Ride the Pacific Northwest with Us

By Brenda Potts
As posted on Moto-Travel.com for "Ride of the Month"
April 2000 c. All rights reserved.

Being Washington State natives, my husband and I are both, admittedly, a little biased when it comes to talking about riding around the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Within 4 hours in any direction, we can be riding along the rocky Pacific Ocean beaches or through the arid desert air of Eastern Washington. We can be the first ones on one of the many State ferries servicing Puget Sound, or cruising up the side of an active volcano. For those of us who live here, it’s really quite difficult to decide what to do with our limited free time, as there are so many choices. Alas, we don’t mind. All decisions should be that difficult. 

As to exploring the Pacific Northwest on two wheels, we’ll of course, boast some of the best riding anywhere. One of our favorite day rides is also part of our “Best of the Northwest Tour,” and will always have a special place in our hearts. 

If you’re starting in Seattle, you’ll have to put up with a short stint of freeway riding to get to Marysville, our jumping off point for this ride. Leaving the hustle and bustle of the metropolitan Seattle area, head north on I-5 and take the Marysville Exit (199). Turn left under the freeway and follow this road, Marine Drive, through the Tulalip Indian Reservation, and on to the quiet town of Stanwood. Following the signs, continue north to Conway. There, you’ll meet up with Hwy. 534, where you’ll head west to La Conner. This entire area is known for it’s incredible Spring floral displays, so if you’re lucky enough to be traveling during this time, you might want to stop by one of the commercial farms to take some pictures and pick up a bunch of Tulips. Ride on to La Conner, and you’ll find an idyllic little town full of galleries, restaurants, and antique and gift shops. Definitely an enjoyable place to take a butt break. As you leave La Conner, you’ll head back the way you came and either take a left onto Laconner-Whitney Rd. or backtrack a little further and take a left onto Hwy. 237. Both roads lead to Hwy. 20, on which you’ll ride west towards Anacortes. Just before you get to Anacortes, Hwy. 20 turns south towards Whidbey Island. Just a few miles south, you might or might not want to stop to pick up snacks at our favorite Chevron market (can’t miss it… it’s on the right hand side) before heading up to the top of Mt. Erie. We affectionately refer to this stop as the “flying chicken” stop. I’ll explain later.

Continue south until you come to Campbell Lake Rd. and the small brown sign for Mt. Erie Park. Turn right onto Campbell Lake Rd. then bear right onto Heart Lake Rd. You’ll see another small brown sign announcing Mt. Erie Park. Take a right and then another sharp right. Riding the twisting, hairpin turns on Mt. Erie is a blast, but be aware of the other vehicles and bicyclists going the opposite direction. Many of them take the blind turns wide. The views from the top of Mt. Erie are not to be missed and provide a perfect backdrop to a picnic lunch. Break out that chicken!

Side Note

While I don’t condone flinging greasy chicken bones, biodegradable or not, off of the top of Mt. Erie, the “flying chicken” label came about one day when one of our closest friends and riding buddies, Mikey, absentmindedly tossed his overly salted, stripped chicken bone over the side of the mountain while we were eating lunch. As bad form as this was in itself, it only got worse. Unbeknownst to any of us, there were a few brave souls climbing up the side of that same mountain, just below where we were sitting. You guessed it. That greasy chicken bone bounced off of some poor climber’s head. Needless to say, none of us ever forgot that day. Neither did the climber I’m sure.

About 5 years ago, after a 9-month battle with lung cancer, Mikey passed away. As I mentioned earlier, this ride, one that he shared with us, will always be in our hearts, as he is. 

Back on the road

Once you’ve descended to the valley floor, make your way back to Hwy. 20 and head south. A few miles down the road, you’ll discover Deception Pass, which, if you have the time, is worth stopping and walking around a bit, as the view from the bridge is stunning. (There are parking areas on both sides of the bridge.) The currents that flow through this narrow gorge are well named. 

Once over the bridge, you’ll be on Whidbey Island, home to the Whidbey Island Naval Airbase, Penn Cove Mussels, and a variety of birds and wildlife. As you cruise down Hwy. 20, you’ll see plenty of evergreen trees and grasslands, and thankfully, not too many motor homes. If you do run into the occasional RVer, you’ll have no problems passing them on this smooth, wide-open road. There are a number of quaint places to stop and shop along the way, if that’s what you enjoy. One of the towns you don’t want to miss is Coupeville, a tiny town with an old-time feel and great restaurants. Our favorite is Toby’s, a boardwalk tavern with good food and a great collection of antiques. 

The final stop of the day is the ferry dock in Clinton, WA, which is on the southern tip of Whidbey Island. As I mentioned earlier, motorcycles always load first, so don’t worry if you see long lines of cars, trucks, and RV’s waiting in line. Just nod politely (no laughing at them) and cruise up to the front of the line to buy your ticket (currently about $2.50 for rider and bike). After a short 20 minute crossing, you’ll be deposited back on the mainland, just north of Seattle. 

There are so many fantastic riding roads in the great Pacific Northwest; our writings will never do them justice. This ride, and many others, is offered as part of our motorcycle tours. If you’re visiting this area and you’d like to do some riding, please give us a call. In addition to offering custom and pre-planned guided tours, we also have a fleet of Honda and Harley-Davidson motorcycles available for daily or weekly rental. We’ll even deliver the bike to your doorstep, if you’re staying in the Seattle area. Please visit us at http://www.mtsma.com or give us a call at 425-222-5598. 

May the bees stay out of your helmet… 

Safe riding!

Mountain to Sound Motorcycle Adventures
Issaquah, WA 98027 U.S.A.