Lots
of day trips in Oregon & Washington state
We tried to ride on any weekend that it was dry and not freezing or
not absolutely baking! Don't let anyone ever tell you that the Pacific
Northwest isn't a great place to ride a motorcycle year round. We road
every month. Our day trips were around the Canby, Oregon area. These
were essential to prepare me for my long distance traveling.
From Oregon
to the "Lost Coast" of Northern California
Horizons Unlimited 2010 California meeting - August 2010
This was my first long-distance motorcycle trip! We went from Canby,
Oregon to Petrolia, California, the "Lost Coast", for our first
Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travelers Meeting. It took us two-day to
get there and two-days to get back. Camping the whole way.
Oh,
Canada...Two-Week Canada/USA Tour by Motorcycles
Because I wasn't working full time and Stefan was working at a place
with a European-style vacation policy, we were able to do two trips in
2010. For our first international trip with me riding a motorcycle of
my own, the obvious choice was Canada. We got to see more of
Washington state than we'd seen up to that point, as well as British
Columbia, Alberta, Montana and Idaho. Highlights included Jasper and
Banff National Parks, Glacier National Park, Swan Lake National Park,
Garnet ghost town in Montana, and Lolo Pass. September 2010.
Yellowstone,
Western Montana, Wyoming & more
June 2011. 15 days, 2680 miles. The trip included going through Chief
Joseph Pass and Beaverhead National Forest, Nevada City and Virginia
City, Grand Teton National Park, Craters of the Moon National
Monument, Bruneau Dunes State Park, Owyhee Uplands, John Day Fossil
Beds National Monument and Ochoco National Forest. The trip ended at Burning
Moto Man 2011, in Westfir, Oregon, 40 miles east of Eugene
on the Middle Fork of the Willamette River.
Crater
Lake, Oregon
2011 (photos only). This was a long weekend trip.
Burning
Moto Man, June 2010 and 2011
Westfir, Oregon, 40 miles east of Eugene on the Middle Fork of the
Willamette River. This was an annual gathering for people interested
in international motorcycle travel. It was organized by Eric and Gail
Haws. It included presentations, lots of opportunities to socialize
and a backroads ride, about 70 miles of which 20 or so would be
gravel. We looked forward to this every year. My husband met Eric and
Gail in Greece in 2006 - Eric held a Guinness Book of World Records
certificate for being the first person to cross Russia on a motorcycle
(Gail was with him). Eric
passed away in 2013. Our memories of these gatherings are very
precious to us.
One
week in Washington state, September 2011
To celebrate my husband's 40th birthday AND impending new job (which
we knew wouldn't give him the generous vacation days of his previous
job), we took a week-long motorcycle ride in Washington state. We took
back roads all the way up to Seattle, then headed back South, visiting
Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Ape Cave, ice cave and lava tubes, Gifford
Pinchot National Forest and Mt. Hood.
In 2018, we went around Steens Mountain, and toured Great Basin National Park and Rachel, Nevada, and more. We spent 13 days, going over 2657 miles / 4276 kilometers, mostly in Nevada. It was a terrific, but incredibly hot and smokey, trip.
In 2017, we traveled for 10 days in Washington State on a Smokey Motorcycle Adventure in August. Yes, it was ridiculously hot. But it was still a terrific trip.
In 2016, we went to the exotic land of Idaho. Included at least 120 miles of gravel. Hells Canyon, Silver City, Idaho, Bruneau Dunes State Park, City of Rocks National Reserve, Sawtooth Scenic Byway, Salmon River Scenic Byway, Custer, Idaho, Ft. Missoula, Montana, historic Wallace, Idaho, Lake Coeur d'Alene, White Pine Scenic Byway, Hell's Canyon Overlook, Oregon, Joseph, Painted Hills, and Little Crater Lake in Mt. Hood National Forest. It has been one of our favorite trips to date - nothing in North America has been more beautiful and interesting as this trip.
In 2015, our motorcycle trips included two weeks mostly in British Columbia, but including Hydar, Alaska (Stewart-Cassiar Highway and the Alaska Highway). We went all the way up to the Yukon and back. Lots of bears, which was awesome. The wind almost ruined the trip at the end.
For our Motorcycle Travel & Rally Activities for 2014, we went to Moab, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Goblin Valley, Farewell Bend Oregon State Park, Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry, Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, and Camping in a cow pasture in the deserts of Nevada. And I had my first motorcycle wreck!
Our Motorcycle Travel & Rally Activities in 2013 (a sad year when we bought a house instead of doing a two-week trip)
Our Motorcycle Travel & Rally Activities in 2012, including camping in Antelope amid the ghosts of the Rajneesh colony, seeing the Alvord Desert for the first time, amd a big Motorcycle Journey in Northern California, Nevada & Southeastern Oregon.
Our Motorcycle Travel & Rally Activities in 2010, my first long-distance motorcycle trips! Acutally, we took two! One to the "Lost Coast" of California, and another to Canada (Alberta and British Columbia, Jasper, Banff & Kootenay National Parks) and Glacier National Park.
What makes a great motorcycle rally (& rallies I have attended)
Of course, we camp for most overnight trips. See my tips for motorcycle packing.Advice for Women Motorcycle Travelers: footwear (shoes & socks).
For Women Who Travel By Motorcycle (or want to)
Tips for Women: Getting Started as a Motorcycle Rider (just to ride, not necessarily to travel as well)
Advice for Women Motorcycle Travelers: Suggested Books and Web Sitesgeneral information and advice for novice traveling women from the USA
health & safety considerations and packing suggestions especially for women novice travelers.
the importance of complaining & complimenting.
my adventures in Europe, Africa, as well as road trips in the USA
links to resources to help women travelers
Disclaimer
Any activity incurs risk. The author assumes no responsibility for the use
of information contained within this document.