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| Day 1 - Santa Clara, CA Day 2 - Eureka, CA Day 3 - Florence, OR Day 4 - Poulsbo, WA Day 5 - Poulsbo, WA Day 6 - Sandpoint, ID Day 7 - Kalispel, MT Day 8 - Sulfer Springs, MT Day 9 - Jackson, WY Day 10 - Orem, UT Day 11- Estes Park, CO Day 12 - High. Ranch, CO Day 13 - High. Ranch, CO Day 14 - Richland, UT Day 15 - Lee Vining, CA EPILOGUE |
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| This is where Linda gets off. She will
fly home tomorrow or the next day. From here on out, I ride solo.
I leave Brian and Tami’s shortly after 8:00 a.m. and head towards
Kingston to catch the ferry to Edmonds. I must be living right since
I get there just as the last cars are loading. I barely get the bike
parked in a regular car space on the starboard side (Not up front
where they usually put the motorcycles.) when the ferry leaves (photo
1). The ferry ride to Edmonds takes only 25 minutes so I get a breakfast muffin and then back to my bike. In all my gear, it’s too hot to sit inside so head back down below to the car deck and sit on the backseat of my bike, lean against the backrest, shut my eyes and try to get some rest. When we get to Edmonds, I take Hwy.104 to Interstate 5 for a short trip north. I’m already learning that I don’t like freeway traffic. It’s just a short ride to Hwy 524, to 522, and then Hwy 2. Hwy. 2 is the secondary highway I will take all the way to Sandpoint, Idaho, and then on to Glacier National Park in Montana. I’ve guessed right again, and Hwy. 2 turns out to be a pleasant way to see central Washington.
It’s been misting/drizzling since halfway to Kingston. As the ferry arrives on the Edmonds side, it starts to drizzle/rain seriously as I head up into the Cascade Range. It’s also getting colder. I stop at a Fred Meyers store in Murray, Washington to buy some thermal underwear. I change in the men’s room and then back on the road. As I climb towards Steven’s Pass I pass a whole flock of bicyclist, most in Lycra shorts, and I reluctantly admit to myself that these folks are made of sterner stuff than I. I can’t imagine how they can be having fun in this weather The wet, winding road keeps me cautious. I slow down on the curves and try to drive on the drier tire strips in the slow lane. I reach the top at 4400 ft., which isn’t too high by California standards, but I’m glad to head down the other side, in any case. As I start to reach the bottom of the mountain, the road crosses the Skynomish River several times. At about this time, the sun stumbles out from between a cloud-covered sky and the rain/drizzle stops. About fifty miles from Leavenworth, Washington and I enter an appealing little valley that runs right alongside the river. The river and the road lead to Levenworth. Leavenworth, Washington is a jumping place. Lots of cars and people crowd the streets (photos 2, 3 & 4). I make a slow turn right into the downtown area, park the bike, and go to find a place to get some lunch. Since the theme of this town is kind of a re-creation of a Bavarian village, I decide on the German Potato soup in a bread bowl. I must admit I’m surprised that it’s so good. Thirty minutes out of Leavenworth and the land is getting drier. It starts to look, in places, just like Nevada as the road winds around some bluffs that remind me of Utah. Slowly the road straightens out and I enter rolling farm country. The various farms seem to be growing wheat, oats, and alfalfa. This is some scenic country in its own right. Much of it consists of gently rolling hills and is prettier than Eastern Oregon or California. I’m making good time now. The road takes me by Coulee Lake and near the Grand Coulee Dam and I pass lots of cars with ski boats attached. I thought I would stay in Spokane tonight but when I get there its only 4:00 p.m. The fella where I buy gas tells me it’s only an hour and a half to Sandpoint, Idaho. Spokane is a large, noisy city and the idea of staying there when I might be able to stay in a small town, appeals to my sense of order. Might as well go for it. My butt’s a little tired but I still have a few more miles in me. The road to Sandpoint, for the most part is a good one. The scenery gets to be higher rolling hills and forest again. Just before we get to Sandpoint the road turns to crap as they are grading about five miles worth. This is far worse than the rainy roads from this morning. This road is “loose gravel” and I drive in the tire tracks to keep from sliding on my butt. The thought of dumping my new motorcycle keeps me nervous and the five miles seem to take forever. Back on dry pavement and finally into Sandpoint where I get a motel room right on the water facing the marina (photo 5, 6, & 7). After settling in I call Bob Harris to see how he is getting along. Bob was the Director of Adult Education before me. He retired at age 56 to East Hope, just a few miles down the lake. In fact, he is now mayor of the town.
He has recently had surgery for breast cancer and I want to drop by on this trip to see how he is getting along. We have a nice conversation but he is tired from his chemo treatments so I tell him I will call him in the morning before leaving. I haven’t eaten much today so it’s time to treat myself to a good meal. I decide to go to a restaurant that I can see from my balcony on the other side of the marina, called “Spuds.” I have a delightful halibut dinner and go back to my room to call Linda (photo 8). We talk around 9:00 p.m. then I read some and go to bed. This has been out to be a pretty good day and I’ve covered 376 miles. |
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