VFR | David DeMartini actual

After watching the movie “Wild”, about a hiker on the PCT, I recalled meeting a pair of hikers in WA, who were picking up a shipment of shoes at one of the PCT outposts.

It was August 2005, and I’m pretty sure it was my first trip to a new motorcycle rally event in the Columbia Gorge, called Sportbike Northwest 2005.

It was quite great time, spent with many friends from both the Pacific Northwest VFR and local ADV groups (I’d just purchased my 2nd Ducati powered machine, a Cagiva Gran Canyon). (Side note; in the PNW VFR group page, my yellow 2000 VFR800 is 5th bike from the left)

While looking up references for this post, I found that a few of the pictures that three of the photos I’ve taken at SBNW events are at the summary photos shown by Google.. sorta cool)

I know that I took MANY more photos from the event.. but these are the ones that I’d posted to my original blog (long dead), back in 2005.

Cagiva Gran Canyon prepped for ride to SBNW 2005

Cagiva Gran Canyon near Mt. St. Helens National Monument

Map of area around Mt. St. Helens blast zone, and Windy Ridge road

Stopped somewhere in the national forest to enjoy the quiet.

Me, 2005, self-portrait of sorts journaling about the trip.

Action shot along FR25 on way to Columbia Gorge for SBNW 2005

Action shot somewhere on Washington FR25

While stopped to get water, somewhere in Gifford-Pinchot National Forest, met these two hiking the PCT from New Mexico to Canada. They were on the last let of their journey that started more than 2 months prior.

Finally at the campgrounds in Stevenson WA. View from my campsite.

Early arrivals to SBNW. Camping in Stevenson along the Columbia Gorge.

There are strick laws in WA about raffles / poker runs. There must be a skill element, so start off gaining cars by throwing darts. I think that is David Hough in the baseball cap.

It was hot. This piece of wood was smoldering as if it auto-ignited in the heat.

Although the camping area was flat, and plenty of facilities.. it was NOT quiet. Those trains run 24×7.

Probably Day2, getting ready for another amazing ride! The variety of bikes was impressive.

Headquarters and party central SBNW 2005. Stevenson WA.

Scenary everywhere!! Not a bad place to spend a long weekend!

Getting fed at SBNW. Attendees gather for BBQ, beer and general shenanigans.

Hanging out with PNW VFR friends, including good friend Mary Lee.

SBNW was not just about riding, but about riding better. Various experts gave talks about riding skills at the main lodge.

Bikes lined up on a hot night in The Gorge.

Bikes parked in Stevenson during SBNW 2005. The flag truck in the back belonged to Bruce.. another PNW VFR and Honda riding buddy.

Night time at SBNW 2005. Riders gathering to share stories of the day’s epic rides.

Enjoying some entertainment and swag giveaways at SBNW 2005

“Spork” at SBNW 2005. Mary Lee’s do-it-all bike. One of the most unique VFR800’s I’ve seen… and farkled to the max!

Final Day – SBNW 2005 — somewhere out in the forest roads heading home.

Final Day – SBNW 2005 — Mary rolling up on “Spork”. Bruce, Mary and myself heading north to Seattle (home)

Elbe WA – on way home from SBNW 2005. This is a VERY popular stop heading to and from Windy Ridge (FR99 @ Mt. St. Helens).

Somewhere along the foothills of Mt. Rainier (WA).

Returning from SBNW 2005 – somewhere in the foothills below Mt. Rainier.

Showing how I took the action shots… in action.. always use a camera you are willing to drop at a moments notice.

Memory of this exact location eludes me but suffice it to say, it was a common sight during my 12 years in WA.

Many things on that Rally were not photographed, for a variety of reasons… Here are a few of the places that were enjoyed on the various rides/tours during SBNW.

Stonehenge
Yeap.. there is a Stonehenge in WA. Created by a visionary man named Sam Hill. [ More Info ]

Maryhill Loops Road
A private road opened just a few times a year to special Motorsports events. Maryhill Loops is an amazing ribbon of tarmac. During SBNW, the road is run one-way only, much like a race track. A similarly paced group of riders ascend; then when all have reached the top, the road is reversed and you descend. This is repeated many times for the small, limited group of people that purchase special tickets for this part of the rally. IMHO, a MUST DO!

Vista House
Vista House and the amazing section of road to (and from it), provides amazing views of The Gorge. I few years later I was fortunate enough to spend the day here riding with Reg Pridmore, his wife and my friend Mike. It was a great day of riding with a riding legend and a couple of good friends. Check out that road!.

Route 30 Porsche Museum and Ice Cream
What a treat Route 30 is! Literally. :). As a 911 owner in the past, this was a great treat. It’s not very big, but the ice cream is a welcome respite from the often extream temps that time of year in The Gorge. I still have the Valentino Rossi jacket I bought there.

>Bridge of the Gods
Yes.. this bridge is rather impressive (and also part of the PCT). Bridge of the Gods is a crossing point I used often to get from WA to OR during the rally. There is also a pretty good breakfast joint at the base of the bridge on the OR side. Give it try!

There are more things that I’ve forgotten, than remembered. Maybe I’ll update the blog if/when I do.

It sure was fun looking 11 years back at where I was, the things I did and the people I rode with. Times have changed, yet so many things remain the same. 😀

It came up in one of the discussion boards I frequent, the question of personalized plates.

Over the years, I’ve had a few. Most of them long gone, and mostly forgotten, but there is one that I did keep.

This plate was on the first new motorcycle I ever purchased. A 2000 Honda VFR (aka RC46). Yellow of course! Not long after the purchase of the bike, I registered the domain name RC46.COM. I long let it lapse. It was picked up by someone else about 8 years ago. Now it’s parked at sedo.com a domain auction/resale site.

What was fun, is that I did find it captured in the ‘Internet Wayback Machine‘. Here are a few snapshots.:

Screen shot 2010-05-10 at 10.24.25 AM — 2nd Generation RC46.COM design. Circa 2001.

Screen shot 2010-05-10 at 10.24.45 AM — 3rd Generation RC46.COM Circa 2002.

I don’t think I’ve had any personalized plates in WA. Maybe I have and I’ve simply forgotten. I do run LEM plates on my cars and motorcycles, but they are not really ‘personalized’. I do this for many reasons. One of which is that they are very easy to remember when filling out hotel registrations. 🙂 When on a road trip, not having to run outside to check a plate is just one little thing that makes life a bit easier.

David DeMartini actual

Tag Archives: VFR

Memories of Rallies Past – Sportbike Northwest 2005

Personalized Plate from the Past

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