Thursday, January 20, 2005
WFO-4
Based on projections that my FJR would arrive in July last year, I planned a fantastic trip up the coast for the end of August, returning home on the Sunday before Labor Day. Fours days up the coast to Port Angeles, across to Victoria for 3 days, then four days back through central Washington, Oregon, the Cascades and the Sierra. Heaven on earth. I had hotel reservations for the entire trip, and a detailed yet flexible itenerary.
Unfortunately, my FJR arrived at the dealer on the exact day I was supposed to depart. I had to cancel all my hotels, but vowed to take the trip as soon as it made sense.
The Western FJR Owners group has held ride-ins get-togethers for three years now. Wouldn't you know it - this year's meeting is in the Skagit Valley, halfway between Seattle and the Canadian border in northwest Washington.
I signed up and got hotel reservations within hours after it was announced. The trip will be different than the one I planned last year, but still pretty heavenly.
Sign-ins start at noon on Friday, August 5th. My current plan is to do an IBA Saddle Sore 1000 ride that Thursday, from my home to the Motel 6 in Olympia/Tumwater - 1,083 miles according to Streets & Trips. Yes, I have contigency plans, but my goal is to ride a 50CC cross-country ride in 2006, and I need to assess my ability and desire to ride long distances. (A 50CC is coast to coast in less than 50 hours.)
A Thursday departure also lets me spend more time on the backend of the trip. I plan to head to Victoria after the gathering ends on Sunday, August 7th, and spend a few days riding Vancouver Island - Tofino on the southwest coast, and Port Alberni in the central valley.
On the way home, the plan is to take the coastal route all the way home.
Here's to dreams...
Posted by bnc at January 20, 2005 3:14 PM