All around the Pacific northwest!

[mr west]

May 9:th

Spent most of the day on 89 going north. Wheather was nice and we went quite far. A little bit cooler air meant better operation temperature for both man and machine. So in the cockpit everything was running smooth. The bike is holding up good. Tires hold the air, coolant doesnt leak, no oil consumption, more pretension in the fork makes the turns more enjoyable. But it also makes it clear that rear suspension is on the list for next year.

In the navigational department there was more frustration though. The app Amanda is using had us making a few wrong turns, which meant a few extra miles... that in combination with a few closed roads meant the mood on the back of the bike went to an all time low for a while. But in the end it all was a nice ride as the sun set while we were coming down the mountain to Brigham City just north of Salt Lake City.

I think we went something like 260 miles.

[katawest]

You did right to leave Sweden! It is still very cold, the night are frosty and we have a little snowfall several times a day.

[DUGG]

Sounds great! If we manage to keep up the current pace, we'll swing by! Should be on the 18:th, if thats ok with you? Judging from the map, your area must be beautiful...

Let me know when your close and I'll pm my address. The wife is looking forward to having you guy's stop over. Let us know what your hungry for and to drink. Your welcome to do any laundry and if the bike needs anything I have auto repair shop your welcome to use. Not sure of your route, but Highway 20 over the Cascades is still closed due to snow.

[mrs west]

Some pictures from the 9th

[Brant]

I love that last pic. On the road the next great adventure is just around the corner.

[heraldhamster]

Sounds great! If we manage to keep up the current pace, we'll swing by! Should be on the 18:th, if thats ok with you? Judging from the map, your area must be beautiful...

Let me know when your close and I'll pm my address. The wife is looking forward to having you guy's stop over. Let us know what your hungry for and to drink. Your welcome to do any laundry and if the bike needs anything I have auto repair shop your welcome to use. Not sure of your route, but Highway 20 over the Cascades is still closed due to snow.

and I'm about 15 miles up the road (toward the Great White North) from DUGG. it would be nice to get together while you're in the neighborhood. safe travels.

[mr west]

Sounds great! If we manage to keep up the current pace, we'll swing by! Should be on the 18:th, if thats ok with you? Judging from the map, your area must be beautiful...

Let me know when your close and I'll pm my address. The wife is looking forward to having you guy's stop over. Let us know what your hungry for and to drink. Your welcome to do any laundry and if the bike needs anything I have auto repair shop your welcome to use. Not sure of your route, but Highway 20 over the Cascades is still closed due to snow.

and I'm about 15 miles up the road (toward the Great White North) from DUGG. it would be nice to get together while you're in the neighborhood. safe travels.

Oh, so you guys must know eachother? Lets all get together if possible!

[mr west]

May 10:th

Starting from Brigham City, Utah, we took 89 north. Stopped for gas and coffee after about 25 miles in the small town of Logan. After that we rode some beautiful mountain roads. Stopped for a raspberry milkshake at Bear Lake, and we were in Idaho.

In Thyme, for the second time the long arm of the law reached out and grabbed me. A screaming guy in a truck in the lane of oncoming traffic turned out to be a cop! He really seemed eager to talk with me, so I turned over. There we were joined by his colleague catching up from behind. Turned out that in 50 states its absolutely illegal to pass a school bus pulling over! I guess Im just stupid not to have studied some US specific traffic regulations before coming here and driving around everywhere.... but maybe because of my swedish drivers licence, politeness, and sincere apologies they let me go with a warning. I later found that the typical penalty is around 420 dollars!! (Together with the stop sign in grand canyon im now up to 670 dollars saved on fines. Thats 335 beers, if bought cheap from the gas station)

Best part of the ride were when we passed the Palacades reservoir and headed along the Snake River into mountains. We finally reached our motel just outside Jackson, Wyoming.

In the evening we walked into town for dinner and then beer at the Billion Dollar Cowboy Bar..... crazy place full of stuffed animals, guns and stuff. In the bar they dont have ordinary bar stools, but horse saddles!

IMG_20170511_213135.jpg

[sunnbobb]

And I'm just south of those guys near LaConner, WA, gateway to the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades. If you make it this far, looks like a good reason to have a party!

[mrs west]

Yes! Let's all party! We have a flight to catch in Seattle on May 19th at 5pm. We plan to hit Yellowstone and Beartooth tmrw and swing through Glacier and the North Cascades before that flight. Hopefully we can make it up to that area by the 18th so we have an evening or so rather than a rushed lunch together. If 20 is still closed we may take 3 in Canada so that swinging through to meet up with everybody is still on the way.

Anyway, here are some pictures from yesterday!

[Whiskerfish]

Wow, lucky on the tickets! I love the Jackson area. Have not been there in 30 years but have fond memories.

[DUGG]

Update: "WSDOT plans to reopen the North Cascades Highway at 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 16"
Me and Hearldmaster know each other, I've worked on his car. He is the one who told me about this great website.
Flying home so soon? seems like you guys just got here. We thought we might ride south with you guys for half a day, but maybe not if your going down Interstate 5.
I always thought it was ok to pass a school bus if the red lights weren't on. I'll have to be more careful I guess.
Yes lets all get together!!!!

[mrs west]

Hey!! Cool!

We are not going home, we are actually flying to New England for a wedding and returning to Seattle the next morning to head back down to LA. Join us! We only have about 8 days to get to LA so I found a pretty inclusive route through the middle of Oregon and down most of the coast of California.

[mrs west]

Also thanks for the heads up about 20! We'll probably make that and head over there that way as long as it doesn't snow again.

[heraldhamster]

and interesting side-note FYI re: shoo busts,

"Drivers in Washington state are not required to stop for a school bus on any highway (Under Washington law, any public road is defined as a highway) with three or more lanes when traveling in the opposite direction." RCW (Revised Code of WA) 46.61.370

state law here and it seems nowhere else. it goes on about also being applicable to 4 lane roads (2 lanes each way, opposing traffic is not required to stop. and being actually safer for the kids as the schoo buss has to drop them off on the side of the road they live on under these conditions. they should never, ever in WA state be crossing a 3 or 4 lane road upon exiting a shool boos.

yes, those are intentionally misspelled...