It's all about Spokane

[pdedse]

Thursday, Aug. 21

I've been to Grand Coulee and Coulee Dam area a few times; the first time was on my '17 CB100ex soon after I bought it in 2018.  I've ridden the area a bit on my DR650 as well.  I don't mind a return because I think the area is particularly beautiful.  To get there, I'd have to go through the town of Davenport for the third and fourth time this trip on hiway 2, and the circle would end up more looking like the letter "p"


90 miles out to Coulee City, and then north on hiway 155 which is the area that I like most




Banks Lake is the name given to the body of water south of the dam.  I'd really like to boat on this sometime.




Coulee Dam: It dams the Columbia River...far from home, yet the same waters that run 15 minutes away from where I live in Gresham.


After the dam, followed hiway 155 north to hiway 13, which takes you east across the Colville Reservation.  Fun, wide-open riding with long, swooping curves and great visibility


It's only 20 some miles traveling east on 13 till it meets with hiway 21 which leads back to the Columbia River


And to the ferry to cross back to the south side.  This ferry runs constantly from 6am to 11pm--once it arrives, any cars or bicyclists even hikers...the ferry immediately leaves and heads for the other side.  I happend to arrive just as the ferry was landing so I didn't even have to wait 5 minutes...


Two other bikers were already there, some Spokane guys were doing their own day ride.  It's only about a 15 minute crossing and there is no cost.

Had lunch at a beach on the other side and then another swim.  But there were lots of underwater plants growing nearly to the surface, so it felt a little spooky swimming through the "forest".  Still, quite refreshing.

The south side dock where I got off the ferry


After the lunch and swim, it's up and up and up on hiway 21 towards Wilbur.






And once you're up top, it's back among the wheat fields.  


Days 2-4 were all around 225-250 mile days, very relaxing.