Spokane and the Grand Coulee Dam

[pdedse]

My son's job takes him to Spokane and I have this week off so I thought I'd go visit him while he's there. Left by 9am Monday and I wanted to get into Spokane around the time he got off work at 5. It always takes me longer to get the bike ready than what I think it's going to take, but after dorking around for too long, it was time to get on the road:


I took hiway 84 east along the Columbia River, then crossed at Hermiston, taking 82 north to Kennewick, WA. From there, 395 north to 90, then a bit more east to Spokane. Cell phone tower repairmen an hour from Spokane.

I look angry, but it was a warm day and I think the heat was getting to me.

Made it by 5, my son just got to the hotel as I did, so that was good timing. Downtown hotel had covered parking, but $17 a night even for motorcycles!

We found an interesting Italian restaurant within walking distance and the food was amazing and my son ordered a ton of food. Said it was on him, and the hotel to boot! Just what I like: a cheap mc trip! He's been at his job less than a year and it's good to see him make his way into the world of work.

[Bazbro_imp]

Nice write up, Pdedse, but your last sentence sums it all up...

[pdedse]

After a 360 mile ride on Monday, it was nice to have Tuesday to explore. I had only driven / ridden through Spokane twice before, but this time I awoke to the morning buzz of downtown on a workday...not for me though! After googling "top area hikes around Spokane" I chose the "Riverside State Park" because it was only 15 minutes away. So I hopped on the CB and was out of the downtown area and into a foresty road about 5-6 minutes later. The area did require a $10 day pass, but I don't mind as long as the park looks well-maintained, and this one was.





Hiked along the trail downstream and then returned, about 2.5 miles total, not too strenuous. Runners, hikers and bikers...oh, and the trail was lined by Jasmine bushes in full bloom...got to be one of the top 5 pleasing fragrances in the world...along with oleander, orange blossmoms and perhaps my favorite: creosote!

But the Jasmine bushes were everywhere! Very powerful as you hike / run along the trails. Notice the Jasmine flowers in this shot:

One more...

[Cormanus]

Park looks fantastic. And the trip sounds good. Isn't it great to see your children with the strength and the skill to fly solo?

[the Ferret]

I agree with everything Cormanus said.

[Bazbro_imp]

Me too.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Really nice share pdedse.

[Ben70_imp]

Thanks, pdedse! great story and pics.

Ben

[pdedse]

Park looks fantastic. And the trip sounds good. Isn't it great to see your children with the strength and the skill to fly solo?

Thanks, Cormanus, it is indeed good to see them take off!

I was finished with the morning hike by noon, and after a Subway lunch and a bit of a rest, it was still only 1:30. I checked popular Spokane hikes again and found the Iller Creek hike in the Dishman Hills Conservation Area, about 25 minutes southeast of Spokane. This map shows both: 1) the Riverside park is the Spokane River and green area NW of the city and 2) the orange indicator SW of Spokane is the Iller Creek area--to the left of the 27.


Apparently, there are two access points, and I wanted to get to the "Rocks of Sharon" as they looked impressive from on-line photos. The trailhead said 2.5 miles, and I thought I'd give it a try. Lots of this for the first mile, but not too steep:


Afterwards, the trail started to climb, but very shady so it wasn't too warm, and the trail follows a small, gurgling stream which was peaceful. Only met two hikers coming down. 1200' climb in elevation allows for some nifty views from the top.


The Rocks of Sharon





The rocks farthest from me are the ones that are split in one of the previous photos


From the highest point I reached


I took me 1:45 hours to climb up, but only 45 minutes to hike fast / partially run back. Then my right knee reminded me why I shouldn't run downhill anymore as it started acting up. But made it back to the hotel by 5:30 and my son arrived shortly after. Then HE wanted to see the Riverside park. I had packed an extra helmet, figuring we might ride 2-up and so we went back to the first hike but limited it to a mile as we were both getting hungry. Back to hotel and dinner at one the local restaurants. A nice way to end day 2.

[pdedse]

Day 3: Wednesday. Google says it takes a little over 5 hours to get from Spokane back home to Gresham, but the plan was to visit the Grand Coulee Dam 1.5 hours west and slightly north of Spokane. The wind had been blowing pretty good the last few days, but as it was a west to east blast, it made for fairly comfortable riding NE to Spokane. I wouldn't be so lucky returning home.

Left a a nice thank you note for my son who is able to sleep till 730 before heading into work. I was on the road west on hiway 2 by 715. Just a mile into the wind and I realized I forgot to put in my ear plugs. Felt a morning chill but was riding with shorts and t-shirt under my mc pants and coat.

Somewhere before Reardan on hiway 2...


Wind blasts would keep me from wanting to go more than the posted 60mph. Gripping the handlebars tight, had to remind myself to let loose from time to time. Started to feel the cold so at Wilbur it was time to put the heavy gloves on and add a long sleeve shirt--was expecting it to get warmer with a full sun, but while the outside temperature did rise some, mine did not. Noticed that my average mpg of 50-51 to Spokane was dropping to about 45 into the wind. I always feel a bit nervous when I get to 70 plus miles after filling. You ride by a gas station thinking you'll fill at the next one, and then you realize the next one might be 40-50 miles away, and then you start wondering if you're still getting decent gas mileage. Then I start crouching down low to improve my chances...then I realize I'm being an idiot.

After Wilber, took hiway 174 NW to the Coulee area. My first sighting of the Columbia backed up by the dam.


I hope nobody minds lots of pics of my cb1100 exploring this area...


Part of the reservoir right before one gets to the dam proper


What the dam holds back...lots of water!



I didn't know that the Columbia river has 14 dams, 3 in Canada and the rest in the States. The Grand Coulee is the largest: 550' in height and just shy of a mile in length.

Construction on the Grand Coulee Dam started in 1933 and was completed in '41.





More to follow...