Part IX - The End Of The Road.


May 6/15

There's no need to rush today as we're only about two hundred miles from home so we putter about, go for the complimentary breakfast in the dining room upstairs which has a particularly good spread to tempt us. Fuel up, why is it we always come into town the night before low on gas, and we're making tracks.

Next up Stevens Pass and look out scout! The clouds have rolled in, the temperature plummets to four, yup you read that right, four degrees Celsius, that's thirty-nine for the metrically challenged and the rain drops are looking a lot like wet snow. Yikes! We're treading very carefully hoping the road doesn't turn into a skating rink as we gingerly work our way down the mountain and out of the pass.

Once in lower elevation the temperature shoots back up to eleven degrees, however; the clouds stay with us for the next hour or so but we hunker down and keep on keeping on.

A quick right turn and we're on Hwy 9, right where we started from ten or so days ago. It's a nice easy fifty miles or thereabout to Sumas, WA and the border crossing back into Canada. The border was a snap, thanks to NEXUS and we're through in a matter of seconds. Looking at the clock it's nearly 4:00 PM and we have one more goal on the horizon. Lori's bike is still dripping some oil from the fall it took way back in Utah. This annoyance had disappeared for a while but has since reappeared and we want to get it into our doctor in Langley and get it seen to pronto. We make a quick pit-stop at home, dump the luggage and roar off to Holeshot Motorsports to drop the bike off. We're well known here so there's lots of friendly faces to greet us. They wheel the bike in, Lori hops on the back of mine and we shoot home to unpack.

We're putting my bike under it's cover and in traditional mantra it's "We did it. Again"

Daily distance
222.5 miles
357 kms


EPILOGUE

The intention of this tour was there was no particular destination, it was the road to nowhere. I feel we accomplished this as we would end a day and have no idea where we were going to go the next day. We had a loose general direction of travel depending on available time but each day was a mystery and this made it all the more fun. Having Lori's input added a whole new point of view and I welcomed the freshness she brought to the table.

I always like to end these stories with a brief synopsis of the trip, 'the best of', 'the worst of'' etc. so here goes.


Total Distance Travelled Through Six States:

2858.2 miles
4599.8 kms


Best moment of the trip:

There are a few moments worth noting, one was after the 'incident' in Utah when we determined Lori was not badly hurt and both she and the bike could carry on. Another was stumbling across Hwy 821 and riding this beautiful stretch of road through Yakima Canyon. Add to that highways 21 and 75 through Boise National Forest. Spectacular!

Worst moment of the trip:

The 'incident' when Lori fell and we were in the middle of nowhere in Western Utah. A very scary feeling seeing her down with the bike on top of her.

Best meal:

Frankly I thought the best meal we had was the night we got home and went to the Greek restaurant a block away from home, however; on the road I'd have to say it was lunch at the deli in Eureka, Nevada. Staffed by Amish girls and run by a fast talking guy from Philadelphia. Great lunch.

Worst meal:

We have a split here. Lori didn't particularly like the steak she had in Leavenworth...fatty and she claims there was mold in her potato and her beans tasted like they were canned. Ugh!. For me it was the Mexican place in Ontario, Oregon....muy mal gusto!

Highlights:

For Lori it was making it through the wind tunnel and coming out the other end. The highlight for me was ten days of exciting motorcycle touring with my wife, best pal and soul mate. The trips just keep getting better. Lori agrees and says, "Don't underestimate the value of riding with the right partner." Awww shucks!.


This has been the third blog I've done in the 'Motorcycle Odyssey' series and hopefully there will be more. If you're interested in any of the previous travel-blogs these links will take you there.

Coast To Coast: A Motorcycle Odyssey
http://steve-buckton.blogspot.ca

A five week ride on my own from BC to the Atlantic Ocean and back.


Desert Honeymoon: A Motorcycle Odyssey
http://steve-buckton2.blogspot.ca

Lori joins the team for this trip as we go on our honeymoon ride.

Olympic Circle: A Motorcyle Odyssey
http://steve-buckton4.blogspot.ca

This story chronicles a four day trip out to the Washington's Olympic Peninsula.

Until the next time. Ride safe. See you soon!

Steve Buckton
Langley, B.C.