2023 PNW Starfest

[MikeyC]

Hola there my friends. Wanted to get this off the ground. The best week end for me would be July 14, 15 and 16. Does that work for anybody?

[Duke]

Hello Mike, Would you know where the planned location is going to be for 2023?

[Shores]

I offered up my place in Puyallup Washington. Lots of good rides around here and my wife Sara will definitely treat us to some great salmon dinners. It will be our 10th annual so we need to make it special.

[MikeyC]

Ya, I was planning on Puyallup. I thought that was settled Now just shooting for dates so we can schedule time off. And I agree, lots of good rides around there.

[Duke]

Sounds good, thank you.

[Shores]

I've got a ride scoped out that would include the Hood canal with a lunch ride on the ferry from Bremerton to Seattle and then the East part of the area. It would only be about 15 minutes on the freeway getting out of seattle.

[Tykes_Place]

Let me know if I should start a new "Official" post with all of the details and such.

I'm thinking about a loop through Canadian again.

[MikeyC]

Hey. Up Whidby Island and over deception pass might be cool also

[Ahodge75]

I rode whidby island once on a sketchy goldwing of my brother in-laws….

[MikeyC]

Lol Aaron!

[Ahodge75]

Honestly not real excited about riding anywhere near that Hell Hole called Seattle……but I’ll be there nevertheless…….to much of a good time to let that Seattle shit hole ruin it….

[MidnightRide]

Honestly not real excited about riding anywhere near that Hell Hole called Seattle……but I’ll be there nevertheless…….to much of a good time to let that Seattle shit hole ruin it….

With hesitation, I wholeheartedly agree.

I grew up over there, left for 40 years, and the closest I've been able to come to living back in Washington is where you guys saw it up in the Starfest 2022 region (snowing right now). I haven't even been over to visit family, on the west side, north of Seattle, in over a year.

Traffic and weather, politics aside. Add in the politics, and all I want to do is lock-and-load.

I've been all over where you guys are talking about riding, though it was decades ago, and a lot of that is pretty nice country. Whidbey Island, Narrow's Bridge, even all the way up to Neah Bay, where we commercial fished over the summers, and probably a pretty damned nice ride at that. Haven't done that since the 70's. It's personal for me, and I just cringe when I think about riding over there. I'm not a fan of traffic, especially when riding with 1-2 dozen other guys. I have zero fondness for the west side (west of the Cascades).

Sunny weather would help.

I'm a big fan of Starfest, however, and will add deep respect for Steve and his judgment and experience. We'd probably be very slow to commit to joining in on this ride. And we'd more-than-likely be prone to going the motel route rather than camping there on Steve's property, but wouldn't rule it out. Totally weather-dependent. We've gotten soft.

So right now we'll observe and see how things develop. No offense to Steve and his more-than-gracious wife for wanting to host and make it the best-ever, and hat's off to Steve on this ten year celebration of what has turned out to be a very cool event.

I'm open to being made a believer out of this event. But right now I'm not a fan, and it has nothing to do with Steve or Starfest itself. I've just had my fill of Seattle and south-end traffic, as well as from Olympia to Canada traffic as a whole, in most every way.

Might be fun though...

[Shores]

You guys are totally overreacting when I mentioned the word Seattle. I live about 45 minutes south of Seattle and 20 minutes east of Tacoma in the town of Puyallup. Seattle is a shit hole but we would merely get off the ferry and ride about 15 minutes to get out of the mess and be headed east. The ferry ride from Bremerton to Seattle is just amazing. The ride before and after the ferry would be fabulous. I'm not talking about riding on the freeways more than about 10 or 15 minutes. There are tons of fabulous rides around this area that have nothing to do with Seattle and that's what I'm proposing. Riding around the hood canal, the creek roads of the the chehalis valley, up and over Mount Rainier to Yakima, Mount St Helens, etc. Mike Coffey probably knows most of them as well as anyone and would have great suggestions also. But I'm up for anything. We've got plenty of time to plan. I wasn't necessarily advocating camping in my yard, but that is a possibility if people wanted to. I also have an extra queen bed to offer someone. There are tons of hotels in the area but I have not checked prices yet. My house is on a corner lot and I have plenty of parking for as many bikes as would come. Many of our typical group have been to my place before. It may have been the second or third starfest. Remember, in addition to some fabulous riding, it's also about the bullshit and camaraderie!

[MikeyC]

Yes sir! I really must have time for the bullshit and camaraderie. Don’t get to see these folks near enough. I go with Steves rides. The ferry will be a good route. I forget the price for a bike and rider but very doable.

[MikeyC]

So I think the location is set. How bout the dates? July 14, 15 and 16 work for everyone?

[Shores]

So far I don't know why the dates wouldn't work. I'll check with Sara when she gets back from Zimbabwe on Wednesday. There are lots of beautiful rural 250 to 300 mi rides on the back roads around here. Mountain volcano, valley or coastal rides. The Hood Canal ride could include the ferry ride or could not, either way. If it was included, it would be during our lunch hour so we wouldn't be on the ferry just doing nothing. There is not a more beautiful sight as to cruising around the islands with the skyline of Seattle becoming bigger and bigger as you approach.

PNW Starfest History (might be out of order)

2014 Morton Washington initiated by Steven Shores and Mike "hendog" Henderson. Steven wasn't able to attend because he broke his leg that summer.
2015 Puyallup Washington organized by Steven Shores
2016 Morton Washington organized by Mike Henderson
2017 Salem Oregon organized by Mike Coffey and Jay Van Valkenburg
2018 Orofino Idaho I think organized by Mike Coffey
2019 Spray Oregon organized by Mike and Jay
2020 Harrisburg Oregon organized by Mike and Jay
2021 Baker City Oregon organized by Mike and Jay
2022 Ione Washington organized by Ron Midnight Rider

[Tykes_Place]

This is what I have for Starfest locations. I looked these up in Ione.

2014 Mossyrock
2015 Mossyrock
2016 Puyallup
2017 Albany
2018 Spray
2019 Konkolville Lolo
2020 Harrisburg
2021 Baker City
2022 Ione

[Shores]

Yes sir! I really must have time for the bullshit and camaraderie. Don’t get to see these folks near enough. I go with Steves rides. The ferry will be a good route. I forget the price for a bike and rider but very doable.

One Way Bremerton to Seattle ferry fee: $5.05 for senior motorcyclists, $7.45 for other motorcyclists.

[MidnightRide]

That's cheap enough, especially if getting a lunch break in. Last time I ran the ferry across the Sound it cost me $62 while pulling my trailer. I literally wrote my State Representative over that one.

[Shores]

ykes_Place;n152380]This is what I have for Starfest locations. I looked these up in Ione.

2014 Mossyrock
2015 Mossyrock
2016 Puyallup
2017 Albany
2018 Spray
2019 Konkolville Lolo
2020 Harrisburg
2021 Baker City
2022 Ione[/QUOTE]

You are correct. Most of us stayed in Morton versus Mossyrock and I don't know why I had Salem down instead of Albany.

[MikeyC]

Cause you have CRS

[MikeyC]

Bumpity bump

[MikeyC]

Hey Steve! Is there a motel close to your house we could all stay at?

[Shores]

Hey Steve! Is there a motel close to your house we could all stay at?

[Shores]

I will check into a bunch soon and let y'all know the price and amenities.