Rolling to Places

2011-04-17T08:48:00.001-07:00

Test

2011-04-17T08:43:00.001-07:00

Test

Vancouver Island & the Sunshine Coast

2009-07-19T08:20:00.000-07:00

Day 1, 7/12, Home to Victoria, BC
Met up with Steve as planned at the Fire station in Edgewood on time, then the wife called to say she had found my missing Insurance card for Canada. She was kind enough to meet up with us so I'd have it if necessary. Route today was super-slab to make 12:00 ferry which we just made.
Packed and ready to go, starting point, Supermall in Auburn, WA

Photo courtesy of Debbie

Last ones on ferry, just made it

Jet skier chasing ferries around

Light on point in narrow passage

Another shot of light
Motel at Victoria Harbour

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Home to Victoria, BC
End day 1

Day 2, 7/13, Victoria, BC to Tofino, BC
Once out of Victoria, route was good. Lot's of great scenery and roads. Probably the unique part of this day was Coombs, BC which is a real attraction with many small shops, all with sod roofs where several Goats make home. The road into Tofino is great, scenic with some gradual sweepers along with some tight ones going through coastal range before dropping to beach area.

The Bastian

Crazy fun house in Coombs, BC

Incinerator Rock? At Long Beach Tofino, BC

Another beach shot

Marina somewhere ?

Tofino motel
Cannon in the upper Bastion
Some Totems

This is in Coombs, BC Real gimmick, has goats living on sod covered roof-tops

Big Billy Goat

Smaller, or younger goats

The Goat Hut on roof-top

Another shot of the big guy

Woodpecker that caught my attention as I was eating apple

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Victoria, BC to Tofino, BC
End Day 2

Day 3, 7/14, Tofino, BC to Port McNeill
Another great day of riding. Found our route taking us back to the East side of Island and along the coast Hwy North. Beautiful scenery as everywhere so far. Made stop in Sayward where we had a deer cross main street in front of us, unfortunately no picture. The road into and out of Tofino is fantastic although I wouldn't want to be riding it in wet weather. Stopped into Telegraph Cove hoping to get room for night but wasn't promising so we pushed onto Port McNeill.

Mountain line along our route

Bikes along spot we stopped for picture op

Lake ?

Another mountain shot

Steve rolling along

Pub we stopped at in Woss, BC

Logging Mill at Telegraph Cove, just missed getting pic of Big Elk here

Our new friend Alex whom we met in Tofino and caught up with again in Port McNeill. Alex has been on a 5 month holiday throughout Canada & Alaska by both automobile and motorcycle. He's from Germany and owns a Sports Supply outfit. Great guy and interesting to talk with. See you in 4 years Alex!

Motel in Port McNeill

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Tofino, BC to Port McNeill, BC
End day 3

Day 4, 7/15, Port McNeill, BC to Lund, BC
Day started foggy out, temps not to bad though. Rode North to Port Hardy expecting to see lots of Bears, unfortunately we saw none, at least not until we had turned around headed for Port Alice. We got rain just before Port Hardy. Rode out to Port Alice was great, nice pavement and some twisties, to bad there isn't another route back out although I'm not complaining.

Morning fog in Port McNeill

Fly fisherman below bridge crossing Marble River

Bear just off Hwy between Port Hardy & Port Alice turn-off

Bear ......
Bear ......

Port Alice welcome sign

Looking North from Port Alice

Visitor at Port Alice

Steve's new friend

Bear at Sayward Junction

Bike Rental & Repair sign

Lake along route

Going fishing from Lund harbour

Lund Hotel

Another Lake shot

Totem

Totem sign

Bear Cove
Port Hardy Welcome sign

Light on point at Port Hardy

Marble River

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From Port McNeill, BC to Lund, BC
End day 4

Day 5, 7/16, Lund, BC to Vancouver
Woke to what looked like improved weather, started with jackets by Vancouver we were in Tee-shirts and high 80's temps. We traveled the Sunshine Coast today to Vancouver taking 2 ferries. Great ride and scenic, colorful travel, gentle sweepers most the way with gorgeous water travel amongst many islands.

Mark on Boardwalk at the Lund Hotel

Ferry wake

Dueling picture taker

Mountains from the water

Another mountain shot from water

Totem at Powell River

Palm & flowers in Powell River

The flowers

Some make-shift scene where wood carvings were along roadway in Campbell River

Wood carving along water in Campbell River

The "Griffin Pub", great place while waiting for ferry departure

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Slyvia Hotel, Vancouver
Waiting for ferry to unload so we could board

1944 shot of the Yale Hotel, hasn't changed much. Blues entertainment
HQ for Vancouver

Magic Slim, Blues guitarist with band The Teardrops we caught at the Yale Hotel in Vancouver

Sylvia Hotel on water in Vancouver

View of the "Celebration of Lights" barge from our room

Neighborhood shot from hotel room

Mark's turn at keeping watch

Getting set to sail again

View of what lies ahead

Steve got this shot of Tug passing by

Mark going after chips

Steve taking watch

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From Lund, BC to Vancouver, BC
End of Day 5

Day 6, 7/17, Vancouver to home
Weather was hot today! Some advise, don't take Hwy 1A out of Vancouver unless your looking for some good Chinese food. To many stop lights and road surface not so great. We goofed at our route and were approaching the Peace Arch border crossing with signage telling us there was a 2 hour wait. We took exit and pulled off to see where we went wrong, a jogger was passing and we stopped him for help. With his help, and suggested route over to Aldergrove crossing, we took "0" avenue which was about 10 miles of country scenery and a definite option to avoid the traffic. Made it to crossing and had no real wait time at all.

At the Aldergrove, BC border crossing headed back into Washington, USA

Beverage stop in Cedarville, WA along Hwy 9

Last stop before home, Carnation, WA

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From Vancouver to home

My vote, and I think Steve will agree, Sleeman Brown Honey Lager won out as favorite beverage this ride :)

End of run, great companionship,6 great days and approximately miles

HSVROC 09'

2009-06-06T08:37:00.000-07:00

It's with Don "VSP's" patience, and a couple training sessions, I'm attempting to create this blog, Enjoy ....

Day 1, 6/2, Bonney Lake, WA to Bend, OR
No picture taking today as weather was so iffy we didn't stop much with exception at Castle Rock, WA for coffee with Nana & Bompa.

Route taken;

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End Day 1

Day 2, 6/3, Bend, OR to Gerlach, NV
Left Bend just about 09:00 traveled south through La Pine, OR. then headed southeast on OR SR-31 which is called the Oregon Outback Scenic Byway. Not a bad road at all with the exception of long stretches that I didn't find to scenic. Made stop in Lakeview, OR where nice woman struck conversation with us and let us know that our intended route over Fandango Pass (CR-9) was a loose dirt road, ugh! We, or I should say me, was willing to still go for it but fortunately for Debbie we missed the turn off and instead traveled CA SR-299 to Ceaderville, CA, then southward on SR-447 arriving approximately 4:30 in Gerlach, NV for a night stay at "Bruno's". All I can say about Gerlach is I've now been there, and the Burning Man event is hosted out of there.

Again, no pictures taken today but following is a short 3min video along OR Outback Scenic Byway SR-31

Route taken;

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End Day 2

Day 3, 6/4, Gerlach, NV to Topaz Lake, NV
Rolled approximately 09:00 and continued south on SR-447 through Fernley onto US-50 Alt then US-95 Alt on through Yerington to SR-208 west to Topaz Lake

Some pictures;
Don "VSP" #5569, Debbie Mrs Grumpa, Russ "Papa Russ" #26591

Don "Penmaker" #7446 getting prepared for the expected weather front

"Grumpa" #8637 & the Mrs with "Papa Russ"

Bill ""Cranky" #16804 arriving

Jim #26 arriving

Some of the 1st day gang, Phil "Einstein" #9925, "Penmaker", "Papa Russ", Cranky", "VSP", "KC"Sign

Route taken;

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End Day 3

Day 4, 6/5, Tour led by "Slots".

Our one & only "Epibunny" #8079 All the way from Spokane, WA and rolling to KY rally from HSVROC ..... Have a great time Epi
Some of the Gang headed out with Slots

The "Old Guys" conspiring before rolling

Lined up ready to roll 09:00

Our Tour Guide "Slots" "Penmaker" "Einstein" "Papa Russ"
Phil "Cranky"Wes #29026
Jim
The famous Wabuska Bar

The favorite bartender at the Wabuska

Shot from last position

Stop just for Grumpa, had never been to a "Body Shop"

Shot obviously through mirror along Hwy 50 maybe

Coming into Virgina City

VROC Gang parked

Debbie's new friend "Festus"

Self explantory

Oldest Saloon in NevadaAnother shotAn inside shotGrumpa & Mrs relaxing

Just showing the clouds hanging at mountain top just waiting to come our way and dump on us, too bad it doesn't show the wind we were putting up with

Another road shot of the Gang

More wicked cloud shot

BS'ing around parking lot

Here's the proud owner of new Voyager, Howard "NiteLite" with Slots on left, wife Linda & daughter Laura

More BS'ing

Cat & Jim
End Day 4

Day 5, 6/6

Spent day hanging around motel, weather was less than desirable and we had a long haul to look forward to on Sunday. No pictures other than a few from our motel room.

End of day 5

Day 6, 6/7 Topaz Lake, NV to Mt. Shasta, CA

Woke to clear skies and what looked to be best weather day so far. Traveled SR-89 begining
at Monitor Pass, around So. Lake Tahoe, and eventually to Mt. Shasta. All in all a good day.

View of Topaz Lake along US-395 just across the CA border

SR-89 along Emerald Bay

A look out to Emerald Bay ... This section of route is one of Debbie's favorites, way up there and very narrow

Shoreline along Lake Tahoe

This guy was "drafting" along with me at about 50mph, he got even closer and Debbie could have reached out and slapped him. Made me nervous, never had a bicycle tailgating me and pushing me along.

Rest stop along SR-89 came across a couple "Wingers" who had a picnic set up. Looked like they were hauling enough stuff to be out a month. Very nice folks, offered us a cool beverage and chatted with us while we rested.

Not sure where this was along route showing mountains in distance.

Stretch of Hwy getting close to Lake Almanor maybe

End of long day
End of day 6

Day 7, 6/8 Mt. Shasta, CA to Depoe Bay, OR

Mt Shasta peaking above motel roof in the morning

Bike ready to roll another day

These guy's were enjoying morning breakfast without squabbling

Mt Shasta behind us, next destination Reedsport, OR

Section of I-5 north through CA

Thought this was neat toy worthy of pic

Not sure of the name for this formation, just found it somewhat out of place for surroundings

OR SR-138 along Umpqua River

Another shot of the Umpqua River

Just coming into Reedsport, OR. Excellent viewing spot that I've always been able to spot Elk.

Hope this was after Reedsport, think we were getting close to Gardiner, OR?

Shot of the OR coast which we really enjoy and find amazingly scenic

End of day 7

Day 8, 6/9, Depoe Bay, OR to Home

Trollers Lodge, last overnight of this trip

Little guy who was just outside our rooms door

Morning stop for coffee, looks like Poker Run maybe

One of the many scenic shots that are so plentiful along OR coast

View coming to Astoria bridge, our home state of WA on the other side

There's Washington

WA side of Columbia river along WA SR-401

Looking back at OR across Columbia river nearing the end of our run this time around.

Had a great time together with freinds and seeing our great landscape. Hoping that next HSVROC is back and the weather comes around for all.

Hopefully my blogging skills will improve too !!! Gotta learn the movie thing some more, and not over-dueing it with photos.

Home

End to HSVROC 09'