Northwest Cycle News

It’s taken me a while to get this written up. With the weather turning to yuck again, I thought back to this ride, one of the best that I had this season, and figured I had better get it done.

The morning began under skies the color of oxidized aluminum. I woke early and quietly got geared up for the day. I stopped at the Chevron around the corner to fill the tank and then headed over to Jon’s. Our timing was good for as I approached the intersection near Jon’s house I saw the headlights of a motorcycle headed toward me. It was Jon. We wheeled into a gas station so he could fill up and then we were off down I-5.

Our first stop was the McDonalds in Marysville where we had a quick breakfast and met up with Gerry. We picked up Highway 2 and headed for a Park and Ride lot to gather a few more riders. A short blast down 405 brought us to Shari’s and another batch of riders. Also in the Shari’s parking lot was a group of Alfa Romeo owners meeting up for breakfast and a drive. One could almost hear the lone Ducati in our group whispering Italian to his four-wheeled brethren.

With the group finally assembled we were off. We were 12 people on 10 bikes. Five Harleys, three Yamahas, a Ducati and a Honda. A short way down the road we made a fuel stop in Black Diamond for a couple of riders. I took advantage of the opportunity to top off the VTX. Depending on riding conditions, I get 135 - 155 miles per tank and I was already 80 miles into my last fill up in Mount Vernon.

We picked up Highway 410 in Enumclaw and headed East. Somwhere along the way the sun came out and the day became dazzling. After passing through Federation Forest State Park (one of many Washington 120 Tour locations that we passed) we stopped again in Greenwater for fuel. I decided not to fuel up at this stop, knowing that we would be stopping here again on the way back. The Greenwater gas station served only 87 octane, which the VTX slurps happily, but I later heard caused some indigestion for the Ducati.

A few miles down the road we made the turnoff for Sunrise. A quick stop at the ranger station to pay our entry fee ($5 per person for motorcycles; entry good for 7 days) and we headed up the mountain. On the map this looks like an awesome motorcycle road; and it could be. It has amazing views and great twisties. It also has undulations in the pavement that will lift you off the seat, precipitous drops with no guardrails and rocks ranging in size from marbles to softballs. Keeping the speed reasonable and watching for the rocks still made for some good floorboard-dragging fun!

As we climbed the trees grew thinner until we passed the timberline and were surrounded by alpine meadows. Some of the bikes began to run funny due to the altitude. The view of the snow-covered peak loomed ahead and we pulled into the parking lot (6400 ft elevation the sign says) at the end of the road under a crystal clear blue sky. The view was breathtaking.

We spent about 30 minutes admiring the view and snapping photos before hunger urged us to head down for lunch at Crystal Mountain. the trip down was equally fun and included the benefit of being almost silent; no need to get on the power as it was all downhill.

Exiting the park we backtracked a few miles on 410 to the Crystal Mountain turnoff. This road too had some loose stuff and an uneven surface but 6 miles later we arrived at the Alpine Inn. Jon had called ahead and warned them of our arrival so they were ready for us. Still, the service was a little slow and the server downright miffed when we asked for separate checks; even though there were only two other occupied tables in the place. If we had sat at separate tables she would have had to write separate checks so what’s the big deal?

The food was good though with the BLT and the Snorting Elk deli sandwich popular selections. At the end of the meal it was noted that the gratuity had been added to the individual checks. Several folks, knowingly or not, left cash on the table as well. So I think the server made out alright for a lackluster job.

We returned the way we had come, stopping again in Greenwater for fuel where I got a surprise. The tank took only 2.5 gallons and I had 122 miles on the odo. 48.8 mpg!! The highest I’ve ever gotten. Of course, all that downhill riding had nothing to do with it, right?

As we retraced our route we stopped for a coffee somewhere around Maple Valley, after which riders began to split off from the group. After Gerry split off in Marysville Jon and I wound up as we had in the morning, droning up I-5. I arrived home almost exactly 12 hours after leaving. A little tired, but not as much as I thought I would after my longest one-day ride this year.