Mike's Chili Parlor

[Paughco]

Finally the Northwest has shifted from summer heat, drought, and wildfires into autumn cool, rain, and big V's of geese flying South over the Snoqualmie Valley. It rained on Friday, and will rain some more next week, but Saturday was to be cool and partly sunny. Beech posted on the Hog Ridin' Fools Telegram chat about meeting at Mike's Chili Parlor in Seattle. Seattle? Ride into the belly of the beast for a bowl of chili? OK, why not? I rode my RS across the Snoqualmie Valley in fog, which cleared as I climbed up Novelty Hill Road, Avondale, then got onto 520 heading toward the Evergreen Bridge. I'm still getting used to the differences between my new R1250RS and my previous ride, a 2016 S1000XR. Both accelerate easily and quickly; maybe the XR could jump a bit quicker, but it seemed to be very busy. The RS is just there, at whatever speed I want (and then some) with no apparent effort.

I got off the freeway and navigated a bunch of Seattle surface streets, arriving at Mike's in time to meet Beecher and Ron. We hung out in front of Mike's until they opened at the crack of noon. The lady remembered us, even though we haven't been there in three years, due to COVID and all the weirdness in Seattle. The chili was good, and the coffee kept coming. We discussed plans for the '23 riding season.

As we were getting ready to go, Ron walked across the street and got a picture of Beech and me and our bikes in front of Mike's.



It was really good to get out.

Seeya
ATB

[justjoe]

I've ridden to worse places than Seattle to eat! Eating is fundamental to riding.

[aviator]

Eating is fundamental to riding.
For once I agree with him.

[Capnrip]

Cool looking spot! Thanks for posting that up. My wife and I recently rode 3 1/2 hours one way up to the foot of the mountains to get some fresh apple cider . There's no bad reason to ride.

[beech]

Going through and to Seattle is hell these days. But it was the 100th anniversary for the dive and I figured it needed "the" last visit. I started going there in 1966. It was on the circuit of dive bars (taverns) in the north end of the city. Several local drinking spots were around as in any town. Century tavern on 50th, Blue Moon on 50th which is now a Seattle official land mark and the Fremont 318 which had the best burger basked I have ever had in 76 years. Other good place was the original Red Robin tavern by university bridge. They paid off the police not to bother them if there were under age drinkers. Have many great stories about that tavern. I'll share just one.
It was located on a major intersection of 1 of 3 north south bridges dividing the city. There was also an electric trolley bus line there. On the far side of the intersection was a building site for a new apartment complex. A small bulldozer was parked there. After a few pitchers with friends I wondered if ... I went over and the key was in the darn thing. Started it up and headed out. Thinking I could push the parking lot of cars at the tavern over the back wall of the lot. Sanity hit me and I just moved it to the middle of the intersection and turned it off. Left the key in it too. I'm not that evil in my youth. Well, the traffic started backing up for who knows how far. Buses were stopped. After an hour two officers came into the tavern and quieted the place down. "Who did it, we know it was one of your, come out here and move that damn dozer". I knew if i stood up it was going to be a long night in the clink. The older officer, about 50 was the nasty old guy beaten up by the job and the young pup officer with him could hardly keep from laughing out loud. They finally got a city engineer to come down and deal with it. A third of the city was wanting to put their hands around my throat I suspect. Good fun when your 20. But I'm sure there are stories to balance the other side that I don't want to hear.