Modern Buddy

Hello to Everyone,especially in the PNW who are likely to help me do a little planning....

After two years of injury delays, my wife and I each have 170's and really want to take them up to the San Juans this Summer using the ferry. Our plan to simply tow them up to the Seattle area was ruined by our trading in the Wrangler. Looking for ways to get the scooters up to the ferry. Here are some of my ideas so far...

1. Rent a U haul pickup truck and haul them in the back ( have to get hold of some kind of ramp too) Would have to weigh rental for a week plus parking at ferry versus two one way rentals and just scooting from closest u haul to ferry.

2. Put a hitch on our Camry and tow them (4 cyl ,friend's enclosed trailer is about 4x8- wondering if the car could handle all that weight,especially since most of the trip is 70mph zones). I think we would have to pay for two parking spaces the whole time,as well..

3. Figure out a back road system and just ride the scooters up to the ferry ( No way would we be comfortable on I-5 with the 170's) . Would we need an overnight somewhere along the way? I think the longest we've ridden is 2 hours at a time in the past,but could likely do the trip in one shot ,with breaks.

Any suggestions or other ideas would really be appreciated! This trip has been delayed twice and we are finally able to confirm we can go. Would be a bummer to not be able to use the scooters...thanks in advance for input!

I now haul my Buddy on a small utility trailer with a Chevy HHR. It is like nothing is there. I think the Camry would do the job.
This approach of towing the scoot to places I want to ride will be a lot easier on my old bones than riding. Nothing like AC and Sirius Blues playing on the stretches of highway I have no desire to ride on. It might be a way to expand your riding horizons.
If the mileage is not extreme and time were no issue, a back road ride up to Anacortes might be a fun adventure. If I could get back out there, I would definitely keep on going to Victoria and Vancouver Island.
Regardless,you will have fun.

Take 101 up the coast and around the top of the Oly Peninsula, catch the ferry from Port Townsend to Whidbey, meander up Whidbey to Anacortes and there you are at the San Juan ferry. The entire trip will be rewarding and resplendent with stunning views and beautiful fresh air. If you go in July or August, there probably won't be much rain either.

Oh -- the thing is, if you don't actually make it to the San Juans, you will have a fantastic trip anyway. So you can go just as far as your hineys can take. The journey is just as good as the destination.

I think any of your 3 plans would work. A Camry would pull a light utility trailer and two Buddys. My Jetta did that just fine several times. And alternate routes instead of I5 are readily available and interesting. As snoozy said - the Hwy 101 loop up the Coast is an adventure in its own right. It is quite a ways if you are then going on to the San Juans, however. I have gone up the West side of Puget Sound with no trouble. I would that leg as a two day trip. There are rural highway alternatives between Portland and Olympia. After Olympia, take Hwy 101 to Port Townsend. Then the ferry to Whidbey Island and on to Anacortes. Then the ferry over to the San Juans. The Washington State ferries are very scooter and motorcycle friendly.

You might consider a truck rental from Landmark Ford http://www.landmarkford.com/section/car ... OLN-Dealer

They have a $60 daily rate for an F150 or $360 weekly rate.

There is a rural route between Portland and Seattle that is used every year by ~10K cyclists for the STP event (I am planning to use that route for a scooter trip to the Willamette Valley when the temps rise a bit). You could either veer off to the west near Olympia and head up the peninsula toward Port Townsend, as suggested previously, or go through Seattle and continue north on mostly suburban and then rural roads to Anacortes. There should be plenty of options for rest, food, and overnight stops along the way. Let me know if you'd like some route info.

Good Luck, and enjoy the trip however you make it.

Bob

if you go the Peninsula direction, a stay over in Ocean Shores is a great way to break up a long ride. you can walk on the beach, go to the Casino for some food, drinks, gaming, etc.; ask at the hotel desk if they have a free shuttle.

oh, if you're feeling brave, you can try riding your scooters on the beach (cars are allowed to do this, too). just be sure to keep your scooters away from the water line if they're unattended.

when i was there a couple years ago some young adults parked their van on the beach and walked down to the casino. time got away from them and when they returned it was high tide and the van was floating out in the water! LOL

hope you and your wife have a safe and fun trip!