The Bald Eagle Boogie
The winter ride with a payoff
 Searching
for Bald Eagles in the dead of winter on your motorcycle? For some
that’s not such a bad idea. During an extreme winter, a few mild
days means you get a chance to get out on your bike. If it’s been
raining for 30 days straight, and it finally stops for a few days
‘why not get out for a ride’ I say.
A place like Marblemount along Highway 20 in Washington doesn’t
sound like much of a place to go in the dead of winter. It’s up
in the Cascade Mountains for God’s sake!!! Actually, when you look at
a topo map, you’ll realize it’s only about 1,400 feet above sea
level, not 5,000. So take a semi-cloudy day with temperatures in the
mid 40s or higher and you’ve got the perfect conditions for a trip
to the Cascades sans the motor homes and summertime traffic.
A group of us recently did this. Several sport and sport touring
types along with one cruiser took off from Arlington and had lunch
in Marblemount. Along the way Bald Eagles were spotted doing their
search for chum while auto traffic was nearly non-existent, except
for a few cage drivers packing binoculars and camera gear with the
same view in mind. And thus the Bald Eagle Boogie was born.
Summer in the Cascades brings out droves of tourist along with
plenty of speed traps. In the dead of winter, you have the roads
pretty much to yourself most of the time. It’s
advisable to keep your eyes focused for gravel that may have been
sprayed earlier on colder days.
 Begin
the ride from Arlington. If you need anything for your bike, the
nearest shop is Cycle Barn in Smokey Point. Head north up Highway 9
making your way to Clear Lake. Keep your eyes peeled for Bald Eagles
along the Stillaguamish River just as you start out in Arlington.
Once you hit Clear Lake, head east along Old Day Creek Road. At the
junction, turn right onto South Skagit Highway and follow the river
east as it winds its way to Concrete. If you stick close to the
speed limit your peripheral vision will be wide enough that you may see
Bald Eagles hanging out in the trees along the way.
Above: A VFR rider winds his way into Darrington from
Marblemount in January
At the junction for Concrete, turn left and make your way into
town. From here go east on Highway 20 for 16 miles to Marblemount.
Along the way you will spot pullouts where good Bald Eagle sightings
can be had; the most common are near Rockport. You’ll also see
people fishing and floating in rafts trying to get a waterfront look
as well.
Marblemount has a decent restaurant – the Buffalo Run. A typical
roadhouse menu exists, but you also have the option of ostrich and
buffalo meat when it comes to the burgers.
After lunch, head east and cross the steel bridge onto Cascade
Road,. Make the first right onto the Rockport-Cascade road. I passed
one car along this entire stretch, never saw another soul. When you
hit the junction for 530, turn left and go to Darrington. Once in
Darrington you continue down 530 into Arlington.
That’s a loop, but if you’re headed back south to Seattle or
otherwise read on. At Arlington find your way to Burn road and head
south to Granite Falls by way of 100th St NE or
Engebretson Road. From Granite Falls head south using Robe-Menzel Road,
Carpenter Road and the OK Mill Road to reach Machias. Turn left and
follow Machias south into Snohomish. From Snohomish you can continue
south down Highway 9 to Woodinville, or use Marsh Road and Seattle
Hill Road to get to Bothell.
It’s a long day in the saddle, but you’ve been itching for a
ride. Now keep that smile on your face as you step into a warm tub -
deservedly so.
Patrick Thomas/Winter 06
To download the map of the Bald Eagle Boogie
CLICK HERE
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