Maxi-scoot Rally wrap-up

A Quick summary of our Rally Weekend in Stevenson, WA

We had a great time at the rally and it was now over. I travelled 11 hours (solo) to Stevenson, WA taking NF-25 on the way down. During the weekend many of us had become friends so now I had company for our return home. John lives in Federal Way, Luca in Magnolia, Chis from Lynwood and myself from Vancouver, BC. The 4 of us decided to take NF-25 for our return to the Seattle area. It had been raining all morning when we left Stevenson, WA around 10am.

The scoot is packed and ready to roll


NF-25 is a twisty road with areas of construction and dirt/sand in many corners, and as it was raining we decided to lower our pace a bit.

Of course, we had to make a few necessary stops along the way


It was very nice to have company on our return . There is safety in numbers


The rain got worse as we got closer to Randle and Morton. I know it was getting cold and Chris remarked that he had packed all his warmer clothing in the depths of his scooter making it difficult to find. It had taken nearly 3 hours to get to Morton so we decided to stop at the Subway to warm up and have a rest/food break.



The rain appeared to be getting lighter and the sun was trying to shine through the clouds. I think we all just wanted to get home so we headed up Hwy 7 and eventually Hwy 167 and back to 405 and I-5 having said our goodbyes at various points along the way. Soon there was only Chris and myself, but shortly after we joined up with I-5, Chris waved off and I was along for my final leg back to Canada. I crossed the US/Canada border around 6pm and arrived home about an hour later.

STATS:

total travelled: 1,798 kms
gas used 20.965 US gallons (conversion 3.785 ltr/US gal)
gas cost $85.81 (assumption US $ at par basis)
MPG US gal 53.601
MPG Cdn gal 64.293

scooter: 2008 Kymco Xciting 500Ri

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On deck . . .



all for now, it's been a busy week

Mt Hood loop

It was Tuesday, a great sunny day for exploring the backroads around Mt Hood . A few of us decided to skip on Tom's ride so we could venture into Oregon at a slower, tourist pace. So using a page from his book "Motorcycling in the Gorge" we decided to take a self guided tour and attempt to find the roads he suggested. But where was Chris ? We wanted to start out at 9:30a but Chris was nowhere to be found. It turns out that he was trying to program his GPS, and thankfully he managed to program some of those roads, and even then we managed to get lost and make a U-turn or two. We headed east from Stevenson on SR-14 for about 30 miles or so and crossed the toll bridge at Hood River to Hwy 35 into Oregon. It was really windy in this area of the Columbia Gorge and you really felt it as you went through those tunnels. After a short rest break, actually we were lost and comparing maps, we made it to the Panorama Viewpoint



yes, that is Mt Hood in the background. We stopped to snap a few pixs and continued on our way. Through Orchards and farmland, it was a very scenic secondary road. Before we started our ride we all decided to take a slower pace today, stop for pixs and play tourist, something we did not do on our group ride yesterday. After our gas stop at Government Camp we arrived at the Mt Hood Parking area. The clouds have lifted again to give us a great view of the Mountain.



We were all getting a little hungry and there are not many restaurant options in this area. Our plan was to check out the menu at Timberline Lodge and make a decision



I've not been here before and found this to be a very historic place



You can see the detail even in the staircase. Lots of wood with inlays.



The first thing you see when you enter the Lodge is this figure on the door. Look at all the fine detail. It must have cost a fortune to build this place



We were told that you could rent one of these cabins for private parties and have your chef. Of course you and your guests can also stay for the night. There's not much that money can't buy (that is, if you have enough)



After lunch we headed North west through some beautiful roads. Can't remember all the names and probably never find them again if I tried. But par for the course, Chris got us lost again and we stopped to consult our maps



It was getting late and we had to get back to the campgrounds before 6pm for our wrap up dinner. We really thought that we had enough time but we somehow found the Old Columbia Gorge Highway and stopped at another viewpoint (after all, today we are tourists)



That's the Vista House in the background with a commanding view of the Gorge. A short distance later we get to use their washroom (a very welcome relief)



We've got to start making time. Having stopped so often has put us behind schedule. We have less than an hour to get back in time for dinner, but again we stop for pictures at Multnomah falls.



as Chris wrote on his recent post (www.maxi-scoots.com). An Xciting picture of the falls.

We get back just in time, well . . . perhaps a minute or two after 6pm. The sun is setting on another great day.



One final view of Mt Hood



I think I could get used to this life of meandering around the country on my scooter/motorcycle (just like Didiki) . Oh well, back to reality. Enjoy the moment and cherish the memories of new friends on a perfect day. Another 230 miles (the easy way). Eight hours go fast when you're having fun

Ride to Bickleton, WA

Hmm, Bickleton or Mt Hood loop ? It was Monday and the official ride being led by Tom Mehren was going to Bickleton. Since his route was going to duplicate some of the roads we had already ridden (plus we were planning on returning home via: NF25) a few of us decided that we would do the Mt Hood Loop instead . . . that is, until we found out that it was pouring rain down there - so chickens as we are, we all lined up to follow Tom to Bickleton. Being in the Gorge is very unique in that if it is raining somewhere, we can just go East to find better weather

We are getting ready to leave. That is Tom's yellow 'Swing in the lead position


That's John (speedbyrd) with his Burgmann 650




One thing you realize when you are following Tom (or should I say, attempt to follow), as he is gone in a shot and he is an expert on these roads. After all, he wrote the book on "Motorcycling in the Gorge" . It's all about the ride and the roads, No time being alloted for stopping to enjoy the views, or for taking pictures.

Correction: we did do a quick stretch your legs break somewhere in the middle of nowhere, actually in Klickitat canyon (i think)


Lunch break in Goldendale (DQ/gas stop)


Here's Chris (Daboo) getting his helmet on after our lunch break


As Tom told us, Bickleton is in the middle of nowhere, nothing to do there, but the roads to get there are amazing


Miles and miles of great scenery passing by and not stopping to take a photo just killed me. So I had to grab a quickie so don't criticize the composition.


As I was riding sweep, I just stopped and then had to ride WOT to catch up. The first curve was "slow to 15" and I scrapped the centrestand. I think Chris was just ahead of me, and when he didn't see me come around the corner he stopped mid-Hill and waited for me.

We eventually get to Bickleton and took a pix of this moving landmark


We did a short stop to stretch and take a few photos


Here's a group photo. I asked Tom to use my Camera


Eventually we made our way to Stonehenge, which is right across the bridge from Biggs, Oregon


We arrive back at the Skamania Fairgrounds to assemble for dinner (on our own tonight)


It was a great day. new friends, another 250 miles on the Odometer and great weather. No sign of rain, although it looked threatening for a bit.

Skamania County, southern Washington

The Rally headquarters are centered around the Skamania County Fairgrounds in Stevenson, WA about an hour east of Portland. It is a camping Rally and your registration fee covers your camping fees for the duration.



This is a view from our eating area




The seminars/vendors are held in the Exhibition Hall . You are able to see some of the maxi-scoots from the doorway


There were demo rides available from BMW. They brought a full trailer full of all their models. It was very popular with the sportbike crowd


I knew that Didiki and Richard were attending the rally this year and I was keeping a watchful lookout for them and finally they appeared. Dick on his Majesty, and Richard on his Honda 600RR which he trailered to Lake Cowichan, BC from Ontario.


Richard, Dick and Myself


Our bikes are all lined up beside each other. We had chatted with each other on the forum (www.maxi-scoots.com) but this was the first time that we had all actually met.


We decided to go for a short ride before going for dinner. We are finally going to be riding together for our first time together.


It was a great day. Great weather and new friends. We went for dinner to a local mexican restaurant and returned to rally central for our evening festivities.

On my way to the Rally in Stevenson,WA via NF25

Saturday finally arrived. I had been spending the week packing and getting my scoot ready for the trip to the Columbia Gorge. While it was a long way, my original plan was to go by myself, alone, no riding buddy, no backup, no cell phone service. I may have decided upon Plan "B" if I had an older scoot, but my Kymco Xciting 500Ri was relative new (only 3 months old) and was "up for the challenge", but was I . . . ? I had been mulling over the map and my proposed route for a couple of weeks. I had been advised NOT to take this route by myself as NF-25 was in bad shape due to the extreme winter and heavy rains during the winter. Also warnings on the government website showed pictures of the bad road, and also NF99 was closed indefinitely due to a road collapse, and I really wanted to go to the Windy Ridge Lookout. I upgraded to this larger scoot so that I would have more route options. Being highway capable meant that I could take any road and be able to maintain any legal speed.
I left Vancouver around 7am and headed down Hwy 99, crossed the US/Canada Border and headed down I-5, switched over to 405 at Alderwood, continued south to Hwy 167. Little did I know that Hwy 167 is a nightmare. It is also known as Meridian Avenue and is a major traffic bottleneck area. Dozens of stop lights, stop and go traffic, but mostly STOP. I was having a hard time trying to find Hwy 161. After a while after taking some sideroads I finally found Hwy 161, then south on Hwy 7 towards Elbe




This is the postal outlet at La Grande, doesn't appear to be anything else here. I like to take photos of historic buildings.

I arrive at Elbe and noticed that there were a lot of bikers (and other people) sitting around this place having a hamburger, so I thought that if this place was so popular then the food should be good

Well, I ordered a Burger and it took nearly an hour to get it. So all I can say is if you are in a hurry then this place is NOT for you. And having to wait so long was a turn off, and it really wasn't good enough to warrant the long wait. I was really trying to make time and get to Randle before 2pm as I wanted to get out of the forest area before 5pm, and this stop really put me behind. Next time I will just skip this place and get a sandwich at the Subway at Morton which is only around 1/2 hour further down the road.

Elbe has a little museum and this engine. There is a washroom at the rear of this building if you need one.


We are entering Morton, WA. It's a larger town with more services including a grocery store. At the south end you will find a Chevron Station with Subway attached.

If you are going to go south on NF-25, then you should top up your gas tank here, for the next gas station is nearly 120 miles south at Carson, and the Shell station at Randle (I am told), is not always open.

Randle, WA: the north gateway to NF-25 . A short distance south on Hwy 131 you travel into the forest:


There is not much traffic on NF-25 and often I would just stop and enjoy the scenic beauty, such as this small lake.

This was Saturday afternoon on a summer weekend and I only encountered 2 cars and 2 motorcycles on this whole 80 mile section. The road is rough and the twisties just don't stop. If you happen to run off the road you could go over the cliff, or wind up out of sight in the bushes. cell phones will not work and you are strongly advised to let someone know where you are going so they can send out the search party if you do not make it to your destination.

This road is a biker's dream. There are numerous switchbacks and slow to 20 mph curves throughout the whole (80 mile) stretch.

I have read that some consider this combination of roads (NF25, NF51, NF90, NF30) to comprise the longest length of twisties in Washington state and I have found references to this road on a few motorcycle forums, so naturally, I had to experience this road for myself.

There are a few construction sites (road repair, and tree removal) along the way, and they are replacing this bridge that got washed out during the winter.




The road is badly patched, so there are dips and valleys, so if you are an agressive rider (ie: fast), then you will bottom out on your shocks. It happened to me numerous times. But although it is labelled "rough", it is not really as bad as the roads around Vancouver, BC, where the roads are a mess


On the southern section I came across some people fishing in the Lewis River


I mentioned earlier that NF99, the road to Windy Ridge Lookout was closed approx 6 miles from the junction of NF-25. Here we arrive where the road is closed

This is where then constructed another viewpoint area so that you could view Mt St Helens which is 11 miles away. The road is permanently closed . . . I am told because the NFS does not have the funds to repair the road which has collapsed. For now, motorized vehicles are not allowed past this point, but you are free to walk or bicycle the 11 miles to the Windy Ridge Viewpoint.

Here is the view of Mt St Helens from this viewpoint (from 11 miles away)


I am not sure, but this could be a view of the Toutle River just south of NF99 junction


All in all this was a great day for me. I started at 7am from Vancouver, BC and finally arrived at Stevenson, WA at around 6pm. It took me 11 hours by scooter to get to my destination. And I took the challenge to take NF-25 as my preferred route, alone. I am a cautious sort and let me say that if the weather was not so perfect, or I got "bad vives" of any kind, then I would have changed my route along the way. As I think about it I suppose that I was lucky that nothing eventful happened for 80 miles alone in a forest without the possibility of help, now frightens me a lot.