BigJohnSD, "Dr Thompson" (Scott), and Fontanaman Pacific North West 2025

[bigjohnsd]

Looks like an awesome trip John. I thought the September Western trip was canceled because of dog sitting issues?

We missed the Baker City Shindig due to Dog Sitting, this is the retribution trip.

[fontanaman]

After a spirited ride over North Cascades,

~G

On the North Cascades Hwy is there any other way to go besides spirited?

[bigjohnsd]

Day 4 - 13 September 2025, Omak, WA to Bellingham, WA via the North Cascade Highway, Artist Point, and other fun roads. 325 miles, 7.0 hours riding 1 hour off the bikes.

We left Omak at 0800, rode to Okanaogan, then Twisp, and on to Winthrop, then continued on The North Cascade Highway to the summit and the Washington Pass Observation Site where we stopped for a few photos. After a short break we headed West again on the North Cascade Highway and stopped at the Diablo Lake Vista. More Photos. We sped down the hill to Sedro Wooley before heading to Mt Baker/Artist Point. After a short viewing hike and photo session we headed down to pur motel for the evening in Bellingham. Our new riding buddy Brad, who lives in Bellingham, picked us up and took us to dinner at the Rock and Rye Oyster House.




Brad, ready to join his new Internet friends


George and Scott patiently waiting to leave.







On the Road again.
Nearing the top!






Alps, Schmalps, SkooterG!

L-R Scott, Jim, George, John

Photo by Brad


L-R Brad, Scott, George, Jim



at the Diablo Lake Overlook

First good look at Mt Baker



A closer view



A little "Food Porn" from tonight.









Thanks Brad!

Tomorrow we plan to make our way over to the Olympic Peninsula.

Stay Tuned!

[wheatonFJR]

After a spirited ride over North Cascades,

~G

On the North Cascades Hwy is there any other way to go besides spirited?

Well, if wifey is on the back, its 40F and just fkn pouring... it tempers things a little bit. Lol. Kudos to George and my Black driver for enduring it along with us. It was a fun run though...getting east of the monsoon, warming up and looking at those peaks made it well worth it. Lol.

Glad you guys had a great run!

Edit: Awesome photos...reminds me of good times.

[bigjohnsd]

Day 5 - 14 September 2025, Bellingham, WA to Port Angeles, WA via Cape Flattery, WA - 290 miles, 7.5 hours riding 2.5 hour off the bikes including the ferry.



We left Bellingham in a drizzle and headed towards the Port Townsend Ferry via WA 11.
We caught the 1015 ferry and were soon headed out onto the Olympic Peninsula bound for Cape Flattery. We walked out to the end of the point, about .8 miles down hill, took a few pictures and then slowly climbed back up to the bikes. I felt all of my 73 years.
After Cape Flattery we returned to Port Angeles and our motel. We then walked another mile to dinner and Ubered back.
A few highlights

Desolation Pass


Ferry - last on



The WEAX cleared as we headed out towards Cape Flattery


Scott and Jim ready for the trek


It started easy, but soon the root strewn path got steep and wet









But worth the walk in the end, it took us an hour and a half to make the trek out and back.

Perfect WEAX for our ride!





And this beautiful lake on our way back to Port Angeles

Todays food porn

Smoked Salmon Chowder - a little light on Salmon and heavy on potatoes


Coconut Shrimp - Excellent
Oysters - not as good as last night
Salad - good

Jim and Scott reportedv that the Halibut was excellent


Scott's Cheesecake was excellent! I had the last bite he couldn't finish.

Tomorrow we will head for Astoria, OR.

Stay tuned!

[Hppants]

You guys are really stepping it up, dinner wise! Look at you with your cloth napkins and shit. Right on!

I'll have to remember to pack a clean shirt when I ride with ya'll.

[bigjohnsd]

You guys are really stepping it up, dinner wise! Look at you with your cloth napkins and shit. Right on!

I'll have to remember to pack a clean shirt when I ride with ya'll.

You only live once! Spending their inheritance. Planning for the last check to the nursing home to bounce....

[bigjohnsd]

Day 6 - 15 September 2025, Port Angeles, WA to Astoria, OR via US 101 - 250 miles, 5.5 hours riding 4.5 hour off the bikes.



We left Port Angeles at 0700.


The first 50 miles were fantastic, good scenery, little traffic on 101 and great curvy roads. Breakfast was at Kalaloch Lodge, an NPS Lodge right on the coast.

Not food porn worthy, but hot, filling and satisfying. The scenery made it all worthwhile.




We stopped a few hours later for Flat Whites at the Black Crow.




101 frequently takes you close to the ocean


The mighty Columbia River at Astoria!


We watched a LNG fueled RoRo Car Carrier come under the bridge from the Columbia Monument.


Pretty Comfortable!



Scott did all the work while Jim and I took in the view.

Truly a beautiful day! Kind of rare at Astoria.

The Columbia Monument from our hotel


We spent an hour getting educated at the Maritime museum.


The Coast Guard trains their rescue boat crews and captains here at Astoria in the Columbia. The toughest bar to cross in the world.

Fishing, is still important in Astoria


Nice view from the room


Supper was Fish and Chips at the dive bar across the tracks from our waterfront digs.


Tomorrow we will head for Mt Hood via a cirquitous route.

Ice Cream is in our future! Stay tuned!

[Auburn]

here is a great breakfast place in Astoria Pig N Pancake https://www.pignpancake.com/locations--menu.html

We always stop in for breakfast there when passing through.

[wheatonFJR]

here is a great breakfast place in Astoria Pig N Pancake https://www.pignpancake.com/locations--menu.html

We always stop in for breakfast there when passing through.

Sounds awesome. Travelers Rest needs one.

[fontanaman]

This has been an awesome ride. Hwy 112 is in rough shape and no road for an FJR ES. I got pitch around pretty good by unwelcome chassis movement. Great road in serious need of rebuilding.

A few days before I left on this ride I was swinging a 5 lbs pick trying to remove a Japanese Maple root ball. I failed and since then my left shoulder has been popping a bit. Ibuprofen has helped as did the smooth pavement yesterday where I got to sample the FJR passing abilities.

[Toter]

This has been an awesome ride. Hwy 112 is in rough shape and no road for an FJR ES. I got pitch around pretty good by unwelcome chassis movement. Great road in serious need of rebuilding.

A few days before I left on this ride I was swinging a 5 lbs pick trying to remove a Japanese Maple root ball. I failed and since then my left shoulder has been popping a bit. Ibuprofen has helped as did the smooth pavement yesterday where I got to sample the FJR passing abilities.

At this stage in life, swinging a 5 lb. pick, attacking roots and stumps, is a task best left for young guys, with you observing with checkbook in hand! Screwed up shoulders are a PITA.

[bigjohnsd]

Day 7 - 16 September 2025, Astoria, OR to Government Camp, OR via Cannon Beach, OR, Tillamook OR, Mt Hood Timberline Lodge - 256 miles, 6.5 hours riding 2 hours off the bikes.

We had a late start - 0830 from Starbucks it was on our route.


Todays travels

We stopped several times along 101 South of Astoria for pictures, Scott doesn't get to see the ocean often, it is a long ways from Rapid City, SD.



This stretch reminds me of the Apostles along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia.

Scott and Jim

the Easterly breeze was blowing the spray behind the breaking waves.



Our first real stop was in Tillamook


We just had to honor Mssr "Pants

Scott went "Whole Hog"with a Three Scoop Sampler! Jim and I restrained ourselves.


The single scoop of Espresso Chip was mighty fine, my first ice cream in many months and it was quite good, thanks Joey!

It was a beautiful day to travel the coast, mid-70s F and a little breeze.


A little further South, at Beaver, OR, we turned inland and headed East towards Salem on the Blaine Rd, then the Upper Nestucca Rd. A great run through the coastal mountains.



The road was a tight twisty generally smooth Goat Trail.

After crossing I-5 South of Portland we hastened through the heat (we saw 90F) and then rode up to our ultimate days objective, Mt Hood.


Which was pretty barren. Both Jim and I remarked on the near total absence of snow, there is usually enough for snowboarders and skiiers even this late in the summer.

Jim broke off when Scott and I headed to the Timberline Lodge.
as he has been and skied there many times.




One hell of a view from the Lodge!


Mt Jefferson in the distance.



We are in Government Camp for the evening. Tomorrow we head for John Day, OR and a few days riding "In the Box" IYKYK!

Stay tuned.

[fontanaman]

Jim peeled off at Rhododendron Oregon, the last community before Government Camp, to take a trip down memory lane. In the 1990's I was part owner of the Henry Creek Cabin. It had good bones and curb appeal when we bought it but it needed a few things because while the builder had a dream and used quality materials they ran out of cash when the interior was installed. So we put in an entire kitchen, a central heating and air system along with a hot tub and enclosure. We even named the place Henry Creek Cabin.

It was hard to find a place with good bones. One A frame house had NO HEADER for the deck joists, they just continued under the house. Ruh Roh. Another place had a large tree so slowly relocating the foundation. Ruh Roh.

As the bears hauled off with the garbage cans I designed and built a garbage can and wood shed. The bears remodeled the shed so I strengthened it and it is still standing today. There is a church pew on the front deck which I refinished, it is still there.

It is available for rent on AirBnB.

I choose to skip the part of going up to Timberline Lodge having been there so many times. I used to ski on the Palmer Snowfield in summertime back in 1980's and 1990's when was open for skiing through September and was shut down in October for annual inspection and maintenance. Lack of snow shuts the ski hill down in mid August these days. The US Ski team still trains here during the summer. And today Mt Biking is big business.

Mostly good memories of skiing with my son here.

[raYzerman]

Mt. Hood, June 20, 2022. As I recall, temps in the mid-60's up there.

[fontanaman]

Thanks Ray. I needed that. That is what Mt. Hood is supposed to look like.

[Hppants]

That's beautiful country - I've seen some of it, but none from on top of a motorcycle. I shall endeavor to remedy that.

Well done on the ice cream, gentlemen. We get Tillimook Ice Cream at home, and it's quite good.

[bigjohnsd]

Day 8 - 17 September 2025, Government Camp, OR to John Day, OR via - 316 miles, 6.0 hours riding 2 hours off the bikes.


Todays route, most of it on roads marked with these signs.


We left Government Camp on US 26 about 0815 in delicious 57F, it got as low as 47F and as high as 93F today.


We made a short stop to help our newest Cardo User solve a communication problem


As Scott often says "Take me out and make me ride my motorcycle!"


Our route took us along the Deschutes River where we saw some natives fishing with dip nets.


Lots of roads like tis in Jim's repertoire
and we enjoyed them to the fullest!

We visited Antelope, the late home of the Marharaja that took over the town.
Not much evidence of him or his followers remain.

Typical Eastern Oregon, green where there is water and brown where there is not.


We stopped at an abandoned store for a snack around noon.

Before heading into the heart of the John Day Fossil Bed National Monument












Jim handled a little gravel just fine on his FJR ADVENTURE BIKE!





We are in John Day, OR for the evening, Jim leaves for Spokane in the morning, Scott and I have a Thursday loop planned before heading East on Friday morning.

[fontanaman]

For those in the Pacific Northwest the restaurant at Service Creek Oregon is closed. Bummer.

Today we left Government Camp Oregon and went directly to The Box where we gassed up in Shaniko and I'm to Hwy 218 with a spirited and a gravel free ride, a bonus in Oregon, as the roads are lined with gravel.

The FRJ is at home on these roads and my left shoulder wasn't abused today. I made good used of the FJR awesome engine. Gotta love it!

We did a loop on Hwy 19, 207 and Rowe Creek. Great roads. There isn't a bad road in the area.

Onward to the Painted Hills for some interesting geology. Heck the Geology in NE Oregon is very interesting. The basalt flows from 17 million years are the primary feature. The land undulates in ways that motorcyclists appreciate and the views are terrific.

After the Painted Hills Scott and I extended the ride 60 miles on some very nice roads.

It was a good day to ride with friends in the box on the FJR.