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| Hobuck Beach at dusk (Photo:Deb) |
With a plan to loop the Olympic Peninsula over the three-day weekend, waking to rain and wind required some will power to leave a warm bed Saturday morning.
On board the ferry five of us met, Deb on her DL650 V-Strom , Shane riding his BMW G650GS, Phil on a brand new F800GS, Brian who rode his new BMW R1200GS and me, Reverend Bill. On the improbable TW200. Adventurized. We would meet Dean (DR650) later in Port Angeles at breakfast.
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| Deb Documents Discovery Bay Drive Delay. Hella fleet. |
Despite the wet and windy forecast, our ride to Port Angeles was mostly dry, until we hit strong rain outside Sequim. It was the frontal passage, behind which we continued after breakfast.
Dean lives in Port Angles and suggested a back-route out of town. We headed up the Hurricane Ridge road to the entrance gate, only to find a snow covered gravel road heading off to the west. We chose to stay on pavement and headed back down toward town.
Just past Lake Sutherland on Hwy 101 is the Joyce-Piedmont Road, a quiet paved twisty run along the east shore of Lake Crescent. It provided a fun back route into Joyce where we stopped to check out the classic country store. It was there that we scored our Five-Buck disposable barbeque. How pathetically American!
Dean lives in Port Angles and suggested a back-route out of town. We headed up the Hurricane Ridge road to the entrance gate, only to find a snow covered gravel road heading off to the west. We chose to stay on pavement and headed back down toward town.
Just past Lake Sutherland on Hwy 101 is the Joyce-Piedmont Road, a quiet paved twisty run along the east shore of Lake Crescent. It provided a fun back route into Joyce where we stopped to check out the classic country store. It was there that we scored our Five-Buck disposable barbeque. How pathetically American!
We continued west, mostly rain-free along Hwy 112 toward Neah Bay, enjoying beautiful twisties, scenic views, and the occasional break. After a final stop at a mini-mart for firewood, we headed into Neah Bay.
Kim, the local fish smoker in town was open for business, and his latest batch of fish was still warm! Nothing like it, he was smoking Steelhead that day and it was delicious.
When we arrived a Hobuck Beach campground, we found it deserted, save for one camper. Having the pick of campsites we chose a tree-protected prime spot on the beach. The westerlies were blocked by a stand of firs. Soon Tarpzilla was pitched, a picnic table moved under it, and six tents were up.
Shane made his maiden pitch of the amazing Redverz Tent, which he then parked his BMW F650GS inside.
These beautiful tents are carried by Ride West BMW in Seattle. They are extremely well designed and very well built.
These beautiful tents are carried by Ride West BMW in Seattle. They are extremely well designed and very well built.
Soon it was cocktail hour, and dinners were begun. My simple smoked salmon Cesar salad was fantastic. Meanwhile some fairly elaborate meals were under way.
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| Minority Moral Vegetarians find meat disgusting. Majority Health Vegetarians find meat tasty. Omnivores, Let's Eat!! |
The disposable barbeque was deployed after it's metal legs were retrieved from the fire. Whoops...
A couple of finely grilled steaks came off the beast. A prodigious pile of wood made for a warm and welcoming fire for the evening.
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| "Camping without a fire is like having sex without a woman." - Fred, 86yo Harley Rider, Forks, WA |
Sunday morning arrived with dry skies. Actually, the entire time were were at Hobuck, not a drop of rain fell.
One of our party was quite cold overnight, but otherwise the moto-campers were well equipped.
After consideration of the unknown soaked primitive camp prospects at Lake Wynoochee, coupled with the opportunity to pick up warmer gear in Port Angeles, we flexed our plan and chose instead to return along the Straits and camp at Dungeness County Park.
The Warmhouse Restaurant in Neah Bay offered breakfast, and true-to-name a very warm table. A short shower as we left was the only rain of the day.
Back-tracking on 112, we enjoyed a fun ride back to Port Angeles. Swain General Store was the source of warm layers for our cold camper, and Dean bid us farewell, as he was starting a new job Monday morning and would not continue with us.
After a stop for provisions, we rode back roads out to Dungeness County Park. There we found two nice adjacent sites in a mostly empty campground, and settled in.
Pitching Tarpzilla again over the table, soon it was time for cocktails and dinner. All hands piled on for a foil-wrapped fire-cooked stew. The recipe included potatoes, onions, carrots, red peppers, garlic, olive oil, lean hamburger, and Filet Mignon! With a side of Caesar salad, it was quite the feast.
Everyone slept warm that night. An odd animal sound concerned one of our campers so the Woodman's Pal was clutched during the night for self-protection. Later analysis proved these sounds in fact to be large mammals- from the Olympic Game Farm, just two miles away!
Monday morning again was dry, and at a leisurely pace we enjoyed a morning fire and packed up.
A seafood lunch feed awaited us in Brinnon, but along the way, Deb pulled to the front and led us on a delightful side trip on Chicken Coop Road. http://g.co/maps/pd39y It was a roller-coaster paved twisty back lane that carried up and over the nearby hills, dropping us back out on Hwy 101 to continue on our way.
At the 101/114 intersection Deb and Phil turned off for the ferry while Brian, Shane and I continued to Cove RV Park Near Brinnon. Friends of Brian, Doug and Kimberely Hixson, own and run the park. They were our hosts for lunch. Doug had a pot of steamers on the boil, and oysters on the half-shell grilling on the barbeque. Topped off with tomato mozzarella appetizers and hot garlic bread, we enjoyed a feast in the covered Gazebo by a warm fire.
We enjoyed a tour of the park, including the small store that opens April 1st, the motel room they rent, and the grounds of the park. It is a beautiful spot that I will be working into my riding plans this summer. Doug rides an XR650R that he rode from Alaska upon, and hopefully we can get him out on some of the numerous gravel roads that lace the nearby hills.
Cove RV Park offers camping in a beautiful location, use of the covered outdoor dining gazebo, and the barbeque is available to guests. Nice restrooms and store are convenient, and campers pitch under big beautiful cedars. Doug and Kimberely are great people and I highly recommend their park.http://www.coverv.com
After a fantastic lunch feast, we remounted our trusty steeds and headed for Kingston, finally hitting rain on the east end of the Hood Canal Bridge. We caught the 4pm boat, said our goodbyes, and headed separate ways from Edmonds.
Two of us were experienced moto-campers, while the other four were moto-camping for the first time. Each rider brought some level of outdoor and camping experience to the ride, and we all learned something from each other. I for one will never again attempt solo cooking when surrounded by motivated gourmands! Wow, what a feast.
Plans are percolating for next month's ride. Likely it will build on the moto-camping aspect and include gravel road travel. March can still be nasty with weather, but if we assembled six adventurous souls to go out in late February into a forecast of rough weather, there should be even more folks just itching for an excuse to get out.
Thanks to Deb, Shane, Phil, Brian, and Dean for a great weekend. It was great to ride with you and I look forward to riding with you again soon.
-Reverend Bill
One of our party was quite cold overnight, but otherwise the moto-campers were well equipped.
After consideration of the unknown soaked primitive camp prospects at Lake Wynoochee, coupled with the opportunity to pick up warmer gear in Port Angeles, we flexed our plan and chose instead to return along the Straits and camp at Dungeness County Park.
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| Dean, Brian, Deb, Phil, Shane |
The Warmhouse Restaurant in Neah Bay offered breakfast, and true-to-name a very warm table. A short shower as we left was the only rain of the day.
Back-tracking on 112, we enjoyed a fun ride back to Port Angeles. Swain General Store was the source of warm layers for our cold camper, and Dean bid us farewell, as he was starting a new job Monday morning and would not continue with us.
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| Phil's Balanced Load |
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| Shane: Kindling |
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| Yes, that is a bag of spuds |
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| Holy cow, Reverend! |
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| Brian NOT packing wood in cooler. |
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| Dungeness Bluff |
Pitching Tarpzilla again over the table, soon it was time for cocktails and dinner. All hands piled on for a foil-wrapped fire-cooked stew. The recipe included potatoes, onions, carrots, red peppers, garlic, olive oil, lean hamburger, and Filet Mignon! With a side of Caesar salad, it was quite the feast.
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| Oh My. Yes. Thank you. |
Everyone slept warm that night. An odd animal sound concerned one of our campers so the Woodman's Pal was clutched during the night for self-protection. Later analysis proved these sounds in fact to be large mammals- from the Olympic Game Farm, just two miles away!
Monday morning again was dry, and at a leisurely pace we enjoyed a morning fire and packed up.
A seafood lunch feed awaited us in Brinnon, but along the way, Deb pulled to the front and led us on a delightful side trip on Chicken Coop Road. http://g.co/maps/pd39y It was a roller-coaster paved twisty back lane that carried up and over the nearby hills, dropping us back out on Hwy 101 to continue on our way.
At the 101/114 intersection Deb and Phil turned off for the ferry while Brian, Shane and I continued to Cove RV Park Near Brinnon. Friends of Brian, Doug and Kimberely Hixson, own and run the park. They were our hosts for lunch. Doug had a pot of steamers on the boil, and oysters on the half-shell grilling on the barbeque. Topped off with tomato mozzarella appetizers and hot garlic bread, we enjoyed a feast in the covered Gazebo by a warm fire.
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| Shucking Station |
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| Clams Steaming |
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| Doug Hixson at the Grill |
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| Remains of a Seafood Feast beyond words. Thanks Doug and Kimberley |
We enjoyed a tour of the park, including the small store that opens April 1st, the motel room they rent, and the grounds of the park. It is a beautiful spot that I will be working into my riding plans this summer. Doug rides an XR650R that he rode from Alaska upon, and hopefully we can get him out on some of the numerous gravel roads that lace the nearby hills.
 |
| Covered Pavillion Cove RV Park, Brinnon - Nice!! http://www.coverv.com |
Cove RV Park offers camping in a beautiful location, use of the covered outdoor dining gazebo, and the barbeque is available to guests. Nice restrooms and store are convenient, and campers pitch under big beautiful cedars. Doug and Kimberely are great people and I highly recommend their park.http://www.coverv.com
After a fantastic lunch feast, we remounted our trusty steeds and headed for Kingston, finally hitting rain on the east end of the Hood Canal Bridge. We caught the 4pm boat, said our goodbyes, and headed separate ways from Edmonds.
Two of us were experienced moto-campers, while the other four were moto-camping for the first time. Each rider brought some level of outdoor and camping experience to the ride, and we all learned something from each other. I for one will never again attempt solo cooking when surrounded by motivated gourmands! Wow, what a feast.
Plans are percolating for next month's ride. Likely it will build on the moto-camping aspect and include gravel road travel. March can still be nasty with weather, but if we assembled six adventurous souls to go out in late February into a forecast of rough weather, there should be even more folks just itching for an excuse to get out.
Thanks to Deb, Shane, Phil, Brian, and Dean for a great weekend. It was great to ride with you and I look forward to riding with you again soon.
-Reverend Bill
Thanks, Rev Bill, for guiding us, and to the rest of you intrepid souls for a great trip!
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