Our only concern was making sure that we did not miss the turn-off to the "bridge-of-the-gods" which takes you over the columbia to Washougal... At the exact time we we're supposed to pay attention a good tune came over the system and we we're all to busy rocking out. Missed the turn and had to circle back...
Jake has been to Washougal many many times... So he was the leading expert on what to expect pulling into the Washougal complex. We expected to be thoroughly searched for Alcohol and Fire Arms as we entered the park. Sure enough we we're hearded into the search lines and we all got out while the staff "searched" our belongings. Jake started conversation about riding with the guy conducting the search and at the same time a nice older women on the staff (she must have been management) unexpectedly walked by, rubbed my stomach and said... "Hi Cutie"... The entire experience was very strange and we ended up bringing in 4 bottles of booze, 2 pistols, and 1/2 a case of beer that was sitting out in the open... Now to find our camp spot.
We headed up into the main area of Washougal and our plan was to hang a right and find a spot in the big open field. The staff however instructed us to go left... Assuring us that there were plenty of spaces in the treed area up and down the hill side. Keep in mind.. we have a full size, lifted truck with 3 bikes in the back and a 25'+ trailer hooked to the back. We new as soon as we crossed the barely wide enough bridge that we we're going the wrong way. I leaned out and asked the 2 fat sherriffs on their side by side...
"Is there enough room for us up here?"
Their reply; "Oh yeah there's lots of spots!"
About 30 minutes later and hundreds of puzzled looks from the other campers, our diesel train ended up at the very top of the Washougal camping trail...No spots along the way, and now we have to figure out how to turn around. About 2 hours later we finally got out of the "left side" camping area and found a sweet spot right up front in the big field... Many thanks to the super helpfull parking staff that had no clue what was going on... Except for the last guy that got us the sweet field spot...
We cooked some burgers, drank our booze and went to sleep eager for the Saturday racing festivities.
RACE DAY:
Practice started around 8:30 in the morning. There's nothing better than waking up, having some coffee and listening to the roar of 4 stroke dirt bikes in the green hills of Washington.
We headed up to the track to post up our chairs for the day.
Here's what the parking looked like in the "big field" as we headed to the track. This entire field was filled with cars by 10 o'clock.
We got some great spots on the hillside between "Horespower Hill" and the whoop/finish line. Other than the stampede of people traveling up and down the hillside creating as much dust as following a 450 on a dusty trail... it was epic. Here's our view from our chairs.
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Overall the Washougal experience was amazing. The racing could have been tighter. Dungey looked like he didn't even have to try to win both moto's. Maybe his super smooth style is why he is so good. We we're all rooting for old man Windham, and the veteran did not disapoint with top 10 finishes both races. By the end of the day we were completely exhausted from the Hot sun and all we wanted to do was pack up and get on the road for the next part of our adventure. Trail riding in the high mountains of Washington. Here are a few more photos of the weekends Heroes.
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