10,778ft) high Mount Baker from the distance many times, and yesterday it was time to meet this beautiful creation of nature in person. The weather was perfect for a day trip, and so my fellow traveler and I crossed the border (again) at Sumas to drive along the scenic byways of the North Cascades mountain range. Needless to say that the windy road satisfies every true rider's desire, and so there were quite a few bikers on the road.

Having said that, we had to satisfy our desire for food which we did in Milano's Restaurant in Glacier with pasta galore.

Refueled we hit the road again, but there was so much to see, so we where traveling at fairly slow speed.

The occasional waterfall

The mountain view

A lake view, too

Well, you get my drift...

We had to turn around at Artist Point

But on these roads, it is even fun to turn around, and go all the way back. Another awesome day in We(s)t Coast paradise.

Auf dem Bäckerberg (Mount Baker)

Gestern morgen hatten wir Lust auf einen Tagesausflug zu unseren Nachbarn südlich des 49sten Breitengrades. So ging es ab über die Grenze, und nach einem Mittagessen bei Milano's in Glacier ab auf den 3,285m hohen Mount Baker, welcher im Winter ein populäres Ski-Gebiet, und im Sommer ein Wanderparadies ist. Bei diesem Berg, der Teil der Cascade Ranges ist, handelt es sich um einen immer noch aktiven Schichtvulkan.

An den Nooksack Falls warnen Schilder davor, die Absperrungen zu verlassen. Hier hat es in der Vergangenheit einige Tote gegeben, von meist jungen Männern die entweder auf der Suche nach dem ultimativen Thrill oder für das beste Motiv in die 60m tiefe Schlucht abgestürzt waren.

Die gefährlichen Nooksack Falls

Aber auch vom Zaun aus hat man eine gute Perspektive, und wir belassen es dabei.

Am Strassenrand sieht man immer noch vereinzelt Schnee, und trotz Sommer bleiben manche Strassenabschnitte gesperrt.

In namenlosen Gletscherseen spiegeln sich die Berge, die Temperaturen liegen bei angenehmen 23 Grad und die Sonne scheint. Was will man mehr?



Wieder mal geht ein traumhafter Tag zu Ende.

Impressionen von 'umme Ecke' und ein Geburtstagsständchen

Anlässlich von Sonja's Geburtstag ging es mal wieder ins Boathouse, unserem Lieblingsrestaurant. Wir folgten dem Wanderweg am Wasser entlang und genossen den Sonnenschein und die leichte Meeresbrise.

Burrard Inlet

Wir können uns einfach nicht am Wasser 'satt sehen'.

Für Roland gab es Filetsteak, während Sonja sich für Meeresfrüchte entschied.

Wieder zu Hause angekommen, wurden wir durch 'laute Geräusche' irritiert. Neugierig geworden gingen wir auf die Strasse, und fanden uns mitten in einem live Konzert der Gruppe Citizens for Airplanes wieder, die im Rahmen des Sommerprogramms in Port Moody auftrat.

Kommt nur näher, meint dieser Bär.

Gar nicht schlecht, ein Mix aus Maroon5, Jason Mraz, Dave Matthews und John Mayer.

Den Anwohnern scheint's zu gefallen. Die Zwerge bekommen aufgrund der Lautstärke schon mal 'MickyMäuse' aufgesetzt.

Ob gross oder klein, alt oder jung, alle waren dabei.

Bei Sonnenuntergang war das Spektakel auch schon wieder zu Ende, und gingen in unsere Wohnung zurück. Praktisch, so einen Veranstaltungsort direkt vor der Tür zu haben.

Recap

Motorcycle traveling is different in a good way, and I didn't know how much I missed it until I was on the road again on two wheels. Soon I found myself in a comfortable riding position, ready to spend the next ten hours in the saddle. My confidence in this bike's technology and my own skills grew with each mile. I was always a minimalist so bringing along the right stuff the first time was a non-issue, even my tool kit was complete, not that I needed anything besides the chain lube.

And so the Oscar goes to...
The award for the best riding time goes to the early morning hours with only few traffic and wonderful light. The award for the most scenic route goes to Yakima Canyon road. Thanks Bob, for taking me there. The best service award certainly goes to the Quality Inn and Suites in Toppenish. Their staff prepared extra early breakfast for us at 5:45 AM. The best riding climate was during the group ride in the Willamette National Forest area.
There were good meals everywhere, but the coolest place was by far Rossow's U-Tote-Em in Ellensburg, WA. Well worth a pit stop.
Another amazing experience was meeting strangers and parting as friends who share the same passion, and I hope to see them again on other occasions or during the next IMBC.

I have been instructed to tell that Oregon roads suck, because hey are twisty, of good quality and winding through an amazing landscape. Hence, the Oregonians prefer not to have to share them with tourists. I fully understand this. So, listen! Oregon roads suck!

It was a great trip and I am ready to do it all over again. I want more of Central Oregon, where roads suck and people are so mean...

Oregon! 'Nuff said.

Sonja's Abenteuer In Oregon

1. Tag: Vancouver, BC nach Toppenish, WA ---> klick
2. Tag: Toppenish, WA nach Bend, OR ---> klick
3. Tag: Bend, OR nach Lincoln City, OR ---> klick
4. Tag: Lincoln City, OR ---> klick
5. Tag: Lincoln City, OR nach Tumwater, WA ---> klick
6. Tag: Tumwater, WA nach Vancouver, BC ---> klick

Next stop: Seattle

When in Seattle... To cope with the traffic, it helps to watch other motorists, how they recklessly change lanes without using their indicator, and successfully ignore pedestrians. Additionally one parks at Pike Market in a spot with the sign 'one hour parking' and extend it to one's liking.

The parking officer was very nice though and I was allowed to park for a little longer. She obviously liked my bike ;-)

The crocs made it to Pike Market too.

Of course there was a reason to endure the torture of city riding: We had the honor to meet Mr Charles Pefley a.k.a. Chuck for coffee (Chai latte for me), who has a booth in the very market.

The famous chuckomobile

I certainly hope to meet him again this summer to pick up a certain picture that I had my name on it.

At noon Bob led us out of the downtown core for a shopping experience at Cycle Barn where I not only discovered the perfect mesh jacket (of course not available in my size...), but also a Tourmaster Kevlar jeans on sales (Bargain! Had to purchase it...)

Here's the dialogue I had with the Sales guy:
SonjaM: I would like this yellow Olympia jacket in Lady's size L
Sales guy: We have S and M on stock
SonjaM: Do I look like an S or M?
Sales guy: Nooo...
SonjaM: Well, sarcastic tone on 'Thank you' sarcastic tone off
Sales Guy: We have the color grey in L and XL, did you try those?
SonjaM: Yeah, but I really would like the jacket in yellow...
Finally sales guy checked stock and came back with new information.
Sales Guy: We just received a delivery of men's jackets...

Long story short... I ordered the YELLOW Olympia for LADIES in MY size, and asked him to email or call me on arrival.

The last leg of our exciting tour was a relaxed meandering along HWY 9. Soon we parted ways, since we live in different parts of Vancouver area, Bob and his Wee were headed to Peace Arch border crossing, while Nella and I re-entered Canada at Sumas.

An epic journey comes to its end. Nella is resting in her usual spot in the parkade, waiting for weekend TLC. The odometer reads 2,145 km or 1,333 mi., and my scale reads... (I'm not telling, but a diet might be in order...)

Thanks to Bob, travel companion and tour guide, for making this tour possible. It has been fun.

North 101

It is time to turn around and head North, and we did so by riding the scenic byway which follows the coast line. Here are a few more snapshots from the road.

Head on

Adventure riders

Nella is a beach bum

Breathtaking

Lunchtime

More rocks

Yet another lighthouse

Last break before rush hour

In case one didn't notice: This is a croc-free and food-free post.

It was a long riding day and we were pretty down and out when we arrived at Tumwater, WA.

Chillin' on the wild Oregon coast

Today we were (for a change) not on a schedule, so we spent all day riding 'into the blue' as we say in German, when traveling without destination. We headed down south on HWY 101 and stopped many times to take lots of pictures and enjoy the sunny weather.

A riding day without agenda

Time for posing

Watching the water

at Devil's Punch bowl

Enjoying the beach

Line up for what?

Lighthouse (no fee)

Newport Bridge

Another pic stop

Chillin'

The end of a perfect riding day.