3 Flags Classic Motorcycle Tour 2017
Abbotsford BC to Puerto Penasco Mexico
Friday Sept 1, 3:00AM - Sunday Sept 3, 2017
(Remember to hit “Refresh” or F5 on your
computer to load the latest updates)
|
Cyan is
route Aldersyde AB to Abbotsford BC, 786
miles Good, readable, PDF of the FULL map
v-August 25-17 Google
Real zoom-able Map to the Abbotsford BC start |
2,213 miles or 3,561 Km's in 3 Days
2017 3 Flags Tour, one way!
(We finished in 3 days,
1 day earlier than most)
Website Last Updated: Friday
September 11, 2017
11:35 AM
Brians Individual 3FC 2017 Spotwalla
Trip Page
Follow the group on this epic adventure, real
time. (Live Aug 30-17)
*** HINT: once at the above page,... top menu click "3 Flags
2017" for a drop down menu
choose "Adjustments" > "History" > change to bottom
option "ALL",
% Fill = All (to show ALL the track points) or adjust to less.
Spotwalla works best with Google Chrome browser.
The Spot device tracking was really hit & more miss on this trip.
Replacement needed.
The 2017
SCMA 42nd Three Flags Classic website
SCMA
August 2017 Newsletter (3 Flags etc)
Official Ride
Flyer 2017 3 Flags Tour
Total Round Trip Mileage
5,575 miles, 8,972 km's
in 8 Riding Days,
11 Days Total Tour.
(95
hours in the saddle)
Pilots: Lyle
Higgins Barry
Lammle |
|
||
|
|
Ron Syroishka |
|
|
|
Barry
Lammle |
|
2017
3 Flags Classic Tour route description: As a .PDF,
with pictures
The 2017 Three Flags Classic (3FC17) is starting in Abbotsford, BC, Canada on
Sept. 1st and finishing in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora,
Mexico on Sept. 4th.
We can handle 350 entrants at both ends.
OVERVIEW of ROUTE and
HIGHLIGHTS of the 42nd 3FC
From Abbotsford we cross
the USA border in Sumas, WA. From Sumas the route will take us
through Sedro Woolley, Everett, the Wenatchee National Forest, Ellensburg, and
Yakima. We
then ride some of the White Pass Scenic Byway westward on US 12 to Randle where
we then
turn south towards the Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and Carson,
WA.
The distance from Randle to
Carson is about 80 miles (130km). Some of this stretch is twisty
and a bit bumpy in spots. Allow yourself at least two full hours to do this
stretch of road. There
are many stretches of wide open road later on this route and absolutely no
reason to “rush
yourself” through Washington. On the road there are usually a few choices to
make along the
way. Here’s one that may be worth noting. From Carson the route goes east on
Hwy 14,
following the north shore of the Columbia River, to the Hood River-White Salmon
Interstate
Bridge. This bridge is a long metal grate type of bridge with a $0.75 toll
payable as you come off
the bridge. Hood River is the first checkpoint this year. The exact location
still to be determined (TBD).
The next leg continues
south through the Mount Hood Wilderness and National Forest areas on
US 26 through Madras and Prineville. From Prineville we go straight south to US
20 and then
eastward to Burns, OR. You’ll want to FILL UP in Burns! The next gas station is
in Fields, OR and
is about 112 miles south of Burns. The Fields Station store is open year round,
but closes at 6pm
every day. From Fields it’s still another 121 miles to Winnemucca, NV so plan
accordingly.
Winnemucca, NV will be the second checkpoint this year (exact location TBD) and
at this point
you’ll be almost half way to Puerto Peñasco. Leaving
Winnemucca we go east, on I-80 for a few
miles of freeway driving, to Battle Mountain where we turn straight south
again. Once in
Austin, NV we’ll travel east on US 50, “The Loneliest Road in America”.
3FC Fun Fact: After
forty-one years, the 3FC has never had us drive on the eastern end of US 50
between Fallon and Ely. We’ve only done some short stretches of US 50 at the
western end.
Continuing east on US 50 we
go through Ely, NV and get almost to the Utah border before we
turn southeast on SR-21. This highway takes us to Minersville, UT and here’s
where we turn
south again on SR-130 to Cedar City, UT and the junction of SR-14.
SR-14 runs about 41 miles
from Cedar City to the Long Valley Junction. This highway has been
designated the Markagaunt High Plateau Scenic Byway
and is part of the Utah Scenic Byways
program. As it ascends from Cedar City (elevation 5,800 feet) to Midway Summit
(elevation
9,896 feet), it passes through some dramatic scenery including several tall
cliffs, mountain
terrain, and alpine forests. This area is part of Dixie National Forest and
from SR-14 there are
places where you can look down into Zion Park. At the SR-14 and US 89 junction
we turn south
again to the third checkpoint in Kanab, UT. Exact location still TBD.
Leaving Kanab the route
goes south on US 89A towards Fredonia and Jacobs Lake. This
interesting stretch of road is five miles shorter than going through Page on US
89.
SPECIAL NOTE: When you’re in Jacobs Lake there is a side trip on SR 67 to the
North Arm of the
Grand Canyon. Round trip is close to 90 miles but it is one of those nice
pieces of road that you
may not get a chance to ride very often. So, if you’ve never been close to the
Grand Canyon and
have a couple of hours to spare, you may quite enjoy this ride.
The very last leg of this
year’s 3FC is going to be hot! Coming out of the mountains in Flagstaff
it will start getting quite warm around Phoenix and, depending on the time of
day, will continue
to be quite hot all the way to Puerto Peñasco. Therefore,
for the first time ever...
...the FINISH will open for ONE hour on Tuesday
morning with the banquet still on Tuesday night.
This will allow riders to hold up somewhere cool for the night and get an early
start Tuesday
before it gets too hot. Finishing at 8pm on Monday and feeling “forced” to ride
through 100⁰ or
more, just to get your buckle, isn’t going to be necessary this year. If
someone wants to spend
Monday night around Phoenix somewhere and ride to the finish early Tuesday
morning, that’s
not a problem. I’d rather see a hundred more riders come now because it will be
“so much
easier” than have riders not come because they don’t like riding in extreme
heat.
...riders will be able to
leave Abbotsford anytime between midnight Thursday and 8am Friday
a numbered poker chip and a container in the hotel lobby, rider’s will have to
put their chip in this
container before they leave Abbotsford. Therefore, for the first time ever...
These chips will be used at the Finish when drawing for prizes. If your chip
doesn’t
get collected at the Start then you’ll be ineligible to win anything in Mexico.
The
Trip
“Plan your ride, and ride your plan” .XLSX Spreadsheet
To the Start: |
To the 3 Flags Classic – Wednesday August 30,
2017 Wheels were rolling at 4:16 AM from Aldersyde AB. Arrived in Abottsford BC at 6:08 PM. Low temp 9 degrees C and high of 34. We experienced an awesome lightning show going into Fernie which was followed by a heavy rain which had pretty much subsided by time we were leaving Fernie. Smoke was in the area during the entire trip. Crossed into Roosville BC/MT at about 7 am. Took the Yaak River Road, NW of Eureka MT and on US #2 across the top of Montana, Idaho and Washington onto highway 20 (Cascade loop). We got caught in a parade of vehicles near Marchmount WA, not sure who was leading our group at the time but that was extremely boring. The boredom ended when the “Ice Man” took the lead and we were again up to half speed. Over 4 mountain passes, and the Cascade Mountain range. There were a lot of fantastic and awesome panorama views. Then on to Sumas border crossing, north on number 9 highway. The Yaak was a fabulous ride with some gravel sections. There is a reason the Yaak road is one of Montana's best and Cascade loop is rated as one of the best 15 roads in the USA. The twists were exceptional! The riding group was good and everyone seem to find there space and adjusted nicely to the 3 Flags style of riding. |
The 2017 3 Flags Classic Tour Abbotsford BC to Puerto Penasco Mexico
|
3 Flags Classic Day 2 - Saturday Sept 2, 2017 3 Flags Classic Day 3 - Sunday Sept 3, 2017 Monday September 4, 2017 Finishers Day Pictures 3 Flags Classic Banquet - Tuesday Sept 5, 2017 |
Thanks to our friends and buddies that made this trip wonderful:
All the volunteers at the
checkpoints that made this all possible.
The
Ride Home: Map of Track for entire Tour - PDF Garmin .GDB file of complete Routes, Waypoints, Tracks of entire Tour |
Wednesday Sept 6, 2017 Thursday Sept 7, 2017 U.S. 550, “Million Dollar Highway”, Montrose to Durango, Colorado http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/co_us550.html Friday Sept 8, 2017 Saturday Sept 9, 2017 |
|
Our Garmin MapSource
file of the actual trip tracks as ridden as a PDF. |
2017 3 Flags Classic Tour Statistics: .
3
Flags 2017 entrants (tickets sold) |
350
(??) |
3
Flags 2017 Official Starters |
USA:193,
Canada: 119, Mexico: 3, Other: |
First
year of 3 Flags Classic tour |
??
new riders |
Didn't
finish |
|
Number
of Women riders |
|
Average
age of entrants |
|
Oldest
Male Finisher: |
Bryan
Sowers, 86 years |
Oldest
Female Finisher: |
Judy
Wagner, 74 years |
Youngest
Male |
Liam Grant (21) |
Youngest
Female |
Julianna Bulger
(18) Honda CBR500 |
Oldest
Team |
Bryan
Sowers, Yvonna Allan 168 years |
Most
Miles to get there |
Ronald
Garret, Massachusetts |
Most
3 Flags Tours |
#39
for Danny Fox, & Gloria Amesqua |
Bike
Makes |
97
Honda, 71 Harley Davidson, 69 BMW, 19 Yamaha, 11 Triumph, 4 Suzuki, 3 Can Am,
2 KTM, 15 Other. |
Smallest
CC bike |
500
cc - 3 way tie: Julianna Bulger, Allan Hurst, Darlene Fung |
Oldest
Bike |
1983
Honda Goldwing, Don …(?) – Same Goldwing he has
ALWAYS done 3fc on. |
Best
Checkpoint: |
Kanab
UT |
Highest
Poker Hand |
Ron Paproski |
Poker Chip |
Max
Marker Next year 3FC ticket |
New riding Suit |
Colin
O’Brien & |
50/30/20 draw winners |
50% - $1,640, 30% - $963, 20% - $642 |
Longest riding day for us |
Getting to the start, Wednesday August 30. Aldersyde AB to Abbotsford BC, 842 miles, 1,355 km, 13.9 hours riding
time. |
Cost
to do 3 Flags 2017 CDN $$ |
Ticket:
$372.65 ($275 USD), Fuel: $545.95, Lodging: $1,487.37, Food: $550 Mexican
Insurance: $104.62 = Rough total: $3,061 (say $3,500 CDN) |
Gas
record for Brian's 2012 GL1800.
Date |
Time |
Day |
Where |
Miles |
Mileage |
Liters |
US Gallons |
Total US$ |
Total CDN$ |
Price per |
Fill # |
30-08-2017 |
3:22:00 AM |
1 |
Aldersyde
AB |
|
104,475 |
9.196 |
|
|
$9.92 |
$1.079 |
1 |
30-08-2017 |
7:21:00 AM |
1 |
Eureka MT |
207.4 |
104,683 |
|
5.539 |
$14.67 |
$19.04 |
$2.640 |
2 |
30-08-2017 |
9:50:00 AM |
1 |
OldTown
ID |
177.5 |
104,860 |
|
5.209 |
$14.06 |
$18.01 |
$2.699 |
3 |
30-08-2017 |
1:01:00 PM |
1 |
Omak WA |
204.5 |
105,065 |
|
5.603 |
$16.58 |
$21.48 |
$2.959 |
4 |
30-08-2017 |
5:22:00 PM |
1 |
Everson WA |
214.3 |
105,279 |
|
5.554 |
$17.21 |
$22.29 |
$3.099 |
5 |
31-08-2017 |
3:26:00 PM |
2 |
Abbotsford BC |
37.5 |
105,317 |
4.090 |
|
|
$5.31 |
$1.299 |
6 |
01-09-2017 |
7:01:00 AM |
3 |
Leavenworth WA |
183.5 |
105,500 |
|
4.976 |
$15.92 |
$20.39 |
$3.199 |
7 |
01-09-2017 |
10:11:00 AM |
3 |
Packwood WA |
193.9 |
105,695 |
|
5.175 |
$16.55 |
$21.20 |
$3.199 |
8 |
01-09-2017 |
1:51:00 PM |
3 |
Hood River OR |
122.4 |
105,818 |
|
3.294 |
$9.88 |
$12.65 |
$2.999 |
9 |
01-09-2017 |
4:36:00 PM |
3 |
Prineville OR |
130.2 |
105,950 |
|
3.203 |
$9.16 |
$11.74 |
$2.859 |
10 |
01-09-2017 |
6:32:00 PM |
3 |
Hines OR |
135.7 |
106,085 |
|
3.657 |
$10.97 |
$14.05 |
$2.999 |
11 |
02-09-2017 |
9:36:00 AM |
4 |
Winnemucca NV |
235.7 |
106,321 |
|
6.157 |
$16.00 |
$20.49 |
$2.599 |
12 |
02-09-2017 |
11:34:00 AM |
4 |
Austin NV |
143.1 |
106,466 |
|
3.661 |
$11.49 |
$14.72 |
$3.139 |
13 |
02-09-2017 |
2:38:00 PM |
4 |
Baker UT |
218.8 |
106,685 |
|
5.638 |
$16.91 |
$21.66 |
$2.999 |
14 |
02-09-2017 |
7:51:00 PM |
4 |
Kanab UT |
236.2 |
106,922 |
|
6.049 |
$16.99 |
$21.76 |
$2.809 |
15 |
03-09-2017 |
8:38:00 AM |
5 |
Flagstaff AZ |
198.7 |
107,121 |
|
6.687 |
$16.71 |
$21.40 |
$2.499 |
16 |
03-09-2017 |
12:48:00 PM |
5 |
Buckeye AZ |
223.9 |
107,345 |
|
5.598 |
$13.65 |
$17.49 |
$2.439 |
17 |
03-09-2017 |
4:05:00 PM |
5 |
Puerto Penasco MX |
195.1 |
107,540 |
20.220 |
|
331 peso |
$23.76 |
$1.175 |
18 |
06-09-2017 |
8:56:00 AM |
8 |
Tucson AZ |
217.3 |
107,757 |
|
5.723 |
$13.27 |
$16.89 |
$2.319 |
19 |
06-09-2017 |
11:33:00 AM |
8 |
Clifton AZ |
176.4 |
107,934 |
|
4.952 |
$12.23 |
$15.34 |
$2.469 |
20 |
06-09-2017 |
3:12:00 PM |
8 |
Sanders AZ |
209.4 |
108,143 |
|
5.652 |
$15.82 |
$20.13 |
$2.799 |
21 |
07-09-2017 |
7:14:00 AM |
8 |
Durango CO |
213.6 |
108,357 |
|
5.379 |
$13.76 |
$17.48 |
$2.559 |
22 |
07-09-2017 |
11:11:00 AM |
9 |
Parachute CO |
215.0 |
108,572 |
|
5.461 |
$18.02 |
$22.89 |
$3.299 |
23 |
07-09-2017 |
1:24:00 PM |
9 |
Baggs
WY |
153.6 |
108,726 |
|
4.217 |
$11.85 |
$14.87 |
$2.809 |
24 |
07-09-2017 |
4:29:00 PM |
9 |
Riverton WY |
234.1 |
108,963 |
|
6.413 |
$17.95 |
$22.53 |
$2.799 |
25 |
07-09-2017 |
7:24:00 PM |
9 |
Buffalo WY |
187.0 |
109,150 |
|
5.338 |
$14.57 |
$18.29 |
$2.729 |
26 |
08-09-2017 |
10:05:00 AM |
10 |
Cody WY |
188.3 |
109,339 |
|
5.471 |
$15.31 |
$19.44 |
$2.799 |
27 |
08-09-2017 |
1:51:00 PM |
10 |
Big Timber MT |
207.2 |
109,546 |
|
5.841 |
$14.83 |
$18.83 |
$2.530 |
28 |
08-09-2017 |
3:36:00 PM |
10 |
White Sulphur Springs
MT |
96.6 |
109,643 |
|
2.628 |
$6.75 |
$8.57 |
$2.569 |
29 |
09-09-2017 |
8:37:00 AM |
11 |
Shelby MT |
191.6 |
109,834 |
|
5.526 |
$14.36 |
$18.24 |
$2.599 |
30 |
09-09-2017 |
11:54:00 AM |
11 |
Nanton
AB |
182.4 |
110,017 |
19.932 |
|
|
$21.71 |
$1.089 |
31 |
09-09-2017 |
12:25:00 PM |
11 |
Okotoks AB |
33.0 |
110,050 |
3.220 |
|
|
$3.30 |
$1.024 |
32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34 |
TOTALS: |
5563.9 |
5,575 |
47.462 |
138.601 |
$385.47 |
$545.95 |
|||||
Average Miles per
(CDN) Gallon on Brians 2012 1800 Goldwing: |
44.26 |
2017 3 Flags mileage for comparison:
Total Miles: 2017- 5,575 miles= 8,972 Kms
Total Miles: 2015- 5,478 miles= 8,815 Kms
Total Miles: 2014- 5,229 miles= 8,415 Kms,
Total Miles: 2012- 5,205 miles= 8,376 Kms,
MPG: 2011 GW 1500= 40.97,
2012 GW 1800
= 46.98
2014 GW 1800
= 49.21
2015 GW 1800
= 47.27
2017 GW 1800
= 44.26
Lodging
DAY |
DATE 2017 |
Place |
Cost-all in |
1 |
Wednesday
Aug 30 |
Abbotsford
BC Quality Inns & Suites Hotel, Start Hotel: Reservations:
1-888-411-1070 Check
In: Wednesday, Aug 30, 2017 (3:00 PM) Check
Out: Friday, Sep 1, 2017 (11:00 AM) Number
of Rooms: 1 - Single King bed,
$95/night |
$109.25 CDN |
2 |
Thursday
Aug 31 |
Abbotsford
BC Quality Inns & Suites Hotel,
Start Hotel: $218.50
all in, 2 nights. |
$109.25 CDN |
3 |
Friday
Sept 1 |
Address:
534 Highway 20 N, Hines, OR 97738, United States Phone:
+1 541-573-5050 |
$139.32 USD |
4 |
Saturday
Sept 2 |
Best Western Red Hills +1 435-644-2675 125
W Center St, Kanab, UT 84741, USA |
$172.71 USD |
5 |
Sunday
Sept 3 |
Peñasco
Del Sol Hotel, Puerto Penasco Mexico. Check-in:
Sun, 3 Sep 2017, Check-out: Wed, 6 Sep 2017, 3 nights. USD$95/night.
$336.30 USDall in, 3 nites. |
$112.10 USD |
6 |
Monday
Sept 4 |
Peñasco Del Sol Hotel, Puerto Penasco
Mexico. |
$112.10 USD |
7 |
Tuesday
Sept 5 |
Peñasco Del Sol Hotel, Puerto Penasco
Mexico. $336.30
USDall in, 3 nights. |
$112.10 USD |
8 |
Wednesday
Sept 6 |
Best
Western Durango Inn & Suites 21382 US Highway 160 W Durango,
Colorado 81303 United
States (970) 247-3251 $126 |
$123.52 USD |
9 |
Thursday
Sept 7 |
SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Buffalo 65
US-16, Buffalo, WY 82834, USA 1
307-684-9564 $112 |
$95.33 USD |
10 |
Friday
Sept 8 |
808
3rd Ave SW, White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645, USA 1
406-547-8888 $87.00 |
$101.65 USD |
11 |
Saturday
Sept 9 Home!!! |
TOTAL |
$1,487.37 CDN |
Comments from the riders:
Brian Hooker |
My 5½ th 3 Flags Classic Wow, what a ride. Aldersyde to Abbotsford was outstanding with the Yaak River road and the Cascade Mtn runs. # Flags tour was excellent, as usual, with some BH mods to the Flagstaff south route changed to Sedona, Prescott, Wickenburg then into Mexico. Coming home up Hwy 191 by that huge copper mine, then the
Million Dollar Highway, and newly paved Beartooth
Pass was fabulous. Good riding buddies! |
Ron
Syroishka |
|
Kim
Coubrough |
|
Suzanne Shaver 2009
Suzuki Bandit |
|
Lyle
Higgins Honda
ST 1300 |
|
Barry
Lammle 2015
Gold Wing GL1800 40th Anniversary Edition |
|
3 Flags SCMA Forum Links:
2017
3FC GPS File is HERE!!!! - (Unofficial, official)
Links:
Long Distance Motorcycling
Checklist by SCMA Steve Shulman
T-Clock Motorcycle Inspection, from
GWRRA
Last Years, Official Ride Flyer 2014 3
Flags Tour
Link to Southern California Motorcycle Assn.
(SCMA) host club
Iron Butt Association - Long distance ride
association and awards
Wingstuff - where
ALL good things for Goldwings come from
Previous Trips webpages:
Yellowknife NWT Cannonball Rides run June 19-25, 2017
Brian’s
bike total: 3,672 miles, 5,909 Kms in 7 days.
2
Provinces, 1 Territory, 2 States
---
3 Flags Classic Motorcycle
Tour 2015
San Diego California (read Tijuana Mexico)
to Victoria BC
- One way, 2,430 miles or 3,911 Km's in 4 Days
Total Round Trip Mileage 5,478
miles, 8,815 km's in 11 Riding Days, 13 Days Total Tour.
---
---
---
Brian's 2011 3 Flags Tour: San Ysidro CA to Penticton BC - 5,205 miles, 8,376 km's in 11
Days.
Brian Hooker's June 5-9
2010 Motorcycle trip to Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota etc. About 3200 kms
---
Brian's Motorcycle trip
to Whitehorse Yukon and Skagway Alaska June 17 - June 28 2008
-------
Website
Location Cards:
to print 2015 website cards
to print 2014 website cards
to print 2012 website cards
..