Going over the Green River Gorge
Posted on Friday, 5 September 2008
Late Labor Day afternoon I decided it was finally warm enough to go for a motorcycle ride. I wanted to head towards the sun shining in the east, but I did not want to end up driving through the holiday traffic I would likely find around Issaquah … so west I went.
I headed out to Black Diamond and decided to check out the Green Valley Gorge. I had seen the sign to turn left on the way to Enumclaw many a time, but I had yet to venture out there. As I started down the road, the large yellow sign that warned, “MOTORCYCLES USE EXTREME CAUTION” was a little disconcerting, so I proceeded warily. The “rough road” promised was almost disappointing. I did hit a couple of dips camouflaged by the shade of trees that launched me (half-intentionally) off of my seat, but I did not come across anything that really could not be avoided. It was a pretty cold ride, though - even at 45 MPH, and I was very happy to have worn my “new” chaps.
At some point the road began to slow and curve … and I noticed a smile growing on my face. Then I came to a stoplight in front of a one-lane bridge. While stopped, I “admired” the closed Resort building to my right that looked like it had been shut down for years. Then my eyes drew downward, and sitting not 10 feet away from me was a peacock. He stood perfectly still with his feathers down, and I wondered if he hoped I could not see him. It was then that I realized I had forgotten to grab my little camera before I left.
The light turned green and I drove slowly across the Franklin Bridge over the breathtaking Green River Gorge. I vowed to return soon to stop and enjoy it on foot … with my camera, of course. On the way back, I went all the way down US 169 to Renton, where I turned around before hitting I-405 and headed back to Maple Valley via Cedar Grove Rd.
I kept my promise on Wednesday after work, heading out to Enumclaw to gas up and back through the Green River Gorge again. This time I stopped to take photos and enjoy the solace of hearing nothing but water running far beneath the bridge. It is an incredibly green and inspiring place with only a few cars passing through every so often, and it is definitely worth a side trip if you are ever in the area.
The Franklin or Green River Gorge Bridge is about 4 miles off of US 169. A loop starting and ending at US 169 at Lawson St in Black Diamond is 12.4 miles. The loop as I did it heads south on US 169 and exits left/east onto Enumclaw-Franklin Rd SE, follows the road over the bridge , and continues back to the highway (via the SE Green River Gorge Rd and Lawson St). It is any easy loop with little traffic … and little chance to get lost.
Motorcycle mileage (as precisely as possible on Google Maps):
09/03/08: _34.3 mi - Maple Valley; Green River Gorge
09/01/08: _51.5 mi - Maple Valley; Green River Gorge; Renton
08/23/08: 132.0 mi - Maple Valley; Sunrise Point (Mount Rainier)
08/17/08: _45.8 mi - Maple Valley; Mud Mountain Dam
Sunrise Road on Mount Rainier
Posted on Monday, 25 August 2008
Saturday was being hailed as quite possibly our last day of summer, so we decided to head up to Sunrise Road on Mount Rainier. I had never been to Rainier from that side, and it looked like an easily do-able afternoon ride.
We left from Maple Valley, riding side-roads to Black Diamond and 169, and from Enumclaw we followed 410. We stopped briefly in Greenwater, where we ran into Robert’s sister and brother-in-law taking a break. The next time we stopped was at the last turn towards the top of Sunrise. The lot was busy, but it was still nice to be away from the city. If I did it again I would leave earlier to allow time for exploration. Mount Rainier is always impressive, and it was a fabulous ride.
Radiohead Rocks the River
Posted on Thursday, 21 August 2008
“There are bands, and then there is Radiohead.”
Hay, T. Radiohead in a league of its own. (2008, August 21). The Seattle P-I.
All Photos Featured are by J-Justice:
I got to see Radiohead at the White River Amphitheatre last night. Wow!!!
As if the music and vocals were not enthralling enough on their own, Radiohead produces the most spellbinding lighting and the most impressive back-dropped live shots I have ever seen. The artistry was pervasive on many levels, making the show truly marvelous.
That was my first concert at the White River Amphitheatre. We went “the back way” from Issaquah, through Hobart and Maple Valley, and continuing onto Black Diamond. Aside from the rush hour traffic through Issaquah proper, we hardly encountered any traffic. Due to the impending forecast for almost-certain rain, I had decided not to use the GA Lawn ticket I had purchased back in April and instead found two seats undercover … and talked my friend Kristina into coming. The seats were in the 200-level, a couple of sections left of center, in the 14th row. They were good enough to keep us dry and allow us various views of the band-members (tall heads in front of us intermittently permitting).
It seemed like they mostly played songs off of their newest album, but despite my being only slightly familiar with them (and perhaps a little disappointed at not getting to hear some of my older favorites), it did not really take away from the experience. Radiohead could have done an entire show of never-before-heard pieces and it still would have been worth the price. They are really just that good and their music is really just that enjoyable.
Radiohead was (and is) sublime.
There are quite a few folks who have never heard of Radiohead. It is one of those bands that sort of defies explanation because they are unlike others out there. Thom Yorke’s voice is remarkably unique in the way he delivers songs, and you really need to hear Radiohead to understand the music they play. A friend of mine sent me an article last week that attempted to describe some of what is so great about them:
“For 15 years, Radiohead has been by far the most creative and challenging force in all pop music, not only reflecting the zeitgeist — by chronicling the many moods of existential alienation, by embracing all aspects of the digital revolution — but doing it better than anyone else. On a musical level, internationally, their only peer is Icelandic singer Björk.”
Matson, A. Radiohead, with Liars, at White River Amphitheatre Aug. 20. (2008, August 15). The Seattle Times.
(I absolutely love the last sentence of that quote because two of my three favorite musical artists are Björk and Radiohead.)
I have seen more than one musical artist whose live performance left much to be desired. Not so with Radiohead. Despite not being absolutely perfect, it was an evening to be fondly remembered.
How I Found Mud Mountain Dam
Posted on Tuesday, 19 August 2008
On Sunday afternoon I wanted to go for a motorcycle ride. I did not have a destination in mind, but I knew I wanted to go a little farther than my longest jaunts to-date to Black Diamond. I decided to head in that direction and keep going. As I drove up HWY 169 through Enumclaw, I considered continuing on HWY 410 and making the trip up Mount Rainier … but the rainclouds in the distance made me change my mind. So instead, I took a right at the junction and drove past the King County Fairgrounds. I followed the very straight and increasingly slow road until it veered left and turned uphill. The road began to twist and turn in a quiet forest as it gained altitude. At the top was a sign for the Mud Mountain Dam recreation area off to the right. In all my years of driving through Enumclaw I had never heard of Mud Mountain Dam, but I figured it would be a nice place to stop.
After I pulled into the parking area by the viewpoint, I hit the engine cutoff switch on my bike and was startled by the immediate silence. When I am riding around I do not really notice how loud my bike is, and never before had it been more apparent to me than at that moment. I also noticed that I had pulled in right next to a car where a young boy was sitting in the back, reading a book. I felt a small pang of remorse at having “spoiled” someone’s serenity and made a mental note to pay more attention to where I park in the future.
The lower trail from the viewpoint was closed, so my visit was short. Off to one side I think part of the backside of the dam is visible (as in the photo). And off to the other side is the White River flowing through a canyon. I was bummed the trail was closed, and I could see coming back again some time for the hike and a better view of the dam.
Mud Mountain Dam Park
30525 SE Mud Mountain Rd
Enumclaw, WA 98022
360.825.3211
What’s the Big Deal about Harley? (Part 1)
Posted on Friday, 15 August 2008
I had this boss who liked to wear Harley Davidson clothing. Not the jeans, t-shirts, and rugged leather biker jackets that typically come to mind; but nice long-sleeve button-up pressed shirts paired with business slacks and sleek jackets that only belied their Harley heritage through subtle raised lettering on the leather or discreetly-placed branding on the fabric. I used to give him shit about wearing such expensive duds — because he does not actually own a Harley. Apparently he did at one time, and he has some fantastic stories to tell about it … but it sounds like his wife forbids him from practically even thinking about owning another one. So he is relegated to live the lifestyle and the dream vicariously … through clothing and other merchandise.
(In his wife’s defense, she is one of the wisest and nicest, yet toughest ladies I have ever met - the kind of woman you would want for the grandmother of your children … and the kind of woman you would want on your side in a fight.)
Hot Night of Hot Rods
Posted on Wednesday, 16 July 2008
For several consecutive Wednesdays during the summer, Elmhurst hosts an event called “Cars Under the Stars,” where enthusiasts can display their vehicles for the public.
[To be continued …]
Fermilab - Worth a 3-Hour Walk
Posted on Monday, 14 July 2008
Yesterday I visited Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois. For some reason, I thought seeing a particle accelerator would be a really neat thing to do.
[To be continued …]
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