The 503 loop by motorcycle

Don't worry. I did NOT motorcycle to work this morning. 35 degrees at the weather station means 27 degrees on the bridge over the river near my house, maybe even lower. That means frost on the pavement and THAT means take the car.

I did take a motorcycle ride this afternoon after work. Sunny and 52 degrees and too good to pass up! The route was the 503 loop, one of my favorite rides since it's close to home and scenic. Start out in Woodland and take SR 503 south. It follows along the Lewis River with sweeping turns and open views (since there's a lot of farms in the area) of the surrounding hills . Eventually the road climbs into the foothills and thicker woods, past Lake Merwin to Yale. Winter is a good motorcycling time for this road since the leaves are off the trees opening up views to and across the lake, much more open than in summer.

At Yale, SR 503 takes a 90degree turn towards Amboy. The three miles after Yale climb steeply, 20mph and even 15mph turns up and over a ridge before winding down to the Lewis River and across a one-lane bridge. Ride up the hill on the other side and six more miles of picturesque motorcycling brings you to Amboy. From here SR503 gets gradually smoother, wider and faster. Soon you're comfortably motoring 55mph towards Battle Ground. Turn right on 299th and left on 82nd and you find yourself corkscrewing down to Daybreak Park on the East Fork Lewis River, a premier steelhead water.

A right on 259th, right on 10th and quick left on 5th and you are ...(trumpet fanfare...) at Lava Java! (See Feb. 10th post) After one of their exquisite latte's backtrack to 10th and turn left. This takes you to La Center and the backroads route to Woodland along NW Pacific Highway. Close to Portland, Oregon, this is another classic pacific northwest motorcycle road; a comfortable two-hour ride plus coffee stops.

View Larger Map