Foothills Church Poker Run - May 30, 2009

Foothills is a church in Stayton, Oregon just down the road from my house. Russ on his Honda 750 Magna and me on my Honda 1100 Sabre joined about 100 other folks for a Poker Run in the country. The Poker Run followed roads I'd ridden many times before but that didn't matter as they are always fun.

Our stops along the route to draw our poker hands were: Scio, Lyons, Silver Creek Falls, Cascade Hwy just south of Silverton and Foothills Church on Fern Ridge Road in Stayton.

I was feeling good as my first two cards drawn were ace's followed up by a pair of jacks but the best I would get was two pair. You needed at least three of a kind to be in the money.

After the ride everyone enjoyed a hot dog BBQ and a raffle drawing. One guy and his wife were the luckiest people I'd ever seen. Even though they only bought a few raffle tickets they won three of the four big items: two riding jackets and a helmet - Amazing!

Hard to beat a sunny day in Oregon in May

Stop along Silver Falls Hwy

This route was about 70 miles

Here a map of the route we rode:


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Alsea & Mary's Peak - September 26, 2008

The ride began in South Salem at the Union 76 station on Commercial Street SE where Greg, David, Russ and I met up. We'd be taking back roads from Salem to the east side of the Buena Vista Ferry to meet up with Terrie and his wife.

Crossing the Willamette River on the Buena Vista Ferry

After crossing the river we traveled into Albany and over to Corvallis & Philomath. We topped off our fuel tanks in Philomath and then followed Hwy 34 to Mary's Peak Road turn off. Marys Peak, at 4,097 feet, is the highest point in Oregon’s Coast Mountain Range.

Taking a rest break on the road to Mary's Peak

After enjoying the views on the top of Mary's Peak we rode down to the town of Alsea where we had a great lunch at Deb's Kountry Kitchen.

Lunch Break in Alsea, Oregon

After lunch we headed south on Little Lobster Valley Road. This took us though some amazing valleys and then we connected with Five Rivers Road and Hwy 34. Next we traveled east on Hwy 34 back to Alsea. Back in Alsea, we connected with road South Fork Road and rode east to Alpine and north on Bellfountain Road to Philomath. We then worked our way back to Corvallis. In Corvallis, Terrie and his wife split from the group since they live in Millersburg, while the rest of us wandered back to Salem.

These were great motorcycle roads with beautiful scenery and no traffic.

This trip covered about 200 miles

Here a map of the route we rode:


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West Side Tour - September 27, 2009

Ritner Creek Bridge on Hwy 223

We had a great group of folks along for this ride. Russ riding his Honda Magna, Tollie riding her Kawasaki Vulcan, Greg on his Kawasaki Vulcan Custom, Patrick and Heather riding their Honda Shadow ACE, Jim with his Harley Fat Boy, Larry riding his Yamaha Royal Star Venture, Dan riding his Harley Fat Boy and Kevin riding his Honda Shadow Sabre.

This ride took us through South Salem and on back roads to the Buena Vista Ferry, where we crossed the Willamette River.

West side of Willamette River at boat launch after riding Buena Vista Ferry Ride

From there we headed over to Adair Village, Airlie and Kings Valley.

Rest break at Ritner Creek Bridge off Kings Valley Hwy in Polk County, Oregon

We then followed the Kings Valley Hwy through Dallas, to Perrydale, then Amily and finally Dayton, Oregon. We planned to have lunch in Dayton but the restaurant was closed.

Jim, Larry and Dan decided to head back to Salem so they took Hwy 221 while the rest of us trotted over to McMinnville, Oregon and had lunch at McMenamins Oregon Hotel Rooftop Bar. Not a bad second choice!

After lunch we wandered on back roads that lead us by Brush College and into West Salem.

This trip covered about 125 miles

Here a map of the route we rode:


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Timothy Lake - September 12, 2009

(l-r): Tollie, Russ, Shelbi and Kevin

We had a great ride up to Timothy Lake on a beautiful September day. We took back roads from Stayton, Oregon to Gates, Oregon then just a short ride on Hwy 22 before turning onto Hwy 46. We followed Hwy 46 until we reach Hwy 57 then onto Hwy 58, which went around the north side of Timothy Lake.

We stopped and had lunch at a campground near Little Crater Lake campground then a quick ride on Hwy 26 to top off the fuel tanks before heading down Hwy 42 and back on Hwy 46 to Detroit, Oregon.

The entire ride was over 250 miles and the weather was outstanding.

Lunch break at campground on the east side of Timothy Lake

Lunch break at campground on the east side of Timothy Lake

Map of the route we took:


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Whidbey Island , Washington - August 22-26, 2009

A friend (Patrick) and I spend August 22 - 26, 2009 riding up the coastlines of Oregon and Washington then around Whidbey Island, NW Washington and Orcas Island.

We covered 1,336 miles and enjoyed every minute.

Astoria Column - Astoria, Oregon
Saturday August 22, 2009

The Astoria-Megler Bridge is a continuous truss bridge that spans the mouth of the Columbia River between Astoria, Oregon and Point Ellice near Megler, Washington, in the United States. The span was the last segment of U.S. Route 101 between Olympia, Washington and Los Angeles, California. It is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America.

Saturday August 22, 2009

Lunch stop in South Bend, Washington
August 22, 2009

Waiting for the Pt. Townsend ferry to Whidbey Island
August 22, 2009

Waiting for the Pt. Townsend ferry to Whidbey Island
August 22, 2009

Riding on the Pt. Townsend ferry to Whidbey Island
August 22, 2009

Sunday morning we traveled to Anacortes, Washington and met up with my brother (Mike) and Patrick's brother-in-law (Jesse) for a ride up Chickanut Drive to Bellingham, Washington. We ended our 220 mile ride north of Mukilteo, Washington
Sunday August 23, 2009

In Bellingham we stopped to visit with a friend before heading out to ride around Lake Whatcom.
(l-r): Kevin, Steve, Patrick and Mike - Not pictured was Jesse but someone had to take the photo. Sunday August 23, 2009

Riding the Mukilteo ferry back to Whidbey Island
(l-r); Kevin, Patrick and Jesse
Sunday August 23, 2009

Patrick's mom's house on Whidbey Island

Prepping to ride around the south end of Whidbey Island.
Leslie would be my passenger since Patrick only had his single seat mounted for this trip.
Monday August 24, 2009

Lunch stop in Langley Washington on Whidbey Island
Monday August 24, 2009

Cruising through Langley . It was nice having someone to take photos while we rode.
Monday August 24, 2009

We visited Fort Casey State Park on Whidbey Island.
This is Admiralty Head Lighthouse behind us.
Monday August 24, 2009

Riding north through Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve on Whidbey Island
Monday August 24, 2009

House in Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve

Riding north east in Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve on Whidbey Island
Monday August 24, 2009

Waiting at the Anacortes ferry dock to catch a ferry to the San Juan Islands
Tuesday August 25, 2009

Pulling into Shaw Island to unload some vehicles
Tuesday August 25, 2009

Pulling into Orcas Island, our stop for the day. Yes I know I didn't shave but I was on vacation!
Tuesday August 25, 2009

On the top of Mt. Constitution, inside Moran State Park on Orcas Island,
with Lummi Island in the background.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Patrick at Stone tower on the top of Mt. Constitution
Tuesday August 25, 2009

The road down from Mt. Constitution with the San Juan Islands in the background
Tuesday August 25, 2009

Back entrance to the park - Tuesday August 25, 2009

Olga is located on the south east side of Orcas Island - Tuesday August 25, 2009

Front entrance to the park - Tuesday August 25, 2009

Deer Harbor is located on the south west side of Orcas Island
Tuesday August 25, 2009

Catching the Keystone ferry on Whidbey Island heading to Pt. Townsend.
The start of our trip home to Oregon.
Wednesday August 26, 2009

Taking a lunch break in Raymond, Washington.
That is a mural painted on the building behind us.
Wednesday August 26, 2009

Our final stop in Otis, Oregon for dinner before riding back into the Willamette Valley
Wednesday August 26, 2009

Here a map of the route we took on the Oregon and Washington Coasts:

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