A ride for food! Rain Country Restaurant in McCleary Washington.

Yesterday was Saturday. Nine days from the date of Joyce's surgery to remove some sunshine caused cancer on her lower lip (they removed the entire surface of her lower lip and built a new lip), she was itching to get back on the bike and go 'anywhere'.

So, we hopped on about 11 AM and road west from Olympia, Washington where we live. About 20 miles west of Olympia is a very small town called McCleary. We end up riding thru McCleary often as there are three nice 'riding roads' that meet in McCleary.

From McCleary to Shelton on back roads ending up at the Little Creek Casino (and then going either North to Port Townsend or South back to Olympia), is a great 45 minute road with very little traffic on it.

McCleary going west parallel to State Hwy 8 on the side road is fantastic! The speed limit is 50 mph so a nice speed to ride and look around at the scenery. There are farms, ranches, a huge range of housing types from beat up old trailers to spectacular mansions on mini-farms. You ride over a couple of rivers, and they are full of salmon this time of year. On this road you can go out to Elma and then from there to some other great riding roads.

Finally there is the road from McCleary that goes south to Malone and connects up with Hwy 12.

Each of these roads are almost completely car free, and often the majority of traffic are motorcycles on a sunny day.

McCleary itself is a very small little place. There isn't even a traffic light, although there is ONE STOP SIGN! You'd better be sure to stop as the police station is at the same corner, and there is almost always a local police car sitting there.

There are two restaurants, a bar, and a non branded Harley repair shop in town, plus a couple of quick stop grocery/gas stations, and a few other stores.

One of those restaurants is fairly new. It is called "Rain Country Restaurant". We made our third stop there yesterday. They make the best Club Sandwich in the world! It is so huge that even when we had them split it for us both to share, we could barely finish it. A few weeks ago, we split one of them into quarters as a snack for four of us to share. Even then it filled all four folks up for a good while. They also have 'curly fries' to die for!...(probably would die if you ate too many of them). AND....there is always something special in the home made desert cooler....Yesterday they had some Lemon Merangue Pie and a Sticky Bun that looked incredibly delicious. Luckily I was able to overcome my strong desire to have desert, as the sandwich really filled me up again.

So....Ride Safe fellow members! If you're ever out near McCleary, Washington, stop in the Rain Country Restaurant, you'll be glad you did.

Welcome new WMA Member Leda Roth from Los Angeles!

Hi, Robert.
I saw your blog and I want to join your Worldwide Motorcycle Association. My name is Leda Roth and I'm from LA, CA. I'm on blogger as well.

Regards,
Leda

Welcome to new WMA Member Lee Ajaye!!!!

Below is the email I received from Lee.....OBVIOUSLY a very active rider just like me! Lee...thank you so much for the great email.

Best of luck to you in Germany. Watch out for those 250 kph Mercedes, BMW's and Audi's passing you by...... I have to admit, I'd be quite intimidated if I had to ride in fast traffic like that.

Welcome Lee....Please send us a ride story from Europe if you have one you'd like to share!

Ride Safe!

My name's Lee Ajaye and you just accepted me as a member of the WMA, so
I thought that I'd go ahead and provide you with a picture ASAP! Please
see the attached. Please feel free to post either one or all of them.
They were taken when I was living in Alexandria, VA, which was any time
before the 6th of June (from March 31st the prior year). I work for the
DoD (Army) as a Computer Specialist (prior as Helpdesk Chief, then
Network Admin, then Sys Admin, and now Service Desk Chief). So I guess
that I've been around the (GS) block for a little while. It's
interesting doing the managerial thing, and I'm welcoming the time to
actually singularly focus on one thing, instead of the multitudes all at
once, as in the past. Oh, I'm currently living in Laumersheim, Germany
(near Bad Durkheim, which is in one of Germany's many wine regions) and
working in Heidelberg, Germany. So I do the daily commute thing.

I was also reading what you wrote about how I try to wrench my neck when
I'm driving my car and I see another motorcyclist. Not to mention a few
of the other things that you mentioned really seemed to have struck a
chord with yours truly. Uncanny, I must say. I'm considering going to
the Intermot ( http://www.intermot.de/ ) on October 8th up in Koeln, but
am not sure yet if I can make it or not yet. I'd love to ride, but
parking always seems to be a bit of a hassle at these things (unless I
go to Frankfurt, I like and know that area VERY well, so parking's never
an issue), so I may just take the train (more relaxing as well).

Oh, and one last thing. My bike is a 2001 Sprint RS. If there are any
other Triumph riders out there, they can look me up on the
TriumphRAT.net pages as BTR01 (Black TRiumph 2001).

Keep the rubber side down man, and I look forward to crossing your path
one of these days. Maybe if I ever make it back to the states again.

Ciao-Ciao,

Lee Ajaye

Welcome to new WMA member Pina Sicari!!!!!

Hi Robert

Thank you so much for accepting me in the group and for your kind response.


I have sent you three pictures, two of my motorcycle and one of myself and the puppy Smokey, he's not a puppy any more but I love the picture.



Pina Sicari

Our Ride to Westport,WA!..WMA Founder Robert with his partner Joyce Grawet!

We rode out to Westport, WA with our great friends Howard and Barb Lee. They live in University Place, WA. and we often ride with them in Southwest Washington.

We met in McCleary, Washington about 16 miles west of my home in Olympia, WA. There is a new restaurant in McCleary called the Raincity Cafe (it's a very small town, you'll see it right smack dab in the middle of town). We had an amazing Club Sandwich...which was so big we split it....wonderful food, and great service...we'll be back.

We then rode thru the backroads and ended up at our destination of Westport. It was supposed to be a hot day in Olympia, so we decided a ride to the coast would be good...where the temps would be much lower.

Westport was having a celebration, booths, food, goodies to buy, and lots of folks.

It's always a nice place to ride to....great views of the ocean on one side of the peninsula where it is located, and the entire Westport fishing fleet in the harbor on the other side; where the main street is located.

I didn't take enough pictures, sorry...but here's a little look. Also a look at my partner Joyce....just a few days prior to a very painful surgery on her lower lip to remove some cancer built from tooooo many days laying in the sun as a teenager....

McCleary, Westport, backroads of Southwest Washington....all make for a relaxing ride and some good eating....

Ride Safe brothers and sisters!

Seattle WMA Member Keith Sawka and Friends ride to Snoqualmie Falls, Washington!

Hey Bob, I thought I'd share a few pics.

We had 10 bikes on yesterday's ride to Snoqualmie falls.



--
Keith Sawka
Executive Producer
Advanced Method
Seattle, WA

Welcome WMA Member Keith Royle! Very Cool Photo!

From Keith below:

Thanks for linking in with me.

I attached a pic of me and my SV650 back from when I raced out here in the SW.

Don’t have a picture with me of my current bike, a DRZ400SM, lots of fun. Great commuter bike.

Keith Royle

Director of Dynamometer Sales

Dynojet Research Inc.


Ride Safe Keith!

Welcome WMA Member Larry Penrod!

You wanted a pic of my bike… here’s the bike and the go-kart I designed and built.

Thanks,

Larry Penrod

By the way! Did I tell you that I love riding my bike!

Ok, yeah...I'm sure I must have mentioned it by now......but just in case!

I LOVE riding my motorcycle!

If you do....send me a photo of you with your 'steed'.....with you in the pic....or not.....and send us a ride story!

The only thing better than riding itself....is talking about it, and thinking about it!

Ride Safe, brothers and sisters!

Another Howard M. ride story below just a few posts!

Howard and his wife Ellen take a big ride quite often.....Howard has graced us with two stories of his rides.....I only wish my website was more kind to large storage, so I could have included some more of the many pictures that Howard sent me, of this wonderful, amazing ride!

Make sure to check it out....just a few below this!

and.....Ride Safe!

Welcome WMA #195 Member Steven Lambert

Thanks WMA:



This photo taken on a weekend out of Cypress Texas. Heading to the Lake

Howard Meiseles Great 5000 Mile in Two Weeks Ride Story!

5000 miles in two weeks and my backside does not hurt.


July 13th and we are leaving Los Angeles with two destination goals in mind: The International BMW Motorcycle Owners Association rally in Gillette, Wyoming and accumulating the many of the 24 national parks for the Southern California Motorcycle Association’s “California Parks Adventure”, one the AMA’s “Grand Tour Events.”
The two bikes have been serviced, the gear has been packed and the Mapsource route has been downloaded into the GPS’s. It is 6 am, tanks filled, bladders empty, and the air is cool when we backed Ellen’s and my bike out of the garage and started the short 1200-mile, two-day ride to Custer, South Dakota.

Custer is only a short ride to Gillette and on the way we saw a few sights not part of our normal travels: Custer State Park, Mt Rushmore, the Badlands, Devils Tower, and had breakfast in Sturgis.
During the ride to Gillette we had a stop in Sturgis, which at the time was getting ready for its annual lemming revival, for breakfast so that we could tell our non-motorcycle friends that we have “been to Sturgis.” Sturgis is a nice little town, like Mayberry, in the middle of nowhere, just off the highway, with a couple of main streets and lots of small shops and helpful folks. I recommend that if you are in this area of the country stop by, have breakfast and buy a tee shirt at the Harley and BMW dealerships. Relax and learn to smile.
On to Devils Tower. When we were there we did not have any close encounters of any kind, just a stop for some pictures and to see a great national park.
Finally, we arrive for the Rally in Gillette. This moving party is located in a different part of North America each year. It is the annual pilgrimage for BMW motorcycle owners. We meet, we learn, we laugh, at night we tell lies of what great rider we are, we eat bratwurst and drink beer. Not a bad way to spend three days.

After three days, we leave Gillette and head for Yellowstone National Park. Upon arriving we learn to really see the park you have to slow down and ride behind the RV roadwhales. The sights in Yellowstone are breathtaking; here are two: Old Faithful and Yellowstone’s version of the Grand Canyon.
So after a nights stay it is on to California but first we have to see the Grand Tetons.
We finally arrived in California via Idaho, Utah and Oregon and visited these California National Parks: Lava Beds National Park, Redwood National and State Park, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Point Ryes National Seashore, Mur Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Devils PostPile National Monument, Manzanar National Historic Site, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Yosemite National Park.
The most interest part of this ride was that this portion of the state is on fire and riding through a little smoke became a normal occurrence. I thought I gave up smoking a long time ago.
That haze in the background is the forest on fire. CA299 was very smoky.
I am always asked would I do it again? Yes and more, the western United States has some of the finest national parks in the world, or at least that part of the world I have seen. Each one has a certain air about them and I am glad our government had the good sense to preserve this beauty.
If you have the time, or make the time, get yourself a yearly park pass. Load up the bike with your favorite things and explore what this county has to offer.
Hum, the Iron Butt Association has a tour of 50 parks in 25 states in one year. Maybe that can be a three-week ride next year?

Welcome to new WMA Member Gerco Schep! BMW Guy all the way!

Truly the best motorcycle photography I have ever seen. These shots are absolutely stunning photos of Gerco's BMW Cruiser.


Hi Robert,

I've send you some pictures of my bike & me.

For the record:

I used to be a professional motorcycle driver some 20 years ago working with the dutch police force. Nowadays I driving just for fun on my BMW cruiser.
Thank you for the membership of WMA.

Greetings Gerco

Welcome to a very special member; WMA Member #194 David Dumas, owner of SoulRydah Magazine!

Welcome to David Dumas, Owner of Soul Rydah Magazine. http://www.soulrydahmag.com

David rides an awesome 2000 Harley Davidson Softail.

What an amazing beauty! Ride Safe David!

Send us more!

Welcome to New Member; Aline Delhaye from Belgium!

Aline is from the 'good' FEMA. (Not the USA one).
Aline is Secretary General of the 'good' FEMA. Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations.

Welcome Aline! Welcome to 'The Virtual Motorcycle Gang'!

Please find enclosed the requested picture.

Kind regards,

Aline Delhaye

Secretary General

FEMA – Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations

Rue des Champs, 62 – B1040 Brussels - Belgium

Phone +32 2 7369047

Fax +32 2 7369401

a.delhaye@fema-online.eu

www.fema.ridersrights.org

191 Members in the Worldwide Motorcycle Association!

WELCOME to the new members! WE are hopeful you'll send us a photo of you and your motorcycle, and any other motorcycle related photos. We'd REALLY love a ride story of one of your favorite rides.

Ride Safe!

Welcome New WMA Member Kristof Noë from Belgium

Welcome to Krisof our newest WMA Member from Belgium; my ancestors home! He rides a 1981 BMW r45. Those vintage BMW's are my favorites.

Thank you for your moto photo, and please send more.....

Welcome Gary Leavitt, New WMA 'Virtual Motorcycle Gang' Member

Welcome to Gary Leavitt, CPA....and WMA
Greater Salt Lake City Area!

Hello to 'Gang' Member Ernest Minnema!

Ernest's email to us below:

Dear Robert,

Thank you for having me in the gang.

I attached a few of my bike pic's for on the site. The first is me on my old-timer Honda CB400, a couple of years back when I just bought it. The perfect bike for the backroads, which I love to cruise.
The second is me on the track enjoying the pleasures of throwing around (and eating) lots of dirt.

Yours,
Ernest Minnema

More ride shots from WMA Members Howard and Ellen Meiseles!

Robert, Ellen and I just finished a wonderful two week 5000 mile ride.
Attached is a couple of couple photos


Howard Meiseles

ALSO: I've asked Howard for a recap if he gets the time. He wrote a great ride story earlier. You can find it in this blog by going to the archive and clicking to May 24th's post from Howard. It has some great photos and a very nice recap of the ride along The Blueride Parkway. (thanks again Howard)

WMA Member Steve Conn's bike shots....thanks Steve!

Steve...thank you so much! You bike is awesome!

Hey you others, when will you send your bike shots!

Ride Safe!

Welcome to New Member Teun Meijer from The Netherlands!

Here's his email with the pictures....Teun is excited about riding as many of our members.....Ride Safe Teun!

Hi Robert,

First of all I would like to thank you for letting me be a part of the Worldwide Motorcycle Association. I never would have guessed that there was something enjoyable like this on LinkedIn.

I have sent 3 pictures of me and my two bikes, a BMW K100LT and a Honda CBR1000F, as an attachment with this email. Ik would appreciate it if you can post them on the site!

Again thank you for the membership and hope to hear from you again or any other member in the future!

Greetings (and drive safe)
Teun Meijer
Oss, The Netherlands.
(http://bochtenkoning.motorstek.nl)

Bob & Joyce Ride to Hood River, Oregon and the Skamania Lodge

About a 2 1/2 hour ride from Olympia to Vancouver, Washington and then hang a left up the highway on the Washington side of the river. The lodge is on the Columbia River about 1 hour east of Portland, Oregon. It is across the river from Hood River, Oregon. Hood River is one of the best wind-surfing places in the United States. It is a 2 mile wide spot in the river where the water is quite calm normally, and the winds are very steady. It is situated in the Columbia River Gorge; which is a 75 mile long canyon with steep walls on both sides of the river. Because of the canyon walls there is almost always a steady wind blowing in that area.

It is quite beautiful being in the Gorge, watching the 100's of wind surfers and kite riders with their colorful sails, and eating great food while doing your best to only think relaxing thoughts.

We have stayed at several places in the Hood River area, and this is our first time at Skamania.

There are back roads going every direction from Hood River. You can ride up to Mt. Hood's Timberline Lodge or over to Mt. Adams in Washington State....or just ride thru the amazing fruit growing region in the rolling hills above Hood Canal. Wonderful fruit, beautiful fields of lavendar, and snow capped jagged mountains.....a view that is sometimes just plain mindblowing.

That's my report for this week....when are you going to send me your ride story and pictures? Ride safe brothers and sisters!

Welcome Chris Hodder to 'The Virtual Motorcycle Gang' Member #178

Welcome Chris. We added more than 50 members during July. Hold your helmets.....wonder what August will bring. Right off, we have Chris Hodder from the British Motorcyclists Federation!

Wow!



Robert,



Attached is a photo of my bike at the top of the world (well, the Stelvio Pass in Italy anyway…).



Hope you like it.



Yours,



Chris Hodder

Government Relations Executive

British Motorcyclists Federation


Welcome Chris! WMA Member 178!

Nice picture! Can't wait to ride there myself. I think it will be a couple of years, as I'm busy with a new company doing my 'real' job.

Please send more, and I'd love to have a short ride story from you....one of your favorite rides!