Picture is Barbara Lee and Joyce Grawet at the gas stop in Morton, WA.
On Sunday, September 7th, 2008, Joyce and I hit the highway at 10:30 AM to meet Howard and Barbara Lee in Centralia, Washington by 11:30 AM.
We had decided to meet at McMeniman's Restaurant in Centralia for lunch and then to head out on backroads to make a circuitous trip to the base of Mt. Rainier and back home.
From Centralia we took Hwy 99 South to the cut-across road that goes thru Onalaska, WA and eventually in Morton, WA. The road meanders thru open foothill country with farms and ranches on both sides of the road along with the occasional stream.
As you approach Morton you begin to follow the route of a river that eventually goes up to Mt. Rainier. At the entrance to Morton there are some gorgeous rock formations in the river that sort of make a natural swimming and fishing hole right in town.
We gassed up in Morton along with about 50 other bikers as it is a great spot to fill up and have a drink of water before beginning the ride up toward the mountain.
We ended up stopping in Packwood, WA. at Pete's (picture) to have a snack and some coffee, and then we were off again from Packwood over the mountains to Ashford. Ashford is on a high plateau surrounded by Mt. Rainier and many other lesser mountains. It is a gorgeous road from Ashford back to Elbe along another river and finally into the little dinky town of Elbe. In Elbe there is a hamburger stand along the road that always has a crowd. This little stand makes some of the best burgers and hotdogs you could imagine.
Finally you make your way slowly back down from high country going west into Yelm and back around to Olympia and home.
This route takes about 5 hours or more if you stop much. It is always devoid of much traffic and you see more motorcycles on a warm day than cars is seems like.
I invite you all to take a look at your Washington map and take the time for this trip one day.
Ride Safe!
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