2004 - 7th Annual Motorcycling Roadtrip

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I can't think of a better place to get to know a motorcycle than the seductive roads surrounding Mount St. Helens in Washington State.

Variety packed curveous roads have you at full throttle one moment then extreme lean around a hairpin turn the next.

 

The annual SPLASH roadtrip gets better each year. We stay with friends Bob & Deb on the first and last night of our adventure. Friends Chris and Loni put on a festive BBQ at Horseshoe Lake with all the fixin's.

It's a great beginning to the ride where everyone reaquaints and meet new participants.

Each year they manage to out-do the last. Such a generous group of people we are blessed to ride with.

Thanks for everything Loni and Chris!

The first leg of the ride had many gravel strewn areas which forced one into immediate concentration.

Many participants were familiar with the roads and helped the others by waving them on at unmarked turn offs.  The group then stretched out and split off to enjoy two routes.

Unfortunately there were a few get offs on this trip. Thankfully everyone is alright. Although one friend was taken to hospital she will recover with minor injuries. All motorcycles, except her Triumph Speed Triple was rideable for the rest of our journey.

God-speed on your recovery!

We had dry, hot temperatures throughout each day.

We stopped at viewpoints to enjoy scenery that was otherwise blurred while twisting on amusement park-like roads.

Our last night we partied it up in Packwood, WA. Acid Burn (Gary) treated the roadweary riders to some steaks on the barby. Food and drink for all to enjoy. Thanks Gary!

The Sunset Thunder Club; motorcycle riders in the NorthWest also sponsor fellow riders Mike & Kimberlie's son Cody Wood with his rising star in motorcycle racing.

Shotgun (Steve) created a quilt out of Buell and Buell riding adventure t-shirts. This quilt was raffled with proceeds going to Cody Wood Racing and his upcoming Nationals competition. Fellow SPLASH participant that couldn't make the ride this year was the lucky drawn name; Spudman (Dave) you rock!

Bob Gussenhoven did a great job as MC to honor Cody, Acid Burn and Steve as well as Chris and Loni for their honorable hosting of our first get-together BBQ.

In the shadow of personal strife they chose to let us help for a brief moment with the burden of loss.

Our prayers out to you both.

Sunday morning after breakfast, the group thinned out in the direction of home. A group of us headed up the north side of Mount St Helens toward Johnston Ridge.

 

 

 

The road strewn with long sweeping turns dotted with plenty of space to overtake slow moving species.

Enjoy the entire collection of SPLASH photos. Click below...

Photos 1 | Photos 2 | Photos 3 | Photos 4