PNW area thread: someone left the bike out in the rain

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Automotive Insanity > Cycle Asylum > PNW area thread: someone left the bike out in the rain

B.Wales!: Nov 17, 2008

Could anyone offer some insight on riding on Vancouver Island? Or from the island along the coast to say, San Francisco area? I'll be moving there in the spring from Toronto and am looking forward to generally better weather, traffic, roads and more interesting scenery. I currently have a Honda CB1100 but am looking to get something a little more sport-touring oriented once I get there (read: Yamaha FJ-09). Just wondering if anyone knew of some good routes or destinations on the island or in the vicinity? I was thinking that for any trips south it would make more sense to take the bike across on the ferry in the bed of my truck and offload it somewhere around Astoria and go from there. Looks mostly like superslabs anyway until that point, but I could be wrong. Definitely want to do lots of riding in Oregon also. Thanks.

B.Wales! fucked around with this message at 23:55 on Jan 14, 2016

# ¿ Jan 14, 2016 23:50

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# ¿ May 3, 2024 05:27

B.Wales!: Nov 17, 2008

clutchpuck posted:

I don't know much about Vancouver Island but I've done a bunch of touring in California down to Pismo and all over Oregon.

Motorcycles generally get preferential treatment on ferries; first on/first off, and on WA state ferries they expect you to just cut the line to the front, so if you're gonna tour and ferries are involved, I'd leave the truck at home. Might be worth it to ferry across to Anacortes and take the ferry from Whidbey Island to Port Townsend. Washington around the Olympic Penninsula from Port Townsend is worth riding. Neah Bay is pretty cool. Hurricane Ridge is pretty cool. Definitely not super slab anywhere near there.

Oregon coast is cool. You can't go wrong from there all the way to SF. Remember to do the Avenue of Giants in northern California instead of sticking on 101 and make sure to take the turn at Leggett by the drive through tree to get to the coast.

The rest of Oregon: holy poo poo just get out of the city and it's awesome. Quartzville Rd/NF-11 near Sweet Home is transcendent and McKenzie Pass is cool as hell with the twisty roads and giant lava flows. Bend is a fun town and the scenery from there to Dayville and then north to Biggs Junction is super. Then the ride westbound on I-84 through the gorge, gotta see. Maybe go on the Washington side to avoid superslab. Most of this youtube is in Oregon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYnnCa6xIeE

I'm gonna get out to Oregon again this summer and check out Crack in the Ground. e: and this https://www.google.com/maps/dir/43....4ab32df!1m0!3e0

Thanks a lot, that's definitely something to consider. I took my bike on a ferry once and I do remember it being pretty efficient and cheaper than a car or truck. Would be good for occasional day trips to Vanvouver or Seattle. I have noted those routes and will try my best to see all of them and more. The whole area really does look truly incredible for riding.

Beaucoup Cuckoo posted:

I'd be down to do some explioring with you. I'm living in Vic. I've heard great things about the islands nearby being dope for trails and not having any cops on them.

I'll be moving to Vic also, or somewhere in that area. Really looking forward to it. I'll give you a shout when I get out there and I'd be happy to go riding with you.

# ¿ Jan 16, 2016 05:11

B.Wales!: Nov 17, 2008

I'm taking the ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles this weekend, and riding to either Seattle or Portland (haven't decided yet), so I'm looking for advice on that as I haven't been to either city before, but I'm more interested in the quality of riding there and back. I'm also going to need somewhere to set up my hammock and crash for the night at some point along the way if anyone knows of any good camp grounds that are suited to that. Any advice, suggestions or words or caution would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

# ¿ Jun 29, 2016 05:56

B.Wales!: Nov 17, 2008

I think in the interest of avoiding Seattle traffic I'm just going to hit 101 south along the coast towards Portland and see how far I can make it, with a few potential places to camp in between. I don't care for spending too much time in the city, just need somewhere I can buy some cigars and liquor to bring home with me.

# ¿ Jun 29, 2016 16:38

B.Wales!: Nov 17, 2008

So my plan is to arrive in Port Angeles on Friday morning, ride Hurricane Ridge then head west towards the coast and south on 101 to explore Portland for the afternoon, where I'll be spending some money at Rich's cigars. Then I've got a place to stay in Vancouver, so I'm thinking I'll crash there and try to do a nice day trip loop in northern Oregon to do on Saturday, then I'll head back up I-5 through Tacoma on the way home Sunday morning, unless anyone has a better alternative route. I try not to do more than about 6 hours on the bike per day. Thanks everyone for the advice.

# ¿ Jun 30, 2016 07:27

B.Wales!: Nov 17, 2008

clutchpuck posted:

101 PA to Portland will take you longer than you probably expect.

Alt route northbound. Strongly recommend that early part out of Carson. It's longer than 6 hours though https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Por...2d48.118146!3e0

Not a lot of interesting stuff between Portland and Olympia along the I-5 corridor

Noted, I think I'll be good for 8 hours on the bike each way.

Here's what I've come up with, using your northbound route.

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Blac...2d48.120766!3e0

Also going to check out NF-11 on Saturday as per your recommendation. Thanks a lot for the advice.

# ¿ Jul 1, 2016 04:15

B.Wales!: Nov 17, 2008

Had an awesome weekend riding through Washington and a bit of Oregon. Thanks everyone for the advice, my route turned out perfect and I will definitely be back to see more.

# ¿ Jul 5, 2016 04:49

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# ¿ May 3, 2024 05:27

B.Wales!: Nov 17, 2008

clutchpuck posted:

Do any NF-11?

I had planned to, but realized I was due for an oil change and didn't have enough rear tire left to do it and make it home safely. Next time I will be going to San Fransisco and spending a lot more time in Oregon.

# ¿ Jul 6, 2016 04:50

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Automotive Insanity > Cycle Asylum > PNW area thread: someone left the bike out in the rain