A Few Of Our Favorite Shots From Our Annual Ride Through The Pacific Northwest, With A Special Guest
Recently, Road Dirt’s founder, senior editor, chief cook and bottle washer Rob Brooks flew 3,000 miles from his Georgia home to Wenatchee, Washington to join me and eight others on our annual seven day, 1,500+ mile tour of the upper left. I promised him blue Pacific Northwest skies, great food and a memorable experience.
One out of three isn’t bad.
Rob tasked himself with writing his version of what happened. However, to beat him to the story, it involved rain, sleet, hail, fog, more rain, dodging snow, chip seal, an electric fence, an electric bike, failing motorcycle electrics, a bumpy ATV explore and some light spelunking. You can read about it later here on RoadDirt.tv.
Until then, here is my version of what happened, in pictures.
*Click on each photo to expand it’s view.
Ted’s Garage
All is ready the night before departure from my garage in Wenatchee, Washington. Choose your weapon. Rob rode the 2003 ST1300 and I piloted my faithful 1998 VFR800. Both bikes have reputations for stone-solid reliability. Both developed weather-related electrical issues.
Windmills
“Are you back there Rob? Another photo stop Rob? It’s just windmills.” But I forget that what is ordinary to a native like me is wondrous to a stranger. Day one’s ride from Wenatchee to Clarkston, Washington falsely inflated our hope of good weather and gave us scenery like a Microsoft Windows screensaver.
Rattlesnake Grade
Trevor “Tail Gunner” Alexander and I decide to dial back our pace given the cold temps, looming clouds and wet roads. Later, the bikes’ thermometers would record a low of 36 F as we rode in the drizzle and navigated around small bits of snow. Around this time in the fog and rain I asked Rob if he was still my friend. I chose to not remember his response.
Outrunning the Storm
Rain soaked
Ugly weather loomed everywhere we looked. The relentless downpour killed one of my headlights while others suffered failed starter and kill switches.
Fossil Church
The visit to the church in Fossil, Oregon did not exorcise the weather demons. Foul clouds stalked us like a psychotic ex-girlfriend. At this point, I had already lost a headlight. Next, Dave “White Girl” Wensveen lost both headlights. Then he discovered his bike would die when he pulled in the clutch at a stop. Or turned his handlebar too far to the right. Chief editor Rob Brooks then lost his key. We found it after a panicked search only to find that his bike failed to start due to a water logged kill switch.
Strawberry Mountains
“And damned be him that first cries, ‘Hold, enough!’” When we were about to do just that, there were transcendent moments like this. Aaron Whiteman’s lens captured the proportions of eastern Oregon’s majesty. This was the first time we saw sustained sunlight in days. It didn’t last long.
Ride Hard
“I loved those sweepers! Starting to feel fast on this beast.” said Rob Brooks (at left) as Trevor “Tail Gunner” Alexander (at right) and I listen in. Eastern Oregon is “God’s own racetrack” and when we had the rare combination of good weather and dry asphalt, we took advantage.
Honda VFRs
Tail Gunner, White Girl and I discuss our next moves. Out of the larger Washington based Mild Hogs, we form a smaller branch known as the Wild Rose Squad since we tend to ride at, shall we say, a different pace.
Honda VFRs
VFRs are the tool of choice of many Wild Rose Squad members, chosen for their light weight, speed, comfort, reliability and V-4 soundtrack. Keen eyes will notice the semi-racing slick on the front of Trevor “Tail Gunner” Alexander’s black 2006 VFR. Trevor credited its unshakable grip with saving his life while braking to avoid a deer on the way home.
loud pipes
Single sided swingarms dominate the Wild Rose Squad ranks. We questioned White Girl’s hula girl placement above his license plate, but she stayed put.
hula girl
A hula girl is mandatory Wild Rose Squad fitment at the outset of any trip. First person to lose their hula girl buys them for the group on the next trip. Naming your hula girl is highly encouraged, but poor adhesive makes for short term relationships, so don’t get too attached.
Mazda Miata
A look behind the scenes at how so much of our photos and footage was captured. Much thanks to Aaron Whiteman, our photographer/videographer/Miata pilot/chase vehicle/beer wagon for all his hard work.
Ice Caves
A brief spelunk into the Trout Lake Ice Caves reveals gravity-defying ice formations. Navigating the unforgiving rocks in protective motorcycle gear has its benefits.
Georgia Boy
Rob Brooks channels his inner hillbilly on the last night of the tour which climaxed with sublime weather, like a bright sunset end to a gloomy gray movie. He takes back to his Georgia home a recalibrated mental picture of the upper left of our country.
boss man
Road Dirt founder and editor-in-chief Rob Brooks flew 3,000 miles to ride a land he had never been to, on a bike he had never been on, with people he had never met, and had the time of his life. Look for the complete story from his point of view elsewhere on RoadDirt.tv
Ted Edwards
What to do when you return home after a seven day, 1,500+ mile tour? Go for a swim, then immediately hop back on bikes and go for a quick sunset cruise, of course. So Rob and I did. Despite the brutal weather, electrical gremlins and my questionable beef stroganoff, I would turn around and do it all again with my friends. Would Rob do the same? You’ll have to ask him.
Rob really could not have experienced the PNW any better way than with the weather and conditions we experienced. Fantastic to have shared in that week.
And not a better crew to have experienced it all with, “Machine”!
Maybe the question isn’t if Rob will do it again but if you’ll be coming out to Georgia to do the same? ? great article Ted sounds like a fun trip with cliche Pac NW weather haha
YES! We gotta make that happen!
If I travel to Georgia, I will make time to see you Whitney. Although I’m not sure I can fake the accent.
Excellent images and commenting gentlemen!
Thats okay I’ve heard very few since moving here actually! It’s actually very green and treesy here like back home and there’s nice windy backroads too 🙂
Yes…..a most excellent adventure! Busyiny myself now with several “honey do’s” so I can earn my “hall pass” in preparation for the Birch Bay/ Discovery Bay/ Long Beach/ Morning Song loop ….. a must when the triple digits temps of Eastern Washington settle in…..this will be a spur of the moment excursion with the fraternity of the willing when the “weather window” is wide open. Hey Rob….fly back out for part 2 of the Summer of COVID….then there’s always 3, 4 and 5……
I’d love to, T! Maybe again next year.
That’s a 1st for me. I was wondering what cool garage you guys visited when I was off on my own ride. Then I discover it’s Ted’s garage.. Nice Garage Ted
It could use a few more motorcycles.
Good times, great stories and perfect memories…… Nice, Enjoy and Savor it.
There were some good times, but only some. When Rob tells his side of the story, you will see why. Stay tuned…