North Cascades Loop Ride  9-7-2014

Sunday ride started by meeting at Monroe Starbucks east of town.  Bill was the early bird and met another biker heading out for ride to Mt Rainer area.  His name was Clive Lissaman, who is a Senior Educator for the Frye Art Museum.  He was riding a 2012 or 2013 F800 BMW.  Brian, Kim, Michele (Group cheerleader) arrived and tanked up on coffee and reviewed our Loop ride plan.  Clive was going to ride across Stevens with us and stop at 59er Diner to get his favorite milk shake.  So all 4 of us
left around 8:45AM on US2, Bill taking the pole position and Kim in  the rear.  Shortly out of Monroe, Kim was feeling like a WSP was behind him. Sure enough, we or more like I, was being escorted out of Monroe by the WSP, so Kim kept speed at a meager  64.  There was now quite a gap between me and the rest of the gang, and I am thinking he is waiting for me to turn on my nitrix and catch up to everyone.  Not gonna happen.  We made it to Sultan and Bill turned off into a share ride lot to free ourselves from  the Law.  Thank you BILL!!!!!!

Reached the Stevens summit on a beautiful day and ran into that wonderful grooved pavement for the next 5-6 miles (NOT FUN).

Turned off at 59er Diner to say our farewells to Clive, great guy, and then continued on.  Stopped at Orondo 76 station at junction of US2 and US97, gassed up and had a subway sandwich, stretched, and back on the road (US97).

Stopped at Wells Dam for pit stop and Bill took bike picts. Onward to Pateros and turned onto SR153.  Immediately you could see  the devastation from the wild fires which raged over the last month.  Detour around Carlton due to road washouts from prior rains.

Stopped in Winthrop to gas up, and have a well deserved dessert -- Ice Cream cone.  2 scoops for Kim!!!  Eat your heart out Michele...  Bill took picture of Brian and I taking in all the sights.

On our way again SR20 towards North Cascades Washington Pass, Elevation: 5477 ft.  Traffic up the pass was getting backed up but moving rather well.  We all done our fair share of passing.  Bill and I got stuck behind a Subaru which was burning oil to the point it was becoming unbearable.  Finally turned off for pit stop and to put some miles between us and the Subaru.  Continued on and just our luck, we ran into the oil burner again!!!!!!  One more stop in Newhalem, then got gas in Marblemount.  I split off at Rockport SR530 taking a chance that road is open through OSO and Brian & Bill continued on SR20 to Sedro-Woolley.