A couple of weekends ago, we decided to head out on a ride down Hwy 9/Mt. Baker Hwy, down to Burlington and across to Chuckanut Drive, then home. As our stomachs started to rumble, we stopped at The Blue Mountain Grill just outside of the tiny hamlet of Acme, Washington. While we waited for our meal, several other motorcycle enthusiasts came in for a bite and we learned that this little stopping place is the re-incarnation of the locally infamous, Ranch Tavern. Apparently quite the biker hang-out in days gone by. Quite ironic considering Acme was named so in 1887, after a Presbyterian hymnal produced by the Acme Bookbinding Company. That’s the story I found anyway.
The food at the Blue Mountain Grill is tasty, reasonably priced and of generous portions. The renovated Grill is now a bright family-friendly eatery with great views of it’s Blue Mountain namesake. After paying our bill (cash or credit, the BMG doen’t accept Canadian debit cards) we set out down Hwy 9 to Sedro-Woolley/Burlington where we turned west toward Anacortes, then north at Farm-to-Market Rd, through little Edison and back home by way of Chuckanut Drive.
Tip: We usually avoid Guide Meridian, the popular route back to the Aldergrove border crossing. We always seem to spend more time sitting at stoplights then actually moving. On a hot day, this is tortuous. So we usually return by way of Hannegan Road and through Rockwell-esque Lynden, getting back on to Guide Meridian just before Badger Rd (See map below).
All in all, not a bad day. Do you have any suggestions for stopping places or watering holes in western Washington? Leave your suggestions below.
Okay then. We’re off.
As always, keep the shiny side up.
