Saturday, September 14, 2024

The 2024 PNW Ride - Day 3

September 13, 2024

What a beautiful morning.  After reading a bit and waiting for it to get light, I went out for a long walk, covering the trails along the river before venturing across the highway where I found the visitors center for this part of the forest.  I took a nice walk along an interpretive path that provided information about the history of logging, the various types of trees, and the benefit that natural fires have had in the area.






The highway beckons…


I got breakfast going, my custom oatmeal mix and cocoa, and then got the packing up process started.



Loaded up a ready to roll.


Hwy 410 is terrific.  It’s along a heavily forested route that then climbs to Chinook Pass.



Up on top I pulled over for some photos and saw a VW club.





Looking back.


The road I’d just climbed.



On the way down, I had a good view of Mt. Rainier.



From the bottom of the route it was now just a ride through cities and towns to get to my destination, Sequim, WA.  I wanted to miss Seattle and Tacoma so picked a route that avoided those places but still hit lots of traffic.  I did ride across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge that had sections of steel grating but the type it was didn’t effect the riding.

I was getting hungry for lunch and my plan was to get something healthy by stopping at a grocery store and picking up a salad “kit.”  I stopped in Silverdale for gas and the map app told me that a Safeway was nearby.  Like many places here, it was packed and I was hoping to get a motorcycle parking place near the door rather than leave my bike and gear out in the lot somewhere.  There were no spots like take BUT, wait, there is an empty place on right in front.  Ok, it’s reserved for veterans.  Hey, I even have my VA card on me should I get asked so I parked there.


I got my salad and rode a block to a city park where I could eat while overlooking the water.  It must be a tough neighborhood as the public restrooms were locked and there was a needle disposal box on the outside.


But the lunch was perfect.


I continued on the last leg and about 15 miles from Sequim I pulled over to don the rain gear again and rode the rest of the way in downpour.  

It was a 196 mile day and I’ll be here for a few days.







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