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We love to see new things and places Small town America is our current favourite but it will not end there. Whether we travel by Harley or car we just want to take it all in. We look forward to you following our travels. Read more Brisbane City, Australia
  • TravelerNorthern Trek June - July 2018
    Day 20

    4th of July, Portland OR

    July 4, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    The 4th of July is a special day here in the USA, a public holiday set aside to commemorate and celebrate its independence from the commonwealth.
    We decided to use the quieter roads to explore the Columbia River Gorge. We started out by visiting one of our Cascade contacts Joe and his wife Kelly. We were made to feel very welcome but we were also very jealous of there little piece of country outside Portland.
    From there we took the 84 out along the Columbia River to Bridal Veil, Multnomah Falls and the Cascade Locks. Again, the scenery and history is amazing with Multnomah being the 2nd highest continuous waterfall in the USA. It is still recovering after a bush fire that was started by illegal means in 2017.
    We had lunch at Cascade Locks and watched the old paddle wheeler head out on a tour. Just a little too late for us to join it. All along this stretch the local native Americans have fishing platforms where they net Salmon coming upstream. The Bonneville Dam stretches across the river just below the locks and has been designed with a central sluice that allows salmon upstream access.
    We crossed over the river here, a unique experience given that the bridge is open mesh on the roadway, so you can see straight through to the river below. On the northern side we visited Skamania and the Skamania Lodge where I had the privilege to stay during a sales meeting earlier in my time with Cascade. It has a massive lodge, golf course and a very high price tag.
    We stopped opposite the dam and we noticed that there were some men building a new fishing platform. Whilst the structures look crude they are very strong. I was able to talk to them about how it was constructed. These men were Yakima tribe who have fished these waters for many years and whilst the building materials have changed they maintain old traditions.
    During the day we passed many parks with the locals set up for their 4th July picnics, very very serious picnics with all manner of lounges barbeques and marquees.
    Our route back to the motel took us along the Northern side of the river final picking up the road into Portland from Seattle. The sound of fireworks can be heard right across the city. Its now 8.45 PM and still light so the fireworks will not get underway for another hour yet. Carl and Paola have ventured into the city we have decided to sit that one out.
    Portland city and some shop browsing tomorrow.    Read more

  • TravelerNorthern Trek June - July 2018
    Day 19

    Portland, Fairview, OR

    July 3, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Astoria was a great place and we enjoyed our meal at one of the boutique breweries that dot the state of Oregon the one we ate at was the Bouy.
    Departing Astoria at 7.30am we headed toward Portland with our destination being Cascade Corporation, corporate headquarters for my work. We were greeted by Tod Finney, Tom Logan who shared the duties of doing a plant tour. Noela now knows that I do not just come here to party. Steve Keller bought lunch in the Cascade Café where we were joined and made to feel especially welcome by Andy, Anderson Susan Wright and David Nakamura. A big thank you to you all for a great tour and lunch. Thankyou also to Joe Gallivan for the invitation to your home.
    A visit to Paradise Harley followed and these guys were unbelievably welcoming. The day was rounded out with the girls visiting some shops, when we returned they did not have one shopping bag. Laundry day today and then dinner.    Read more

  • TravelerNorthern Trek June - July 2018
    Day 18

    Astoria, WA

    July 2, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    With a day up our sleeve we left Seattle and followed the I 5 to Tacoma and Olympia before picking up the 101 and heading for the coast, Aberdeen, Westport, Long beach to name a few seaside towns.
    We have been watching the recurring land marks of and exploratory expedition of Lewis and Clark and their original outward journey finished in this North West corner of Oregon at Astoria. One year to get here and a year to return and report on their findings through unbelievably hard conditions.
    Our quest to reach these parts was to tick of a bucket list item for Carl and that was to see and drive across the nearly 3 mile span of the Astoria bridge. As I said was passed through Westport a fishing village with its memorial to lost mariners. There was a biting cold North Westerly wind blowing and my brag of going for a swim in the North East Pacific started to be re thought.
    Long Beach Washington is the longest beach in the world and after fish and chips for lunch we drove down to the shore and I at least waded knee deep into the ocean, the water was toe numbingly cold so that was it for me and Paola at least got her feet wet as well.
    From here we continued to Astoria and carl satisfied his bucket list item. It really is an amazing site, crossing the mighty Columbia River. We also visited the Astoria Tower and climber the spiral stair case inside, 164 steps up the spiral staircase certainly got the legs burning but it was worth every step.
    The 101 is an amazing road up the west coast and we are pleased to have covered so much of it in two trips.    Read more

  • TravelerNorthern Trek June - July 2018
    1
    Day 17

    Seattle,WA

    July 1, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    After a great nights sleep in Seattle (no not the movie) we decided that driving into downtown was our best option and parking there for the day. We concentrated on the pier area as there is always something happening there. The famous Pike Street markets were brilliant with the guys at the fish market throwing fish to each other. There was arts and crafts, fruit and veg and any matter of things. It is a must do in Seattle.

    Given that the hop on hop off bus was so good in San Francisco 4 years ago was so good we all decided that the 40 bucks for a 24 hour pass for a similar bus here would be a good idea. We were sadly let down and the tour was probably the worst that we had seen. Completely un informative and a total waste of money. Trip advisor will get to hear of that one.
    A quick pizza at Subway, yes Subway, before we boarded the ferry to Bainbridge Island. The 30 to 40-minute trip was fantastic, and Bainbridge itself is full of boutique shops and restaurants. The shore line littered with drift wood and beautiful houses. We could have spent a day there and our 2 or 3 hours there passed quickly. Drama struck for me on the return trip. All good after a good night’s sleep but I did not remember much about the afternoon.
    We would love to return and explore the islands and maybe do a tour into Canada. Due to our early arrival in Seattle we made the decision to make the Monday a leisurely day and take the coast road 101 to Astoria, so that is the plan for tomorrow.    Read more

  • TravelerNorthern Trek June - July 2018
    Day 16

    Wenatchee to Seattle, Wenatchee, WA

    June 30, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Hi all sorry a couple of big days and no time to blog, trying to Catch up tonight.
    A reasonable early start to the day from Bonners Ferry, the plan for the day was to get to Wenatchee. We had a really restful night and a great breakfast at a diner just down the road. We expected the drive to not hold to much in terms of views or landmarks and that is just what we got.
    The countryside quickly changed from the pine laden hills of the Idaho panhandle as we moved South West towards Spokane. Ahh… Spokane where we planned to have a look around, we found on arrival that they were having an event called Hoop Fest and the city streets were diverted. We attempted to find a lookout but no good on that score as well. We paid Spokane off as a bad joke and it was chewing up time, so we continued, that said what we did see indicated that it is a lovely place.
    From Spokane, we continued west through miles and miles and miles and did I say miles of wheat fields with very little change. The scenery changed briefly when we hit a huge expanse of water and Coulee Dam, and just after a large gorge where two tectonic plates meet. We went through many small towns all seemingly a day’s ride from each other.
    One standout was Waterville where we stopped by chance and saw a museum. This museum was on of the best that we have seen with rock displays, pioneering displays, a 45 star 1900 US flag, farming implements and more. Finally, we reached the Wenatchee River and its abundant stone fruit crops. Cherries, Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, Apricots. We stopped and picked up a punnett of the best cherries I have ever eaten.
    The accommodation was scarce, and we learned that there was a state baseball championship being held. The rooms that were available were very pricey. We drove back to East Wenatchee and same applied. A decision was made to continue, but we also new that the fact that it is summer holiday we had moved into an alpine region again and the July 4 holiday might conspire against us. It did we checked hotels in Cashmere, Leavenworth, Coles Corner, Skyomish, Gold Bar and Sultan. Even Monroe had nothing. All of this meant that we had driven through what was our Saturday plan Stevens Pass. Stevens Pass was amazing again following a fast-moving river and climbing through this alpine region. The town of Leavenworth is named with all Bavarian and Swiss chalets and resorts.
    We stopped at Monroe to regroup all feeling shattered from a long day, we ate at a diner and checked the accommodation situation. Our decision was to push on into Seattle rather than to stop on the outskirts. And so, it was that we navigated in failing light into Washington states largest city, with being in Seattle a night early we formulated a new plan and turned in for the night.    Read more

  • TravelerNorthern Trek June - July 2018
    Day 15

    Bonners Ferry ID

    June 29, 2018 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 13 °C
  • TravelerNorthern Trek June - July 2018
    Day 15

    Glacier National Park, MT

    June 29, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Well Browning was a strange place, it had all the hall marks of a town that had been forgotten and yet it is a gateway to one of the most scenic and popular National Parks. Fireworks going off all night, police sirens, hoards of mangy dogs wandering the streets and dilapidated houses and buildings.
    The Blackfeet are trying to make a go of it but like many native American populations they seem cut off from the mainstream.
    We got going after an inhouse included breakfast, heading North on Hwy 89 and into the Glacier National Park, “Going to the Sun Road”. Only several miles out of Browning we had to stop for roadworks. The stop/go guy was taking off his jumper down to a T Shirt with the outside temp at 8 degrees Celsius. As we pulled up he saw our flag and came over and said howdy. Jeremy Jones Horn, stood and talked to us about his life and ours his heritage his family and everything in between for the 15 minutes before the pilot vehicle guided us through the road works. The roadworks were the most confused and messy construction site we have seen, but it’s obviously creating employment for a lot of people.
    The run into the park was brilliant, the roads demand to be ridden on a bike with sweeping well cambered corners and awesome scenery. Soon enough we arrived at the park gates, showed our magic park pass and entered our 7th National Park. Our first stop was the visitors centre, it was now down to about 6 degrees and windy. The visitors centre again was informative and we gained a great insight into what to look at.
    It did not take long to see what all the fuss was about, this was another park that was just amazing with spectacular views and geology. Extinct glaciers are all through the park with waterfalls around every corner. There was still plentiful snow at the top of Logan’s Pass, where we stopped for a walk in the snow and to buy a souvenir or two. I think we were all grateful for the light weight layers of Kathmandu and Mountain Design clothing that we have procured over the last trip and this trip.
    Now we were in the thick of Bear country and whilst we did not see any today we are on high alert as we walked through narrow paths bordered by thick under brush. I nearly climbed a tree when Carl having walked ahead jumped out from behind a tree. It was the closest thing we saw to a grizzly today, but the b.s…d scared ten years off my life.
    From the park we descended quickly and followed the Flathead River through to West Glacier where we stopped for lunch, warmed up and prepared for the end of day drive.
    During the afternoon we continued through spectacular country, past and over fast running rivers and massive lakes. Classic Montana style log cabins and old barns dotted the landscape. Montana has it all from vast open plains as described yesterday to mountain and glacier country. The people we have met are so friendly.
    We have finally made our way into Bonners Ferry in Idaho, 23 miles from the Canadian border, Carl and I have the domestic duties (laundry) under control. Its wet and cold outside and we are looking forward to a nice dinner tonight.    Read more

  • TravelerNorthern Trek June - July 2018
    Day 14

    Blackfeet Nation, Browning MT

    June 28, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Dinner Last night was at the Bank Bar, an old bank complete with vault now operating as a bar and restaurant. Whilst it sounds flash Wilsall only has a population of 200 or so but it is a friendly place and we can thoroughly recommend the motel known as Fort Wilsall Motel run by Dick and May. As predicted our little log cabins were very quiet so it was a restful night.
    We pushed on this morning to Sulphur Springs and stopped at Dori’s for breakfast, she was a hoot and loves getting Australians through. She armed us with some local knowledge and off we went heading for Great falls on the Missouri River. We can see why they call Montana big Sky country, it is open with sweeping plains and rolling hills, blue skies and fields full of premium feed for the beef cattle raised here.
    The falls in Great Falls were spectacular and even though the river here was dammed in 1915 the old falls still remain below the dam wall. As the river was in flood the dam was spilling. Whilst there we met a group of kids on summer camp. They were very impressed to meet some Australians and they warned us of a Water Moccasin nearby.
    The country we passed through again today has a savage past, but it seems to have been dominated by the Black Feet Nation of American Indians. Tonight we are in Browning Montana the Blackfeet reservation centre and gateway to Glacier National Park.
    The weather is still holding but that may change tomorrow but glacier and thee road to the sun promises to be a great day.    Read more

  • TravelerNorthern Trek June - July 2018
    Day 13

    Montana Hospitality, Willsall, MT

    June 27, 2018 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 9 °C

    After a great breakfast at granny's, we left Cody behind, driving north along the Chief Joseph Highway. This is an amazing road with awesome scenery and telling history. It was here that the Nez Perze were pursued by the US army with orders to take no prisoners. This was 12 months after Custer and hundreds of US cavalry soldiers were killed at Little Big Horn.

    The Indians were being closed in on but they threw in some clever diversionary tactics and escaped. We stopped at an overlook today called dead Indian pass. The battle that raged here in and around 1877 was bloody and vicious.

    We continued on and detoured to Silvergate a small town that we stayed in 4 years ago it is a beautiful place on the beginning of the Beartooth Highway. From here we followed the Beartooth out of Wyoming and into Montana, again with spectacular scenery, snow and green rolling hills and the ever present Beartooth Mountain nearby. We stopped at the scene of my wrong side of the road fopar of 4 years ago. I got it right this time. Some snowballs were thrown, our country name carved in the snow wall and plenty of laughs at Carl trying not to sink in thee snow with thongs on. The Beartooth is a great road to ride and driving a car just di not do it justice. That said it was worth it just the same.

    We reached the town of Redlodge at lunchtime had a bite to eat and planned the afternoon drive. To ease the drive tomorrow we pushed on via Roscoe, Columbus and Springdale before turning right and heading for Sulphur Springs. We decided that we would just happen upon a small lodging at one of the small towns, and that was what happened. After a couple of towns with nothing we drove into Willsall and feeling satisfied with todays effort we have stopped at Fort Willsall Motel Willsall is a a 2 horse town with a motel designed as a fort, complete with log cabins.

    Its going to be a very peaceful night.    Read more

  • TravelerNorthern Trek June - July 2018
    Day 12

    Rodeo Time, Cody WY

    June 26, 2018 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Shoot out at the hotel Irma was a bit corny but they re-enacted a shoot out with Butch Cassidy and Wyatt Earp. There was a big crowd and it certainly entertained the kids.

    One of our things to do in Cody was the rodeo that is held every night in summer. We were picked up by the Cody rodeo bus and taken to the rodeo grounds on the western end of town. We had great sets directly over the shoots.

    It was an entertaining night with several Aussies competing so they received a special cheer. If you ever go to Cody this is a must do event.    Read more

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