mishdanicko
07-08-2009, 02:02 AM
On Sunday, June 28, my friend and I took off from my place, which is between Seattle and Everett, WA, on about a 200-mile loop, on the following Washington State highways, in this order: North on 9, West on 542, South on 11 (AKA Chuckanut Drive), West on 20, South on 525 (including the ferry from Clinton to Mukilteo). Stopped for lunch at a diner with outdoor seating in beautiful, tree-lined downtown Bellingham. My friend rides a '94 BMW K75; I have a '95 Kawasaki Vulcan 500 (EN500A). Most of the route has a 55 mph speed limit posted, slower in towns and along the very windy stretch of Highway 11. We used I-5 for a mile or two on either end of Highway 11...the speed limit there is 60, but it is possible to avoid the freeway altogether. Still, I wouldn't attempt this loop on a bike that can't cruise at 65.
It was an awesome ride, except for two things: Highway 9 is ramrod straight and boring between Mill Creek and Arlington, and Highway 20 is crowded and undergoing construction between I-5 and the Anacortes spur.
Aside from that, Highways 11, 20, and 525 definitely earn their scenic byway status. Highway 11 takes you on a curvy ride from Bellingham, hugging the shore of Puget Sound, then through picturesque farmland. You can avoid some of the mess on Highway 20 by connecting Highways 11 and 20 using the Farm to Market Road. Highway 20 takes you across spectacular Deception Pass and quaint Whidbey Island. Highway 9, between Arlington and Highway 542, is scenic in its own right and has a few fun curves. We had perfect weather, too. It's cheap to take a motorcycle on Washington State ferries, and you can skip the car queue for most routes.
Unfortunately neither of us brought a camera, but I suppose that's what Google is for (none of this is my work):
Deception Pass:
http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicc/cfiles18585.jpg
Highway 9:
http://washingtonhighways.blogspot.com/2008/06/washington-state-route-9.html
Highway 11:
http://washingtonhighways.blogspot.com/2008/07/washington-state-route-11.html
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/LocalPrograms/ScenicByways/Chuckanut.htm
Whidbey Island:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/LocalPrograms/ScenicByways/Whidbey.htm
http://www.whidbeycamanoislands.com/parks_scenery/byway/?PHPSESSID=9b495fd3e471fd720469bd6fa8512aa2
It was an awesome ride, except for two things: Highway 9 is ramrod straight and boring between Mill Creek and Arlington, and Highway 20 is crowded and undergoing construction between I-5 and the Anacortes spur.
Aside from that, Highways 11, 20, and 525 definitely earn their scenic byway status. Highway 11 takes you on a curvy ride from Bellingham, hugging the shore of Puget Sound, then through picturesque farmland. You can avoid some of the mess on Highway 20 by connecting Highways 11 and 20 using the Farm to Market Road. Highway 20 takes you across spectacular Deception Pass and quaint Whidbey Island. Highway 9, between Arlington and Highway 542, is scenic in its own right and has a few fun curves. We had perfect weather, too. It's cheap to take a motorcycle on Washington State ferries, and you can skip the car queue for most routes.
Unfortunately neither of us brought a camera, but I suppose that's what Google is for (none of this is my work):
Deception Pass:
http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicc/cfiles18585.jpg
Highway 9:
http://washingtonhighways.blogspot.com/2008/06/washington-state-route-9.html
Highway 11:
http://washingtonhighways.blogspot.com/2008/07/washington-state-route-11.html
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/LocalPrograms/ScenicByways/Chuckanut.htm
Whidbey Island:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/LocalPrograms/ScenicByways/Whidbey.htm
http://www.whidbeycamanoislands.com/parks_scenery/byway/?PHPSESSID=9b495fd3e471fd720469bd6fa8512aa2