Ride to Olympic National Park
Cross posted to furry_bikers
After taking thesmileetiger to the airport this morning I decided to take a ride over to the Olympic Peninsula and see what I could see.
It started off with a foggy ferry ride from Seattle to Bainbridge Island and then a leisurely hour and a half ride to Port Angeles. About half an hour in, the fog and clouds cleared out and it was beautiful riding weather, if a bit chilly, and some gorgeous scenery.
A quick pitstop in Sequim, WA (much love to the older Aussie ex-pat lady at the Shell station for giving me free coffee :) ) was the only interruption until I got to the park. The park entrance was kind of interesting. You head past the local high school and a subdivision before the road turns decidedly more wooded and country feeling. Five miles later you hit the entrance station and pay $5 for you and your bike. If any of you make your way to the park, keep your receipt because it will get you in any other park entrance for the next seven days. I think next summer I'll use that to hit Hurricane Ridge when it's a bit warmer, then head over to the Hoh rain forest.
After the entrance, it's a fun ~15 mile twisty road up to the visitor's center. The first half is pretty dense forest with some nice scenic overlooks and then the second half is rock face on one side and steep cliff-of-doom with no guard rail on the other. :D
Hurricane Ridge definitely lived up to it's name today, it was quite windy the entire time. I spent a few hours up there taking pictures, walking on some of the easy trails close to the parking lot. I should have taken an extra pair of shoes and pants so I could have explored a little more since leather riding pants do not make for good hiking. Oh well, for next time. I also discovered that they offer skiing and snowshoeing there starting around mid-December. We just may have to check that out come snow season.
The afternoon wore on and the clouds started to make there way back in, so I decided to start making my way back to the ferry. Once out of the park I stopped for a quick bite to eat to warm up and get some energy since I only had a protein bar on the ride out. Back on the bike, the temperature started to drop pretty quick so I was liberal with the throttle and made it back to the dock just in time to get to the front of the line with the other motorcycles and bikes for the 6:30 crossing to Seattle.
I took a bunch of pictures if your are interested... just click here
Oh, I have a question for all the guys out there. Do you have a problem with your seat putting a lot of pressure on your prostate? It didn't bother me going out, but coming back I really felt it. I'm guessing it's just the sucky stock seat on the SV. Any recommendations on something better?
P.S. If any of you want a Gixxer or a Rolls Royce, there is one of each being hocked outside the Clearwater Casino 10 miles outside of Bainbridge. >:)
After taking thesmileetiger to the airport this morning I decided to take a ride over to the Olympic Peninsula and see what I could see.
It started off with a foggy ferry ride from Seattle to Bainbridge Island and then a leisurely hour and a half ride to Port Angeles. About half an hour in, the fog and clouds cleared out and it was beautiful riding weather, if a bit chilly, and some gorgeous scenery.
A quick pitstop in Sequim, WA (much love to the older Aussie ex-pat lady at the Shell station for giving me free coffee :) ) was the only interruption until I got to the park. The park entrance was kind of interesting. You head past the local high school and a subdivision before the road turns decidedly more wooded and country feeling. Five miles later you hit the entrance station and pay $5 for you and your bike. If any of you make your way to the park, keep your receipt because it will get you in any other park entrance for the next seven days. I think next summer I'll use that to hit Hurricane Ridge when it's a bit warmer, then head over to the Hoh rain forest.
After the entrance, it's a fun ~15 mile twisty road up to the visitor's center. The first half is pretty dense forest with some nice scenic overlooks and then the second half is rock face on one side and steep cliff-of-doom with no guard rail on the other. :D
Hurricane Ridge definitely lived up to it's name today, it was quite windy the entire time. I spent a few hours up there taking pictures, walking on some of the easy trails close to the parking lot. I should have taken an extra pair of shoes and pants so I could have explored a little more since leather riding pants do not make for good hiking. Oh well, for next time. I also discovered that they offer skiing and snowshoeing there starting around mid-December. We just may have to check that out come snow season.
The afternoon wore on and the clouds started to make there way back in, so I decided to start making my way back to the ferry. Once out of the park I stopped for a quick bite to eat to warm up and get some energy since I only had a protein bar on the ride out. Back on the bike, the temperature started to drop pretty quick so I was liberal with the throttle and made it back to the dock just in time to get to the front of the line with the other motorcycles and bikes for the 6:30 crossing to Seattle.
I took a bunch of pictures if your are interested... just click here
Oh, I have a question for all the guys out there. Do you have a problem with your seat putting a lot of pressure on your prostate? It didn't bother me going out, but coming back I really felt it. I'm guessing it's just the sucky stock seat on the SV. Any recommendations on something better?
P.S. If any of you want a Gixxer or a Rolls Royce, there is one of each being hocked outside the Clearwater Casino 10 miles outside of Bainbridge. >:)