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Whistler CCR 2009 : Photos courtesy of Tim, Elaine and Cobra.

Whistler CCR 2009

Photos courtesy of Tim, Elaine and Cobra.

Updated: Aug 18, 2009 7:12am PST

2009 Big Wood Ride :

2009 Big Wood Ride

Updated: Apr 21, 2009 5:55am PST

Isle of Vashon 2008 :

Isle of Vashon 2008

Updated: Sep 07, 2008 5:39pm PST

Colorado 2008 : The trip began with two flat tires for Ben, each on a separate day, an encounter with a semi for both of us (damage to the bikes and our time frame, but not us), hooking up with some members of our posse (a nod here to Mike for coining that one), and ending as it began...six of us heading back on our own routes home. And some great memories.

Colorado 2008

The trip began with two flat tires for Ben, each on a separate day, an ...

Updated: Sep 01, 2008 3:47pm PST

Advanced Street Skills 2008 :

Advanced Street Skills 2008

Updated: Jul 16, 2008 9:26am PST

Chief Joseph Rally 2008 :

Chief Joseph Rally 2008

Updated: Jun 23, 2008 4:02pm PST

Family :

Family

Updated: Jun 01, 2008 12:00pm PST

Oahu 2008 :

Oahu 2008

Updated: May 11, 2008 5:21pm PST

Maine 2007 :

Maine 2007

Updated: May 11, 2008 4:49pm PST

Yellowstone Sept. 2007 :

Yellowstone Sept. 2007

Updated: Sep 22, 2007 4:17pm PST

Home page :

Home page

Updated: Aug 19, 2007 1:22pm PST

CCR 2007, Menlo, WA :

CCR 2007, Menlo, WA

Updated: Jul 30, 2007 4:33pm PST

Yosemite June 2007 :

Yosemite June 2007

Updated: Jul 02, 2007 9:29am PST

Crater Lake 2001 :

Crater Lake 2001

Updated: Nov 12, 2006 2:23pm PST

National Canadian HOG Rally, Penticton, 2002 :

National Canadian HOG Rally, Penticton, 2002

Updated: Nov 12, 2006 2:19pm PST

Four Corners Trip 2002 : Grand Canyon, Zion, 4-Corners, Arches, Monument Valley, Crater Lake.

Four Corners Trip 2002

Grand Canyon, Zion, 4-Corners, Arches, Monument Valley, Crater Lake.

Updated: Nov 12, 2006 2:03pm PST

International Norton Rally 2003, Lumby B.C. : After having sent off his beloved '74 Norton Commando to Colorado Norton Works months earlier, it was agreed that Ben would be able to pick it up at the International Norton Rally in Lumby, B.C., and ride it home.

International Norton Rally 2003, Lumby B.C.

After having sent off his beloved '74 Norton Commando to Colorado Nort ...

Updated: Nov 12, 2006 1:28pm PST

Selkirk Loop B,.C., 2003 :

Selkirk Loop B,.C., 2003

Updated: Nov 12, 2006 12:48pm PST

The Coast Highway Tour 2005 : Coastal Run to San Diego; Valleys Run back Day 1 Thursday, June 9 – Aberdeen (or Hoquiam) WA. 145 miles. This was an afternoon departure, the idea being to get out of the Puget Sound area and truly on US-101. On the first day and a half we were accompanied by two riding buddies, Ron and Rolfe on their Road King and BMW, respectively. We were not too inconvenienced by the afternoon rush and ferry scheduling but finding decent lodging in Hoquiam was another issue. The one we had reservations for turned out to be below even our standards, which are not all that high. Day 2. Friday, June 10 – Florence, OR. 290 miles. It began to rain shortly after departure and continued almost all the way to Florence. Everyone else was smart enough to gear up earlier than I. We cut out the three-cape loop, since we could not have seen much anyway and got to our preferred motel in Florence pretty much on time. The last 20 miles or so featured some spotty petroleum slicks on our side of the road leading to general unhappiness for our party. I expect it was someone’s fuel leak and not oil. It didn’t cause any problems but once you are aware of such a thing, it remains in focus until it’s gone. Skies cleared at motel check-in and we had a good dinner in the old town strip only a few yards away. Day 3. Saturday, June 11 – Eureka, CA. 274 miles. We said goodbye to our posse who headed back northeast. We continued as two bikes down 101. Emerging from Oregon, we at first found little interesting along 101. The first tacky tourist trap to avoid was the Mystery Tree Paul Bunyan scenic blight. I have no idea what that was about and hope never to know. Some miles down the road though, Avenue of the Giants was definitely worth the deviation from 101. A nice breakfast was to be had about halfway through, right about the place where you can drive through a tree, if doing the tacky thing is, well, your thing. OK, mosey on down to Leggett and that’s where you turn off to California Highway 1. Insofar as possible, we stayed on that road all the way to San Diego except in those places where it re-merged with 101 or even I-5 way south. Anyway here was where the fun of riding began, twisties galore all the way to the Golden Gate. One feels fairly isolated on that coast, despite the general congestion in the state. I believe that most people cannot see north of Marin County, except perhaps for the burn-outs in Eureka. We got into town too soon and wasted a couple of good riding hours. But, we got out the next morning in plenty of time to avoid the tsunami that never happened anyway. Day 4. Sunday, June 12 – Half Moon Bay, CA 353 miles. This was the big day of the run down. We covered a lot of ground doing the coast with again many twisties going down. Then, as we exited Stinson Beach we had those two switchback-intense ridges to cover I had forgotten about. That stretch of the road is way over used and in pretty bad shape. Then we crossed Golden Gate Bridge at $5 per, and transited the city at a good time of day. We got a reasonable Holiday Inn Express at Half Moon Bay. This put us about half a day ahead and avoided SF at any rush hour. Day 5. Monday, June 13 – Santa Barbara, CA, 346 miles We continued down through Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel. Sure it is sacrilege, but we did not ride through the streets Monterey or pay for the famous 17 mile drive in Carmel. It looks to me like these so, so charming towns are perhaps too self-aware and are by now a bit precious. That will have to await another day when we have more time to waste Big Sur; now that was a nice stretch. It just doesn’t get any prettier than that. But here is a word to the wise; be fully fed, fueled, and watered before making that 90-odd mile run. You will be gouged in there should you stop for any of the above. For example, at the Gorda Beach fuel stop we got to pay $3.99 per gal. for premium. So, fuel up in Monterey/Carmel and last until San Luis Obispo or blue collar Lompoc if you can. Upon emerging from Big Sur, we found Piedras Blancas, a little cove with at least 100 elephant seals basking in the sun. A few miles farther, high in the hills, was the Hearst Mansion. I could must make out the spires. Just before Santa Barbara, we encountered some of the coldest fog I remember in a while. The motel looked good that night, though it was a little Motel 6 room in a suburb of Santa Barbara called Goleta. We ate at a Japanese restaurant across the street. Dinner was somewhat marred by the table full of UCSB students next to us. I never overheard such brainless claptrap out of anyone over 12 before. Yes, I have heard it before; believe I was a freshman at the time, but that is another subject. Day 6. Tuesday, June 14, San Diego, CA, 231 miles Continuing down 101 we were looking to resume California 1. Construction in Oxnard had that exit closed without so much as a recommended alternative. Fortunately, I remembered NAS Pt. Mugu and knew that we could pick up the Pacific Highway right about at the main gate. That achieved, off we went through Malibu. You know, apart from glancing at the occasional beach scene, one really might as well avoid that run. It simply doesn’t measure up to reputation and the road is pretty beat up. Moreover, unless you already know where things are tucked away, there is nowhere to eat or fuel. Most of what there is sits on the inland side. Gladstone’s at the foot of Sunset Boulevard is OK, but spendy and seems a little over-impressed with its own location. We continued with Pacific Coast Highway (now tracking along Sepulveda Blvd.) to the rest of the beach communities. You might want to slab that until the Huntington Beach area. That would certainly save some time…too much clutching…low quality ride, and it was the hottest part of the entire journey with light, after light, after light. It becomes much nicer from Newport on down to San Clemente, but again there are lots of lights. Then, suddenly, there is no choice at all but I-5, the first Interstate we had seen in days. We found we had to do 85 to keep from being passed on the right side, let alone the left; just jungle rules. It is positively hairy on I-5 until you can peel off to the beach in Oceanside. This was combat. The drivers were all alone, all on cell phones, and going after one another hammer and tongs, with little ol’ motorcycles seen as mere debris between targets. They love splitting a pair, so we defensively got into the Ponce and John formation. By the way, no real CHiPs to be seen. There hasn’t been a speeding ticket issued on that freeway since 1985. Hmm; perhaps I exaggerate. While Caren gave her middle left finger a workout, I was looking for muzzle flashes. After several murderous attempts on our persons and machinery, we escaped into Oceanside and stopped squeezing black juice out of the grips. You know, when you see a huge 4X4 Ford 250 pick-up with big knobbies towing a boat, doing 90 plus, it tells me the price of gasoline is not high enough for some folks, not nearly. Yeah, yeah; another subject. Again there are nice towns down through Del Mar…I’m afraid it’s effectively all one town now though. Oh, did I mention lights? Days 7-10 Wednesday through Saturday, San Diego Saw lots of friends, which of course is of no interest to anyone but me. Day 11. Sunday, June 19, Pleasanton, CA, 481 miles This was all about getting home and was a straight bash up I-5. Right in the middle of LA, Caren had one of those mysterious shut-downs. Her Dyna just quit at about 70. After pulling onto the left side berm and turning the key off and on, she got it restarted and we resumed. It was a good thing traffic was light at that time, light for LA that is. I-5 through the big valley is straight as a clothesline with gas stops spaced 20 miles apart at minimum and sometimes nearly 40. Wear a face mask or bandanna if you can. In the San Joaquin you are breathing nothing but pesticide and fertilizer, sometimes freshened by manure in huge feed lots. The entire region will be a brown field one day, but that is one of those other subjects again. Arrived a couple of hours earlier than I expected in Pleasanton, dinner with cousin Gayle. Day 12. Monday, June 20, Roseburg, OR, 474 miles This was another long valley run up I-5, this time the Sacramento. At least the second half of the day got more interesting as we began the Mt. Shasta foothills area and penetrated the Siskiyous. Yreka, last town in CA, seems to be sun-baked every time I have seen it. Day 13. Tuesday, June 21, Home, 364 miles We got nearly to Olympia before cage drivers began trying to kill us again. We hadn’t seen that sort of hostility on I-5 since the I-5/I-805 merge in San Diego County. Then, in the insult to injury category, we had to suit up in the Ft. Lewis area for rain but the cloudburst didn’t really begin until 30 minutes after we had garaged the bikes. Ah, we were home, safe and sound. Totals: 1,639 miles down via the coast and 1,319 home via the big slab. There is little doubt which is the more pleasant route and which is the fastest.

The Coast Highway Tour 2005

Coastal Run to San Diego; Valleys Run back Day 1 Thursday, June 9  ...

Updated: Nov 12, 2006 12:40pm PST

Southwest Tour 2006 :

Southwest Tour 2006

Updated: Nov 11, 2006 3:02pm PST

Isle of Vashon 2006 : I took the trusty old Norton to the annual VME Isle of Vashon TT, August 27. The following observations obtain. 1. On the ride to the ferry, I rode behind a right-hand mounted BMW-sidecar rig. Rather startling to see him take left hand turns (no passenger). That sidecar tire will last forever given how little time it spent on the pavement. 2. The guy next to me on the ferry over to Vashon had a freshly built Triton with all of 67 miles on it. He had no side stand and his center stand lacked a return spring. So, whenever he had to start, he had to make sure someone was standing by to hold the bike so he could cable-tie the stand. On the ferry, that someone was me, and I thought how this promised to be the beginning of an interesting day. The sidecar guy came over and asked, "Issues?" That is probably the standard greeting between owners of classic vehicles of any kind. 3. 30 odd bikes began starting a good 100 yards from the dock. The ferry people did not mind. After all, the last thing they want is a couple of recalcitrant bikes blocking the whole ferry. 4. A guy with an old Matchless was the first to kick his; there was a loud report about equivalent to a .50 cal rifle as his baffle went skittering across the deck. As near as I could tell, no one actually jumped overboard for cover. Later, on the streets of Vashon, someone thanked him for that "homeland security moment." 5. No vendors. That is, there were no leather kiosks or other folderol that so clutter other rallies and bike shows. That was refreshing; this was all about the bikes and riders. 6. There was a tow truck ad prominently displayed in the registration handout. I expect it was used before the day was done. I stood around downtown for an hour and took several incompetent photos. 7. Upon registering in the event, you are registered in the poker run whether you want it or not. Might as well do it. Off I go, Steve by-God Mcqueen. 8. Initially, I followed an ancient H-D or Indian from the 20s, not the fastest bike on the island, but ya gotta love the smell of burning motor oil in the morning. 9. Never follow a gaggle of bikes under the assumption they know where they are going. 10. It is possible to get lost on Vashon, an island only about 13 miles by 8. (See item 9) 11. Upon dead-ending in a little beachside park, I saw a woman dump an old Honda 400 in gravel. I was tempted to go over to her and quip, "Issues?" but thought better of it. She didn't need my wisecrack; she was already lost. (See item 10). 12. Took my own counsel; left on my own and discovered it is possible to get lost on Vashon a second time. This time I went only about a mile out of my way; upon running out of island I eventually blundered into checkpoint 4. 13. Poker runs will take longer than you think (see items 8 through 12). 14. The final stop was next to the cemetery. Nice touch, that. This dirt nap resort was nearly in the center of the island. I figure it's convenient for the locals. If you are feeling poorly, you just start walking inland; probably saves a lot of work on the part of family and friends. 15. Upon leaving the final stop I passed a guy head-on who was on an old Triumph. He had the checked paddock jacket like mine, only it was so worn it looked like a 60s/70s original, not a retro. He also had a Davida helmet like mine, but with a solid stripe vs. checks. It is truly weird to be slowly riding by what looks like yourself 30 years ago. On the other hand, his bike and gear may have been brand new when he started the poker run (see item 13). Perhaps it was me. 16. During the return ferry trip, some kid bashed his Ford Bronco into the sedan in front of him, losing both his headlight lens and her tail light. Either that, or she backed into him. Either way they had an "issue." It was gratifying to see the only debris on the deck during disembarkation belonged to cars, not the old bikes. It was indeed an interesting day.

Isle of Vashon 2006

I took the trusty old Norton to the annual VME Isle of Vashon TT, Augu ...

Updated: Aug 29, 2006 12:19pm PST