Shel_TK grew up in the Vancouver/Portland area. Down in that area, there is a local fast food chain called "Burgerville USA." She preferred it to all other fast food joints. About a decade or so, they switched to local, season ingredients. That made them even better. Don't get me wrong, it's still a fast food joint, but it one of the best fast food joints out there.
Since Shel_TK got her Spyder earlier this year, we've trekked down I-5 on our bikes several times. It's better than taking the car, but it is still Interstate travel--no fun twisties.
She pulled out our
Destination Highways book, and braided together a bunch of the "twisted edges" to get a route from Issaquah to Centralia. We tried out the route, and it was a lot of fun. It is only 126 miles, but because of the back roads, it is a four hour trek.
When we launch the ryde (I should have used that spelling in the title), we will have worked all the kinks--including points where we will need to wait for people to catch up. The plan is to ride there using the route, have lunch in Centralia, and then take I-5 home.
We are mapping out where we need to wait to bunch the ryders up again, and any "leg stretch stops." Below are the tentative routes.
THE FIRST LEG
http://goo.gl/maps/Xp7xh
You'll note that the first let starts in the middle of the road. We will either start at I-90 Motorsports, or if they can't open early enough (this is a long ride after all), a Krispy Kreme up the road a little. Or Maybe the Starbucks next door. Or something.
You might also note, that we are going around Enumclaw. This is to avoid the traffic lights in town, to help us stay together better.
The first leg ends after 66 miles at a 76 station. We will fuel up and have a leg stretch here. This also happens to be the 76 that we stopped at during the "Not Afraid of the Dark" ryde.
THE SECOND LEG
http://goo.gl/maps/mXqpQ
There is one ugly part of this ryde: Yelm. We have no choice in this matter, as Yelm contains the only river crossing anywhere close to the route. When we get out of Yelm, we have already noted a wait spot to gather people after all the traffic lights.
In compensation for the ugliness of Yelp, we pass buy a couple of beautiful lakes, and have some marvelous twisties.
The leg ends after 60 miles at Burgerville USA.
It'll take a bit longer than four hours, due to the programed "wait" points, and any other places we need to stop for a stretch.
GOING HOME
It takes about 90 minutes to get back to Bothell from Centralia and one tank of gas. We figure that we'll convoy home with the people heading North, and we'll split off as we get to our respective exits.
WHEN
Again, next spring, unless it appears that we get an "Indian Summer" in early October.