(Update: Clam feed added: see below) After the January weather adventures put riding on hold (for the sane among us), a few days of sunshine and spring-like temps brought lots of bikes out this past weekend. My Stupor Bowl Sunday ride took JT and I up the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River road to about 950 feet before the snow cover got too persistent. His new XR650R pleased him!
As you may remember, a handful of us planned to ride a loop of the Olympic Peninsula on MLK weekend. Then the Weather Gods intervened!
The ride has been rescheduled for President’s day weekend, February 18-20th. That’s just two weeks out, just far enough away to have not a clue about the weather!
The plan is like before, Saturday we ride out to Neah Bay and camp at Hobuck Beach http://www.hobuckbeachresort.com/ , Sunday head down to Wynoochee Lake and find a primitive campsite. Then Monday we head over to Hood Canal for a ride up 101 to finish the loop.
Much like from before, here are the details:
Saturday catch the 0750 boat from Edmonds to Kingston, meet up at the big Chevron station in town across from the grocery, ride Highway to Port Angles and breakfast at Garden Cafe. Take the back route out of town, leave Hwy 101 near Lake Crescent for Joyce and Hwy 112. Hwy 112 to Clallam Bay then Neah Bay. Camp at Hobuck Beach http://www.hobuckbeachresort.com/ Laid back Surfers campground, spotty wi-fi, Verizon coverage and a hot shower. Fellow named Kim smokes the best fish around in Neah Bay; rumor is he’s open in winter. The Res is dry, so bring your adult beverages. Beach wood will be wet; I'm bringing some of my own kindling. There are cabins at Hobuck if it's miserable wet, but for me the weather is the adventure.
Sunday, its back down Hwy112 to Forks, breakfast with the Twilight hordes at the Forks Coffee Shop http://www.forkscoffeeshop.com/, then down 101 past Lake Quinault. We head East on Donkey Creek/FS22 road to Lake Wynoochee and look for a campsite. (I’ll be checking the Road Conditions, as it is at 800’elevation. (They were clear in early January) Coho campground is closed in the winter, but a remote lake shore site may be possible. Parts of FS22 pare paved, but it's mostly a well graded gravel road (or it was last June!). Firewood will be wet. If Wynoochee looks like a poor choice, there are other options along the coast.
Monday, we head south from the Lake on a great paved road, the head east to Shelton on back roads. I suspect it's all or mostly paved. Then it’s North up 101 along Hood Canal. (Update: we'll be stopping near Brinnon for a clam feed prepared just for us, no beer, cost details to follow!) After that it's back to Kingston.
None of this route is over 800' in elevation, but frozen weather will cancel. I'll make the weather decision Thursday the 16th.
Weather's the Adventure; test your gear and foul-weather riding. I'm bringing Tarpzilla, and a special fire starter. I plan to enjoy an adult beverage or two by the fire.
Here's a Google Map of the route: http://g.co/maps/s32yq
Here's a link to a cool mapping Website with the route posted http://ridewithgps.com/routes/882134
You can export the route from this site in several formats.
Let me know if you want to join.
2012: More Fun, More Adventure Riding.
Let's Ride!
Let's Ride!
aka Bill Hucks
206 755-0947
reverendbill1@gmail.com
http://reverendbill1.blogspot.com/
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