Escaping Seattle....

AKStrom · 06-07-2008, 03:42 PM

Had a lovely little ride today since I bailed on going to Eastern Washington this weekend. Whole lot of back-country riding and very little freeway made for a lovely day. Took WA 507 down through Roy into Centralia for scrubbing in the new Conti Road Attacks. They were a fair bit scary until after 60 miles into the new rubbers.

Nice cruising through these little hamlets when you spend entirely too much time commuting through Kent, Renton, and Bellevue to get to Kirkland each day.

Hillside just outside Centralia:

(BTW: Mad props of the Stihl/Kubota/Honda generator dealer near McKenna that let me use a 24mm socket to re-torque the rear axle on the Strom)

I took a loop out on Big Hanaford Road as I got close to Centralia. It's an out & back since it's got a gate at the end, but it's a good 10-mile each way. Fantastic sweepers in the top few miles and after the steam plant it's a great V-Strom road.

Centralia Steam Plant:

Valley south of the plant:

Look like a derelict machine shop or abandoned office for the nearby mine:

After the barn, you might as well turn around. I don't think there's anyplace to go after this curve except up to the gate for the strip mine.

Cruised into Centralia for a tolerable breakfast at Denny's (I think Shari's closed down) and zipped down to Toledo on the freeway.

Grabbed WA 505 down towards Rainier and did the whole road with no photographs. Kept looking for a good spot to snap a quick photo, but there wasn't anything interesting on the whole damn road except for the corners that I was blasting through.

Mt. St. Helens looked really socked in and it was drizzling at the intersection of 504 & 504. I mean thick, dark clouds, so I bailed on riding out to Coldwater. Not to mention that the sign said Coldwater visitor center was Closed.

Decided to add Tower Road to my listed of roads I've done. It was a good little road and many parts of it even had dry pavement in the curves, which allowed for some pretty aggressive lean angles on the new tires (150 miles on them by now).

Francois the Lobster trying to get us un-lost:

A view from one of the ridges at the top of Tower Road:

Rode home the back way via WA 508, WA 7, WA 161, and Orville Road for a very nice return leg. Beats the ever-lovin hell out of droning up I-5 for 100 miles.

No pictures of that. Roads were drying out for the most and the corners were too sweet to stop between them. Except for the handful of little pocket rain squalls. Ran into those about every 10 miles. They'd last a couple hundred yards and then you'd be through them.

260 miles and freshly-scrubbed Contis makes one heck of a nice day.

AKStrom · 06-07-2008, 03:45 PM

That Tower Road was really great too. Not quite as good as Oregon Route 47, but better than (and similar to) Miami River Road and almost as good as 7 Devils Road (near Charleston, OR).

Better than snoring through the 50mph speed limit on the sweepers on WA 504.

Northwest Cajun · 06-27-2008, 03:18 AM

Thats exactly how I kill a half a day myself.
If I only have an hour or two, it's a scale burger in Elbe after the Alder Dam twisties then back through Eatonville and the Ohop valley...
Then theres Kawposin, Orting, Corbonado, Turn around at the Entrance to MRNP and back.
Lots of good ways to kill a few hours on 2 wheels

Cajun

Ladybug0048 · 06-27-2008, 04:01 AM

Looks like you and Francois had a good ride. Thanks for taking the time to snap off a few pictures and sharing the fun.

K1200LT · 06-27-2008, 06:56 AM

Actually - the road does loop back to Bucoda - Turn at the house back up hill through the North Side of the Mine (Tono Road). Very twisty and many elevation changes and few cars. It would be nice if someday they do open up the link to the Skookumchuck Rd that is gated.

Steve

Another Misplaced Cajun in Olympia

"I took a loop out on Big Hanaford Road as I got close to Centralia. It's an out & back since it's got a gate at the end, but it's a good 10-mile each way. Fantastic sweepers in the top few miles and after the steam plant it's a great V-Strom road."

AKStrom · 06-27-2008, 01:23 PM

Thanks K1200LT.

I was wondering if that road hooked back up to the highway.

06-07-2008, 03:42 PM	#1
AKStrom ^OP Just call me 'Magellan' Joined: Jun 2006 Location: West Seattle, Washington, USA Oddometer: 1,233	Escaping Seattle.... Had a lovely little ride today since I bailed on going to Eastern Washington this weekend. Whole lot of back-country riding and very little freeway made for a lovely day. Took WA 507 down through Roy into Centralia for scrubbing in the new Conti Road Attacks. They were a fair bit scary until after 60 miles into the new rubbers. Nice cruising through these little hamlets when you spend entirely too much time commuting through Kent, Renton, and Bellevue to get to Kirkland each day. Hillside just outside Centralia: (BTW: Mad props of the Stihl/Kubota/Honda generator dealer near McKenna that let me use a 24mm socket to re-torque the rear axle on the Strom) I took a loop out on Big Hanaford Road as I got close to Centralia. It's an out & back since it's got a gate at the end, but it's a good 10-mile each way. Fantastic sweepers in the top few miles and after the steam plant it's a great V-Strom road. Centralia Steam Plant: Valley south of the plant: Look like a derelict machine shop or abandoned office for the nearby mine: After the barn, you might as well turn around. I don't think there's anyplace to go after this curve except up to the gate for the strip mine. Cruised into Centralia for a tolerable breakfast at Denny's (I think Shari's closed down) and zipped down to Toledo on the freeway. Grabbed WA 505 down towards Rainier and did the whole road with no photographs. Kept looking for a good spot to snap a quick photo, but there wasn't anything interesting on the whole damn road except for the corners that I was blasting through. Mt. St. Helens looked really socked in and it was drizzling at the intersection of 504 & 504. I mean thick, dark clouds, so I bailed on riding out to Coldwater. Not to mention that the sign said Coldwater visitor center was Closed. Decided to add Tower Road to my listed of roads I've done. It was a good little road and many parts of it even had dry pavement in the curves, which allowed for some pretty aggressive lean angles on the new tires (150 miles on them by now). Francois the Lobster trying to get us un-lost: A view from one of the ridges at the top of Tower Road: Rode home the back way via WA 508, WA 7, WA 161, and Orville Road for a very nice return leg. Beats the ever-lovin hell out of droning up I-5 for 100 miles. No pictures of that. Roads were drying out for the most and the corners were too sweet to stop between them. Except for the handful of little pocket rain squalls. Ran into those about every 10 miles. They'd last a couple hundred yards and then you'd be through them. 260 miles and freshly-scrubbed Contis makes one heck of a nice day. __________________ Motorcycle Roads Northwest: http://www.roadsnw.com

06-07-2008, 03:45 PM	#2
AKStrom ^OP Just call me 'Magellan' Joined: Jun 2006 Location: West Seattle, Washington, USA Oddometer: 1,233	That Tower Road was really great too. Not quite as good as Oregon Route 47, but better than (and similar to) Miami River Road and almost as good as 7 Devils Road (near Charleston, OR). Better than snoring through the 50mph speed limit on the sweepers on WA 504. __________________ Motorcycle Roads Northwest: http://www.roadsnw.com

06-27-2008, 03:18 AM	#3
Northwest Cajun Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Roy Wa ( Via Lafayette La) Oddometer: 164	Thats exactly how I kill a half a day myself. If I only have an hour or two, it's a scale burger in Elbe after the Alder Dam twisties then back through Eatonville and the Ohop valley... Then theres Kawposin, Orting, Corbonado, Turn around at the Entrance to MRNP and back. Lots of good ways to kill a few hours on 2 wheels Cajun __________________ Laisses Les Bon Temps Rouler Northwest Cajun screwed with this post 06-27-2008 at 03:23 AM

06-27-2008, 04:01 AM	#4
Ladybug0048 Bug Sister Joined: Nov 2005 Location: Spokane Valley, WA (the dry side of the mountains) Oddometer: 8,598	Looks like you and Francois had a good ride. Thanks for taking the time to snap off a few pictures and sharing the fun. __________________ 2013 Hells Canyon/Wallowa Valley Gathering: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=843668 "Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." - Judy Garland

06-27-2008, 01:23 PM	#6
AKStrom ^OP Just call me 'Magellan' Joined: Jun 2006 Location: West Seattle, Washington, USA Oddometer: 1,233	Thanks K1200LT. I was wondering if that road hooked back up to the highway. __________________ Motorcycle Roads Northwest: http://www.roadsnw.com

06-27-2008, 06:56 AM	#5
K1200LT Adventurer Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Olympia, WA Oddometer: 72	Actually - the road does loop back to Bucoda - Turn at the house back up hill through the North Side of the Mine (Tono Road). Very twisty and many elevation changes and few cars. It would be nice if someday they do open up the link to the Skookumchuck Rd that is gated. Steve Another Misplaced Cajun in Olympia "I took a loop out on Big Hanaford Road as I got close to Centralia. It's an out & back since it's got a gate at the end, but it's a good 10-mile each way. Fantastic sweepers in the top few miles and after the steam plant it's a great V-Strom road."

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