California Days 3&4

					California - days 3&4 Montana, Idaho, Washington

Navigate using the bars above or buttons below [ Up ] [ California Trip Days 1&2 ] [ California Days 3&4 ] [ California Days 5&6 ] [ California Days 7&8 ] [ California Days 9,10&11 ]

Sunday 8-22-04: Shelby, MT to Lewiston, ID With a long day behind us, Sunday was going to be pure tourist. Of course we underestimated a few things. The first being that the Going to the Sun road through Glacier would be closed due to a mudslide. Being wise we had called ahead from Shelby and found out it was closed at mile 14 from the east and mile 28 from the west. We thought the most Bang for our buck would be coming in from the West. Glacier was beautiful but I really do want to see the East side some day. After spending some extended time and picture taking in Glacier we wanted to get to Lolo pass into Idaho. We took a more rural route to Missoula which bypassed Kalispell. The road was great except for some slow tourist traffic and some frustrated locals. After Seeley lake the road was quite wonderful. Great sweeping corners we had never expected. After Missoula we climbed up to Lolo Pass. Lolo Pass isn't well known outside of motorcycle circles, but when a sign promises 77miles of curves it is the stuff of legends to motorcyclists. Lolo Pass tops out at 5200feet. Not that impressive as mountain passes go, but it drops all the way to 800 feet on the western side. Quite odd. The corners were mostly non technical but very fun sweepers. Unfortunately it started to rain shortly after leaving the summit. Our speeds were much closer to the limit than they normally would've been with the rain. We were even passed by a logging truck. The 77mile curve sign is deceiving. The road is pretty curvy all the way to Lewiston 180miles away. The rain and the darkness that set in turned the last 80miles into a chore. We didn't arrive into Lewiston until 11pm on Sunday. All the restaurants had closed and we were limited to a barely pop dinner at a local bar. This ended up being a blessing in disguise. The owner bought us a round and a local Bmw rider (looked like a Harley rider), Lonnie, helped route us through some nice roads to Seattle the following day. Interestingly, Lonnie was a member of a motorcycle group called the Airheads while our closest group affiliation would be the Team Strange Airheads. I think there is a story behind that.

Day 3: 560miles

Pictures: Click the thumbnails to enlarge

Coming up to the Rocky Mountains	It's so odd, they really pop right up from the plains.	Coming into the town of East Glacier	Train heading into the pass.


Highway 2 through the Rockies			Gas stop in West Galcier


The ground was wet but we had avoided any rain	Almost to the end of the 28mile stretch we could access.	Traffic got heavy at the turn around point.	The ranger telling all the idiots (us) to turn around.


We stopped to take some pictures on the way back down	Carrie loves here streams	Hey Kerry, take one more step back....	Oh no! we killed Kerry! (reoccurring theme continues once more)


The Hanson's and a mountain stream	Paul poses for the mandatory mountain shot.	There were signs saying not to do this. Paul is a product of a North Dakota higher education though.	Water


more water	What else can I say besides WATER!	Lake McDonald.	It was so still and clear.


Postcard material here	Many would kill for a water ski here.	The water has a blueish tint from the minerals carried down from the mountains.	I handily won the water skipping contest with 278 skips.


If a bike fell in the forest would you hear it?	The western foot of the Rockies.	Useless Triva: Like Arden Hills, MN, Seeley Lake, MT also has a Lindeys Prime Steak house.	The Junction of 209 and 200 heading into Missoula.


200 into Missoula was cool. Great conditions and nice sweepers	The top of Lolo pass	Lewis and Clark were here too.	The weather moves through here fast.


Obligatory 77miles of curves sign	Carrie gets here 77miles in	So does Paul. This sign was within a mile from the summit heading west.	The rain started but the curves were smooth and predictable. Much like Poudre Canyon in Colorado except with more trees.

Monday 8-23-04: Lewiston, ID to Seattle, WA After getting some great advice from our new friend Lonnie in Lewiston, we had a route planned out for Monday. We would cut across Washington avoiding the freeway and try to get into Seattle around 6pm. Lonnie had good things to say about Steven's pass. We had hoped to have went through the Cascades National Park but we would've missed some good Seattle drinking/eating time. A standout location of the trip greeted us immediately upon leaving Lewiston. An older, less used section of the highway north out of town has50some curves in 3miles. What a great way to wake up. I don't know what I had expected from the state of Washington but I was very pleasantly surprised. The eastern half was golden fields of grain. The further west the more volcanic and rugged it became. A trucker we were following out of Lewiston gave us some further tips and verified the route that Lonnie had helped us with was good. CB's are awesome when traveling. Approaching the foot of the Cascades was very scenic. A varied terrain with heavy volcanic overtones produced wine grapes, apples, and other fruits planted on the edge of desert conditions. The town of Leavenworth was sight to see as well. Although I'm sure it Germanic heritage is not as strong as some towns in Wisconsin it building codes were much stricter. Every building in the town was built to a Disneyland Code of what German should be. Stevens Pass was the epitome of a Cascade mountain pass. Dry on the east, tropical on the west. The road was fast and the curves exhilarating. We rolled into Seattle on schedule and found a Red Lion Inn downtown very close to the wharfs. We had dinner at a restaurant called Cutter's Bayhouse right on the bay. My Cedar plank roasted King Crab Legs were delicious. Best meal of the trip by a long ways.

Monday: 370miles

Pictures: Click the thumbnails to enlarge

8am. Time for some curves!!	The old spiral highway was awesome	The view as it climbs is also sepctactular.


The eye! Funny how I can ride and take pictures without watching the road. I guess a Goldwing does drive itself.	Getting close to the top now.	The RT stands proud at the top

Click to enlarge
Panorama of the Old Spiral Highway This is a panorama made of 5 images


A smaller overview of the road up.	Ron's GL1800	Carrie gives here enthusiastic approval	All smiles after that


The sign is a little understated for opposite traffic	The friendly truck driver in the front of this pack talked to us for over 30minutes with route advice. He was a motorcyclist also. CB's rock!	Golden fields of grain in Washington.	Our first wildlife encounter of the trip. This deer scurries from our path.


Getting into a more volcanic region of Washington around Washtucna	Ohh. Laavvvaaahh.	Odd trees planted in the fields	Around here a strong smell infiltrated our helmets. Washington grows Mint!


A small stretch of Freeway felt odd.	The exit towards Quincy was a good stop for gas and a sandwich. Paul preferred trail mix lunches throughout the trip.	Grape vines for wine. Washington produces some good wines. Every hear of Columbia Crest?	The Columbia River around Rock Island.


A great valley	With a small dam	We thought the rock retaining wall was a creative use of natural resources.	Kerry sits at a street light in Wanatchee


Coming up to the Cascade Mountains	Leavenworth sits at the bottom of the mountains. Is this German or what?	The valley begins as Leavenworth ends	Approaching the top of Stevens Pass


There is even some 4lanes in spots	The roads are fast downhill	very fast	A detour takes us over a wooden bridge


The forest is seems enchanted on the detour	The Cascades are dramatic	Waterfalls and all


See Kerry, they do have odd road markings here	Heading into Seattle	Very odd for the motorcycles to be indoors on this trip. The floor was slippery like bacon grease.	Fancy Smancy hotel. Boy did we look out of place in an Aerostitch.


The rooms were very plush	Downtown Seattle	The bus even says so	The fish market is closed. That's a good thing. My saddlebags were already smelling funky.


Seattle shipyards	The crew on the Seattle wharf	Dinner at Cutter's	Food was excellant


	The streets are very steep next to the ocean.	Neat little street in Seattle.
[ Up ] [ California Trip Days 1&2 ] [ California Days 3&4 ] [ California Days 5&6 ] [ California Days 7&8 ] [ California Days 9,10&11 ]
All trademarks used are properties of their respective owners Copyright ©1998-2004, Ron Hanson. All rights reserved Last edited 10/07/2004