Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding...

Funny how the border patrol treats bikes different. Everytime I go through on the bike they just ask me what my license plate is then they say have a nice day.
Lovin this report and btw I ran into your friends Kevin and Manon back in the summer at GP bikes in Toronto. Told me they were on the way to Vancouver from Ottawa and not returning. Small world.

Not really a small world, K&M used to live in the back room at GP bikes. That Desmosedici in the corner that's been sitting there for the last 3 years? That's Kevin's bed... :)

VERY useful. Thanks!

Post is bookmarked and saved!

Updated from http://www.RideDOT.com/rtw/37.html



Seattle! Our first major US city in the Lower 48! First things first, we make a beeline to Touratech USA, birthplace of Neda's Touratech F650GS...


TouratechGirl right at home! I hid the credit card before she walked in the store...

The folks at TT were awesome, there were a couple of issues with some of their parts that we encountered on the road - a windshield spoiler that popped off on the highway and got run over by an 18-wheeler, as well as a locking GPS mount that wouldn't lock. They solved both problems and let us advertise their store for free by giving us these TT Seattle stickers that you can only get by visiting their store!


More advertising for Touraratech. Seriously, when does that cheque arrive again? I put one on my Givi topcase... heheh

Yaw contacted me on our website a couple of years ago and we've traded vacation pictures back and forth. Him and his girlfriend, Hélène, are avid sportbike riders and love traveling, so I knew we had a lot in common. Last summer, I told him we were going to hit the west coast on our RTW trip and he offered to show us Seattle and put us up for the night.


Yaw and Hélène, our hosts in Seattle - Super awesome biking couple!

Yaw and Hélène took us to the Pike Place Market downtown and we had a great time talking bikes and travel over our seafood brunch. They recently got engaged!


Yaw's Monster takes centre stage, Hélène's Ninja is hidden behind our ginormous GSes and Neda is txting all her girlfriends back home...


They clean all carbs for free? Will they do fuel-injected bikes too?


We heard they throw fish at the Pike Place Market, but it was a slow day - no fish throwing... Here's a picture of us instead...


Hélène is quite the geek - she pointed out the fractal cauliflower.
I wanted to follow up with a Mandelbrot joke but decided to reveal my inner geekiness a bit later


Colourful peppers at the Pike Place Market


Local Seattle artist Whitney Monge performing outside the first Starbucks. Killer voice!


We're rolling with different motorcycle gangs all over the continent! Seattle chapter of the RideDOT.com Riders


Lookout over Seattle from Gas Works Park


Pretty colours on Lake Union, Space Needle in the distance


Hanging out with the remains of the old coal gasification plant in the background. Very Steampunk!

It was a pretty action-packed day, Yaw and Hélène were perfect ambassadors for their city, taking us riding around all of their favorite spots, and we ended up eating dripping Cuban sandwiches from Paseo's on the shores of the Golden Gardens beach, watching the sun set over the waters of Puget Sound. Super awesome!


Kite fliers on Golden Gardens beach

We thought the day was over, but Y&H invited us to a party they were attending that night. It was packed with really bright UW grad students all working on technologies to make the world a better place. There was a lot of passion and excitement about what they were doing which was very contagious as we talked shop throughout the night. We are experiencing such different slices of life as we travel from place to place, and I can't help feeling so enriched by everyone we've met.


Seattle triptych from Y&H's apartment

The next morning was spent trading geekisms with Y&H over a comfortable breakfast at home. The chatter was so easy that I felt like we've known them for a long time. There's so much warmth and brilliance in this fun couple, Neda and I are so glad to have them as friends and wish them much joy in their life together! :)


"There's absolutely nothing wrong with iOS6 Maps! Sometimes those reddit guys just makes me so... argh!"
"I know, Yaw. I know..."

Awesome pics of Seattle!

I assume you'll be coming through Los Angeles. I've got a living room and covered parking for you! I'll ride around with you since I'm unemployed haha....maybe I'll head south with you?

I really can't make it to the other side of the world in a hurry

Thanks for stopping by!

Updated from http://www.RideDOT.com/rtw/38.html



We bid our goodbyes to Yaw and Hélène as they set off on their motorcycles to Whidbey Island for the day - which is where we just came from! We're taking the ferry over to Olympic National Park, at the north-western tip of Washington State. It boasts amazing scenery and riding roads: SOLD!


Saying goodbye to Seattle from the ferry. The ferris wheel is a mini "London Eye", just opened this summer.

The world-famous Highway 101 starts in Washington and we catch the road at it's most northern point, as it skirts the shores of Olympic National Park. The weather is a bit chilly and the scenery is not as good as advertised, but we see many bikers returning from their weekend rides, so it's still promising. The 101 is set inland a bit so we take Highway 113 (Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway) to the very tip of the peninsula, to a small fishing town called Neah Bay. Now *this* road is entertaining, were it not for the fog and rain haunting the coastline. Great views of the beaches and shores and some very tight turns. Yay!


Playing on the 113 to Neah Bay


Marina at Neah Bay

Neah Bay is set within the Makah Indian reservation, and fishing is the primary industry here - the docks at the marina are the most prominent feature of this community. We don't stay too long because the wet and gloomy weather seems to have taken permanent residence here, with the rest of the Pacific Northwest receiving an uncharacteristic long spell of sunshine.


Sunlight streaming through the trees on the 101

Doubling back on Highway 101, we travel southbound on the peninsula, visiting the many picturesque beaches that line the western shoreline.


Cue the chorus of angels


NatureGirl in her element


South Beach at Kalaloch


Waves crash on the hazy shoreline


Looking for interesting shells on the beach. Lots of crab shells!


Huge waves crashing on the shore, some almost as tall as I am


Playing tag with the waves of the Pacific Ocean


Fade to white

After spending some time hiking around the forests and beaches of Olympic National Park, we hop on our bikes again and keep riding south. Along the way, we pass through Forks, WA. If this town sounds familiar, it's because:


Lip-gloss-wearing vampires live in this town

The "Twilight museum" seems to have made its quick buck while the fad came and went. The place looks like it's been closed for quite some time! We spend the night at a campsite just outside of Forks, and I keep a tent-stake under my sleeping bag in case one of those sun-sparkly vampires mistakes me for a whiny 17-year-old girl named Bella...

Gloomy weather may suck but it sure makes for great photo ops, not that you need gloomy weather for great photos. As always, beautiful pics.
You don't seem to be in any rush to get to warmer weather...good for you guys.
Really enjoying your report, thanks.

We were just there a couple months ago. Spectacular scenery and great pictures. Have a great time

Your RR is just awesome. I don't know what is better, seeing the landscapes or reading about the people you met. It's just amazing how much emotion and character you managed to bring in with the short story and these few photos of Yaw and Hélène.

Wow, wow!

I know that this isn't even close as a factor to have a good story, but what camera do you guys use? :)

Most of the on-bike shots were taken with the Coolpix AW100 - best ruggedized camera ever! And big buttons so you can use them with gloves. When we're off the bikes, we're using a D3000 primarily, sometimes a D60 and a few of the shots are done with the iPhone. Surprisingly good camera on those iPhones!

Update from http://www.RideDOT.com/rtw/39.html



The Pacific Northwest is normally a rainy, gloomy place, especially at this time of year. But much to the chagrin of local farmers, we've lucked out as Washington's Indian Summer has gone over 80 days without rain and the temperatures have been hovering around 20C during the daytime.


Our campsite at Brooks Memorial State Park


Come on, I promise not to Instagram you...!


"Which way to Watership Down?"

Unfortunately, this has also caused a lot of forest fires in the area, and one of the dual-sport roads we were looking forward to riding - the Washington Backcountry Discovery Roads - is closed. Despite the long break in Vancouver, we're still suffering a bit of fatigue from our hectic race away from the Arctic winter, so we've really slowed our pace in the last few days, just catching up on our reading and doing a bit of hiking in the area, relishing the warm and dry weather. This is the kind of leisurely pace we were missing on all of our shorter trips - the ability to wander wherever with no set schedule, not knowing where you'll end up for the night or how long you'll stay - and we are loving the freedom!


All Star Wars, All the Time at the Star Wars Store in Aberdeen, WA. With a little bit of "Live Long and Prosper" thrown in...

We follow Highway 101 hugging the western Washington coastline until we hit Aberdeen, then turn inland towards Mount Rainier National Park where we camp out for a couple of days. One evening, before we head for dinner, we run into a trio of riders just outside the park:


Ran into Tamas, Dmitri and Rey at Mount Rainier National Park, 3 local riders from ADV as well


A few days later Tamas sends us this pic and says hi to us on our thread on ADV!

Mount Rainier is Washington's highest mountain and can be seen from all around the area. Neda found us a great road that cuts further inland, State Road 410 AKA the Chinook Pass, which gives us great views of Rainier in the distance.


Riding up the Chinook Pass


Doing some hiking just off the Chinook Pass


Views of the valley of the Cascade Mountain Range


From Yakima, WA, we turned south on Highway 97 and visited Stonehenge!

Situated just north of the WA/OR border, this Stonehenge is a full-size replica of the one in the UK. It was built in 1918 to commemorate the American soldiers that came from the immediate area who lost their lives in WWI. The surrounding hills are covered in wind turbines, lending a surreal anachronistic quality around it.


Tilting at windmills


Can't imagine a structure this big built 3000 years ago without the help of aliens!


"These aren't the druids you're looking for"


Proud to be inside Stonehenge with the bikes

On a side note, it's Canadian Thanksgiving and to commemorate our ex-pat holiday (the Americans have their Thanksgiving over a month later), we eat a turkey sandwich at Stonehenge! We've been keeping in touch with family and friends over the Internet and social media but it's just not the same as being there with them in person, especially during the holidays!


Racing down the Columbia River

The Columbia River starts out in BC, but we now follow it as it snakes westwards back towards the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia River Gorge acts as a natural border between Washington and Oregon, and it's hard to keep your eyes on the road when you're riding beside something that spectacular!

Amazing pictures and an amazing adventure!! Consider myself jealous!!

Keep up the good work, I cannot wait for the next installment.

The real Stonehenge is nothing like the one in your photo, not to mention the real one is stone, not concrete blocks - come on over, couchsurf, and see the real thing!
Great RR and photo's.

Gotta love the abundance of nice pics... great RR so far, keep up the good work

Sorry.....Sorry...Sorry...but i couldnt help my self....last year we go for snowboard to the Italian Alps...so stop at a supermarket for some shopping and photos...
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still here and enjoying every bit of it..