Post by jim63 on May 18, 2009 12:58:17 GMT -5
Yesterday my wife and I decided to have lunch in Winthrop, WA which is on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains on Highway 20. We started from our home in Sedro Woolley we are 3 blocks off of Highway 20, and headed 130 miles east to Winthrop. To get there you cross the mountains, Rainy Pass 4800 feet, and Washington Pass 5400 feet are along the way, our starting point is near sea level. This route is probably the most popular with the biker crowd in the area. It is a 2-lane road the entire way with a few passing lanes thrown in hear and there. The snow was still piled very high on the side of the road at pass levels. With temps in the upper 60's on western side, and in the 80's on eastern side with almost clear sunny skies, the bikers were out in force. We saw the full gambit from sport bikes, full dressed Harleys and Gold Wings to trikes. Sadly we saw no other scooters. But that is ok we will proudly represent the scooter community for the ride. Definitely top off your tank in Marblemount before heading east, next services at 70+ miles away on eastern side of mountains. Cell phones dont work much past Marblemount either, be prepared. We filled up in Winthrop and made it back on one tank no problems, but our tanks hold 3.4 gallons. Those with smaller tanks be advised if not topped off.
The scenery is spectacular going there, mountains, rivers, creeks, lakes and forests. The road does get twisty in some spots, but is mostly a 55mph road. This was a fun run, but also a test to see how the scooters will handle a rough mountain climb, the grade eastbound is a 6% some sections, westbound you get alittle steeper. I was able to maintain 60mph eastbound. But westbound topped out at 50-55mph in one gruelling section. My wife who is considerably lighter was able to cruise faster in these areas. So we concluded the SYMs are good to go for the mountain travels we have planned this summer.
Winthrop is a old west style town complete with wooden sidewalks, stores with false fronts. Highway 20 goes right through the middle of town. We had lunch at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery. Food was very good, and they make there own beer, multiple varieties. I washed my lunch down with couple of very good glasses of pale beer (forgot the name they called it) almost looked like a hefevison with a cloudy texture. We browsed through multiple stores and the souvenier shops before we headed home. We left our home at 9am, and were back by 5pm, was 270 miles round trip. Was a very nice way to spend the day.
Where we ate lunch, out back goes to a deck that overlooks a river
The scenery is spectacular going there, mountains, rivers, creeks, lakes and forests. The road does get twisty in some spots, but is mostly a 55mph road. This was a fun run, but also a test to see how the scooters will handle a rough mountain climb, the grade eastbound is a 6% some sections, westbound you get alittle steeper. I was able to maintain 60mph eastbound. But westbound topped out at 50-55mph in one gruelling section. My wife who is considerably lighter was able to cruise faster in these areas. So we concluded the SYMs are good to go for the mountain travels we have planned this summer.
Winthrop is a old west style town complete with wooden sidewalks, stores with false fronts. Highway 20 goes right through the middle of town. We had lunch at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery. Food was very good, and they make there own beer, multiple varieties. I washed my lunch down with couple of very good glasses of pale beer (forgot the name they called it) almost looked like a hefevison with a cloudy texture. We browsed through multiple stores and the souvenier shops before we headed home. We left our home at 9am, and were back by 5pm, was 270 miles round trip. Was a very nice way to spend the day.
Where we ate lunch, out back goes to a deck that overlooks a river
