choco

Thanks for all the nice comments. It was my pleasure to organize this, I had to do it after riding many of the roads last year with my friend from Duvall. Four elements have to come together to make an outstanding meet, good roads, good destinations good weather, and most important of all, good friends. It's the people who ultimately make a VFRD meet what it is and I so enjoyed meeting up again with all my old riding buddies and meeting and riding with new ones. I will get off my ass, or VFR seat, soon, long enough to post some pics of my own. Thanks for all who are posting pics, summaries and videos. Keep them coming.

Made it home safely, it took me three days to get out of Oregon I visited the Evergreen flight museum in McMinnville and then back to Tillamook, and stayed in an ocean access room halfway between Tillamook and Cannon Beach foggy, windy and very cool on the coast. Nice ride along west side of Hood Canal came around a bend and there are about 25 motorcycles in a group all were white and white helmets ........ State Patrol practicing or setting up for a parade or something I waved they waved back. Ferry ride from Kingston to Edmonds then a short freeway jaunt until I reached my familiar roads close to home. Amazing trip so nice to see old riding friends and to meet new ones. Hope everyone comes out for the next VFRD meet.

You're always welcome and always fast no matter what you ride! Lee Marvin says he's glad you had fun. Hope you guys join us on future trips you young whipper snappers!

Sounds like you had a good ride. Time to relax!

Jeff must have gotten lost on his back road excursion you left at least an hour or more after him I rode through Sweet Home on way to coast, good that Jeff got a room lots available in Newport too any recommendations?

Glad to hear you made it home safe. I met with my friends from Duvall then rode to top of Pine Butte nice 360 degree view of Bend I rode some nice roads to the coast and am now sitting in Rogue Brewery in Newport the site of the 2006 PNW meet. I know this because V-fore was wearing the shirt. If Keithbob calls me I might have a shirt for him if anyone has his number have him call me 206-369-8258 I might stay over here. I've a tradition of having a breakfast of oysters and eggs etc at this cool spot just a few buildings east of Rogue. I also ready to relax and I just can't figure out why. Epic Pnw meet the roads the scenery the weather but mostly the VFRD people and Bart from Motorcycle-USA made these few days unforgettable!!!!

You're welcome Jim now let's have another beer!

I think about 17 bikes---20 people enough to inundate a small town cafe

We all had another fine ride to Bend central Oregon roads and scenery unparalleled almost no traffic weather outstanding everybody stoked. I was leading over Dooley Mtn and Radar and bride close behind carving corners and bobcat crosses in front and flys up sheer rock cliff !

Slo1 ordered shirts where are you? Fantastic ride to Baker City now off to Bend!

Me and Jimbob at double mtn brewery we Are walking back unless someone calls me asap

I'm in Hood River awesome river view room rode the last hour in rain through Rowena Curves it was still fun not raining now weather improving

I'm riding down from Ellensburg this morning E ticket better get your wife a new helmet and fix that one later just a suggestion unless a bike shop has that part

Deal! I just PMd Cogswell, let's try to get out of HR around 9:30, with a bit of a meeting around 9. We can be a little flexible as it's not that far to Baker City.

The Best Western also has a river view, hence the name of the restaurant: Riverside This is where we will all meet Thursday morning, breakfast, small meeting and head out. http://www.riversidehoodriver.com/

Good to have you after all. There are a lot of motels/hotels in Bend, did you try the McMennamins St. Francis? You may be the only California rider with us. Very cool. Early Thursday morning sometime. Early enough to grab gas and brekkie in Hood River and then meet da' gang around 8:30am. Won't know exact time until we get closer and think it all through. - ET I'll scout out a good place for breakfast in HR, unless someone has a suggestion/favorite place. Perhaps the Best Western will fit the bill.

I plan on dropping down from Yakima and crossing at the Dalles and explore the roads a bit that we will be riding the next morning, then off to HR via Rowena Curves. My number is 206-369-8258, call me when you get down in that area and leave a text message and I'll check my phone, perhaps we can hook up.

Study the maps of our routes, it helps the anticipation: Not really, it just makes the wait a tad more unbearable, but at least you can see where we are going. Jeff, Tammy and Derek are already on the road, the nerve! They are swinging through Idaho.

Choco - see if this looks right to you - it appears that after going through the curves that at the town of Rowena we'll get back on I-84, continue past The Dalles getting off at exit 97 and continuing on to turn south on to 206. No matter what 206 is like, it will be better than grinding down from Biggs on 97 with all the trucks, traffic, etc. http://goo.gl/maps/KVmB9 Also, presuming this is all correct, note that on Google maps Celilo-Wasco Hwy is co-named "Fulton Canyon Road". A Google street view shows the signage at the turnoff says "Fulton Canyon Rd - Wasco 206", which could be confusing if we're looking for "Celilo-Wasco Rd" sign. http://goo.gl/maps/ztIXg Persactly!

Wednesday, JULY 23 kick off gathering at Double Mountain Brewery at 6 pm or sooner if it pleases you. They are expecting us, under VFRD/Lee Anderson and I talked to Rory who said they love to have bikes parked out front and added that several employees ride motocycles. If you don't like the idea of riding back to the room after a couple of beers and pizza then walking or a cab is an option. There's a walking trail and the distance is about 1 mile. http://www.doublemountainbrewery.com/taproom/#&panel1-1

No, that's not the one, but that's pretty awesome, a VFR with knobbies!

Also, keep in mind that there are several fires in Washington and Oregon. I've included a link here. http://www.nwccweb.us/information/firemap.aspx It doesn't look like any of our routes are in jeopardy at this time, although fires are close to some of our routes. I suppose the sky will be smoky in areas.

I'm glad I took my own advice. I was just studying the route from HR to Baker and we will make a slight change in the name of the endless pursuit of twisty roads. After the Rowena Curves and east of the Dalles, we will follow 30/206 and turn south at 206, and NOT continue on to Biggs Junction. It looks like 206 south is also called Celilo-Wasco Rd and starts out in a deep canyon and this will connect to Condon and then to Heppner. It looks like fun. We will want to gas up in Heppner for the run into Baker City. I just rode Heppner to Baker City last year and I absolutely loved the ride.

The day is soon to arrive. Some of you are leaving early. Just a couple of reminders: Those of you with GPS that are capable of downloading routes, you may want to download the routes posted at the beginning of this thread; I hope everybody studies the routes before leaving and see the many twists and turns that await. Also, I will be bringing T-shirts down and will hope you all can pay cash at our opening night event at Hood River. I haven't got the bill yet, but was told to expect somewhere between $24-$28 per shirt. I had them screen printed and they look great, if I do say so myself. I think you will like wearing them. Also, stay safe, have fun, watch out for each other and exchange phone numbers and contact numbers. If they are still looking for me in Baker City from last years ride, you don't know me. See you all in Hood River, see V-Fore in Baker City.