My 4th of July Ride

[JonM]

I've lived in Washington state for 6 years now, but I've never ridden the roads around Mt St. Helens. I live sort of far from there, so day trips are not easy. This one was 475 miles, but worth every second of it. I finally got to ride Hwy 12 and Windy Ridge so now I know what all the fuss was about. I will try to caption my pics, but I may get a mountain confused here or there, so feel free to correct me if you can recongize one on sight.

This crappy pic (overexposed or something) shows an early view of Rainer near Black Diamond on Hwy 410.


The pass at Hwy 123 was closed, which I was planning on using. Okay, go around via Naches. There are good roads to and fro anyway, even though it was a 75 mile diversion.


Rainer, again, looking north this time:


Inside St. Helens Natl Park, looking at Mt Adams, I think:


The valley below:


First view of St Helens:




Spirit Lake:

[JonM]

I am pretty sure this is Mt Adams again. Looking East from St. Helens. could be Rainer, I dunno.




St Helens again:




Mt Hood to the South:


Me:


Adams, again I think.

[wswartzwel]

Wow what a great place to ride!! Thanks for the pictures.

[Bob Hancock]

Lovely pics Jon. Makes me wanna go for a long ride to see all that. St. Helens is amazing.....what a little over-pressure can do to the landscape, huh?

[Skoeter]

Nice trip Jon.

It's been a while since you installed the Akra system. Are you still happy with it, any other comments?

[zx9rmal]

Beautiful! I live in S. Florida. I hate you!

[JonM]

Originally posted by Skoeter
Nice trip Jon.

It's been a while since you installed the Akra system. Are you still happy with it, any other comments?

Nothing but happiness for the Akra. It has a really nice feature... under moderately heavy engine braking with a little throttle open, it burbles. A lot. It frightens women and children and cell-phone-while-driving-users.

My race system did not come with baffles, but I am totally happy without them.