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Hi and welcome to my motorcycle trip blog. Here you will find motorcycle trip reports primarily based in the State of Washington and Idaho. Born and raised in Washington I have over 50 years of motorcycle experience. Enjoy the ride.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Olympic Peninsula Ride Report

My wife was away for two consecutive weekends recently so while the cat is away the King gets to play.

The first weekend I went to the Evergreen Air and Space Museum to see the Spruce Goose. Lots of fun.

The next weekend May 3rd, while most FJR peeps in the Pac Northwet were attending the FJR Forum Tech event in Auburn Washington, a most excellent event, I decided it was riding season not wrenching season. After all the weather was excellent and summer crowds are not out on the highways yet.

My buddy Brian and I decided to ride around the Olympic Peninsula a ride we did last year.

So what to say about the ride you did one year ago. What’s left to add? More pictures!
We meet a the Edmunds Kingston ferry in time for the 7:50 sailing. 

Photo of the Olympic Mountains from our ship.
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Approaching the Kingston ferry dock.
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It was a glorious day with temps in the mid ‘50 to upper ‘70 and maybe even low ‘80’s. Our route is the standard fare, across the Hood Canal Bridge, to Hwy 101 to Port Angeles. I dislike the slow going northward along Hwy 101, likely because my last and only ticket was along this stretch of road three years ago. It is boring to the nth degree. The fun starts after Port Angeles when we start down Hwy 112, a twisty little affair, with a few bumps following the Strait of Juan de Fuca. 

We reach Hwy 112 where Brian and I start playing photo tag. Here is my bike posed in a turn waiting for Brian.
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And here comes Brian.
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On her trip the wife had the little camera so today I was using my Canon DSLR with a 28-135 lens. I also have a 10-24 wide angle lens but it stayed at home today. Using the DSLR means I can get some nice photos of Brian today.
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And there he goes.
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Once again in a different set of turns.
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Brian really likes this one. In the full size image you can see the letters Honda above the headlamp. I got lucky and got the image sensor on him, plus the speed limit on this road is about 45 so it was easier to get a shot on the go.
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Here is a shot of moi.
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Rest stop at a scenic overlook at the ocean.
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I am getting a photo. Crawling up on the post was interesting in full gear given I have artificial grand toe joints that are mostly not flexible.
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A lighthouse in the distance.
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Another photo of me.
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Scenic overlook.

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And this is Washington State? 
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Brian along the ocean. I like this shot. Given this is rainy wet Washington I really like this shot.
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So we went to lunch at Kalaloch Lodge for a so so sandwich. At least mine was so so. I ordered a salmon burger. What I got was a salmon patty burger. We had a nice view at lunch though.
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After lunch our route took us to Wynoochee Dam. Believing the Garmin GPS with the latest maps we head down a paved Forest Service road. After a while it turns to gravel and we suck it up for eight miles. Humbug. Neither of us is thrilled by that but we make it the the dam in one piece. The dam is one of Brian’s target this year in the Washington State BMW club ride. Yeah yeah I know he has an Honda ST1300 with 130k miles. Perhaps they let him in because it is a high mileage bike and they are jealous??? 

After the dam it is getting late and we are getting tired. Instead of going up the fun part of Hwy 101 between Hoodsport and Quilcene we slab it back home. Turns out that was a good choice for there was a SUV vs motorcycle accident along Hwy 101. The SUV crossed into the oncoming lane and hit the motorcycle head on. The rider and pillion died at the scene.

A morbid way to end this story but that is how it ended.

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