[Whiplash]

Pending on the weather of course (which has been strange), I will be planning a ride out through Auburn towards Black Diamond on saturday the 21st. Lets meet in Auburn for lunch at 12 (to be determined). From Auburn, we will:
-go up 18 to the black diamond exit
-Take SE Green Valley Road East to flaming geyser.
-out of flaming geyser, take 218th North
-Turn West on SE Auburn Black Diamond Road which begins veering nw.
-Then a true West turn where Kent Black Diamond Road meets Thomas Rd (SE 322nd St I believe)
-Follow this road all the way back to 18 and homeward bound.

**Keep in mind that I have not been on this planned route before, and have just been looking at maps to see what would be the best way without backtracking. So feel free to alter the trail if you feel that there is a more exciting path. Of course, we can always bring a map and discuss it at lunch.

**Lunch, 12:00, To be determined. (Maybe we cold meet at the supermall, and then go to the food court so everyone can have what they want. Or Red Robin, or somewhere else that everyone can find?) Suggestions please.

[venu]

That area is infested by cops (the sheriff apparently does not give warnings). I got a ticket on my Ninja about 3 weeks ago, near Black Diamond. I would love to come along otherwise, assuming the weather holds up.

[dram]

I'd like to go but I'm taking a Saturday for someone on my staff who is getting married- I guess I really didn't have to give him the day off. He could have gotten married on his lunch.

Yeah- speed limit is only 35, but who speeds anyway?

D

[twest17]

[Brass Orchid]

Hey Venu,
Did you get that ticket after we split up at Flaming Geyser Park?

Everyone else,
I'd love to go for a ride around that area sometime with you guys. BUT, this Saturday I'm gonna go riding with McRider on some amazing roads a little north of Portland. It's 250 heaven down there (twisties for miles). If you haven't been down near Mt St Helens, you don't know what you're missin'!

[venu]

Yep - about 10 minutes after, while returning to 18. Your Saturday plan sounds very nice, my only concern being that getting back to the Bellevue area after the ride will be a pain in the butt.

Did you go all the way to St. Helens and come back the same day last year? If so, how bad was it? I put on just about 300 miles without a break last Saturday going down to Rainier and I know that I was pretty exhausted by the time I got back home.

[Whiplash]

You staying down there friday night, or are you doing all your riding saturday. Let me know what route you are taking, I would love to look into that some time down the road..he he.
-Ty

[Brass Orchid]

Ouch Venu! Sorry ya got snagged by the cops. They certainly don't mess around in that area. Apparently the day we rode down there, a car crossed the center line and killed a motorcyclist on 18 - kinda scary. Maybe the cops were just trying to look out for ya . . . then again, maybe they just wanted the $$$.

Anyway, it takes roughly 3 hours to get down to Mt St Helens, 3 hours to ride the mountain (twisties the whole way), and then 3 hours back. I slept at my Dad's house when I went down there last year (I'll do the same this weekend). If I were you, I'd camp down there (beautiful) or get a motel room. If you did it all in one day, your ass would probably fall off about halfway through! It's completely worth the effort to go down there though - without a question, it was the best ride I've ever been on.

[Robster]

i dont speed OR pass slow SUV's on double solids =P.. i wish i could make this ride, but im going to sandiego this weekend =X so you guys have fun and ride safe

[Whiplash]

Bad news guys...I was changing my oil and found that not one, but two of my motor mount nuts have fallen off in addition to a missing hex bolt on my foot guard. This means that I am SOL for the next 7-10 days until they get here. So unfortunately I won't be able to ride this weekend. Sad day. So lesson learned...make sure to check the tightness of your bolts!!!
_tyler

[dram]

[twest17]

whats with the weather around here, I haven't been able to ride since tuesday because of this rain and wind off and on all day. I'm starting to have withdrawls. Is anybody still planning on riding this weekend?

[dram]

[Whiplash]

ohh so you're an eternal newbie huh, thats cool i guess! Yea, I haven't been checking to make sure that everything is tourqued...needless to say, it won't be happening again. Then again, it is kinda sad that I have lost three nuts and one bolt, and one washer...ohh well, I am going to go through and re-tourque as soon as i get the replacements.

[dram]