Went on a little ride Saturday the first.... Saw a post about a scheduled ride on a new-to-me forum,PNWriders.com. Saw they were headed to Mt. Baker, which I've never done on a bike, only driven it during snowboard season. As always, click on the pics and they'll magically get bigger!!

Only problem? I was reading the post at 9am, the ride was to have left at 8. Oh well, I'll just cruise on up toward the mountain anyway, If I go solo I go solo. Beautiful day, bike running well, I rolled along, but had to stop when I saw this....

Mt Baker peeking through.
I got clogged up behind a slow moving pack of Harley riders, decided It was a good time to pull off and fuel up. I did, allowing the slow cruisers to get well ahead. As I pulled out onto the road again, there was another gas station not 500 feet from the one I was at, but the lot was full of bright shiny sportbikes.
I spun around, asked if it was in fact the PNW group, introduced myself to the ride leader and we soon headed out.
Only to be held up the entire way up the mountain by a neverending stream of slow moving vehicles. I don't think Ive ever ridden that slowly. The scenery was beautiful, though. The view from the top...

Since we'd taken so long to get up, everyone was feeling the lack of food, so the stay at the top was brief. Here's part of the group suiting up for the downhill leg...

I love switchbacks. And scenery. And motorcycles. Nice.

Our ride leader banking in...

Getting closer...

Finally, just the hand...

Yes, that is all the same piece of road, and yes, it really is that beautiful.

Sliding off the road here would ruin your whole day...

Another boring bikes and scenery pic...

Scenery and bikes this time...

Scenery, no bikes. I couldn't stand to follow traffic down the mountain again, so I would pull off, allow everyone to get well ahead while I watched the rearview. I'd pull back on as soon as I saw a car round the curve behind me, then treat myself to some high speed twisties as I caught up to the main group, then do it again. Hence the pictures.

I claim this chunk of concrete in the name of.... There is a story, just not mine to tell. You'll have to use your imagination...

Back at the casino parking lot, looking for food. And Bonus - I found this camera just lying on the ground!!

I'm cruel. I kid. The rider in the shot above lost his camera on this ride. Hope you find it.
The final eight, heading south on route 9 after a long ride and dinner. Yawning in the helmet...

Formation...

Bored. Running at 55 for miles. taking pictures. I think it's artistic. Or is it autistic?

Not a bad way to spend the day. PNW visitors, I have two excellent motorcycle trips in the archives at the bottom of the page. The first starts Aug 10, 2007, and the second is back in September 06. Lots of pics.