Heavy eye lids battled ‘lack of sleep’ and alcohol and finally peeled open later than we’d hoped and it was late morning by the time we’d got ourselves sorted and thanked Tom and Touratech for all their efforts and hit the road.

We’d been in touch with Greg on and off for about two years via email and had accepted an offer to visit and stay a few days post TT. The small town of Olympia was a short 1 ½ ride South from Seattle and we were both glad of it.

As we’d imagined, Greg and Mare welcomed us like old friends even though we’d never met and with conversation in full flow, we dumped our bags, cleaned up and bundled into Mare’s Mini. The traditional Italian restaurant Greg had raved about didn’t disappoint. We knew we were in for a fun weekend.

Saturday rolled around and I’d had enough of talking about riding I was desperate to go and do some, so as Lisa and Mare made themselves comfy in the back yard and blazing Sunshine, Greg and I threw on our bike kit and headed for the hills. Some 30 minutes later having headed down the highway 5, I followed Greg on his new R1200GS into the hills he knew so well.

I’m not sure what I find more bizarre; how much I thrill at being back on my heavy bike riding up and down dirt hills and single track, sweating my ass off or the simple fact that I do still absolutely love the experience after all the dirt miles we ridden? I’m like a giggling kid in a candy store, trying desperately to cram as much of the good stuff into my mouth as possible before I’m told to stop.

Greg was having a pretty good time and making the tight single track ride look easy on his GS. That said, Greg had come up with more than few wonderfully imaginative expletives to describe me, as, in his own words…”I’m dropped my f^*”ing bike more time with you in the last hour than I have in the last few years”! The wide grin stamped on his face was proof enough of just how much fun Greg was having in between drops, besides he didn’t actually have any real drops…only, as Lisa calls them…plops. I told him they didn’t count.

This is what riding is about…no bags, no panniers, a few litres of gas and a friend to go and explore somewhere new with, we were having a blast.

We rounded up the afternoon just going over a few drills that we thought might help Greg. Rolling starts and dismounts are always fun to learn.

We needed to get back. Greg and Mare had spoken a few days back to neighbors who’d not been able to make our TT presentation and before we knew it we agreed to lay on another impromptu show down in Olympia at the photography studio.

We’d spent a few hours yesterday sticking up flyers on the billboards around town. To be honest we didn’t think it very likely that we’d get more than about 10-15 guest turn up. You can imagine our surprise when we kicked off at 7:00pm and found 54 faces grinning back at us. Greg and Mare had done a stunning job and had rounded up chairs, projector, mic’s and even a dash to Costco for hand food.

With a glass of wine in hand Lisa and I spent a great evening sharing our stories and laughing at ourselves with new friends.

With the laughs from last night still ringing in our ears we spent the next day catching up on diary and web jobs before meeting up with Greg outside of his Army station just off the highway 5. We were heading back up to Seattle, well actually North of the city and meeting up with a bunch of riders from the ADVRIDER site. We’d had such a good time with so many of them at the TT show how could we not, and so by 7pm we were parking up in front of the Engel’s Pub and already excitedly comparing bikes and travel experiences. We’d met Marc (Springs) and his son danno at TT and from what we could make out, this regular meet at Engel’s was his doing. A weekly get together of likeable reprobates, or members of the asylum as they like to be called ? We wanted to say a big thank you to both Marc, Engel’s and everyone that made us feel so welcome and of course thanks for the Engle’s T-shirt…Lisa will wear it with pride!

We were on a roll. The next day and with an early start, we’d borrowed Greg’s truck and were once again heading back up the now familiar highway 5, yep once again heading for Seattle. We’d made a few more phone calls to Tim over at Cascade designs and cheekily asked for…a few more items that we’d missed on our original ‘wish list’. Tim met us with the same gusto and enthusiasm as he had originally and once again watched as we grinned uncontrollably as he escorted us around their huge warehouse. We’ve left with another large box of adventurous type goodies that should se us through to the end of the journey.

We spent the evening taking stock and enjoy Greg and Mare’s wonderfully easy company.

We’d last seen Andy on our wedding day, he’d been my best man and that was almost 13-years ago…wow doesn’t time fly.
Andy had employed me as one of his first staff, a loooong time ago (well it feels like it) and we’d hit if off. As a company we specialized in marketing and promoting health clubs. As you’ll remember a little someone whose name starts with ‘l’ and ends in ‘isa’ used to own one. Yep that’s how we met.

After selling her clubs Lisa and worked together for almost 5-years traveling the UK and working as a team. We’d joke about meeting up with Andy in the states someday. He hails from Portland. All this time later and at last it was happening.

We’re pretty sure Andy was doing a Dorian Gray, he didn’t look any different, in contrast to our own appearance. We under no illusions as to how we’ve aged on this trip. Ah well, it’s a small price to pay.

Life doesn’t stand still and things change and this was the first time we’d meet Ali, Andy’s new wife, well new to us. We liked her right from the start. Any women that can keep Andy’s childlike enthusiasm (for all things) and energy in check has to pretty cool right off the bat. It was great to see Andy as happy as he is.

Bizarrely, but in a good way, it seemed like nothing had changed for the 3 of us. We had admittedly been a little nervous at first; concerned that time would have altered somehow the bond of friendship that we’d remembered so fondly. That silly concern was wiped aside in the first few minutes and excited conversation struck up immediately.

Andy was the eager entrepaneur with the roguish grin we remembered so well, continuing to concoct new way to build his business with seemingly endless energy. The broad grin he used to wear was still part of his daily attire.

We had a really great day, visiting the sites of Portland and reminiscing.

Sharing good food and drink in unexpected places with old friends is something not to be taken for granted…and we didn’t.

…Andy and Ali it was great to see you, let’s hope we can meet up again…somewhere down the road.

By mid morning we’d made some way South and were pulling up on the driveway of the house. Steph gave us a warm welcome and big hugs and we made ourselves at home in the basement apartment they’d made ready. Tim made his announcement of arrival with a few load blats of his exhaust some time later.

It was a little strange…Listening to Tim talk, his vocabulary and inclination in his voice was like listening to Issa, maybe they are long lost twins…shit now there’s a scary thought?

As afternoon became evening we chatted, laughed and yes…drank with Tim and Steph as their young daughter Ruby, as she stole the night with her singing dancing and unabashed ‘cuteness’.

Now all that aside I must also state that the fact that Steph had a fully working arcade game called Centipede in the garage was distracting. I game that I’d become addicted to as a teen now had me again in it’s power…must play…must play…cant leave…must play.

Lisa writes:

The night had been cold – we have become soft with all the ‘easy-living’ in the USA! I had forgotten to put the breakfast sausages that Steph had given us into one of our panniers and had instead left them wrapped well in one of our water bags. Simon had heard strange sounds during the night and thought someone was around the bikes – so he got up to ‘catch them’….and lo and behold……raccoons! All over the bikes – one on my airhawk seat – which was filthy with mud (well Im assuming it was mud!), one on the ground with his head covered in sausage and the other only showing his backside as his head was deep in Issa’s tankbag. Issa had no food in the bag and had just left it on overnight….it was just being hopeful I suppose. Simon said it was comical.
So –no breakfast!
The order of the day after waiting for the tents to dry a bit – as it had been so cold the condensation on them was awful – we had more coffee than we needed and got on the road late. At least the day had warmed up and the sun was shining.
The roads were great, twists and curves – ohh how much had we missed this!
Stopped for lunch and had oyster shots – they were huge! oh ...and fish and chips. could get used to this type of travelling!
This night we stayed amongst the trees – the Redwoods. Dusk was coming in – the time when my eyesight fails me (yeah, I know, old lady)– and we had been on the look-out for a camp area that would take tents. We find it strange that camping over here in the USA usually means sites that take those huge RV’s. mmm..we are not sure if that is camping…….anyway we found one that catered for tents and would sell us firewood and so were set for the night.
Question – why is it when you have a camping area with loads of room that someone places their camper van right next door???
They guys went out for food and beer! Whilst I put up the tent, got the stuff off out of the bags, set up the stoves, sleeping mats and bags and started the fire…..they guys came back with a few tins of ‘food’ and or course a big pack of beer. I think they had enjoyed the last ride of the day……
So after mixing up what I called a dog-food concoction – that both Simon and Issa said they enjoyed…….we played cards and all huddled around the now roaring fire.