Well, after a couple weeks spent sourcing some parts I discovered needing replacement during my rear tire replacement and rear drive service, I managed to get everything back together in time just before the Mrs & I were scheduled to head out for a 3 day ride to Port Angeles, WA. This is actually the first time I've done this full service myself in the 16+ years I've owned the bike (figured I'd better get to it before I retire and don't have unlimited $$ to give to others who may or may not know what they're doing
). Thanks to those who offered some friendly advice along the way, and especially Jeff (ChrisjCMA) who I've never met, for his excellent PowerPoint on Shoptalk and for offering up his phone # if I had any questions along the way (I did).
Weather forecast for the weekend...Sun, Sun, and more Sun, so we headed out early AM to catch some cool riding temps. Now, I travel a lot into the US for work and also ride a lot across the border. I have never had any issues with the US border guards due to the fact I have nothing in my past or present to hide and also the MRS and I both have our Nexus trusted traveler authorizations. As we're sitting in the short Nexus lane waiting our turn I commented to the Mrs how nice it is to just cross the border back and forth without ever having to worry about trying to fudge the truth a bit or present ourselves in a way that we're not. As we're going through the regular routine with the very professional border guard, I see him eyeing the bike...appearing to try and read the tank badge to see what type of bike it is. As he's doing this, he asks if I'm associated with any type of gang or club...to which I instantly reply NO (I may look a bit rough sometimes, but heck, I've never been that sort of guy). I wondered a bit about the quizzical look he gave me just before returning our ID's and waving us through...and then as I was putting the Nexus cards back into my tank bib pocket on the other side, I suddenly clued in that he had been studying by gas cap/bezel cover when asking about the club/gang affiliation...
I guess he figured that I'd just made an honest mistake...and also that the nice blonde on the back would never associate, let alone ride with some notorious biker with less than honorable intentions
It's funny, I never thought of the VRCC being a "bike club", but I guess that it is...although maybe not in the context he was asking about. Another thing I find funny....after all these decades travelling into the US, even just riding over that "imaginary line" into the US, I instantly feel like everything is different, that I'm far from home...even if the border is less than an hour from my home. To me, that's part of the appeal of riding in the US..."different" is good most times (well, except for that nasty $$ exchange rate!!)
Our route takes us leisurely down Hwy 9, which is a nice winding two-laner with minimal traffic, before crossing over to head to the ferry terminal at Coupville, which will take us out to the Olympic Peninsula.
Riding past/over Deception Pass
The quaint little village of Coupville, where we stopped for a nice lunch overlooking the water
Note To Self...in the future when you stop in a coastal town, DON'T park underneath a mass of power/phone lines...them darn seagulls camped out up there can do some damage to a nice clean bike!
On the ferry to Port Townsend
Once arriving in Port Angeles from the ferry docks at Port Townsend, we get caught in a "GPS deadspot" where neither my Garmen or Google Maps can get us out of a rest stop, so after a few attempts a call to our host for the weekend is required by this directionally challenged rider for some good old fashion in-person directions to his place (OK, maybe it wasn't required, if I'd just listened to my more than capable co-pilot this time
)
I'll just leave this one right here....
Arriving at host Ken (Bikerboy)'s spread in Port Angeles/Sequim, I find a spot in his shop along with his 4 Valkyries, new 2018 Wing, hobby wine-making operation, and stocks of over 30 different varieties of yet to drink wine. Our more than adequate guest quarters are in his "shopartment" up above (he's lucky we're not big wine drinkers, and that I'm not currently on the hunt for any further accessories for my bike
)
Saturday is spent riding with host and new friend Bikerboy, seeing the sights on the Pennisula...a great combination of coastal vistas and twisty mountain roads...highlighted by the early morning mist and fog down on the coast and a run up to Hurricane Ridge at over 5000' elevation.
Out on the spit in Port Angeles
An outstanding weekend with Ken/Bikerboy and his trusty dog ReCon, capped by a nice BBQ salmon dinner and bs session around the fire. We've met Ken briefly a few times over the years at a few of our local Vallhalla rallys and at this year's rally in Merritt BC last month he gave us the invite to hole up at his place if we wanted to come down and explore the Olympic Peninsula. We're so glad we found the time to take him up on his offer... a great host, and now a great new friend
Sunday was looking to be warmer, so we got an early start to catch the ferry and double back on the same route to home...highway 101 to highway 9, then up through the Sumas border crossing. I find that much more so on a bike than in the truck or car, riding the same route to and from offers such a different perspective of that route...you see so many more things that were missed on the way down.
HOT HOT HOT!!!
Luckily the traffic was minimal most of the way home and our passage through the border was quick and uneventful (sooo glad to have the Nexus status). Kinda felt sorry for that huge pack of air-cooled v-twins stuck in the long hot lineups next to us as we breezed through
Back in good ol' Agassiz, where we unload, hop in the Mrs's little red Miata, and spend the evening swimming in the cool, clear, cleansing waters of Harrison Lake. As we lay and watched the sun set, we reflected on several things.... it had been too long (over a month) since we'd been on a good multi-day ride; we've met so many nice folks who've become good friends since that fateful day 16 years ago when my beautiful Valk found a home in my garage; and, that I'm really not that bad of a mechanic after all...we arrived home safe and sound with all parts still intact once again
