Mount Saint Helens

[nightrider]

Went on a trip with a buddy into southern WA today... got to route 25 off I-5 and rolled through some scenic bumpkin country, sunny twisties, forest routes, and took a detour to Mt. St. Helens... I think the mainland US's only active volcano. A wide, curvy sun-bleached mountain road with bomb-blasted valley as far as you can see. Pretty amazing. Still looking desolate and fallen, silverish trees still point away from the mountain.



You can see my GS and his SV in the lower far left.

The most spectacular views are probably just from the road riding in. It's a wide-open, kind of barren landscape with young trees just now growing in.

On the way back I was going to be late for something so we were going 90-100 in a 55. Also passing over double lines, against oncoming traffic, around semis on the shoulder, etc. Miles later a sheriff stops in the opposite lane, pulls us over. A trucker showed up 10 min later, he was pissed and had private time with the cop. We both get $194 tickets for doing 78 in a 55, weren't cited for the passing. Still, it's better than crashing. 

Ah well... thats life



ps anyone having problems with firefox i.e. using backspace or other 'multi-use' keys gets screwy?

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Uhh.. the cop can't cite you without observing the infraction. Theoretically, you could fight it and probably win. Realistically.. you should just be glad you got off easy.

I voted in your poll, dunno why the poll went with this thread though.

[nightrider]

I marked the "mitigation hearing" box on the ticket even though their focking courthouse is 83 miles away. That is a damn long GS ride but for $194 it works out to 2-3 days of work for me, so I am going to show my face if I can wake up on time.

Even if I have to pay, Im just glad nothing bad happened. We were pushing it pretty bad. 

[ohgood]

Beautiful pictures !

The lesson was not the ticket.

The lesson was time.

You have a quite a few years left to live provided good health and regular maintenance on your body.

I'll bet there was no life threatening surgery you needed to accomplish. I'll also bet you're a fun couple o guys to hang out with, and being 'late' is generally accepted with your group of friends and cohorts.

The trucker likely was pissed because you startled him, not because you can out accelerate, brake (youch), turn, handle, fun him. They drive for a living, and would rather not make a 'killing' in the process. Maybe he thought he almost did when you popped up on the shoulder doing 100 mph next to him ?

The fine for the fun is negligable and irrelivant. The biking community would rather you get to play another day, just a little more sanely. Take a track day and wake up/leave earlier. We'd rather you meet us for a Saturday ride than a Monday funeral.

HOpe I didn't sound like and old crotchety fart shaking his finger.

Send more pictures !