Scott & Phil Adventure #11 - NE Washington

[J_Scott]

Canada Day long weekend is a great time to ride in the states. Honestly, I don't get how people can own bikes and not ride them outside the city. US speed limits are higher, the roads are different (usually to you) and you don't feel the need to ride at mach 10 when there are cows on the road.

I don't want to get into this too much, but this trip really re-enforced my realization that there's so much more to riding than getting the knee down at a local mountain and flashy undertails.

This was our route (NOTE: the route is backwards for some reason) LINK (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=2029356384526111468,48.449422,-119.676635%3B4760805231433770572,48.553460,-119.748420%3B3193768776310129403,48.712500,-119.435430%3B6085949116720326137,48.863370,-119.121360%3B5347478466539947865,48.873103,-118.877795%3B2500909469213500782,48.734920,-118.658910%3B194626593831264504,48.801280,-118.161040%3B11249319017372883745,48.319300,-118.198260%3B11514322894647639456,47.829400,-119.133730%3B15393142756816870872,48.438800,-120.164560%3B9741521597976766860,48.485639,-122.177254&saddr=Vancouver,+BC&daddr=Salmon+Creek+Rd+%4048.449422,+-119.676635+to:Conconully+Rd+%4048.553460,+-119.748420+to:US-97+%4048.712500,+-119.435430+to:County+Rd+4861%2FNealey+Rd+%4048.863 370,+-119.121360+to:County+Rd+9495%2FToroda+Creek+Rd+%40 48.873103,+-118.877795+to:WA-21+%4048.734920,+-118.658910+to:US-395+%4048.801280,+-118.161040+to:CR-3%2FInchelium+Hwy%2FInchelium-Kettle+Falls+Rd+%4048.319300,+-118.198260+to:WA-155+%4047.829400,+-119.133730+to:WA-20+%4048.438800,+-120.164560+to:S+Skagit+Hwy+%4048.485639,+-122.177254+to:Vancouver,+BC&sll=48.305121,-120.289307&sspn=3.449372,6.811523&ie=UTF8&ll=48.545705,-120.618896&spn=3.433092,6.811523&z=7)

Diablo Lake

http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710149_9855.jpg

First night camping north of Winthrop

http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710151_426.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710152_714.jpg

Coulee Dam

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710153_999.jpg

Steamboat Rock, pics don't do the valley justice

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710154_1284.jpg

More off road-ish stuff. ;) Actually, we just went down a short path for some swimming. :) It was 39 degrees here

http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710156_1929.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710190_3081.jpg

Keller-Inchelium Road.. Started of scary as hell with oil and shit everywhere, but when it smoothed out, it was BEAUTIFUL!

http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710191_3402.jpg


More coming in next post.

[J_Scott]

Lake Roosevelt

http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710157_2225.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710158_2516.jpg

South of HWY 20 heading north on Inchelium-Kettle falls rd.

http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710159_2832.jpg

From the campground on Lake Curlew

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710160_3134.jpg

Campsite

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710162_3726.jpg

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710163_4032.jpg

http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710164_4333.jpg

Morning sun south of Curlew

http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710165_4631.jpg

West of Curlew, great morning warm-up

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710166_4981.jpg

[J_Scott]

East of Chesaw... probably one of the best roads I've ever ridden. You'll notice I didn't take a lot of pics of the other roads since we were having WAY too much fun... but this one I HAD to document. Thanks again for the advice Don!

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710192_3912.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710168_5622.jpg

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710193_4231.jpg

West of Chesaw, more fun to be had

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710169_5938.jpg

The valley NE of Tonasket. I couldn't believe it but hardly any of the locals knew where this was... they hadn't even been there, it was 10 miles or less from the town. Idiots

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710170_6697.jpg

South of Conconully

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710171_7001.jpg

Salmon Creek Rd.

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710194_4549.jpg

Heading home on the Cascades.

http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v275/8/69/515686234/n515686234_710172_7310.jpg

So the Cascades weren't bad, I know I had some explaining to do when I mentioned they weren't my favorite, but they're just a different ride compared to those little farm roads. The Cascades are a blast, but the combination of traffic/higher police presence just doesn't rock my boat as much. Granted I had a blast this time, when I was in Chesaw my smile was just a whole lot bigger.

If I were to do it again, I wouldn't change anything except maybe delete Grand Coulee... it was nice to see, but not worth a second trip.

Overall, It was awesome and I'll probably be heading back that way again this month if time allows. :D

[jeckyll]

Looks like a nice trip Scott, minus the heat of course :)

[J_Scott]

The heat was fine. As long as you stop in the shade, Keep lots of water handy (to drink and pour on yourself) and avoid the cities/towns you never really get hot. The only time I was hot was when we were coming down from Chesaw into Tonasket and we were used to being in the cool air all morning and it was a bit of a shock to hit the heat in the valley.

BTW, people wearing no gear were a lot hotter than us. They don't realize it's like a convection oven out there and the gear actually protects you. I had a system where I would suck water out of the camelbak and pour it onto myself and then drink the next gulp (which was also cooler as it wasn't in the tube in the sun).

I wasn't hot at all honestly. :)

[elevation]

A couple of pictures you took are almost in the exact same spots where I was taking the picture. I did a ride like this on Labour Day weekend, 2007. It was alot better than I thought it would be. Now I have to one better it. I am looking to do Glacier National Park this year on Labour Day weekend (5 days total)

Thanks for the great pics & report Scott.

[jeckyll]

The heat was fine. As long as you stop in the shade, Keep lots of water handy (to drink and pour on yourself) and avoid the cities/towns you never really get hot. The only time I was hot was when we were coming down from Chesaw into Tonasket and we were used to being in the cool air all morning and it was a bit of a shock to hit the heat in the valley.

BTW, people wearing no gear were a lot hotter than us. They don't realize it's like a convection oven out there and the gear actually protects you. I had a system where I would suck water out of the camelbak and pour it onto myself and then drink the next gulp (which was also cooler as it wasn't in the tube in the sun).

I wasn't hot at all honestly. :)

I've had a couple of interesting discussions about that recently. Some people think (and I'm starting to feel this way myself) that it's better to have enough gear to keep some sweat on you, but with enough venting to have consistent evaporative cooling. There was a thread and link on advrider recently, I'll see if I can find it and copy it here. And fwiw I'm only talking for temps that are _very_ high, like 35+ C.

[Ebicat]

Looks like an awesome trip!
I need to get a tent... camping is easily the way to go. New Seat for the multi first though! Thanks for the report and pics :D

[J_Scott]

I've had a couple of interesting discussions about that recently. Some people think (and I'm starting to feel this way myself) that it's better to have enough gear to keep some sweat on you, but with enough venting to have consistent evaporative cooling. There was a thread and link on advrider recently, I'll see if I can find it and copy it here. And fwiw I'm only talking for temps that are _very_ high, like 35+ C.

From what I was hearing from Harley riders... I think gear keeps you WAY cooler. As long as you're moving of course.

[jeckyll]

From what I was hearing from Harley riders... I think gear keeps you WAY cooler. As long as you're moving of course.


Found it: http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/ExtremeHeat.html

:)

[Ebicat]

Good way to keep cool is get one of those absorbing sponge shirts and just soak it with water.

Acts like an AC unit for your chest for 2 hours then you just soak it again and off you go.

[silverD]

Overall, It was awesome and I'll probably be heading back that way again this month if time allows. :D

Glad it worked out well, it's a great part of the State for sure...

[scooter]

Yes, Grande Coulee is one ugly piece of concrete. The American's dam the shit out of there rivers. Its hard to find a natural running river that is not a resevoir.

Scott you seem to be drawn more and more to the true wilderness. You'll be Dual Sporting before you know it.

Looks like a great route.

Lee, Glacier Ntl Park is one of my favorites. A must do and so close for a 4 day 800km a day trip.

[GSP]

Thanks for the write-up. Just what I need to make sure I get out there and do a trip--even if it's a short one. Two years is too long without taking a decent ride

[mooove_over]

i see on a map that road NE of Tonasket that you were talking about. At first i was "what road"

Looks like alot of secondary roads in around that neck of the woods. A guy just needs some time to do it all.

Nice pics....what time did you head out of van on sunday? I was rolling through the N cascades early afternoon on sunday

[J_Scott]

i see on a map that road NE of Tonasket that you were talking about. At first i was "what road"

Looks like alot of secondary roads in around that neck of the woods. A guy just needs some time to do it all.

Nice pics....what time did you head out of van on sunday? I was rolling through the N cascades early afternoon on sunday

We had things to do in town so we didn't leave until 2:30 or so. We were in the cascades around 5pm I'd imagine.

You're right though, so many awesome roads, so little time.

GSP, it's an easy 2 day trip. I'd skip Coulee Dam and then you're looking at two 600km days or so. Not a stretch by any means. :)

[greenboy]

Good stuff Scott. I appreciate your trip reports and thoughts.

Because of reports from you, Don, Bjorn and others of the same ilk, I think I might have to go take a long trip in the USA one day.

:rockon

[Triplepete]

Well I really think you need to invest in a dual sport Scott. You must be the most adventurous street biker I know. NE WA is one of the hottest places I ridden and it was the first place Scooter and I learned to soak our shirts under our gear. Having a wet tee shirt and a vented jacket really really really works at keeping cool. With a plain tee shirt and jacket, you will have an hour of evaporative AC before the shirt dries up.

Thanks for yet another great report.