So, where did you ride your F800 today? :)

[JamesKnt]

Looks like you had an adventorous ride! The gear I normally buy is from Revzila or The Bikers Den. I mostly order gears online.

[Daboo]

The forecast was for mid-70s, so John and I took off north to head for Semiahmoo. I've never been there before, and the name sounded great.

This is the general route.




As luck would have it, the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival was on, and we got to pass by some beautiful fields of tulips in full bloom, with more to come in a few weeks.







The green plants to the right are tulips, just a week or so away from blooming. It smelled pretty.


On the way out, to Anacortes along the coast.






Washington Park, Anacortes. We ate our lunch there and sat talking and taking in the scenery for about an hour.






John, on a beautiful black ST1300.




We got to the end of the Semiahmoo Spit and found out how some other people live. Funny, we didn't see the owners. I guess they were working to afford their toys.






Chris

[SteveT]

From yesterday . . . .







. . . . and from this afternoon . . . .





SteveT

[RoniRider]

I went to Centralia, PA ghost town. It was the town used for the Silent Hill movie town. An underground coal fire was started in a trash burins incident. The fire has been burning for decades and the town only has 10 people left in it. People visit the town and graffiti the street.

[SteveT]

Yesterday I put in a 291 mile day by taking the long way across to the road to Skye.

Cluanie dam in the background (road kill in the foreground )


Loch Cluanie


Took a left at Sheil Bridge and rode up the bealach to catch the views . . .
The view towards Skye and the Cuillin hills


And in the other direction Loch Duich from the view point


And the 5 sisters . . .


Then the “Must do” photo when passing this place . . .


Viewed from the other side of the inlet


291 miles and according to the bikes ‘puter it only supped 14.9lt of fuel.

SteveT

[SteveT]

Took the bike out for a spin up north. Hadn’t been down to the end of the road beyond Ardgay for some time so decided to pay Croich church a visit, it being Sunday an all!

https://www.croickchurch.com/





Heading for Ullapool and found a gate that is normally shut & locked open . . . so down the track I rode till the end hove into view . . . at a small dam & sluice controlling the flow of a small burn/river



SteveT

[Daboo]

I went to NEWSTOC with the ST-Owners group last weekend. The rally is held in Seven Bays, WA at Todd and Kari's place.

Wenatchee River just outside Leavenworth.


Steamboat Rock on Banks Lake


Leaving for breakfast on Saturday morning. I'm in the middle of the pack.




Lake Roosevelt












The motley crew. We had 22 riders show up at Todd and Kari's. The "garage" is actually a hanger. It works perfect to bring all the bikes in for the night.


Some of the group exchanging tall tales of things they've done, or wish they had done.


There's a free ferry system to cross Lake Roosevelt at various points.






Lunch stop overlooking Grand Coulee Dam.


Chief Joseph's burial site.


Riding home on Sunday next to Lake Lenore. Those cliff faces remind me of some giant warriors overlooking the river.



Soap Lake






Dry Falls


If you're ever in the area, this is a place worth stopping to look at. "Climate Change" is real. During the last Ice Age, Lake Missoula formed. At one point point, the waters broke through the ice dam and came down through this area. The falls were five times the width of Niagara Falls, and the water pouring over was 10 times the current amount of water in all the rivers of the world combined today.

The Columbia River


Did you notice how wonderful the sky looked in the pictures above? Now this is what was on the west side of Snoqualmie Pass.

[MGD109]

A blast across the Yorkshire Dales to Harrogate, it was a needed journey rather than a jolly, with weather like this who would not want to be on two wheels:-

[SteveT]

Spey Bay sunset . . .



SteveT

[SteveT]

From todays bimbling ride westwards to Spean Bridge via Laggan and then across the canal and alongside Loch Arkaig.

The Witches Pool waterfall


And here we have one of three nutters from Bournemouth that decided it would be a good idea to enjoy a cooling swim . . .


The view across Loch Lochy from the B8005


Only a couple of showers the whole time I was out, which was nice. I did ride through a couple of areas that had suffered a deluge just before my arrival - the weather gods were smiling on me today.

SteveT

[Richard230]

Nice! Did you see any witches in the pool?

[RoniRider]

I made it to Summit Point Raceway for a Track Day. Got ride of the "Chicken line" on my tire.

[Pompey]

Went for my first full days work in almost 2 years.
Three Sisters Race Circuit for Bike Attack, Road legal bikes on a circuit.
It was a great day.

[Daboo]

Here's a few pics from a rally near Hells Canyon in Baker City, OR I went to last weekend.

Friday, heading over with AndyN.







Along the Yakima River Canyon



On Saturday, I headed out with Jason and Dave. I don't know where he took us, but Jason was a wonderful tour guide. He took us out on roads I didn't know existed and gave us the local flavor with stories along the way.









I started out with Jason and Dave in the morning, then we split and went different directions.






I left them and headed towards the Hells Canyon Dam. I had ridden in the area the previous weekend and during the RtR weekend, and was looking for something like this. Steep canyon walls (it is 2000 ft deeper than the Grand Canyon) and the Snake River flowing through it. Today, I found what I was looking for.



The road follows the Snake River. As you can see, there's no guard rails. And the banks are steep. Whether the dropoff is 20 ft, or 200 ft, if the bike goes over the edge, it won't stop till it is swept away in the river.
























This is below the Hells Canyon dam looking down at the Snake River.



There's some rafts about to make the trip down the river.












As you can see, the road is just one fun curve after another.



Leaving on Monday morning with AndyN.



Even the view from the freeway, was great.



While the scenery and roads were great, probably the best part is making new friends, and catching up with old friends. Many thanks to those who organized the weekend and helped make it such a wonderful time.


Chris

[Daboo]

Any day you can ride, is a good day...and far better than a day spent doing anything else.

So Artist Point was closed earlier this year for road repairs. Bummer. But when I came back from riding in Hell's Canyon, the DOT website showed it open!!! With the weather changing, I decided to go for it.

So...

This looked promising. That though is the best I could see of Mt. Shuksan for the rest of the day.


The clouds rolled in. Is it fog when you climb to a high enough altitude that the clouds reach the ground? In any case, the effect is the same. This is the entrance to the Artist Point parking lot.


Mt. Shuksan is in the background...somewhere.


And Mt. Baker is there...somewhere.


That's either some hikers, or a Big Foot sighting. When I was out there hiking a bit, the quiet was incredible. The fog hushed everything down to where you could hear nothing. Nothing.


The way down was a bit tense.


One of the things that makes this ride so special, is the technical aspect. The corners get tighter and tighter, to the point where the 15 MPH warning signs are a joke. The corners are so tight, it is a challenge to make the turn and not stall the bike. Look at the GPS screen. Somewhere out there is one of those turns...and if you miss it, you drop a long ways down.


But eventually, I started dropping out of the clouds.








It was a great day!

Chris

[Daboo]

I took off with a friend of mine, James, to Hurricane Ridge on the Olympic Peninsula yesterday. We'd just finished some rain storms, and the day was going to be good. Not too cold yet. Not nearly as hot as the summer was. And a promise of blue skies.


The route takes you through Port Gamble.

Kitsap Peninsula situated on the shores of scenic Hood Canal. Explore the 120-acre National Historic Landmark complete with picturesque, turn-of-the-century buildings filled with shops, an historic church, breathtaking views, expansive grounds and New England style houses on maple and elm tree-lined streets.

And of course, the leaves are changing colour...and still mostly on the trees and not on the road in the corners.











A nice part of riding to Hurricane Ridge, is the roads are in beautiful condition...a rarity nowadays.








Lots of deer. That's how close the deer were to us. I walked right by some within a few feet of me.








Mt. Olympus to the left.










Hurricane Hill in the background.





It was a good day, and with winter coming on, a day to treasure till next spring.


Chris

[SteveT]

From a short ride yesterday that was planned as being a lot longer . . . but my fingers started to notice that I didn't have my heated inner gloves on





SteveT

[Sundog52]

I found Mt Baker a couple of weeks ago. It looks like these looking north from Baker Lake Dam, WA.

[Richard230]

Is that real snow, Sundog? I haven't seen snow in a long time.

[Sundog52]

Is that real snow, Sundog? I haven't seen snow in a long time.

It looks real to me! I was about 20 mi away when taking the shot. I'm sure Chris will verify when he gets out of the clouds (see post #765)

BTW:

Here is a pic taken 5 yrs ago on my way to Independence Pass from Denver in the Rockies.

[Daboo]

Geoff and Richard, yes, Mt. Baker gets some snow.

World Record SnowfallAlthough the Arctic is known as a snowy place, it is in fact a desert where very little snow actually falls. The snow that does fall, however, stays around a long time, giving the impression of much snow.
So where did the MOST snow fall?
The world record for the most snow in one year is now held by Mount Baker (elevation: 10,775 feet / 3,285 meters) in Washington State, USA. The Mount Baker Ski Area reported 1,140 inches (95 feet) / 2,896 cm (29 meters) of snowfall for the 1998-99 season.
The mountain also beat its own record for most snowfall in a month with 304 inches / 772 cm.

Geoff, I wish I'd known that you were up here. I'd love to take you around and show you some of the fantastic sights we have.

Mt. Baker and Artist Point at the end of the Mt. Baker highway, is one of my favorite destinations. Even when it's cloudy.

Chris

[Sundog52]

I took off with a friend of mine, James, to Hurricane Ridge on the Olympic Peninsula yesterday. We'd just finished some rain storms, and the day was going to be good. Not too cold yet. Not nearly as hot as the summer was. And a promise of blue skies.


The route takes you through Port Gamble.



And of course, the leaves are changing colour...and still mostly on the trees and not on the road in the corners.





.....

It was a good day, and with winter coming on, a day to treasure till next spring.


Chris

You probably went by these attractions on the way:

[Daboo]

Yup. Those, or similar ones. All the pics are great. The pic of the destroyer brings back memories. A few years ago, I was piped on board the U.S.S. Milius, an Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided missile destroyer.

It was good that you made it through when you did. We're getting some rain for the foreseeable future.

Chris

[Daboo]

James and I took off for the North Cascades National Hwy again yesterday. We couldn't make it all the way over to Washington Pass. The Bomb Cyclones had dumped a lot of rain in the state, resulting in some rivers being over flood stage, and a mud slide over the highway.

Our first stop was at Newhalem, and the power plant there.




Notice the black tree trunks on the hillside. A few years ago, a forest fire came right up to the edge of the town.



These were taken on the trail behind the power plant.










This is at the overlook.






James, trying to scoot out of the pic.




We rode over the top of the dam. That water looked to be moving at about 60 mph. If you look closely, you can see where there's actually an "empty" space behind the water because it is traveling so fast.


It was a great day for riding and sharing good times.

Chris

[Sundog52]

So you were on Hwy 20 along the Skagit River where Gorge and Diablo Dams are forming those majestic lakes? God's country.....

[Daboo]

Yup. I think I've heard the North Cascades National Park referred to as the Alps of the USA. A great way to ride this road is to head west to east to enjoy the many twists and turns. I usually turn around at NF-500 and the Washington Pass Overlook. I'll hit it about lunchtime and so I'll walk out to the overlook, sit and just soak in the incredible views.

Then I'll turn around and head back west. All the turnoffs for the viewpoints are then on the right side, so you don't have to cross the road each time. Going east is to enjoy the road. Going west, is to enjoy the views.

And trying to combine both at the same time...well, that gets you a trip in an ambulance.

Chris

[SteveT]

From a shortish late afternoon ride in the fading winter light . . .









SteveT

[SteveT]

It being Remembrance Day and me not being a wage slave anymore, I took myself off to the Commando Monument at Spean bridge, taking the scenic route naturally – Ferness-Cawdor-Culloden-Daviot-FortAugustus

Loch Ness (under the mist)


Loch Tarff reflected


Cloud shrouded Ben Nevis


Homeward bound via the A86 (with a detour, of course)-Coylumbridge-Nethey Bridge-Tomintoul-Glen Livet-Dufftown.

Loch Laggan logging track




210 miles of damp roads and an overcast sky, with just a little sprinkling of rain here and there.

SteveT

[Gunther]

Wonderful pics, but every time I look at them I feel a shiver running down my back, do you in Scotland have sunny days? Being a "mediterranean guy" sometime I happen to ask myself how people can survive in cold areas like yours
In any case, the pic of Loch Tarff is amazing, the contrast between the red/brown lines on the right side and the grey sky and like is simply beautiful

[Richard230]

Wonderful pics, but every time I look at them I feel a shiver running down my back, do you in Scotland have sunny days? Being a "mediterranean guy" sometime I happen to ask myself how people can survive in cold areas like yours
In any case, the pic of Loch Tarff is amazing, the contrast between the red/brown lines on the right side and the grey sky and like is simply beautiful

Stick around. Things could be getting warmer.

[Daboo]

Stick around. Things could be getting warmer.

Yeah...in about 5 months. But like in Seattle, if you don't ride in the rain...you don't ride.

Chris

[BoxerBits]

...
I happen to ask myself how people can survive in cold areas like yours

A few "wee drams" on a regular basis for medicinal purposes helps. [emoji1634]

https://www.malts.com/en-gb/distilleries/lagavulin


Sent from my moto g(8) power lite using Tapatalk

[SteveT]

14 degrees??? Best make the most of this un-seasonal weather then.
Slow bimble towards Grantown, alfresco coffee & nibbles on the old road bridge, then off to Tomintoul (cos there appeared to be some sunshine in that direction).
Spotted an oft open gate into a section of forestry that was being clear felled, so thought I’d get the bike dirty . . . again





Just a hundred miles at tortoise pace made for a relaxing afternoon wander.

SteveT

[SteveT]

Popped out this morning to check some pheasant feeders on the shoot then decided to take a wander along the beaches to see what, if any, damage had occurred after last weeks storm.

This is taken adjacent to the wood I look after on the shoot . . .


Here is a view east over Lossiemouths east beach which has had next to no foot-fall on it due to the bridge, right of picture, being condemned nearly 3 years ago.
In the middle of the picture, just above the house roofs, you’ll see diggers in position starting on the foundations of the new bridge . . . in the exact same location that a previous Victorian bridge was built!

You might also spot some intrepid surfers in the river mouth, about to make their way back to the western side of the river.

And this is west beach . . . slightly less picturesque


And finally we see yet another individual enjoying some aquatic sport. 2 frames after this shot and the rider! Is in the water


No obvious damage on these two beaches then!

SteveT

[SteveT]

Went out hunting the snow line this morning . . . and found it





SteveT

[Gunther]

Lucky you
Years ago (many years ago), after a trip on the hills during a snowfall wearing sneakers, I realized I don't like cold weather. Instead I like bending the bike, and not the frame of the bike on ice
So this is what I mean when I think about motorbike and snow in the same sentence:

[SteveT]

[SteveT]

Bike wise in 2021 I sold 2 machines and bought 2 machines – no surprises there then!

Started the year with the 2014 BMW F800GS. Bit of a “keeper” this one! Well I’ve had it for over two and a half years, so it must be, right?


the 2020 Honda CB500X


and the 1998 Honda XL600V Transalp.


Sold the CB500X and the Transalp within 3 days of one another and bought a 2020 Honda NC750X inbetween. Some things never change eh?


A little later in the year I bought a 1998 Honda VFR750 that had stood un-used for nearly 9 years as a bit of a retirement project! Got it sorted and back on the road within a couple of weeks.




Between all these machines I’ve racked up over 12,300 miles, with only about 1k of those over the wall – that’s one heck of a lot of big circles locally.

Highlight of the year past was making it over the wall and getting to meet up in person with the lunatics that inhabit the Big Traillie web site, most of whom are past members of the XRV website, down in the depths of Shropshire in September. An annual event held where ever in the country someone can be bothered to organise it, this was only the 4th that I’ve managed to attend over the 20 plus years that I’ve known theses nutters.






Next up only because it occurred in October, highlight wise, was the gathering of the clans of the ADV Scotland forum at Strontian. This too is an annual event and it was great to catch up with faces old and make the acquaintance of some newcomers to the ADV Scotland clan.




All in all, not too bad a year, all things considered.

Heres to a grand years riding in 2022

SteveT

[SteveT]

Only been using the bike over the last month for popping onto the local estate to top up the grain feeders that help keep the pheasants in the area, but today I put 100 miles under the F8GSs wheels just because I could

These pictures were taken on the A939 between Grantown on Spey and Tomintoul and show the small amount of snow left on the Cairngorms.





SteveT

[Daboo]

This is a combination of last week and yesterday's rides. During the winter, the mountain passes are covered in sand and salt. So I head for the beach areas, of which we have many. Lots of rural farmland roads leading there.

Rosario Beach
















Washing Park yesterday

James, eating his lunch.








James, being his normal self.




Chris

[SteveT]

Took a little run out to see how much snow was dumped on the local hills on the day of the gales last week . . . not much by North American statdards I know

The Gairnsheil road looking back towards the Lecht




Rode along this road after the storm at the end of last year and had to try and match the picture I’d taken then . . .
Dec 2021


Feb 2022


SteveT

[SteveT]

Juat a local wander in the woods . . .


SteveT

[Daboo]

Took a day-ride with James (jtvisions) to the North Cascades Highway. It's still closed at the Ross Dam Trail Head, but we could get to the Diablo Lake Overlook.

Davis Peak


Parked at the Observation Point.




Diablo Lake. You can still see ice on the lake to the left side.



The green color of the water is caused by glacial flour. https://www.nps.gov/places/diablo-lake-overlook.htm

In summer, the distinctive turquoise color of the lake is the result of suspended fine rock particles refracting sunlight. These rock particles, called glacial flour, enter the lake when rock from the surrounding mountains is eroded by ice and flows into the water through glacial streams. The color is most vibrant on sunny days in July, August, and September when seasonal glacial melt occurs.

I was trying to capture the stark contrast of the wet rock that turned black from the water. I'll have to go back and try again.




A couple of the spillway gates from one of the dams was open. Quite often, it is just a minimal amount of standing water in that river bed.










Chris

[SteveT]

Got a new neighbour recently and he just happens to ride a F800GS . . .the Adventure version.

Went for a blat on Saturday with him, during which no pictures were taken cos it was Baltic. After the ride I happened to mention that I was thinking of taking a run out to Ullapool during the week. He fair jumped at the chance of a run out . . . so yesterday we did just that.

Took in some roads less travelled, introducing him to some locations he’d not visited before – he’s lived in the and around the area for nearly 20 years – on the way too Ullapool.

1st real stop was the café at the start of the Strui road at the Skiach services, now being run by the community after the local oil/petrol selling company gave the place up when C19 hit in 2020. Reasonable prices and good grub – well recommended.


Over the Strui, stopping for a photie at the viewpoint looking north to Bonar Bridge.


Onwards, past the Falls of Shin and onto the road to Ullapool, taking in a few bits off the tar, just so the man knew where he could go play in the future.

Favourite place for a stop and a breather for me is the Knockan Crag visitor attraction.




Once the view had been consumed we rode onto and through Ullapool as time was getting on, what with all the sight seeing.

Spirited run back to Inverness along the main road into a fierce headwind, then more back roads to get us back to the village after nearly 8 hours of riding and site seeing and a little over 270 miles

SteveT

[SteveT]

Showed the new man some muddy bits this morning and stopped on the way home for this piccy . . .



SteveT

[Richard230]

How much was the toll to cross that bridge, Steve? Any trolls in evidence?

[SteveT]

How much was the toll to cross that bridge, Steve? Any trolls in evidence?

No trolls seen, although I have been likened to one in the past

Slightly longer run out into the local hills today, again over some roads less tarmacked . . .

Somewhere along Strathdon . . .




And then heading towards the Lecht . . .


Just under 120 miles on dry but very salty roads (on the Aberdeenshire side), all ridden under a mainly azure blue sky that had a very blustery wind pushing us around.

SteveT

[SteveT]

Little run out to Lochindorb this afternoon . . .


Anyone thinking of paying the loch a visit might like to know you can only access it from the Dava moor road as a small bridge just off of the A939 Nairn-Grantown road has got a bit of a hole in it - no picture taken but I did ride all the way to the bridge to find out why the road is signed as closed. The snow gate shown on google maps are chained shut . . .

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@57.42...7i16384!8i8192

SteveT

[SteveT]

Its sunny and warm – think I’ll go for a brew in the hills







SteveT

[SteveT]

Short ride out with some riding pals yesterday. Roads & weather far too nice to keep stopping for photos, so just the one . . .



My F8GS (not in the photo) is now back together after its post winter deep clean and service, all ready for a good run down over the wall into deepest Yorkshire for some trials and trail riding next month

SteveT