So...Help me Decide... (PNW folks...)

[JustPassinThru_imp]

A possible some-business-plus-pleasure, from Montana to Vancouver. This week, or else I do it by mail. I have the week off - dead time, long story.

I was considering one end-of-season trip. But the weather report, Weather Underground, is not encouraging. Highs were to be in the upper fifties...that's okay; I have gear and a windshield; but rainy as well.

I remember from my May trip along the Oregon coast, how miserable an all-day rain was. A Plexistar 2 is no substitute for a Vetter fairing, or the BMW or Burgman/Givi protection. Add to that, I don't have heated gloves or grips.

My gut reaction is to pass; but then I see the sunny skies out here...and where I'm at, it's Alpine desert; it's sunny most of the year...and think of throwing away the gift of screw-off time...and then I start mentally packing again.

Thoughts? West Coasties, especially...

 

[kmoney_imp]

The weather here (Vancouver, BC) and in Wasington this week is supposed to be sunny until Friday.

I wouldn't guarantee that you wouldn't get wet, but from experience if it says it's going to be sunny for the next 4 days then you're likely going to be good for at least 3 of those 4 days.

I was on the Olympic Peninsula and up by Baker and the Cascades all last week and it was okay temp and wetness wise. Kevlar jeans, Dainese jacket with a hoodie under it, and uninsualted gauntlet gloves was basically the perfect temperature.

Leaving at 10:00am most of the roads were dried out by the time I got to them. I still have sportbike friends that are riding these same areas this week, so it's definetely doable. Last week it was still a blast, and this week's weather is essentially identical...

If I had the chance to do the opposite ride this week, I would personally say yes.

PS: I'm assuming you mean Vancouver, BC. If it's Vancouver Washington, then I'd say go for it even more, as it's shorter and you're further south.

 

[kennyw]

Decent weather is expected until Friday for Seattle. Sunny and 70 for highs. Lows near 50. I'm riding rain or shine but need to install my new tires before it gets any wetter.

 

[JustPassinThru_imp]

The weather here (Vancouver, BC) and in Wasington this week is supposed to be sunny until Friday.

I wouldn't guarantee that you wouldn't get wet, but from experience if it says it's going to be sunny for the next 4 days then you're likely going to be good for at least 3 of those 4 days.

I was on the Olympic Peninsula and up by Baker and the Cascades all last week and it was okay temp and wetness wise. Kevlar jeans, Dainese jacket with a hoodie under it, and uninsualted gauntlet gloves was basically the perfect temperature.

Leaving at 10:00am most of the roads were dried out by the time I got to them. I still have sportbike friends that are riding these same areas this week, so it's definetely doable. Last week it was still a blast, and this week's weather is essentially identical...

If I had the chance to do the opposite ride this week, I would personally say yes.

PS: I'm assuming you mean Vancouver, BC. If it's Vancouver Washington, then I'd say go for it even more, as it's shorter and you're further south.

Yeah. B.C.

Been 22 years since I was in your lovely town. And I thought touring by bike would be the way to go.

Not wild, though, about being in a strange town in a cold rain on a heavy cycle.
Plan was, to try and leave tomorrow; overnight somewhere east of Seattle, and then cross at Blaine. Spend the weekend up there.

Looks like four days of rain from Friday.

 

[kmoney_imp]

The weather here (Vancouver, BC) and in Wasington this week is supposed to be sunny until Friday.

I wouldn't guarantee that you wouldn't get wet, but from experience if it says it's going to be sunny for the next 4 days then you're likely going to be good for at least 3 of those 4 days.

I was on the Olympic Peninsula and up by Baker and the Cascades all last week and it was okay temp and wetness wise. Kevlar jeans, Dainese jacket with a hoodie under it, and uninsualted gauntlet gloves was basically the perfect temperature.

Leaving at 10:00am most of the roads were dried out by the time I got to them. I still have sportbike friends that are riding these same areas this week, so it's definetely doable. Last week it was still a blast, and this week's weather is essentially identical...

If I had the chance to do the opposite ride this week, I would personally say yes.

PS: I'm assuming you mean Vancouver, BC. If it's Vancouver Washington, then I'd say go for it even more, as it's shorter and you're further south.

Yeah. B.C.

Been 22 years since I was in your lovely town. And I thought touring by bike would be the way to go.

Not wild, though, about being in a strange town in a cold rain on a heavy cycle.
Plan was, to try and leave tomorrow; overnight somewhere east of Seattle, and then cross at Blaine. Spend the weekend up there.

Looks like four days of rain from Friday.

Yeah. B.C.

Been 22 years since I was in your lovely town. And I thought touring by bike would be the way to go.

Not wild, though, about being in a strange town in a cold rain on a heavy cycle.
Plan was, to try and leave tomorrow; overnight somewhere east of Seattle, and then cross at Blaine. Spend the weekend up there.

Looks like four days of rain from Friday.
Yeah, definitely looks like rain -- thought the amounts (.5,1.5,1.5mm) are basically light showers.

If you do decide to go, this way might end up being the better route. It's about the same length and is definitely more scenic and less "sloggy" than riding up what I assume would be the I90 and the I5. It's a realistic 4 hours from the border at Osoyoos to Vancouver, so a good overnight spot would be somewhere between Spokanne and Osoyoos (maybe Omak, WA area?).

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Montana,+...81f38b!3e0

Good luck.

 

[JustPassinThru_imp]

Well...I passed.

I'll do the business another way.

As a consolation price, I took a ride up to the northwestern part of Montana...an area I had worked out of, temporary assignement working for a contracting company to the railroad up there.

It was a fine ride. It was upper 50s in temperature. I wasn't frozen but I was chillier than I'd have liked, at time. Plenty of coffee stops.

I made the right decision. This is the time of year when trips need to stay closer to home...a change in weather can make a trip back a freezing he** or worse.