Hey You Guys!!! 📢

When riding a motorcycle (versus a car), I commonly meander out of my way to find cool sites and avoid interstates. Today’s ride provides the perfect example of navigating with me on two wheels. 🚗❌➡️🏍️

If driven the “normal” way via I-5, Portland is 150 miles due south of Seattle. Not being “normal,” I converted the journey into a 300-mile ride from Portland to Astoria, then to Seattle. So instead of seeing tracker trailers and SUVs on a boring stretch of highway, I drove for miles along secondary highways with lots of trees, rivers, and scenic views. 🌳🏞️🚵‍♂️

The day started with a quick jaunt to the rose and Japanese gardens in Portland. Being in their prime, the fragrant rose smell wafted down to the city center, where I picked up faint traces as I was leaving the hotel. 🌹🌸🏨

From the rose garden on a hill overlooking the city, I took in the skyline set against the backdrop of blue skies. (I understand that blue skies are rare in this part of the country.) 🌇☀️

Then my ride continued west to Astoria. Growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, I was a huge fan of the movie “Goonies,” which took place in Astoria. In one scene, a character swings from a rope and yells, “Hey you guys!” Looking back, the movie was pretty corny, but it’s always entertaining. 🎥🤪

The highlight for stopping in Astoria is its 125-foot-tall Astoria Column. In order to reach the top of the column, visitors need to ascend a 164-step spiral staircase. From that vantage point, Astoria Column provides 360-degree views of far-off mountains, bridges, rivers, and the Pacific Ocean. 🗼🌉🌊

Next, I crossed over the Astoria-Megler Bridge where traffic was limited to one lane due to construction. While waiting for my side to go, traffic was being held up for a little longer than normal. Then I see why… an elderly man rode his bike over the bridge and he was now walking across at a snail’s pace. 🚲🚶‍♂️

The ride through Washington was exquisite. The roads were vacant, moderately challenging, scenic, and lined with trees. The final 60-mile stretch, however, took me up I-5 into Seattle. Unfortunately, there are not many better ways to get into the city. 🌲🛣️

When I arrived, I hung out with Natalie, an old high-school friend. Just as I always remembered her, Natalie has a sharp mind and cool wit. We reconnected as if there wasn’t a 20-year gap since the last time we spoke. We toured around the fish market and local eateries/pubs before calling it a relatively early night. 🍻🐟😊