The first part of April always seems unpredictable in terms of weather. Two years ago Laurie and I enjoyed temperatures in the 70s and clear skies. Last year Bob and I had snow, and cold temperatures ranging from 14 degrees to a high of 48 degrees. Laurie, was concerned it would snow, and was getting the Marty treatment as the consequence. We planned to depart Sunday morning and guess what it did Saturday night:
I e-mailed everyone that Laurie and I might be delayed if we couldn't get out of the neighborhood and then went to sleep. It had improved a little by the morning as there were a few tire tracks to ride in so at the appointed time, we boarded the bike and set off. Immediately the thing started to slither around and to myself muttered "What the f**k?" From the pillion I hear "It is slippery, that's what". Eventually we get to more main roads and I relax; I really didn't want to drop the owner's bike. We meet at Starbucks, and off we go to collect Steve on the way.
The snow had been confined to my neighborhood which is at a higher altitude than the others so the roads were simply wet - even if the Black Ice warning was flashing away. Steve is collected up and we head for Raymond, WA. I planned to stop regularly since Bob's Susan and my Laurie don't ride as much as we do, and as I wanted the ride to be as pleasurable as I could make it for them. Well, it was a good move as it was cold, in the neighborhood of 36 degrees and Laurie got cold. Steve loaned her a vest so it would compress her Gerbing jacket around her torso and that did the trick. Here she is thanking him; I will later. Bob is happy after his visit to the men's room.
I had passed along to Rick a Scala Rider Bluetooth headset as he acquired a new GPS that was Bluetooth enabled. He got a huge kick out of the phone ringing in his helmet and being able to chat with his brother-in-law about meeting him in Astoria. Fact is, Rick took off ahead of us to meet the guy in Astoria and as we approached the bridge to get there I called him on his cell phone to see where he was waiting. Turns out he went the long way to ride the twisty bits and we were way ahead of him. So that's where the picture was taken; just off the bridge in Astoria.
Our end point for the day was a Comfort Inn in Garibaldi, OR which is just South of Cannon Beach. Lunch was had in Cannon Beach at some joint Laurie knew; I forget the name (corrected by Laurie, it is called the Lazy Susan), and Rick caught up to us with Brother-In-Law accompanying. In time we made it to our destination and had fun shooting the breeze in the motel as the evening approached. Time for dinner, so we went in quest of a four star eatery in Garibaldi. The beer and pizza joint across the street was off-limits as Bob claimed a case of the liquid browns after eating there previously. We were directed, however to this place:
There were no cars in the parking lot. The lights were dim. Susan was a bit concerned, I think. Men will eat anything so we went in. Let's see, my fish was good and the salad just fine. The rest of the group fared about as well except for Rick. He asked for schnitzel "Don't know if the cook can make it, but I'll see". "Yes, he can, but no potato salad" OK says Rick, and how about some red wine? "I'll have to see what we have open" It goes downhill after that. So, if you need to ask, this place gave up four of its four stars in this review.
Steve departs for home in the morning as do Bob and Susan. Rick, Laurie and I take off south. I had the notion of making for Crescent City, CA but stopped in Brookings, OR so Laurie could warm up and have some off saddle time. It was a fun day. Sunny, sort of warm in the 40s, and we gaped a bit.
Rick got Laurie into some red wine after we stopped. I got into the hot tub.
Next day we headed some more south, along the coast and onto route 199 which takes us to Grants Pass and the freeway north to Eugene. The destination is Belknap Hot Springs Resort. Route 199 is all about twisty bits and the snarl of a K1200S in front of you. Not only is the scenery quite good but the best is the sight of the big S disappearing around a sharp bend. The black 2008 has to be the best of the K1200 series. Laurie is a good passenger and I'm able to make the GT do pretty well. In fact, I'm just now getting to like the bike a little. I thought the handling too light at first and the much vaunted power a bit lacking but I'm getting used to the bike and adjusting my riding to its needs and it rewards us with a fun and stable ride which is very predictable in the corners, even the tight and tighter decreasing radius ones.
Of course it is cold so we stop in Eugene for food and to warm up. Mexican - how can that go wrong? Taking no chances we just order a couple of Tacos. OK, not good, not 4 star.
The hot springs are only 50 miles into the mountains and we get rooms and sorted and into the warmth of the water. I stayed a little too long and got light headed but felt amazingly relaxed. Rick had had enough of sub optimal road food and declared this night to be high cuisine or else. Amazingly we found a place about 10 miles away that served a decent steak, had good coffee, excellent wine, and stuff I don't normally eat:
Rick did a little more pool time and later we just talked for a while. Slept like a baby and left the next day for home. Laurie has work to do and Rick leaves on business trip. I need to pick up a different saddle as the one on this bike isn't very comfortable; fact is I'm in pain after 20 minutes and have to stop every hour when I can't take the discomfort any more. I also need insurance paper for the bike that I forgot. Then I'm off for some solo time on the GT to finish my vacation. Getting home is a ride in the wettest of wet. It is cold hovering around 38 degrees. As we go through Portland I ask Laurie if she can see very much. She says "No" and I reply "That's good as it sucks", and it did. By Longview the girl is hypothermic and we have to warm her up in the McDonalds.
On Thursday morning I trade saddles for the one off my bike, get the insurance paperwork, and head out. It is about 1300 when I point the front wheel of the GT towards Oregon. Initially the sun is up but by Centralia it is a downpour and it stays that way to just south of Eugene where I bail for the night and keep up with the tradition of nasty road food. I thought Pot Roast would be OK. I'd rather have eaten a brick.
Friday morning is wet, and cold. By Grants Pass there is snow coming down and it stays snowing till damned near Weed, CA. I'm wondering who did I piss off when the decent into Redding introduces sun and warm temperatures, and a convenient Starbucks. I want a Venti of whatever is on tap. Hmmm where to go next? Let's see 299 is calling; let's go to Eureka. Best move of the trip. The traffic is headed east and I'm going west. People actually pulled over so I could get past, and I thanked the guy when I met him later in the day at a rest stop.
Tight twisty sections get gobbled up easily by the big GT. The secret is in the preload and ride damping. I set the preload for two up instead of one plus luggage, and set the damping at either normal or sport mode depending on road conditions. The comfort setting is too rubbery and best left of the freeway. I've put about 1500 miles on the bike at this point and the engine is getting a work out. The result is fuel economy has jumped from 38 to 45 mpg and the big engine is now delivering power, sometimes in a scary fast way. Short version of the story is I had a 100% fun ride in 50 degree air with no traffic to speak of, no law enforcement, and no scary moments except for the squirrel.
I don't know if you recall a commercial on TV where two squirrels set themselves up to screw with motorists on a corner. After they create mayhem for a motorist they give each other high fives and yuk it up a little. Well, they aint imaginary and they hang out in northern California. I should have creamed the one in the road, but tested the brakes instead.
I get the motel just outside Eureka and in a fairly populated area. Searching for food I decide on a local restaurant with lots of work trucks in the parking lot; always a good sign. Decent menu, I'll have the prime rib. I didn't have my phone with me to record the hunk of meat that appeared. I have never witnessed such before. Medieval gentry would have been impressed with its excess. And, Rick - it was good. I could not eat it all. A before and after picture would have been the right thing to do.
Saturday is a long day home. I will have the miles accrued when the trip is over so I head up the coast covering some of the route from earlier in the week. I can't eat as I'm still working on the prime rib from last night but drink lots of fluid; it is supposed to help.
I divert off the 101 for a road going up the Umpqua River to I-5 and that is well worth the effort. More twisty bits, good road surface and only 55 miles to the freeway. The freeway home is just that, and I decide to go through Portland instead of the bypass. Mistake. The freeway is stop and go for 5 miles simply due to the volume of cars merging from Jantzen Beach. I hate Portland traffic.
So the new GT: Just like the K1200GT except better in almost every area except the saddle. There is way more apparent power after the engine is worn in and the fuel economy is excellent 75 mph to 85 mph and I got 49 mpg on the last tank. The electronic suspension makes the biggest difference but as with the old version you must experiment to get the best mix of preload and damping. The engine management is more smooth with less of an on and off feeling for the throttle which makes aggressive riding of twisty sections much easier and predictable; you can feather the throttle a little to bleed speed and then smoothly roll it on. There is no drive line lash and shifting is more predictable even if the tranny clunks like its predecessor. The power band is more useful too having moved from mid/high to low/mid range and cruising RPM is higher which means in top gear you are into the love when you twist the throttle instead of waiting to hit the love that comes on with a rush on a 1200.
I'll ride my 2008 for a while before I upgrade, but the new K1300GT is a much better motorcycle and I'm thankful for the ride this week.