Feb 11^th:  Due Date for receiving RC applications for training ride – provide to Linda or to any RC at Chapter meetings or on any ride prior to this date.  (Training meeting and ride date to be announced at March Chapter meeting.)

Feb 21^st (Sun): Angel of the Winds Casino Ride - 10:00 AM HDS Departure - Let’s get our motors running for the third annual run to Angel of the Winds Casino.  Yes, there will be coupons again.  Yes, we will be heading up Highway 9 again.  Yes, the weather will cooperate again and YES, it will be a lot of fun again.   Brian (Primary) and Mike (Sweep)

Mar 6^th (Sat):  Hydroplane Museum in Kent – 10:00 AM HDS Departure - Mark (Primary), & Mike (Sweep).  This ride is to the Hydroplane & Race Boat Museum in Kent, WA.   It's the only one of its kind in the county. The cost is $10 so bring cash and you are all on your own for lunch. The ride is only 50 miles long and we’re not taking any freeways so the ride time is 1 hour and 45 min.  We'll stop for coffee along the way and make a stop at the New Downtown Harley-Davidson in Renton.  So, if you have lived in the Seattle for any length of time you know how much a part of Hydroplane racing is to this town.  There are old boats, new boats, and everything in between and even the little wooden boats I used to pull behind my stingray as a kid.  We leave the Barn at 10 am sharp but be there at 9:45 for the safety talk and riders meeting.

Mar 21st (Sun):  XXX Drive-In - 10:00 AM HDS Departure - Don (Primary) and Ron (Sweep)  In search of spring colors, this ride will take us through Duvall, Fall City, Snoqualmie and up Tiger Mountain to our destination of the "XXX" Root Beer Drive-in in Issaquah.  

Mar 27^th (Sat):  Bunny Run pre-ride - 10:00 AM HDS Departure – all available RC’s and RCIT’s

Mar 28^th (Sun):  Annual GNW Bunny Run to Housing Hope – Meet at HDS 9:30 - This is a rain or shine event, bring a Stuffed animal, scarf or dew rag, donation of needed items or even money.  Housing Hope needs several items for their facilities so anything that you can give will be greatly appreciated.  If the kids seem more interested in your motorcycle than in anything else, that’s ok, after you’ve gone, they will remember “who” gave them that special gift and every detail about your motorcycle you were riding.  This is a ride you really don’t want too miss!

 Ride departure time returns to 9:00 AM from HDS

Apr 3^rd (Sat):  Poop, Pansy, and Chocolate - Meet at HDS - Dee (Primary) and DD (Sweep)  This chapter ride meets at 8:45 am and will depart the Mother Barn at 9:00 am via 9:30 am Mukilteo Ferry for a day of fun on Whidbey Island at the Chocolate Flower Farm in Langley.   Join us as we explore specialty plants (dark varieties), garden accessories, unique gifts & everything Chocolate, including chocolate candles.  Please buy your ticket online if possible at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/wave2go/.  The fare is $3.05 for motorcycle and driver each way. 

Apr 18^th (Sun):  Blazin’ Onion – Meet at HDS – DD (Primary), and Brian (Sweep) Looks like we'll head out to Maltby, then over by Paradise Lake to Duvall turn north to Monroe where we'll stop for coffee.  We'll take the back roads to Machias and then into Snohomish to work our way to the Blazing Onion for a great burger.

May 1^st (Sat):  May Day to Snoqualmie Falls – Meet at HDS Duck (Primary) and Ron (Sweep) This should be a really nice ride through the countryside to Snoqualmie Falls.  This ride will offer some great photo opportunities for the photo contest this year so don’t forget your camera.  I’m sure there will be lunch along the way somewhere.

May 1^st (Sat):  Marionwood Run – As we invite Eastside to participate in the Bunny Run annually, they have again invited us to participate in the Marionwood Run.  Marionwood is an old folks home and those with sidecars and trikes are encouraged to attend as the residents like to ride around the parking lot on the bikes and some are hoisted onto and into.  We have in the past, had a chapter ride to participate in this event - what a blast!  These are people who look forward to us visiting them for months!

Details from ESHD:  We will meet at The Eastside Harley Davidson Dealership at 9:00 for a short ride and coffee break before we head to Marionwood for lunch at 11:30. The administration at Marionwood described this event as, “Bigger than all of us”. This means that this bi-yearly event is one the most exciting events these residents will have all year. Please plan on joining us and help boost the morale of these good people for our 18th visit.  Dee

May 16^th (Sun):  Joyce, WA – Meet at HDS Don (Primary), Earl (RCIT) and Mike (Sweep) "Where's Joyce", you might ask? Well, come along and find out! We'll be taking in much of what our fine state has to offer: a ferry ride across the Sound  (from Edmonds to Kingston) where you can catch many a great view, one of which is of downtown Seattle with the magnificent Mt. Rainier in the background, a trip across a floating bridge, scenic mountain views, valleys, rivers, quaint little communities, and a secret little road that offers it's own little surprises! This is a rather long ride - about 100 miles in one direction. There will be a few miles traveling at highway speeds, but they are in the minority. The ride will end in Joyce with lunch at the Blackberry Cafe at around 2:00 PM, so be sure to bring a snack to tide you over. Definitely another one you want to make sure you have your camera with you for, and don't forget our departure times from HDS are now 9:00 AM.

If at all possible, please be sure to buy your ferry tickets on line ahead of time at:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/schedule/

June 5^th (Sat):  Roundabout to Maltby – Meet at HDS Ron (Primary), and Tim (Sweep) This is be a ride in the country.  No freeways.  The only Highways will be 203 and 202.  The rest will be country roads.  We will be doing lefts and rights, going up hills, downhill's, curves, switchbacks, even a hookieback.  We will see horses, cows, ducks, chickens and maybe pigs.  This ride will be around 90 plus miles, we will stop somewhere in the middle of the ride.  The end of the ride will be at Maltby Pasta and Pizza.  They have good pizza's, they also have pasta and sandwiches and other items.  Come out and enjoy the country and maybe some roads you have never been on before.

June 19^th (Sat):  Puppy Putt – Meet at HDS/Departing at 8:00 am Dan (Primary), and (Sweep) This benefits Guide Dogs of America.  We would travel to Sound H-D for registration and the start of the poker run. There are Biker games and prizes and last year it was a blast.  

June 20 - Sun - Chapter Ride – The Lower Peninsula Loop – 9:15 AM Departure from Harley Davidson of Seattle Departure       Remember, Full Tanks / Empty Bladders

The Lower Peninsula Loop is a very scenic all day ride. Duck (as Lead) and Double D (as Sweep). The Pre-ride Briefing will start at 8:45 AM with the departure at 9:15 to make the Edmonds Ferry 10:10 departure. Please, try to purchase your Ferry Tickets on line at Washington State Ferries: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/ prior to the ride.

Once we land in Kingston we’ll make our way down to Poulsbo, Bremerton, Union then up Hwy. 101 to Quilcene, at that point we do a little cross country to Hood Canal Bridge and into Port Gamble and back to the Kingston Ferry. This route is about 160 miles and will take somewhere around 6 hours. On the Pre-ride we found a nice restaurant right in Quilcene, Loggers Landing, good food at a good price. We also found ample gas stations along the way so, bikes with small tanks should have no problems finding gas.

July 3^rd (Sat):  – Run for the Border - Meet at HDS DD (Primary), and (Sweep) We'll be heading up the back roads to Marysville then out to Stanwood for our first stop.  From there we'll mossy though the tulip fields into Burlington on our way to Sedro wooly where we'll turn north on Hwy 9 for the border and be stopping a Bob's Burgers.  The return trip for those who would like to go along will head into Bellingham and then we’ll work our way to Chuckanut Drive and back to Sedro Wooly for a stop and gas.  Then we'll pick up Hwy 9 into Arlington where the ride will end.  It's a long day, over 200 miles, but easy riding on the back roads.  Let's hope we have another great sunny day for this ride.

July 3^rd - 5^th (Sat, Sun, & Mon):  Crater Lake overnighter - Meet at HDS for an 8 AM Departure – Dee (Primary) & Mark (Sweep) This ride leaves for travel through Tri-Cities and then south to Crater Lake.  Make reservations on your own at Union Creek Resort for July 3 & 4.  They have a few rooms left, so book now to reserve your room.  Their website is unioncreekoregon.com‎  or you can phone them at 866-560-3565.  Café on site too.  Be prepared to pre-pay for your room.  Sunday we will be riding the loop around the lake and then visiting Diamond Lake.  Depart Monday morning for home.  Please email or call me if you are planning to go.  This is a long riding weekend, average of 450 miles per day and is appropriate for experienced riders only.  Be sure to pack both hot and cold weather gear – it can get cold in the mountains.  If you are new to riding this may not be the ride for you.