I have rode the FJR twice after returning home from the Southwest FJR Owner’s group ride in Colorado at the end of June. I was tired of motorcycling, burnt out even. Over the last 7 years I have rode 120,000 miles on two bikes. I got the FJR new in Feb, 2010 and it now has 47,000 miles on it.
I spent this summer golfing, hiking and Mt. Biking looking for a better balance. I found it too. I even did some stuff I never did before such as ride my Mt. Bike through a 2.3 mile long tunnel which goes under Snoqualmie Pass. Along the way I lost 10 pounds and the goal is to lose another 10 too.
Motorcycling is not completely out. The wife and I were planning on going the the FJR ride to eat in La Pine, Oregon, but she broke her foot a week before scuttling those plans. The surgery today to repair her broken bone went well.
Post surgery she can't bear weight on her foot for four weeks so I will be doing double duty so a Kiss off Summer Ride seemed appropriate given the blue skies and moderate temps. The idea was to ride some roads not rode often. So I picked roads near theKlickitat Canyon and Wind River Hwy and the famous road to Windy Ridge east of Mt. St. Helens all offering some spectacular scenery and twisties.
With these two road as my destinations all I had to do was paste together the rest of the route. A perfect little day ride.
I leave home at 5:00am and was greeted with fog at Snoqualmie Pass and cool temps. After the pass the temps continue to drop and in Cle Elum it was 36 degrees, still dark out and my heated grips were on high. Good thing I took the winter gloves and I was wishing I had my electric jacket too. It was so cold out I was only getting 3 bars on the engine temperature gauge at 70 mph - I usually have 4 bars or 5 bars when the temps are 80+. Between Ellensburg and Yakima it started to warm up. Yeeh!
I arrive in Goldendale fill up the gas tank and get some breakfast at McDonalds at 8:15. The coffee is good and inexpensive. Take that Starbucks.
Near Goldendale Mt. Hood is looking good.
As is Mt. Adams
The temps warm up to the 50’s and 60's - Yahoo. Now I can enjoy the views along the Glenwood Goldendale Hwy without the chill where I see the the Klickitat Canyon, Mt. Hood, Mt Adams. Good pavement too! It is rumored Bigfoot lives here too.
All I saw was this character. (BeemerDons from the FJR Forum).
Before dropping into the Klickitat canyon Mt Adams made an appearance.
Glenwood Goldendale Hwy - a Destination Hwy
Mt. Hood above Klickitat Canyon.
More views of Mt. Adams.
I ride down BZ Corner Glenwood Hwy where it joins State Hwy 141 and continue to the Columbia River where I get a view of Snaggletooth aka Mt. Hood.
It is a short drive along the Columbia River on Hwy 14 and just before Cougar I calculate I will have enough gas to ride up to Windy Ridge before getting gas in Randle. This means I will have less weight along some twisty and bumpy roads. Nice!
Windy River Hwy is twisty like this for six blissful miles.
I like it so much it merits two photos. A Destination Hwy
After Wind River it is on to Windy Ridge aka Forest Service Road 99. It is Thursday in September with little traffic on the road. It does not get better than this.
FS 99 on the way to Windy Ridge. I shot this photo in August 2006. There is much more vegetation now.
FS 99. I shot this photo July 2007 and it my GPS' boot image. The small saplings along side of the road are no longer small and are reducing the sight lines, sticking out 2 feet into the road and are 6 feet high in places. Go there soon to get the best this road has to offer.
FS 99. How about a volcano with your twisties?
I get to the Windy Ridge Overlook and take a break before continuing back on this fabulous road. Then it is northbound on Forest Service Road 25. The contrast between FS 99 and FS 99 is like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide. FS 25 northbound to Randle is an awful road with bone jarring potholes that will test your suspensions limits.
On to Packwood where I get gas and head toward Cayuse Pass where I shoot this photo of Mt. Rainier (aka the Million Dollar shot).
I arrive at home in about one more hour having given the summer my best kiss off.
