Okanogan Highlands

[DMorris]

Well, Mapball, it's about 250 miles Seattle to Okanogan/Omak and another 22 or so up to the state park in Conconully. I know people do it but riding to Conconully on a gixxer packed with camping equipment doesn't sound like fun to me. It would not be too bad if you didn't have to pack so much. Now if you were staying in one of the cabins or motels, you could manage with just a tank and tail bag.

I'd love to host a rally, but things have just been too unsettled in my personal life to jump into that this year.

Either way you get there, North Central Washington is stunning to ride.
If you go, a beer at the Chesaw tavern is a must.

I expect to be in Conconully sometime in August. Before I go, I will set a time to be at the Chesaw Tavern and I will buy a beer for any GSR member who shows.

 

[Flaming Chainsaws]

Before I go, I will set a time to be at the Chesaw Tavern and I will buy a beer for any GSR member who shows.

Careful now. What if the whole forum shows up? lol

I don't think I'll be able to make it with my bike. A one seater, low riding cafe racer isn't good for a 250 mile ride .

 

[DMorris]

Careful now. What if the whole forum shows up? lol

I don't think I'll be able to make it with my bike. A one seater, low riding cafe racer isn't good for a 250 mile ride .

Well, Chainsaw, if the whole forum showed, I'd buy them ALL a beer! Maybe TWO! Past two, I stop riding!

 

[duper850]

I see all kinds of bikes out there in the summer, sportbikes alot, cafe "not so much" but if its what you got just stop alot. Take the north cascade highway to Winthrop (sweet ride on any bike) and go on to Lake Concunully. Not sure of the distance between the lake and Winthrop, probably 1 1/2 hour?? I ride up to the brewery at Winthrop for a beer about twice a summer (saturdays) I think in about 4.5 hrs with stops. Once left Winthrop and went thru Omak to Priest Lake some logging roads to boot (1980). I can't wait till this riding season opens for me, just got my bike (about my 4th) this past summer after a 5 yr layoff. I'm gonna ride about 4 more years and really want to get out there and ride long and lonely. Then my grandkids will be old enough to enjoy a boat.

And if your wondering, the answer is yes I would ride to that lake for a beer.

 

[DMorris]

I see all kinds of bikes out there in the summer, sportbikes alot, cafe "not so much" but if its what you got just stop alot. Take the north cascade highway to Winthrop (sweet ride on any bike) and go on to Lake Concunully. Not sure of the distance between the lake and Winthrop, probably 1 1/2 hour?? I ride up to the brewery at Winthrop for a beer about twice a summer (saturdays) I think in about 4.5 hrs with stops. Once left Winthrop and went thru Omak to Priest Lake some logging roads to boot (1980). I can't wait till this riding season opens for me, just got my bike (about my 4th) this past summer after a 5 yr layoff. I'm gonna ride about 4 more years and really want to get out there and ride long and lonely. Then my grandkids will be old enough to enjoy a boat.

And if your wondering, the answer is yes I would ride to that lake for a beer.

Duper,
I originally made the offer for the Chesaw tav but if you show up in Conconully while I'm there, I will certainly buy you a beer at the Sit-N-Bull.

 

[duper850]

Either place is fine with me, where is the Chesaw tavern? I have a work buddy talked up to going to that lake for a beer, he rides a madura 1200.
We'll be stopping alot!lol

 

[DMorris]

It's located in beautiful downtown Chesaw. Thats in the hills east of Oroville and Tonasket.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=48.838057,-119.238739&spn=0.319976,0.614548&z=11
Edit: I don't know why this picture is so small. A bigger one can be seen on my profile page.

 

[Souske]

Man I miss it up there

 

[Carter Turk]

Here's a shot circa 93' at the lake camping. 2 gals on 550ES's, my buddies 86' GSXR 1100, and my old 80' 1100. We all rode from Bellingham which is 90 miles shorter distance than Seattle or an hour and a half.

Took me awhile to find, scan, rotate and upload this photo. A GSXR made a 4.5 + hour ride with a 250 lbs guy on board, so its possible, just a bit more challenging.

I rode a buddies 87' 750 from Berkeley to LA, and that seat was agony. I rotated the photo on Photobucket to landscape, but here it is vertical. Sorry

 

[Carter Turk]

Here's a shot on the way home over North Cascades.

 

[DMorris]

Well, it doesn't look like I will be making the Conconully trip this summer.
Seems both the wife and I have developed heart problems that we have to deal with. (Togetherness can go too far. Both of us with tachycardia? Really??)
I was looking forward to a beer at the Chesaw tavern but I guess I'll have to wait.

This year has been a bitch....maybe next year.....

 

[nutsandbolts]

My old stomping grounds the Okanogan. Born in Kelowna. need to plan a trip out there soon. That photo of y'all in the cascades brings back memories. We need a NW GS event somewhere out there.

 

[1100E]

Thanks for the pics Don, and for the reminder of why I love the Pacific Northwest so much (not that I could ever forget). I grew up in the Fairhaven section of Bellingham and have many fond memories of the area.

My favorite ride was along the Chuckanut Highway from Fairhaven down to Edison. Great area to live and ride, miss it, planning to return when I retire (once a "Hamster", always a Hamster).

 

[Carter Turk]

Tom, here's a couple of photos from the mid 80's riding my buddies 80 750ET, when my license was revoked for 5 years. Chuckanut Drive. Sorry if the second photo is vertical. I hope and don't mean to hijack this thread, but am posting because this road was mentioned on the last page and I had a few photos in the archives.