It’s time to get your campsite or hotel room reserved and think about packing your gear, ‘cause Tumbleweed Five, or “Cinco de Tumbleweed” is just about here!!

The North Cascades Highway is open and the road is clear. We’ve been making runs over to get things ready and the event is going to be a blast this year! The Poker Run route is set, the Observation Ride is ready to be observed. The town of Winthrop is putting out the Welcome mat and the fun is ready to begin! Read the rest of this entry »

You may recall me mentioning the Wave in a previous article. It’s not dead, but apparently, it may have suffered a mild stroke, according to the recent experience of one of my riding crew.

My friend shared his experience of taking his spare bike out for a ride and having the famous, ‘minor mechanical malfunction’, which left him on the side of the 405 freeway with no tools other than his expert command of the various Anglo-Saxon profanities. During his stay along the greenery at the side of the road, he shared his disappointment and disgust at the fact that several riders tooled on by, waving at them….but not ONE bothered to stop.

No one. Read the rest of this entry »

Every year for the last four, the Great Northwest Harley Owner’s Group, headquartered in Lynnwood, has produced and hosted an event called the Tumbleweed Run. It has grown from a chapter-only run to an event that is open to all riders, of any brand. This year, being the fifth annual event, is being called the “Cinco de Tumbleweed” in a light-hearted play on the Cinco de Mayo holiday.

As the duly appointed chairman of this year’s event, I can report that the committee is evilly plotting many fun and biker-ish games and wild stuff to take place at the ride this year!

The dates are the Friday. Saturday and Sunday of the last full weekend in July. Location will, as usual, be the fine town of Winthrop, on the other side of Washington Pass along the scenic North Cascades Highway. Think of this column as an early warning system. The buzzer is now going off because it is time to think about reserving your campsite or hotel room, if you plan to go!

The official TW5 website is www.tumbleweedrun.com. You can check there for updates and information as we get closer. As I write this, there is not much to see, but check back every couple of weeks, and you will find the registration forms and other good stuff.

Hope to see you there!

It’s that time of year when the big, bright ball of fire shows up in the sky now and then.  You know the one….It’s been hiding for about eleven months!

It’s also the time when car and other multi-wheeled conveyance operators struggle to remember the fact that there are people out there riding something that weighs less and is harder to see than they are.

That would be US.  Just a bunch of bikers.  Brothers (and sisters) of the road, but, all to often, ones who don’t get noticed until we become a speed bump.  My friend Jena sent me this little soliloquy and I read it twice and knew she meant it to be shared.  So, in that spirit, I dedicate this little observation lesson to those who drive things with four or more wheels. Read the rest of this entry »

Driving through the town of Carnation, on the Duvall – Fall City road, you might drive right by Pete’s Grill and Pub.  That would be too bad, because you’d be missing a great meal and some good folks.

With good on-street parking and more along the side, they can accomodate a good sized group of bikers, and the food is the kind of all-American grub that sticks to your ribs.  Burgers, sandwiches, hot coffee and a good selection of brews are the main fare, but they offer a jumbo Cobb salad and some other lighter meals, too, including hearty soups.

With two travelers and yours truly, the tab for lunch came to only $28.47 and that included coffee and a hot chocoalte.  The menu runs between 5.50 and 9.75 for most all the meal choices, and they all include a wide choice of sides as well.

I had the Pete’s Original Cheesburger and it came with a mound of fries AND coleslaw, and all the trimmings ready to go.  The Mushroom and Swiss burger was a winner for my friend and our third rider downed a Good Ole Bleu burger, that he pronounced to be ‘perfect’.

Can’t get any better than that.   The address of Pete’s is 4648 Tolt Ave, in Carnation.  They’re open the usual lunch and dinner hours.  Check ‘em out on the next trip through!