WCRM ho!, originally uploaded by Req(q).

And I'm on the road. Tonight, Portland, by way of Snoqualmie Pass, south around Mt St Helens, then west along the Columbia...

Resting., originally uploaded by Req(q).

Taking a stretch break at a rest stop about 20 miles north of Portland. The route that I!'d planned for today was oppressed by the harsh reality of 'still closed for the winter' so I had tp improvise, and now I'm a bit behind schedule.



Ah well. Win some, lose some. Off I go again.

Dinner in Portland, originally uploaded by Req(q).

Just enjoyed a delicious Cuban dinner at the home of ST-Ner Galo - seven other folks headed down to Fortuna met up here for the evening. I'Ll be crashing here for the night and convoy'ing down with the crew tomorrow.



Highway 36 gets closer every day...

Digger Don!, originally uploaded by Req(q).

Nothing like a 5-pound burger for $21.95. On the plus side, if you eat the whole thing, it's free.



I think the table behind us could accomplish that.



Brunch in Sutherlin. Then south on I5 to Hwy 96...a lovely road, that.

IMAGE_025.jpg, originally uploaded by Req(q).

I left Fortuna this morning in the company of my good buddy Colleen, am almost immediately abandoned the traditional roads for a 20-mile section of twisty gravel. Since technically the VStrom is a dual-sport, I figured it was worth a shot, and luckily Colleen was good enough to give me a few pointers... From there we followed a bizarre, one-lane road running along the Salmon River, eventually ending up in the tiny hamlet of Callahan, pictured above. The town appeared to consist of one general store and a tavern, in which a five-piece band was playing surprisingly good swing.



Tomorrow, back to Seattle, hopefully by an interesting route... Stay tuned.

...and the trip ended the way it began, slogging through Seattle rush-hour traffic. I'm home. I'm tired, I managed to sunburn the hell out of my bald head, I've got a quarter gig of photos to upload, maps to make, and triplogs to write, but in brief: I had a great time with some awesome folks, further developed my riding skills through some coaching and by watching those more able than I in the corners, and I can't wait to get out again.