It’s on the road again and it’s raining. Not a downpour but a steady rain.
I got up around 6, showered, and sort of packed up. I filled my water containers and got my bags in the two side cases loaded. My mom got up and at 7:30 we went to the chow hall for breakfast. We sat with some new people, John and Cindy (I think) and had nice conversations. I had a veggie omelet that was quite good with some toast and orange juice. That should keep me going for a while.
I finished the packing and loading, said my goodbyes, and headed out about 8:45. I had my rain pants on and both liners in my jacket. I was warm and dry enough.
The first stop was a gas station and I pulled into the Safeway on Washington and filled up. It took 4.1 gallons and cost $23.39. Pricey.
I set my navigation software to guide me to the ferry terminal at Kingston and it did just that. The ride was with rain on and off but nothing too severe. I pulled right up to the toll gate, said I was a senior, and paid my $8.95, and was directed to Lane #1 where I was the only one there. The car lanes were pretty full and there were already some semis lined up.
I fiddled with my Cardo, iPhone, and dashcam as they weren’t communicating all that well. Turning Bluetooth off and then on seemed to solve that problem. While I was doing that a Harley pulled up behind me, parked, and he headed for the restrooms. I did as well and then took a few photos.
Eventually the ferry arrived, unloaded, and it was our turn: motorcycles are first on, first off. When I’ve ridden the Port Townsend ferry they put the motorcycles all the way forward and over to the side. Here they just directed me down a lane and had me stop in front. The other bike pulled alongside.
Once settled, the other guy and I chatted, of course, about motorcycles. He told me that he’s been on the Harley for a bit but his wife doesn’t like riding on the back. I could understand that as the pillion seat was quite minimalist. So, to solve that problem, he bought her a Honda 500 and she’s learning to ride. He said that he lives in Seattle and drives a concrete truck and has been doing that for 20 years.
He headed upstairs to get a cup of coffee and I went on a walking tour of the ferry. There are LOTS of seats. There’s also a pretty well-equipped galley. Most of the passengers just stayed in their cars.
The trip takes about 30 minutes so as we were approaching the terminal I got loaded back up and ready to depart. I think I have video of that to be posted when I returned to home.
I had set my nav app to the next destinations and it indicated that it was a bit over an hour’s ride to get there. I rode a pretty nice local highway before heading to I-5 and then through downtown Seattle. I only missed one turn and the detour was pretty short. Traffic got heavy and slowed down quite a bit but never fully stopped.
I got off the freeway and weaved my way through some city streets in Renton, eventually, arriving at the destination: The Jimi Hendrix Memorial. Where he is actually buried, if he is, is not really publicized but there is quite the memorial for him at this location.
The drizzle encouraged me to get going and because of where I was, I decided to ride the slab to Ellensburg. There really isn’t 2-lane route that is less that 4-6 hours and I’d rather be on the freeway if I’m going to be in the rain. So, I got on I-90 and rode that for quite the distance.
I stopped near Easton for a break, a fig newton and some water. Then back on I-90 but before long my nav app told me to exit up ahead. Then I saw the signs that indicated that due to construction, traffic was stopped. The detour was OK, actually quite scenic, and took me through Cle Elum, a rather nice town with a massive residential development taking place just outside of town.
I stopped to top up my tank in Ellensburg and then rode into Yakima Canyon. I have camped here quite a few times and have toured all but of one the campsites, the Big Horn, so pulled in and did the loop. The road around is pretty rocky and the sites were nothing to brag about, tree-covered but the whole place seemed a bit sketchy. I continued on to Umtanum where I usually camp and grabbed site #2. Site #3 where I camped on the way out was reserved.
The weather is nice with a bit of a breeze but looks to be dry, but who knows. I got my tent set up, unloaded my gear, downloaded today’s videos from the dashcam, and sat down to write this. No cell service so I’m post this tomorrow, probably in Kamiah, my usual stop for gas and updating.
While I was sitting here, the people who reserved Site #3 showed up. It’s two middle-age to elderly women in a Sprinter-type van. They came into the loop in the wrong direction, saw their site, and tried to back into it. They couldn’t turn sharp enough and ran up against a big rocks. Whoops!. They ended up pulling straight in so now their side door is on the opposite side of the picnic table and fire ring. After they parked, they walked back to the rock and I saw them pick up a part that the rock had pulled off their van. Sigh…
Don’t get me going about how I feel strongly that anyone driving or towing an RV type vehicle should have to have a specials license. I have to have one for my motorcycle so why not them? In many campground I watch some moron dragging in a trailer larger than a tiny house and try to back it into a spot and taking out all the vegetarian and anything else that may be in their way. Sigh….
I am here really early so I have time to write this, have a snack, and do a bit of a hike before I make today’s meal.
It was a 202 mile day.
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