So getting the word out about the June drive. (date TBD)
Drive will be into the western (Johnson Ridge Observatory) entrance.
(Attn: Oregon Drivers! Come on up I-5 and join us!)

This is a full day drive, through back forested roads with scenic vistas of Mt. Rainier and St. Helen's.

Estimated Itinerary:
Meet in Tacoma. 8am?
Drive to Elbe (rest area) Via Hwy7
Continue to Morton Via Hwy 7
Take Hwy 12 to 505
505 to 504 (Note: Food stop near I-5? Pick up Oregon participants.) Total time to here = 2:45

Those wanting a later start could depart Tacoma an hour later and just run I-5 to the 504 cutoff. (a 1:30 minute drive)

504 in to Johnson Ridge offers blissful roads with many turnoffs and visitors centers along the way.

Depart Johnson Ridge. Return route to be discussed while there.
A parking pass is required at the Observatory.


Note: there are 5 full weekends in June: (Note: the later weekends ensure the roads are open from snow)

1st-2nd
8th-9th
*15th-16th
**22nd-23rd
***29th-30th

Key to any St Helen's drive is minimal clouds. otherwise they obscure the view... Locking down a date early helps many, but I recommend you remain flexible to weather.


Input?

Vince

*Jaguar day at Exotics@RTC
**22nd Cool Desert nights car show
***29th=Greenwood car show

 

I'm up for it!



I am going to rely on your feedback regarding the weather closer to the time.
I may make it part of a longer run. By then I'm going to be itching for a road trip.
I¹ll try and see if anyone from my neck of the woods is up for it too.

Allan

 

Greenwood Car Show is on June 29th this year. Sounders play the Whitecaps on the 8th. Probably nobody else cares about that

 

Thanks for the catch!

 

So, summer break for the kids starts on the 22nd. Would attendees prefer an earlier event to avoid crowds, or is it moot?

8th, 15th or 22nd?

V

 

Hrm. June gets kinda messy for me. We've got a 10 day vacation planned in there. But 8 or 15 may be a possibility. Subscribed.

 

I'm in if the weather plays along.

 

So I just encountered a problem with the 15th... Jaguar day at Exotics@RTC.
My gut tells me E@RTC would take precedence....
Yes/No?

V

 

Oh, I'd like to go to the Brit day -- I missed it last year.

 

Dang,
Now my schedule is shifting around!

Jaguar day at Exotics - I agree that I would also like to attend.... (missed last years)...
Problem for me is that only leaves the 8th or 1st open.......or move the drive to July.

I don't think 2013 will be a problem, but some of you may recall 2011, where most areas covered in snow didnt open till mid-June. Just a odd combination of heavy winter snow and a very cool Spring put delays on most thr roads back then.

Thoughts everyone?

 

How about E@RTC and then a drive.
May get a good turnout.

I could suggest a nice easy afternoon loop north from Redmond, very pretty route, all country roads, sights to see along the way, that would get everyone back to Redmond area before dark if anyone is game.

Don't want you to cancel the planned run believe me Vince but having all the Jaguar people in one place could lend itself to a likely crowd.

Whaddaya think?

Try this

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=...541b3ea8326189

Allan

 

Wouldn't take a whole lotta arm twisting to talk me into it!
Got to keep in mind that last year E@RTC got the red light on Jag day, so that event is fluid up to the day before.

 

The event plus drive sounds great to me! If the event doesn't happen, we still have the drive.

 

@Vince: Where did you hear about the Jag day at E@RTC? I checked their FB page and it only shows old events. I'd like to stay up to date...

 

I care about Soccer (just not the Sounders yet, working on that though)

 

On the Seattle Jag Club website

 

 

I'm definitely in for the June drive, any of the weekends mentioned works for me. Regarding Allan's suggested drive after the car show, I've know all those roads well and think it's a little over ambitious for a half day. The roads he has selected between Monroe and Arlington are pretty slow going compared to the standard faster routes on highways 2 and 9 (but more interesting). The large northern loop he suggests from Arlington to Darrington, Rockport, and Sedro-Woolley is known as the Mountain Loop Highway. Vince has a positive phobia about his tires touching snow or ice, and that is certainly a possibility any time of year (but especially this early) on parts of that road.

Unless the weather is very good and we have extra time let me suggest that from Arlington we head over some very nice country roads through Stanwood to a loop of Camano Island. I can't wait for June. Is anything planned in May?

 

I'm not proposing anything for May unless others want to step up! (hint hint, nudge nudge) I was heading south to NorCal the last full week, but that has changed so I'm open.


Columbia Rriver and the old Columbia hwy are always nice with spring flowers and rushing water falls that time of year, but again, part of the enjoyable roads (Hwy 26) getting there may still be closed with snow. That leaves you with a chunk of dull I-5 to run. (And, it is best on a two day event with overnight in Hood River.)

Another 2 day that is great is to Tillimook OR, along the coast. Then and swing east to McMinville and take in the famous Spruce Goose on the way back north.

Lewiston is still on my summer list, but I have decided to make it a 4 day trip. Lewiston to Huntington to Hood River(via 26).
http://goo.gl/maps/cvASz


For St Helen's,I think I need to push the trip up to the 1st or 8th of June, or delay it till the 6th of July. Obviously forum members have ultimate say to the date, which is fine as long as it is in the best interest of the group drive.

V

 

Your goole maps link makes for a very short run Vince unless its just on my computer.......you may want to edit it!
1 min.........Good for those with time constraints!