At least once during the summer, we ride John's motorcycle up to Mount Baker.  He had gone once this summer with his group but this time I was able to go.  We suited up, hopping onto the back, I slung my camera around my neck and we pulled out onto the street.  The road opened up before us and soon I was lost in the beauty of the area that we live in.  The day had that end of summer feel to it as the tall grasses bent in the wind, the summer wildflowers were opening their final blooms for the year and the sun warmed our backs.  The bike smoothly took the corners right and left as we followed the other cars headed in the same direction.  At Maple Falls, we planned on stopping for gas and to stretch our legs only to have to turn around since the pumps were out of order and same with the next station.  Once we had found a gas station with working pumps, we filled up our 2 gallon tank and decided to continue on up the mountain.  The sights along the road never get old for me even though we drive this each summer and winter.  I am always surprised and amazed at the parking area since it is the place we snowshoe into but can drive to in the summer.  Rounded boulders and stunted trees greet us with trails and paved paths winding here and there. Trail heads to Ptarmigan Ridge, Table Mountain, Artist Point and Chain Lakes all start from here.  Just down the road a bit is the trail head to Lake Ann and even farther down is Bagley Lakes Trail and Panorama Dome Trail.  We walk a bit, enjoying the views and then once again we are back on the bike headed down from the mountain.  Our usual stop is Chair 9 for pizza and beer and then home.  Since this is such a popular stopping point we often wait for 45 minutes for the pizza and it is worth it.  We talk, watch kids and dogs and sometimes even a soccer game.