Scott & Sav Adventure 9 - Neah Bay/Port Townsend

[J_Scott]

This was a VERY enjoyable 3 day trip we took this weekend.

Day 1: Vancouver to Port Townsend. Nothing interesting here, Chuckanut was full of police and tourists, Whidbey island is a boring ride... We entered Port Rownsend during their Rhododendron festival so the streets were packed. All I had to report this day was a bee sting, a gash in my tire from beer bottle glass (luckily it didn't puncture the tire) and a sprained ankle.

Day 2: Savannah's dad joined us this day from Vancouver so we didn't set off until after 10:30. We rode from Port Townsend to Neah Bay and back. This was the route (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=10236118593245587450,48.367410,-124.692880&saddr=Port+Townsend,+WA,+USA&daddr=48.363891,-124.702721+to:Unknown+road+%4048.367410,+-124.692880&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=13&via=1&sll=48.375067,-124.667873&sspn=0.079818,0.160675&ie=UTF8&ll=48.303294,-123.804932&spn=1.278901,2.570801&z=9).

Port Townsend to Port Angeles was the most boring ride you could imagine, no corners, just a highway. Not knowing what was ahead, having dressed WAY too light (fog was rolling in) I was discouraged and a little annoyed at this point. But we pushed on... Then it REALLY got cold, but the riding improved immensely! Here are some pics of 112 to Clallum bay.

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599162_7329.jpg

http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599181_3358.jpg

The road improved even more so and the tight technical corners were clean and devoid of cars. The only cops we saw were sitting in the straights and we went by them at 5-10 over posted as was the pace most of the time in those useless straight bits.

We ran into a couple sportbikes from Seattle. Nice guys they were, so we let them run off to Neah bay first. This was an even BETTER surprise! A little more traffic and some gravel but the road quality here was unbelievable.

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599166_8501.jpg

http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599164_7919.jpg

Keep in mind there are WAY better corners, but we couldn't be bothered stopping there. ;)

Neah bay was a little crap town, but the Cape Flattery ride was fun. Another GREAT little road, but this one had a really low speed limit, we passed a cop in the corners here at 15 mph over but he didn't bother with us, This is what that road looked like. ;) This is a straight stretch since I didn't want to stop in the corners on a foggy road.

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599170_9688.jpg

Phil and I also decided (which you can see by my map) to ride up the dirt road to the peak! This is just a taste of what this road looked like! It got narrower and grassier/muddier after this and we had to turn around.

Who needs a GS? ;)

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599176_1664.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599174_1041.jpg

[J_Scott]

Here we are having dinner in Neah Bay... it's no Mortons that's for sure! Those are the sportbikers guys as well.

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599178_2458.jpg

The ride back from Clallum Bay

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599179_2751.jpg

We also had a hotel problem, so this was our Upgrade! 2200+ square foot suite... 2 bedrooms/kitchen, Media Room, Dining Room, lounge, deck and 15' ceilings all around, this would have been $500+ a night if we had requested it. ;)

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599192_6949.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599184_4336.jpg

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599185_4637.jpg

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599186_4966.jpg

Day 3: This day we just rode back down to Kingston, took the ferry to Seattle, let Savannah shop and rode home... nothing worth posting. ;)

Conclusion: If you can get past the drone of the ride from Vancouver to Port Angeles.. I say do it. It was a great ride, no traffic and beautiful pavement and scenery. Next time I'd ride to Neah bay and camp and then go home the next day. It's a 2-day trip, I did it in three for my gf's sake.


Important notes:
-Dress warmer than you expect... It was 24 when we left Port Townsend, and it dropped to below 15 on the coast. I had a thin shirt and nothing else under the jacket. I had a heated vest and sweater back at the hotel that I didn't bring... I had to buy a sweater when the newspaper under the jacket couldn't cut it.
-Ride slow in the straights... cops are there to pick off the bullet bikes, I had just as much fun in the corners with no thoughts of losing my license on the ride. ;)
-Stop to take pics, it's annoying at the time but well worth it when you get home.
-Ride the same road twice. For some reason riding back from Neah Bay was 2x the fun and felt like a different road. It was twistier in my mind and less traffic. I should also mention though, there was gravel in a corner on the way back that WASN'T there or wasn't noticed going the other way. So just because you rode one way, doesn't mean it's the same on the way back.
-Ice a sprained ankle right away. I did the Ice on 10 min/off 10 min thing for an hour and it saved my trip. Minimal swelling and I rode 500km the next day.
-Bee stings aren't that bad... 2 minutes of pain at most (unless you're allergic)
-Don't eat eggs for breakfast on trips... (gas)

[J_Scott]

EDIT: Added some pics of the bike loaded up.

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599249_4584.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599248_4266.jpg

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599251_4453.jpg

Here's the bug pic.

http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599180_3053.jpg

Neah bay road

http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599167_8820.jpg

More Cruisers than sportbikes

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599250_4873.jpg

Bell tower

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599254_5473.jpg

[flowrider]

Another great Ride report Scott! I like the room upgrade. What hotel was that at??

[jeckyll]

Sounds like a fun weekend Scott!

May I recommend Advil. For both the sting and the sprained ankle. Keeps the swelling down, I usually keep a bottle handy on road trips. :)

[J_Scott]

Another great Ride report Scott! I like the room upgrade. What hotel was that at??

http://www.accommodationsporttownsend.com/suite.htm

There was a sewage problem in our hotel so they moved us to the fancy suite. ;)


Sounds like a fun weekend Scott!

May I recommend Advil. For both the sting and the sprained ankle. Keeps the swelling down, I usually keep a bottle handy on road trips. :)

Maybe that was what worked so well. I always keep a bottle of Advil with me in the tank bag. It was a lifesaver this trip since I had the sprained ankle and Savannah had a headache. I didn't need it for the bee-sting though, they affect me like mosquito bites. Great minds must think alike Bjorn ;)

I also finally got to use my Gerber multi-tool to pull shrapnel out of the tire. :laughing

[Purplekawi]

looks like it was fun. Kim and i made it all the way around the peninsula and even made a side ride into La Push. we ended up teaming up with a couple from Van (Matt & Kelly) for the ride from Pt Townsend into Pt Angeles where they got a room at the hotel we stayed in then rode with them to the 2nd exit to Neah Bay. They were heading into there and we carried on to La Push. everyone we met was amazed that we were 2upping on an 848 and congradulated Kim on being able to take it. her seats quite a bit more comfy then mine and no one gave me kudo's!! sorry we never hooked up but glad you guys had fun. Pt Townsend has some pretty nice historical buildings i must say and the clifside you see as you roll in on the ferry reminds me of England.

[silverD]

Nice trip Scott....

I've had to buy clothes along the road to Neah Bay before to ..... brrr

Port Townsend's a great place to, very Victorian, lots of history, spent time there as well....

And you're right about the drone to Port Angeles but what ya going to do..

[J_Scott]

the clifside you see as you roll in on the ferry reminds me of England.

this one? ;)

http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v256/8/69/515686234/n515686234_599252_4780.jpg

[elevation]

Sounds like a great ride Scott! Five star accomodations too! nice. I am going to buy a Ducati, they are more reliable than my Honda :laughing

[JamieJames]

Sounds like a good weekend. Good report and nice pics!

[Purplekawi]

nope. the one as the ferry pulls in with the clock tower to your left and the domed top building dead ahead. this one.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/GrapeNehi/Olympic%20Penninsula%202008/OlympicPenninsula2008039.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/GrapeNehi/Olympic%20Penninsula%202008/OlympicPenninsula2008039.jpg

[Duck]

Nice ride J-Scott, looks like fun. I'm going to have to get off my skateboard at some point and put some long rides in on the weekend, it's tough to get off my first love for the second :)

How'd you sprain your ankle? I agree ice immediately is necessary for a quick recovery, i'd recommend 20 mins on/ 20 off though.

[J_Scott]

How'd you sprain your ankle? I agree ice immediately is necessary for a quick recovery, i'd recommend 20 mins on/ 20 off though.

I was checking on my bike (being the anal prick I am) and stumbled on some uneven pavement. I was holding a coffee as well and when I tripped I bumped into my bike and spilled it EVERYWHERE. It's still on the bike. :laughing.

10 min worked for me. It didn't swell up at all! I was lucky.

[Duck]

I was checking on my bike (being the anal prick I am) and stumbled on some uneven pavement. I was holding a coffee as well and when I tripped I bumped into my bike and spilled it EVERYWHERE. It's still on the bike. :laughing.

10 min worked for me. It didn't swell up at all! I was lucky.

Yeah you were lucky :) When I fractured my fibula last year (skateboarding but was a total fluke) the docs all said they see the same thing a lot from people tripping on curbs and stairs.

If your ankle is sore try standing on one foot for 5 mins a day, greatly improves ankle strength. Feel the burn!

[J_Scott]

Yeah you were lucky :) When I fractured my fibula last year (skateboarding but was a total fluke) the docs all said they see the same thing a lot from people tripping on curbs and stairs.

If your ankle is sore try standing on one foot for 5 mins a day, greatly improves ankle strength. Feel the burn!

I'll try that, I'm also going to go to Physio for it, I've sprained this ankle about 10 times and never the other foot. It's really weak.

It's the reason I quit kickboxing. :(