Re: [St] 410 and Idaho fuel additives

[ScottS <06STABS@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rob,

Thanks for the great info.  I'd like to do a ride (or three) like this 
when the rain lets up - July '08 looks like the next time.

I decided against going the SR410 route to Yakima to lead my Aunt and 
Uncle (on a giant HD of some (loud) sort) out of the rain.  So, I towed 
them around the Hood Canal yesterday before the rain came in.  RT 3 to 
RT 106 to HWY 101 North, 104 back across the top of the canal and back 
via Port Orchard and back roads.  Nice roads the whole way other than 
some rough patches of blacktop on 101.  Nothing to really complain about.

That is a nice loop for those of us on this side of the Sound.  150 
miles in about 4 hours of engine time.  (47+ MPG Indicated for those of 
you who are interested.)  That included a quick stop at the HD shop on 
RT 3 (all the "bikers" who were scarfing down free coffee and doughnuts 
calmed down a little when they realized I was on a Triumph and not some 
"Jap bike") and a quick tour through Bremerton and the mothball fleet in 
the harbor.  I was towing the HD the whole way, speed limit +5 at the 
most.  SP and local constables out in force most of the way.

-Scott
'06 ABS (Blue)


Rob Brown wrote:
> Scott and Fellow LiSTers,
> 
> If you want a long day trip, try a ride around Mt. Rainier.  It's probably
> too late this year since the weather has turned.  There are probably a few
> routes and I'm sure all of them are good.  Here's the one I took:
> 
> One Friday in August I decided that I needed to go for a ride.  I took off
> from my place in Kent to Enumclaw on some back roads.  It was overcast and
> around 60 degrees.  I stopped at Safeway on SR 410 and filled up.  This is
> the last big gas station for quite a while.  There is a gas station in
> Greenwater but I've never stopped there.
> 
> Anyway, I took SR 410 east toward Mt Rainier NP.  Mike discussed the road.
> It's not really bad until you get to the park.  There are several places
> that the tree canopy completely shades the road.  I saw a few State Patrol
> on this section.  I kept my speeds reasonable (+5 to +10) because I wasn't
> in a hurry.  There is a little pub at Crystal Mountain ski area that's open
> in the summer.  The food was pretty good and they had a good selection of
> beer (in case you drive the cage up there some day or ride a Harley).  I
> didn't stop there that day but I went a few weeks ago.
> 
> Once you get inside the park the road isn't in great shape.  It's ridable
> but watch for asphalt patches and bumps/dips.  The road is also narrow with
> no shoulders.  Watch for oncoming RVs too.   Once you get a little higher up
> and out of the trees a little the views are awesome.
> 
> I followed SR 410 over Chinook Pass to Naches.  At the pass it's like you go
> into another state.  The road down the east side is wide and smooth.  The
> temperature also seemed to go up 15 degrees.  The clouds also seemed to
> disappear.  At this point I forgot about the crappy summer and the fact that
> I only put 500 miles on my bike this year up to that point.
> 
> West of Naches SR 410 ends at US 12.  I headed southwest on US 12 toward
> Packwood.  This road is great.  Not a bunch of tight corners but just a
> deserted 2 lane road that winds around the hills paralleling a river with
> very blue water.  I just rolled along at 60 enjoying the scenery and sun.
> There are some twisty sections on both sides of White Pass.  I picked up the
> pace a little and had a great time.  Until some crazy lady in an old Pontiac
> Sunbird started tailgating me.  I let her pass and then tried to keep up.
> She lost me.  She obviously knew the road and I'm a chicken.
> 
> When I reached Packwood the road changed.  It became very straight and very
> boring.  Packwood is also a good place to gas up.  The shell station at the
> east end of town has pumps that take cards.  To one at the west end doesn't.
> Also, this is a big RV destination.  Watch out.
> 
> When I reached Morton I was mostly bored out of my mind.  I stopped for gas.
> After 210 miles it was pretty empty.  Filled it up and calculated about 57
> mpg.  Not bad but I doubt I filled it up to the same level each time.  I
> headed north on SR 7.  Great road.  Just buzzing along in the country
> through the hills.
> 
> There was construction on SR 7 and I had to detour to Eatonville so I took
> SR 161 to Puyallup.  Not to far north of Eatonville the road becomes urban.
> Being Friday afternoon, I was stuck in traffic all the way back home. (SR
> 161 to SR 512 to SR 167)  Total trip was 285 miles in 6.5 hours.  I was on a
> mission.  Next time I'll take the camera and stop a few times.
> 
> I did learn something interesting on SR 167.  I can lock up the front brake
> at 70 mph and not crash.  I think my next bike will have ABS for the
> freeways around here.
> 
> You can look at pictures of State highways in Washington on the DOT web
> site.  http://srview.wsdot.wa.gov/  SR 410 is in the Olympic Region (OR)
> between Sumner and Buckley and in the Northwest Region (NW) from Enumclaw to
> Chinook Pass and in South Central from Chinook Pass to US 12.  Click on the
> region letters in the map at the top left.  Use the drop down on the left to
> pick the highway.  Click the button "Show Highway Log".  Pick a milepost and
> then you can use the arrows under the picture to move forward.  You can
> almost drive the highway if you change the "jump" to 4 or 5.  The trick is
> to type the number in the box but do not hit enter.  Just click the arrows
> forward or back.
> 
> Some things I would do differently.  SR 123 between Chinook Pass and US 12
> near Packwood was closed when I went.  It washed out last year and just
> reopened a few weeks ago.  If it's open, this will cut about 95 miles off
> the trip but you miss some nice roads and warmer temperatures.  One this I
> would do for sure is take SR 706 through the south part on Mt. Rainier.  It
> costs a few bucks to get in the park but the roads are great.  This will
> also cut out the boring section between Packwood and Morton.  You will still
> get a good part of SR 7 going north too.
> 
> If you decide to go next year and want some company, give me a shout.
> 
> RoB Brown
> Kent, WA
> rcode94@xxxxxxx
> 04 Triumph Sprint ST
> 01 Suzuki GS 500 (for sale)
> 83 Honda Ascot
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: st-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:st-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of ScottS
> Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 17:54
> To: ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [St] 410 and Idaho fuel additives
> 
> 
> Mike,
> 
> Thanks for the scouting report.  All good info.  The weather does look
> to be wet into Monday (and beyond - Fall is here).  Maybe I'll save it
> for next year.
> 
> -Scott
> '06ABS Blue
> Bainbridge Isl
> 
> Young, Mike wrote:
>> The ST ran like a dream the whole trip. Never thought about the additive,
> bu=
>> t IIRC they only do it November through spring.
>> I rode 410 in July '06. It was all torn up with a paving project east of
> Par=
>> adise, and a royal pain in the arse. Beautiful ride otherwise. I highly
> reco=
>> mmended it if you can beat the snow. (An iffy proposition as of today;
> freez=
>> ing levels tonight dropping to about 4000 feet in the Cascade passes, and
> su=
>> fficient moisture in the pipeline to make for a sloppy weekend.) Watch for
> l=
>> eaves falling on the roadway this time of year, it's pretty well sheltered
> b=
>> y the typical Cascade mix of Alder, Cottonwood, Maple, Cedar, Fir and
> Spruce=
>> . Watch for deer and elk this time of year, esp, at night. They are
> starting=
>>  to move down out of the high meadows. Slow down a few miles east of
> Enumcla=
>> w; the SP are known to range out that far.
>>
>> Mike
>> '06 ST
>> Seattle
>> =A0
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: st-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:st-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx=
>> m] On Behalf Of ScottS
>> Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 12:07 PM
>> To: ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: Re: [St] Your fueling yourself (and road trip report..long)
>>
>> First, you are lucky your wife will put up with the solo driving while
>> you have all the fun.
>>
>> Second, I recently heard that the gas in ID had an additive in it (maybe
>> a blend of ethanol?) that was hard on gas mileage - you apparently
>> didn't have that problem.  The report came from an HD rider and maybe
>> their engines are not smart enough to handle the additive. Did you
>> notice anything "funny" about the ID gas?
>>
>> Last, what do liSTers from the NorthWet know about SR410 on the West
>> side of Rainer?  I might head out that way in a couple of days and see
>> whats what (assuming it doesn't snow too much this weekend).
>>
>> Thanks for the report.
>>
>> -Scott
>> '06ABS (Blue)
>>
>>
>>
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