This is actually two rides.
First ride was the Cascade Scenic Loop. Rode OXCART, my '22 R1250RS, from my secret HQ in the Snoqualmie Valley to Pateros on July 7. Saw 102 degF OAT around Entiat. Definitely ready to kick back by the time I got settled in at the Lake Pateros Inn. Great place, by the way. Fellow Hog Ridin' Fool Gumby was there. We took the chlorine dip in the pool. Walked to the nearby tav for an excellent cheeseburger. Slept well. Coffee at the Sweet River Bakery at 07:00. Rode Hwy 20 westbound early in the morning. Sun was at our backs; not in our faces. No motor homes and no Smokey. Needless to say, we hauled ass. Gas at the Chevron on the Anderson exit just south of Mt. Vernon.
Second ride was to the 2026 Concrete Fly-In. OXCART was parked in front of the Rustic Cabin in Duvall Saturday morning July 18 when they opened at 08:00. Some of the local scooter trash showed up. My neighbor and fellow HRF, John, showed up. We sat around at the sidewalk tables for a bit and then about 08:30 we headed out for the Fly-In. Direct boogie up I-5 to Hwy 20, then east to Concrete. We pulled into the unofficial motorcycle parking area just as two North American T-6 Texans were making low strafing passes over the airfield. Pratt & Whitney R-1340s roared, and their prop tips broke the Mach as those beauties flew overhead. I noticed a red Honda VFR parked nearby. Hmm. How many of those are there in this area? Gotta be my pal Gerry. He rides with the Hog Ridin' Fools, and attends our weekly Safety Meetings, but won't put the HRF sticker on this bike. No prob, man - I don't have one on my '50 Pan, either. John and I walked down the line. Lots of nice airplanes were there, newer and more vintage Cessnas and Pipers. Saw a relatively clean Piper Comanche 250. Just like the A2A Comanche I have in my P3D flight sim. Watched a Lake amphib land. Didn't see a Cessna 195. Didn't see a Beech Staggerwing, but there were at least two nice V-tail Bonanzas present. Several Luscombes were there https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luscombe_8. Probably the most classic thing I saw was a Howard DGA-15, which is a high-wing monoplane from the late '30s, early '40s era https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_DGA-15.
My phone went off. It was Gumby, at the parking lot, and they were getting ready to go. "See you in 5," I said. My neighbor John had plans to meet up with a pal in Anacortes and go crabbing, so I said "Seeya" and I got back to the parking lot, and got ready to go. Off we went, towards Darrington. Crossed the Skagit River on the Concrete-Sauk Valley Bridge, which has a steel grated road surface. Ever hear the story about the two flies who were sitting the screen of a screen door? They were watching the lady of the house take a pie from the oven and set it aside to cool. One fly said to the other fly, "Man, I'd sure like to get in there and have some of that pie!" The other fly replied, "Well, don't strain yourself, man." I think of that every time I ride across one of those bridges.
Gerry set the pace on Concrete-Sauk Valley Road. Oh yeah. Somehow Gumby, on his R1250GSA, and I were able to keep up. Pulled into the Darrington IGA parking lot at 11:45. Procured two fried chicken thighs, a bottle of green Gatorade, and many napkins. We all met up at the little park across the street from the IGA. Beech was there on his relatively newer red K1300S. Officer Bill showed up on his GS. We sat at the picnic table and greased down our chow while discussing our excellent adventures, and how July '26 seemed to be going by at the speed of light.
Rode home as planned, via Jordan Rd, Granite Falls, Lake Getlostinger, Monroe, south on 203. I was following a Harley out of Monroe. He was doing OK, so no need to pass. We caught up to two motorcycles, moving relatively slowly. One large bike, one small, with what appeared to be a pretty unsure rider. Looked like a dad out for a ride with his kid who probably just passed the beginning rider course. The Harley guy and I both gave them lots of space. The kid had a moment while getting through the "Figure-8" roundabout on 203. They turned off toward Crescent Lake Rd. Hope they were having as much fun as I was - I'll bet they were.
Got home around 13:45. Checked in with the wife. Told her that I had a great ride with my pals. I also told her how July seemed to be going by so fast. She replied that I'd been out riding quite a bit. Hmm. Mebbe that's it. Dunno. But I'll totally take it.
Seeya
ATB
First ride was the Cascade Scenic Loop. Rode OXCART, my '22 R1250RS, from my secret HQ in the Snoqualmie Valley to Pateros on July 7. Saw 102 degF OAT around Entiat. Definitely ready to kick back by the time I got settled in at the Lake Pateros Inn. Great place, by the way. Fellow Hog Ridin' Fool Gumby was there. We took the chlorine dip in the pool. Walked to the nearby tav for an excellent cheeseburger. Slept well. Coffee at the Sweet River Bakery at 07:00. Rode Hwy 20 westbound early in the morning. Sun was at our backs; not in our faces. No motor homes and no Smokey. Needless to say, we hauled ass. Gas at the Chevron on the Anderson exit just south of Mt. Vernon.
Second ride was to the 2026 Concrete Fly-In. OXCART was parked in front of the Rustic Cabin in Duvall Saturday morning July 18 when they opened at 08:00. Some of the local scooter trash showed up. My neighbor and fellow HRF, John, showed up. We sat around at the sidewalk tables for a bit and then about 08:30 we headed out for the Fly-In. Direct boogie up I-5 to Hwy 20, then east to Concrete. We pulled into the unofficial motorcycle parking area just as two North American T-6 Texans were making low strafing passes over the airfield. Pratt & Whitney R-1340s roared, and their prop tips broke the Mach as those beauties flew overhead. I noticed a red Honda VFR parked nearby. Hmm. How many of those are there in this area? Gotta be my pal Gerry. He rides with the Hog Ridin' Fools, and attends our weekly Safety Meetings, but won't put the HRF sticker on this bike. No prob, man - I don't have one on my '50 Pan, either. John and I walked down the line. Lots of nice airplanes were there, newer and more vintage Cessnas and Pipers. Saw a relatively clean Piper Comanche 250. Just like the A2A Comanche I have in my P3D flight sim. Watched a Lake amphib land. Didn't see a Cessna 195. Didn't see a Beech Staggerwing, but there were at least two nice V-tail Bonanzas present. Several Luscombes were there https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luscombe_8. Probably the most classic thing I saw was a Howard DGA-15, which is a high-wing monoplane from the late '30s, early '40s era https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_DGA-15.
My phone went off. It was Gumby, at the parking lot, and they were getting ready to go. "See you in 5," I said. My neighbor John had plans to meet up with a pal in Anacortes and go crabbing, so I said "Seeya" and I got back to the parking lot, and got ready to go. Off we went, towards Darrington. Crossed the Skagit River on the Concrete-Sauk Valley Bridge, which has a steel grated road surface. Ever hear the story about the two flies who were sitting the screen of a screen door? They were watching the lady of the house take a pie from the oven and set it aside to cool. One fly said to the other fly, "Man, I'd sure like to get in there and have some of that pie!" The other fly replied, "Well, don't strain yourself, man." I think of that every time I ride across one of those bridges.
Gerry set the pace on Concrete-Sauk Valley Road. Oh yeah. Somehow Gumby, on his R1250GSA, and I were able to keep up. Pulled into the Darrington IGA parking lot at 11:45. Procured two fried chicken thighs, a bottle of green Gatorade, and many napkins. We all met up at the little park across the street from the IGA. Beech was there on his relatively newer red K1300S. Officer Bill showed up on his GS. We sat at the picnic table and greased down our chow while discussing our excellent adventures, and how July '26 seemed to be going by at the speed of light.
Rode home as planned, via Jordan Rd, Granite Falls, Lake Getlostinger, Monroe, south on 203. I was following a Harley out of Monroe. He was doing OK, so no need to pass. We caught up to two motorcycles, moving relatively slowly. One large bike, one small, with what appeared to be a pretty unsure rider. Looked like a dad out for a ride with his kid who probably just passed the beginning rider course. The Harley guy and I both gave them lots of space. The kid had a moment while getting through the "Figure-8" roundabout on 203. They turned off toward Crescent Lake Rd. Hope they were having as much fun as I was - I'll bet they were.
Got home around 13:45. Checked in with the wife. Told her that I had a great ride with my pals. I also told her how July seemed to be going by so fast. She replied that I'd been out riding quite a bit. Hmm. Mebbe that's it. Dunno. But I'll totally take it.
Seeya
ATB
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