Puget Sound ferries?

[r1150rider]

I'm gonna do a long trip in September, and I'm wondering if anyone can provide any advice about riding the Puget Sound ferries on a bike. Are the ramps steep and/or wet, for instance? Is there any particular route that's really spectacular? I've only been up there once many years ago, and it was in a car. The whole area was fogged in and I couldn't see a thing, so I know that can happen.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance...

[sweatmark]

Ed,

We (Sillyjax and I) took the ferry a couple times last weekend on a quick jaunt up to the San Juans. In short, taking the bike on the ferry is easy: cheap passage ($6ish for bike + rider), first on the boat, and most ferry terminals let bikers cut to the front of the line at the toll booth! Most of the ramps now have antiskid surfaces, unlike the early 80s when I rode my original VF700F Interceptor on a double-ferry route to visit college girlfriend... in the rain those steel ramps required a gentle throttle hand.

You will find good info specific to motorcycles on the Washington State Ferry system website:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/

Moto info!

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/info_de ... ?faq_id=47

The longest route is Bremerton to Seattle, and if the weather's nice, then the view coming into the city is world class... cityscape in foreground, Cascades in background, and Mt. Rainier standing tall to the southeast. Seattle's my hometown, so bias is obvious.

There's lots of scenic on tap in western Washington - depends on time and weather. Feel free to PM for specifics, and hopefully some other PNW folks will respond.

[r1150rider]

Thanks, I appreciate the links! At this time, I'm figuring to take the "short hop" from Port Townsend over to Keystone, then ride 20 "up" Whidbey Island to Anacortes, then over to the mainland. But if the weather is really nice (this will be about a week after Labor Day) and I have the time, I may elect to just take a ferry ride around the San Juans.

After that, I'll be taking the "scenic route"... meandering my way over to the Black Hills of South Dakota, I'd like to see Mt. Rushmore. Then, who knows? I never have a rigidly structured route, typically the weather has a hand in which direction I go next...

Thanks again...

[Just-Beeming]

R1150Rider

I have not been on the ferries in the sound but have traveled on two others in the Portland Oregon area. One on the Coulmbia and a small one on the Willamette.
Those particular ramps were not slipery or overly steep. Even on a rainy day (which it is often in the PNW). Its a nice time to take a break and relax while you and your bike gets toted to the other side.

I agree with the steady throttle and let the bike feel its way, sort of like on any grooved/textured surface.

You will LOVE Port Townsend, great little port town with wooden boat charm.
If you go to the islands, watch out for deer. Orcas Island has a large and friendly deer population! Especially in the early AM and Evening.

Your weather should be fantastic in the PNW....we have 'summer' till the end of September. I hope you can get down to Check out Mt St Helens if it is a clear day.

Just-Beeming

[r1150rider]

Thanks, I'm looking forward to this trip already! I'm taking 395 north from Long Beach (CA) to Pendleton, OR and then west on 14 along the Columbia. If the weather is good, I'll ride around the Olympic Peninsula and then Port Townsend and across to Whidbey Is. If the weather is not okay, I'll shorten up my route and get headed east towards Waterton Glacier Park.

Then, on to the Black Hills and then... well, I'm just gonna follow my nose!

I can't remember- did you go from the GS650 to the 1150R or is it the other way around? I've got a GS650 and the ST, and it was actually a toss-up which bike I was going to make this trip on. But the weather protection afforded by the ST won out, 'cuz I don't know if you've heard this but apparently the NW gets a bit of rain!

[Just-Beeming]

This is my very favorite route in Oregon. It is off of 395 from Lakeview to LaPine. Then if you jet up Hwy 97 it'll put you in the Gorge west of Pendleton but IMHO it is a Better route than staying on 395....This is just a terrific route. Passing through the Summer Lake area is just incredible. Big waterfowl preserve there and You will see lots of deer and antelope along the way if you look for them.
Once you get to the Gorge (Biggs Junction) you can cross the Columbia river many places and get onto Wa 14.

It will be a nice time!

hey... you will be able to proclaim that you have been riding the Outback. err...well.... Oregon Outback that is.

'Beeming

[r1150rider]

Hmm... okay, 'Beeming, you just may have sold me on this. Ain't the internet grand? So much info out there, if only you're lucky enough to come across it! So, would I miss anything of note on the Columbia if I get to it via 97?

I can see where 31 would be good, it's a smaller line on my map and that's always preferred, and besides- you said it's your favorite! But 97 looks a lot straighter than 395, is it also good or just expedient? And is a big loop around the Fort Rock/Christmas Valley area in order? Inquiring minds wanna know, ya know?

As far as Pendleton goes, when I was a kid if you were "cool" you had a couple of Pendleton shirts (I only got to have one) and so I thought it would be fun to ride through there. See what kind of logic I use to plan my trips? (none) But I see 97 goes through Madras, and those shirts were pretty cool back then, too...

Seriously though, mucho thanks for making me aware of what appears to be a neat road!

[Just-Beeming]

Ed,

The Columbia flows from the North in Washington state....It turns hard to the West at or around Biggs Junction. You would miss very little, if any of it. Pendleton to Biggs is just rolling, boring wheat and potato farms. Yes,Hwy 97 is rather an expedient, busy highway as it funnels traffic to all of central oregon...but there are some less traveled roads to the Gorge like out of Prineville.
Now, if it is shirts you want....I have the perfect solution....go to the outlet in Washougal. Map below....See that big road just south of the building highlighted....That is Hwy 14 as it comes into Washougal.


http://wikimapia.org/43084/

Ok, weird question but where did you go to school? No doubt plaid, pendleton shirts are the best....but not what I would call 'cool' fashions.

Have fun in Oregon. It's a terrific riding state.
'Beeming

[r1150rider]

Actually, I'm not looking for shirts at all! Seeing Pendleton on the map just gave me an excuse (remember, no logic) to go that way. Plus, I've always liked riding 395 in CA but had never ridden it in OR or WA. And if it turns out that I don't like 97 north, it looks like there's plenty of alternatives to choose from.

As far as where I went to school, I grew up in SoCal close enough to the beach cities near L.A. to be on the fringe of the "surf culture" of the 60's. The Beach Boy's last local gig before they went "big time" was at my junior high school, I got to help carry their stuff into the auditorium.

Basically, you fell into one of three "groups":

"surfers", who actually surfed

"gremmies", surfer wanna-be's

"ho-dads", pretty much everybody else

The "uniform of the day" consisted of white or pale blue Levi's, and either Purcel or Converse tennis shoes were acceptable (this was long before Van's came along). And of course, a Pendleton worn as a jacket over a button-down collar dress shirt or a plain white t-shirt.

And I bet that's more than you actually wanted to know, huh?

[wncbmw]

sweatmark's links give good info and he also gave me good advice via PM. I am heading to that neighborhood next month and now intend to use the ferries some to increase scenic value and decrease boring driving with a rental car!

I haven't been in that area since about 1981 and look forward to a visit, even if I am in a rental cage!

Thanks!

[Just-Beeming]

It is always interesting to hear about the culture of a certain area at a certain point in time. Your surfer culture no doubt is a part of you now...Pendleton shirt and all.

I am not sure if they even make Pendleton shirts in Pendleton...for a long time my aunt worked for them in Milwaukie Oregon (portland suburb).
she sewed flaps on wool shirt pockets all day long...BORING>>>>I would commit hari kari first. Yikes

This outlet store is very cool.
Sometimes they have great stuff, other times not so much. It is not an 'outlet mall' outlet store, it is truely the warehouse store. The store itself has a certain amount of charm. I always try to get Mr Beeming to stop there so I can pick up a sweater or a cute skirt or something. It is all so very nicely made.
they have a few of the traditional indian patterned wool blankets and stadium robes in there as well.

Its a great place.

Thanks for sharing and let us know how your trip turns out.
Carol