Post by Steve Swan on Nov 20, 2011 22:52:18 GMT -5
September 2009, my wife, Laura and I headed out from Fort Collins to the West Coast on our 09 CalVin. Our first night was spent in Jackson Hole. During our 1st day, over Togwotee Pass, we rode through snow and on non-existant paved roads. Seven miles of paving had been torn up, leaving 4-6 inches of mud, underneath which was parallel washboard a couple inches deep from the highway crew prepping the road for eventual paving. The highlight of the day was approaching the East side of the Grand Tetons before sunset and then a fine hot supper that evening. Day 2, West from Jackson, north to Lemhi, along the Lemhi Mountain Range on to Salmon, ID, staying the night in Lolo, MT. Day 3, Missoula, north along Flathead Lake and into Whitefish, where we stayed at Laura's cousin Jack's for Day 4. Day 5, we headed North on 93 to Eureka and then turing south at 93 Rexford, we had a glorious 52 mile descent along Lake Kocanusa, heading West through Libby, Bonner's Ferry, Sand Point, Tiger, Ione, Colville, Republic and on to Okanagon for the night. Day 6, West, breakfast at Winthrop through Marblemount, on to Port Townsend around 3pm. We literally rode up to the Port Townsend Ferry, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians first and were at Tides Inn by 5pm. Day 6, on through Port Angeles, to Neah Bay for a hike to the tip of the Bay. The weather, thus far was sunny and warm, exception Togwotee Pass. When we got back to the CalVin, it was misting and by the time we made it to Astoria at 9pm, it had poured rain from the ground up and the sky down. We had the best meal of a lifetime in Astoria, stayed the night at the Elliott Hotel. Day 7, on to Salem, OR, where we stayed with the kids for a week. Return home, through Sisters, John Day, Halfway, Oxbow and into Cambridge for the night. Again, magnicent scenery and weather. From Cambridge, to Cascasde and on down to Banks, East to Stanley, Mackay, Idaho Falls and Lava Hot Springs for a hot soak. The next day, home. The CalVin ran flawlessly. Worst gas mileage with at least a 40mph headwind, Laramie to Rawlins, was 26mpg. The best mileage was 54mpg with about a 10mph tail wind from Green River to Rawlins.
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