As mentioned in the Gear section of the blog, I purchased BMW’s TourShell jacket and pants soon after buying the motorcycle. The TourShell is a Cordura textile (not mesh) with GoreTex lining. When new, the Cordura material was quite water-repellant as the textile was treated with a durable water repellant coating. By repelling water, the outer layer of fabric allows the Gore-Tex lining to more … Continue reading Cleaning Gore-Tex Outer Wear
This goes way back, some 45 years or so, about the time I first rode a motorcycle. It was a Yamaha 125 enduro model if I remember correctly and would have looked something along the lines of the bike below. The bike belonged to my father, who taught us kids how to ride. The photo above was taken from the wanderingalaskan.com travel blog. I chose … Continue reading Throwback Thursday
A week from today I’ll be starting a five-day ride that includes another visit to Crater Lake. Last year, I traveled solo (see 2014 Trip to Crater Lake). This year I’ll be traveling with Nathen, another rider from the Seattle area. This trip will be one day longer and 50% farther than last year’s. Tentative Route Day 1 Day 1 distance: 406 miles (for Nathen, … Continue reading 2015 Trip to Crater Lake (upcoming)
This week’s Throwback Thursday photo is from Day 59 of my 2015 Southern States Tour. Continue reading Throwback Thursday
I have two rides being planned in August. Trip #1: A five day ride around the greater Northwest region from August 4th through the 8th. Camping each night, I will be traveling with another Seattle R1200RT rider, Nathen. This is our first ride together. We’ll be traveling through Hell’s Canyon, Crater Lake, Crescent City and back. Trip #2: A seven day (maybe longer) ride to … Continue reading Two upcoming rides in August
Distance: 422 miles Time to complete: 10+ hours with lunch stop A long but rewarding day ride through the North Cascades National Park, the North Cascades Highway (Hwy 20) passes through Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, the Ross Lake National Recreation Area, the Oakanogan National Forest, and through small towns like Newhalem and Winthrop. Only open during the summer, expect some areas of congestion on the … Continue reading Day Ride – North Cascades
Temperatures started in the mid-70’s, peaked at 91, and finished in the mid 80’s. The Northwest’s heat wave I referred to in recent posts continues. Distance: 310 miles Time to complete: 8 hrs with lunch stop Stevens Canyon Road and Paradise Road East are very scenic and at times twisty with switchbacks and hairpin turns. Both are inside the fee area of Mt. Rainier National … Continue reading Day Ride – Paradise Visitors Center
Steel Horse Journeys 