Work work work.....

Come on Marko, you deserve a break! You know you want to get out of town and turn that XKR loose on something other than city streets!!


<Sigh> Dang......





Well.... for a day drive in August, I only have the 31st open now....
Should we shoot for OS that Saturday?

 

So the hood river trip is entering a fail mode.....
Not enough interest, and "No rooms at the inn" (literally).
I have scouted for lodging from the Cascade locks, to The Dalles, with no luck.

Do we station further out (Troutdale/Portland) or bail for a one day?

 

Well, the final gauntlet was reached, and deemed insurmountable.
The 2 day event is now officially off.
Poor planning on my part was the major fault... Not anticipating what the last few weekends of summer would do to the availability of rooms, not to mention how packed the falls will be with that kind of crowd.

Sorry Marko, Muddy, Swimref, msimmers6865, vpjag. Just not meant to be.

I know Swimref mention considering something after labor day. You can all talk it out, and I'll help where I can.

Falling back to a day drive this Saturday? ... Or the 31st?
Thoughts? Note: Ocean Shores is showing 60 degrees and chance of rain...
Back side of St Helens would still be moderately traffic free but a long day
Expect crowds at any destinations like Ocean Shores, Hurricane Ridge, or Paradise.

A Yakima loop has yet to be done, and Muddydog and I could show you a few interesting back roads at Snoqualmie summit.

Lets do the beach or something! The weekend is almost here and I have a clean car!

 

I'm in for a day drive anywhere!

 

Just 73 and cloudy here, no call for rain on Saturday. We could set off east from the issaquah crispy cream, hit the two paved parts of the old Snowqualmie road, stop in Northern Exposure town for a latte, and head around to Yakima via scenic 81.

*edit: I meant 82, but I see 821 is fun-looking. Is it a good road?

By the way, Clev, certainly not poor planning! On the contrary, a valiant effort.

 

I have not driven 821, and it was on my "do it" list.
I've been told it is nice, but heavily patroled, and popular with the fishing crowd, so you are kinda stuck at a foolish 45mph limit all the way through.... " kinda" being the opertative word...

That still leaves 12 and 123 to 410 as a great scenic event....

Supose to be 90 in Yakima which would make those in verts happy.....


V

 

If 821 is the old Ellensburg-Yakima Hwy, also known as Canyon Rd., I drove it with the Jag last month. True, it was a weekday afternoon, but it was a very fun road with very light traffic, frequent passing places, and no sign of enforcement. My speed was closer to double the number you mentioned. Scenery included large numbers of folks floating down the river in rafts, but virtually no one on the road. I found it a great drive, but the weekends could be different. It was 104 degrees when I got to Yakima. 82 is the new freeway, fun in its way but far from scenic or twisty. Not much enforcement there either, though.

I'm on a cruise the 31st, but am up for a one day sometime sooner. My national parks pass expires the end of this month, is anyone up for a Sunrise run?

 

So do we call the Yakima run a Saturday plan?
Start with Krispy Kreme in Issaquah? 9ish?

I think a few of ya need to run to Sunrise with Swmref as well! Maybe the 24th or 31st?

 

I'd be in for that. I have to be in Renton for an appointment at 5pm, so depending on how long things take, I might have to split early.

Cheers!

Marko

 

Well Google maps shows the loop as 5 hours 45 minutes. Add another 2 hours for vista/restroom breaks and a lunch put the minimim times at 7 hours 45 minutes.
A 9am departure would be cutting you darn close....

http://goo.gl/maps/IV5gP

You could choose to turn around at Yakima, which is 2 hours to Renton via Interstates.
Once you commit to Hightway 12 and the back side of Rainier, "making time" is not an option.
Could be that Saturday itself is not a good option (no one else has spoken up), or that 8am might be a better departure choice?

I'm not concerned with which day I drive, I just want a day behind the wheel...!

 

Looks like this weekend has failed for lack of a quarum.

 

I would still be up for it. Maybe a shorter drive? I still have to be in Renton by 5 at the latest.

I can't do Sunday.

Others?

 

Sunday is out for me too, but can squeeze one in tomorrow. If we left Enumclaw by 8:30 and omitted stops at Paradise (and maybe Sunrise) due to crowds I think we could do the Mt. Rainier loop and get Marko to Renton via Puyallup in time. I don't want to be out there any later than that anyway. All I ask is that we stop at Box Canyon, Christina Falls, and Narada Falls. We probably wouldn't have time for Tipsoo Lake. Everybody bring sack lunches so we don't need to fight crowds for food. This is my last chance to use my park pass this year, and I haven't so far this summer.

 

I think we can make this work.... I recomend running the loop backwards (Paradise first, then on to the east side... (meet at Krispy kreme Tacoma)
Once on 123/410, we can see how we feel about extending the drive to Tipsoo, and Sunrise.
Tipsoo is only 15 minutes off the path, and Sunrise is 40. Marko already has the route from Enumclaw to Renton down from our last trip there...so he would be comfortable with his timming... (Now I am remembering that burger I had in Enumclaw.... yummmmm).

thoughts?
time is short...but my car is ready!

 

Guys, my boss asked me to pick up a person in Issaquah at 4:15, so my time has become even less. Given that, and that we just drove that route more or less, I'm a bit hesitant. I think I would join for a morning coffee and some driving, and turn home early enough to not rush. So I'm in for a bit.

9am at Krispy?

 

So it still sounds like snoqualmie/Yakima run would be a better run for you... Do side roads there, and you get pure freeway home, which is easy to time...

anyone else with input?

 

Yep, that would be easier for me.

 

I'm inclined to stay with the Yakima Loop. I think it has enough going for it to keep it interesting and yet conveniant for those looking for less saddle time.
Muddy has been quiet, but last post from him hinted to this run as well.

Swimref, are you dead set on Rainier this weekend? Maybe get others to join in on the 24th? (Sorry, I cant)...

 

Too bad you folks are so far away. If you do a Winthrop run, I'm in.

 

Maybe September....