Rachel goes to Leavenworth

June usually brings more sunny days to Seattle and June 8th was a bit cloudy in Seattle but on the other side of the mountains there was glorious sunshine and temps in the 80s.  I decided to take Rachel on her first trip to Leavenworth as she has been feeling a bit neglected and I was in the mood for a beer and a brat.

I left Seattle around 12:30 PM and after a quick trip on 520 and 405 I was was on 522 and then on to 2.  I stopped for a quick gas stop in Monroe where I met a few more riders gassing up on their way to Wenatchee.  Driving through Monroe, many a person gave me a thumbs up at a traffic light or just wanted to talk to me about the bike.  I must say this usually doesn't happen on the CBR.  There is just something magical about a shiny Harley Davidson.

For the most part I was riding by myself on the highway.  Enjoying the majestic beauty of the state of Washington.  The temperature and the smells kept on changing as I climbed higher into the mountains eventually reaching snow and Stevens Pass.  Around this time, a couple on two custom bikes caught up to me and I rode behind them up and down the pass.

Finally the temperature started to increase.  The ride along the canyon that borders the Wenatchee River was amazing.  Temperatures in the 80s cooled by a breeze come off the rushing rapids combined with the surrounding mountains was just breathtaking.  No time to stop though to enjoy the surrounds as I was starting to get hungry. 

I finally arrived in Leavenworth and was able to get a parking spot on the main street easily by a few sport bikes.  I walked to the sausage garden and had a nice cold beer and a nice hot brat.  My stomach now full, I decided to walk around for a bit.  There were many bikers in the town today and I saw some really amazing custom machines lining the streets.  There was an art fair going on as well and I saw some cool pictures.  One final stop at the Cheesemonger shop to get some good items to bring back to home and I was on my way back to Seattle.

The trip home was as enjoyable as the trip out there was.  It was busier than the ride out and I had more traffic around me.  Coming down Stevens Pass and that turn over a cliff still freaks me out but I managed to get around it without incident.  After a quick nod to tradition that is the stop at Starbucks in Monroe, I was on 522 and on the way to Seattle.  I ended up taking Lake City Way around the lake and approaching the city from the north.  By now it was sunnier in Seattle and the skyline looked amazing.

The whole purpose of buying Rachel was to go on further trips more often.  I have to say she fits the bill.  The miles go by effortlessly and I was not sore at all after either leg or the whole trip.  Touring bikes are really amazing machines.  Now to plan my next adventure.  I am thinking Hurricane Ridge but we will have to see where the road leads me. 

View fullsize

Rachel arrives in Leavenworth

View fullsize

The Fartbølle prepares to go back to Seattle

A new toy or how to track my adventures

I have been on some amazing roads in both cars and on bikes.  Unfortunately, I usually just wander off and don't have a way to figure out where I have been or how to get back there again.  I knew this was a problem I needed to solve to help me get back to places and to track my adventures.​

​What to get to solve this problem?  I didn't know as there are quite a few options ranging in price drastically.  Some require a subscription fee and others just require you buy the device.  I sent an email to the riders alias at work and someone replied with a suggestion of a Garmin training watch.  It did all I wanted and had no subscription fee.

Off I went to Amazon to find the right watch.  I ended up with a Garmin Forerunner 310XT after one day.  I love Prime and being in Amazon's backyard.  If the stars align, the free 2 day shipping turns into next day as it did for my watch and made me a happy customer once again.

Below are the results of my commute today.  Nothing special and no elaborate rides, I just wanted to track how it would perform.  I did take a slight detour on the way home to see how it would track in the city but otherwise this is my daily drive.​

First Commute on a Harley

​May is bike to work month.  That usually means pedaling yourself but why do that when you can let a V-Twin do the work for you.  May 1st was a gorgeous morning in Seattle so I decided today would be the first day to commute on the Harley.

I geared up and was out the door around 9:15 AM on my way to the east side.  Traffic was abnormally heavy on 520 but the sun was out and I was having a blast.  I had an incident free commute with no jerks on the road near me.  When I got to work, I was a bit surprised by the lack of bikes in the parking garage.  No time to wonder why, a busy day lay ahead.

​The sun was calling my name and I was super productive at work so I decided to leave a bit early and get a haircut before riding some more.  I took the side streets to main street Bellevue to go to my favorite barbershop.  Hair much cooler looking, I decided to head north through Kirkland and then pick up 202 off 124th.  Traffic in downtown Kirkland was not fun but eventually it opened up and I was on the move.   

​I usually stop at the Red Hook Brewery when I am in Woodinville but I had other plans today.  I continued on to 203 to go to Duvall.  Traffic was light and there were a few bikes on the road, primarily going the other way.  Eventually I made it to Falls City and took 202 back to Redmond.

Now I had a decision to make on how to get back to Seattle.  It was so nice out and there was still sunshine so I didn't feel like 520.  I ended up taking 202 to 124th to 100th and eventually ending up on Lake City Way.  Driving around Lake Washington is a nice experience when the weather is nice and traffic is light.  

Overall, it was a great commute and the miles just went by like nothing on Rachel.  I hope that this is an early start to a great riding season in Washington.