My POA Tour - The Ride Report

[PacWestGS]

Hi all,

What a great time, I had doing this. I wasn't going to Vermont; too far away; too much time; too much money... Well, that all changed when Greg Feeler and others responsible connected the dots and put this thing on the map. That, and the untimely passing of Garth Epply (YB in IN). I did a lot of soul searching and found that I too had been letting work and other important life functions get in the way of "Living".

So, I threw complete caution to the wind, and dove into the "Peaks of America" tour headfirst and with all my viseral gut feeling that I could muster, this was not only billed as a "Once in a Lifetime, Alignment of the Stars, and Moons", but something I have been wanting to do for a long time.

No more excuses, no more waiting, no more justification, just do it. Get on your bike and ride from one coast to the other and back again.

A few ground rules: Avoid the Interstate Highway system as best you can. Don't order your food while standing up. Don't pay for your food before you have eaten it. Stop every now and then and enjoy the moment. Take lots of pictures...

Well, many of you have followed along on my journey through the Rally Forum thread titled: My POA Tour My POA Tour others will find it here first.

I developed a plan, chose a route, created a packing list to support the mission and did a 'Shakedown' ride to British Columbia two-up with the Mrs. that turned into the "Breakdown Ride" "The Dam-Bridges Tour" Dam-Bridges Tour (Columbia River) A final drive (Crown Gear) bearing almost derailed my trip a week before I was leaving. Got r fixed and completed the "Prep" well almost, I rode the whole thing with a broken 'Pre-Load' adjuster/piston on my Ohlins rear shock but it worked the whole time without bottoming. Of course the Mrs. passed and stayed home, so now I was solo. A quite a few pounds lighter.

So without futher ado, here goes the top Pics'

Note: It's huge (677 photos, maps) and I cut it down by over 100 pictures. If you visit the site, do so with Highspeed internet and about an hour, read the captions at the bottom for details or location. If you run the 'Slideshow' click at the top to show 'Captions' and set your view time to 1-2 seconds. Good luck and have fun...

Gallery: Peaks of America (Complete)

Slideshow: Peaks of America (Slideshow)

For all other users here are the 'Highlights'...

Starting Mileage:

Leaving on a clean bike, packed and ready to go:

Met up with Robdogg and Brents and we rode together from Greenwater, WA (Hwy 410) over "Chinook Pass" stopping here at 'Whislin' Jack Lodge for a quick relief stop:

We spent the night in La Grande, OR and then headed over into Hell's Canyon/Snake River area. This was along Oxbow Reservior on Hwy 71:

While in Southwest Idaho at a rest stop, watch were you walk Tinker-Bell. (Read signs closely):

Camping at the BMW RA Rally in Boise, ID. All the shade trees were taken by the time we got there, so I picked a building. The beer garden and entertainment were directly across the street:

Coffee with Dave Hough. I made the mistake of asking a question and the next thing I know I was up on the stage getting introduced as his replacement for 'Safety Articles' and the future of riding...

The local Idaho Motor-Officer's set up their capabilities course and put on a demonstration. After that they let anyone who wanted to improve their skills or pick up their bike take on the easy to difficult course. So Bend it like Officer 'Beckum' if you can:

Bending the R1150GS around these cones was fun. The higher ground clearance and upper weight made it more difficult than an RT but all was doable (The 16-foot Snowman Head did give me fits and a few foot dabs but eventually I succeeded):

Brent and his R1100RT on Hwy 55 (Somewhere on the Lowman Loop):

Idaho NF-24 (Between Banks and Lowman):

Ripping some corners on NF-24: (I think it was 'Caution'd to 25-MPH, I think I was going close to and over 60-mph):

Not done, let me turn around and come back:

Thanks Brent and Rob for the photos...


Part One...

 

[PacWestGS]

My POA Tour - Ride Report (Part two)

We left after closing ceremonies on Saturday and spent the night in Mountain Home. The next morning we headed down Hwy 51, dodging jackrabbits, looking for birds of prey, and haulin' butt. We got to the "Cricket Highway" where a gazillion crickets come to die on the road, rode through livestock areas and Indian Reservations on our way through Nevada and to St. George, UT.

It was time to get out of the morning warmies. There was so much traffic on the road we had to get off the road to change clothes (somewhere on Hwy 51, Idaho):

So we are riding along in excess of the speed limit on Hwy 93 (Nevada) when the car that we are catching up to slows down and stops behind a disabled vehicle and turns on its lights. Wow what a break. As we pass by the pickup with a blown tire I see this little girl pumping up the spare with a bicycle pump. We turn around becuase I have an electric one and offer our help.

In the end we were unable to fix the leaky bead (it had all kinds of rocks that caused a bigger leak than the amount of air we could put in. We even tried breaking the bead down with tire tools but to no avail). The trooper returned and called for a tow-truck. The family was stoked none-the-less that a few guys on motorcycles stopped to help and had more tools than he did. (He was unaware that his tire troubles saved the three of us much more money) Thanks:

Abstract art at 80-mph. Anyone care to guess:

So I'm trying to take a picture of Rob up front and Brent in my mirror (Hwy 93). I end up with Rob up front and a nice picture of my camera:

So you all remember I had my bike serviced before leaving, right? Well, in Boise I noticed that I had two-bolts holding my crash-bars together. Somehow, I thought that was normal (Two bolts in the upper holes, two driftpin alignment holes underneath each one right?) Wrong... By the time we got to Ely, Nevada we were getting gas and rehydrating. Sitting there I noticed that I now had one bolt holding them together. Well out with the tools, off to the local hardwear store and oh yeah, of all the tools I have and need to fix the whole bike, I don't have a 10mm socket. We got everything needed and put it back together with all four-bolts, locktite and tourqed ready to go. It's a good thing too, later I tested the crash-bars...

Somewhere in Nevada, the view Brent chose to have for most of the trip down to Southwest Utah. (That's my backside):

Brent and Robdogg rolling up to the Nevada/Utah border: (Me sitting there)

Entering Southwest Utah on Hwy 56: (Just catching up to the storm)

Part two

 

[PacWestGS]

My POA Tour - Ride Report (Part three)

On Monday (7/10/06) I was a complete day ahead of schedule so Rob, Brent and I departed ways. I needed to ship some stuff home, that I would not be needing. I took the day and (with an unladen bike) and explored Zion NP and a few other local attractions recommended to me by other members.

Approaching Zion NP from the west on Hwy 9:

Inside Zion NP:

Zion NP:

Zion NP:

Zion NP:

Zion NP:

So I'm leaving Zion NP for the day when John Brase shows up at the entrance. We spent a few minutes talkng about the ride down from Boise and then he's going East and I'm going exploring on dirt roads. Not the ideal place for an RS...

I rode over to Grafton, UT (Ghost town) behind "Springdale" and also visited the Grafton Cemetary:

Family lost all three of their kids on the same day. All "Killed by Indians"

I found some faraway views of Zion where I was, so I kept going up and eventually over the mountain to the south:

Eventually I was over the mountain and closer to the Grand Canyon than to Zion:

Part Three

 

[PacWestGS]

My POA Tour - Ride Report (Part four)

I got up early Tuesday to catch the morning sunrise over the mountains and depart through Zion with a slightly different view. It worked out well. No traffic and great views.

Approaching Zion:

Zion NP:

I didn't get to stop the day before because of traffic, but this morning I had the park to myself:

Leaving Zion NP:

Several hours later, I was arriving at Bryce Canyon NP: (Hwy 12)

This will be difficult; how do you post three or four of the best? They are all fantasic...

After passing through Escelante, UT I see this sign that says "Hells Backbone", sounds interesting enough. I stop in a gas station and ask three locals what it is and whether I should go see it. They say it's pretty neat and that I should. So I say well, better not fill up then, I'll get gas on the way back. They say, "way back"? just keep going, you'll get to Boulder, UT. So fill up and off I go. Improved dirt gravel road into the "Dixie National Forest". I'm going faster than I should be going on a fully loaded "PIG" when Bambi jumps up on the road only for a second. Second is long enough to over apply the brakes, send the bike into three wicked swaps as I'm approaching the cliff on the far side of the turn. I managed to stop and then fall over, dropping the bike on the right side. No harm no fowl, damn glad I fixed the bolts that hold my crash-bars together...

The crash-bar mark is near the flat rock (see I did just drop it gently, no scuff marks). I can't believe I didn't take a picture before picking it up.

So I made it to Hells Backbone; which is a bridge over a 200-foot cavern about 80-feet wide. The pilgims must have had some other names along the way...

Just a nice picture (at Hells Backbone)

The Burr Trail was closed due to flooding, but no problem Hwy 12 is fun and gives a great view of the Canyon Lands below it:

Last picture for the day, I got to Torrey, UT just as caught up to the storm again. Time to stop:

Part four

 

[PacWestGS]

My POA Tour - Ride Report (Part five)

Got up Wednesday to another beautiful day, "Simpson's (Springfield) Clouds" filled the sky with lots of blue...

Left Torrey and arrived at "Capital Reef NP" a few minutes later:

I'd passed this guy going up a grade earlier and he pulls into the lot to shoot some pics. I ask him how pulling that trailer is working out and he tells me where he's from. And that things are good but the Victory's tranny makes an odd noise somethimes. He's from Yelm, WA, about 20-minutes from me back home. Both of us are retired from Ft. Lewis, he drives a school bus now and this is summer vacation. Strange the places you meet someone you are so close to.

Down the "Great Wash" trail to the end (or Trailhead, for walking):
(This was only halfway up this outcropping)

Hanksville Junction. There is a fullsize convenience store inside that rock:

Southeast of Glen Canyon on Hwy 95. "What's a pretty girl like you doing standing out here in the heat?" Oh, keeping me from entering your 'Chipseal' process at 90-mph, thanks. Do you need some sunscreen?

Natural Bridges. Been there, done that, don't ever need to return. Nice private road through the park though...

Getting to Colorado on Hwy 141. If you see a sign like this. You will soon be grinning from ear to ear...

It was only 3-miles long, but sure beats the long straight roads getting to it.

First glimps of the "Rockies" near Ridgway on Hwy 62:

Hwy 92 from Sapinero to Maher, CO (I know I should stopped, but I wanted to get somewhere tonight) I went slow and had plenty of "LIGHTS":

Saw about 25 of these "Hoved Field Rats" all of them ran away from me before closing more than 100-feet. Do 'Deer Whistles' work, yeah I think so...

But, I won't bet the bank on it...

The next morning I woke up in Paonia...

Part five

 

[PacWestGS]

My POA Tour - Ride Report (Part six)

A new day (Thursday) a new Rally. The Top o' The Rockies (TOR) what a great time I had here. At first I was going to get my wrist band go for a local ride and leave. I'm glad I stayed for the whole thing, and will put it on my list places and things to do list again. A fantastic rally, good prices and friendly people abound...

John and John get to know each other over John Brase's ST. Tall John was new to BMWs after being a Hardly guy. He now rides a 1150GS and after this weekend he rides it better...

Myrle spent a lot of time talking to people when we weren't out riding. Sam in the red shirt had ridden up from Arizona for the Rally...

This was early Thursday, while you could still walk down the street. By Friday it was railing to railing motorcycles with just enough room to ride down one side, around the cul-de-sac and ride out:

A pair of '02s doing what they they do, and having a blast. This is partially up the Lands End Road Southeast of Grand Junction, CO off Kannah Creek Rd from Hwy 50:

Looking back towards Hwy 50: (at the end of the thin brown line was asphalt)

3/4s of the way up Lands End Road:

Myrle in the usual riding position for the day:

From the top looking back down: (Lands End)

One of the best non-paved roads we were on all day: (Mesa Lakes)

The next day, Myrle heads home from Gunnison, John and I went up over Ohio and Kebler Passes (each over 10,000 feet):

Heading out towards Crested Butte and Ohio Pass on Creek Route-730:

Crested Butte, CO:

John and I at Kebler Pass:

Matching Bookends. I told them in the morning when we were packing up, that I had hoped no dirt got off my bike, or they would be polishing for weeks. It was all good fun and all laughed:

Leaving Paonia on Hwy 133 towards Carbondale:

Part Six

 

[PacWestGS]

My POA Tour - Ride Report (Part seven)

After leaving Paonia on Sunday morning I rode up Hwy 133 to Carbondale and then east on Hwy 82 to Aspen. Following that through town and up over Independence Pass and down to Hwy 24 all the way to Colorado Springs. With lots of detours of course...

The Ghost Town of Independence, CO:

Independence Pass. 12,095 feet:

The switchbacks and drop off the Eastside of the Pass:

The results of having too much fun. Or the aftermath of following some slower cars with all kinds of "Fun stuff" strapped to the top of them. Either way, I don't like to follow:

Entering Victor, CO on the Gold Rush Loop Hwy 67:

Neat picture. That's Pikes Peak above the left mirror. I'll be up there next:

Old mines:

New Mines:

That's not a truck,,,This is a TRUCK!

Pikes Peak Observation Deck: (Lookng east over Colorado Springs:

Some nice fellow took my picture:

This was the "Peaks of America" Tour: So I went up the highest drive-able peak in America:

The way back down:

Part Seven

 

[PacWestGS]

My POA Tour - Ride Report (Part eight)

The next few days were hot, very hot. Kansas was over 112 degrees with wind chill, 122+ behind my oil-cooler and I don't know how hot I was. I had to stop about every hour and half for water, resoak the 'Cooling Vest' and drink rehydration fluid and every three hours for fuel. I don't remember peeing all day it was just evaporating off me all day long. I seriously asked myself why I was still going east, but I had come this far and I have delt with worse conditions while not having a good time; so I punched on through it. The rest of the trip felt cooler by some means of "PERSPECTIVE"!

I awoke at my friends house outside Colorado Springs. He's still serving as a Sergeant Major at 10th Special Forces Group (ABN). He was gone but his wife and I have been friends long enough to be welcome.

This is what I woke up to:

A great family (Just not mine):

Tony I missed you this time, but I'll be back...

This was the outside (clean air) reading after just stopping to capture the moment:

Ahhhhh, trees again... got through Kansas and made it alive to Missouri, whew!!!

I made it to St Louis and the MOA Headquarters: (Thanks Mary for the Grand tour):

Can you believe no one was there? For some reason they were all off to some rally in Vermont!!! Hehehe

No trip through St Louis would be complete if you didn't stop at the Arch. Even if it cost me a couple of hours of sweat and traffic congestion getting over the Mississippi:

I rode until stopping in Marion, IN for the night.

The next day I was seven and half miles from the most important stop on the tour:

The story is listed over in "My POA Tour" about the chance meeting with Bill's Parents and Bill (BE in IN aka Garth's Dad) as "Andy Rooney" would say, "Now you know the rest of the Story"

This is Bill leading the way to Vermont:

This was a fuel stop in the Adirondacks: (Shortly after a Turkey flew across my path):

The Adirondacks were beautiful. Hwy 8 was a great road and I enjoyed it so much I hardly took any photos. But I did stop a few times to get these:

A bridge over the Hudson River (It's awefully small up here):

Ahh, we made it... Camp Vermont (Courtesy Belg and Statdawg):

Belg and "Misty the Tornado Crusher":

Bill and his K100:

Part Eight

 

[PacWestGS]

I've gotta stop for awhile. Maybe a week. I still have the trip (Journey Home).

Doc

Wheewwwww

 

[PacWestGS]

My POA Tour - Ride Report (Part Addendum)

The MOA International Rally in Vermont was sadly for me a "Destination" not a transit point of interest. I was too beat to want to ride anymore. I certainly missed some fantastic views and roads up there. I've wanted my whole life to ride/drive through the Northeast, and I will just have to come back someday. From what I did see from "Crown Point Bridge" to Burlington "IT IS FLAT". But in comparison to Illinios, Indiana, Ohio and the parts of New York and Pennsylvania that I crossed or as a direct comparo to Ohio (Last years rally) Vermont is not "FLAT".

We got in Thursday about 5:00 PM or so and I had a message on my phone about where to find everyone, in the haste of registering and such I thought I had hit 77 (erase now) instead of 99 to save the coordinates so I called Statdawg and he answered, (I learned later that was the third miracle of the day). Chris came over and picked us up at the registration booth and delivered us to Camp Forum. Only not everyone was there...

I established camp and quickly headed off to the "Contributor's Dinner". Where I met all of the important people and others' that I already knew. Then back and over to the beer tent. I seemed to have spent allot of time at the beer tent over the next couple days.

I walked around on Friday seeing all the vendor displays, got my Pins and the one I had come so far to receive, it was what I expected and I was not dissapointed, I think the T-shirts should have been free to participants of the tour, but that's another thread that is going south faster than the tour went east and west.

I tried to rally the forum regulars during the Forum Frenzy (Fizzle) from 5:00-8:00 PM but there just wasn't that many available. I'm very happy to have met the ones that were there, you all know who you are, stand up and take a bow. I came to one conclusion about the one's who were there, the average age of the forum regulars is about 45 a good 17-years younger than the MOA average for owners...

I enjoyed the rally, the displays, the support from BMW NA and the Vintage Display, a lot of great bikes together in one place. Hope you all got to see that... I forgot my camera for most of the rally, and I'm not that kind of photojournalist. I learned in the Army, "What happens TDY stays TDY", well, the same thing applies in public places, you take a picture of something and one of your friends is with another one of his/her friends is somehow in the picture, then you post it and low and behold, that friend and their friend are not friends of the other's spouse, so when there is envolved I usually leave the camera packed up.

Saturday started out from the night before. I forgot the ratio 2:1 (Beers/Water) oh well. Not the first never be the last...

By the time it started really looking like a washout, I gave quick thought to getting my tent packed up while it was dry and getting back on the road. Good choice no matter how you look at it. I had minimum 3,200 miles back home. And I might just make it through Chicago on Sunday evening if I leave now... (I wasn't going to win the bike anyway)

I was leaving just as the first drops of rain started and was in New York before getting really wet.

Problem with rain and riding is you don't take any pictures, water and electronics don't mix, so everything stays packed up.

I took a nice route through New York (Factoryville Rd to CR-2 Rd, Corduroy Rd to Hwy 74) directly to I-87 then south to greater Albany. Got on I-90 and beat feet in the rain. I passed Gene Merritt, he passed me, back and forth, back and forth, eventually we had the same gas stop and talked about where to stop for the night. It was nice riding with you Gene, glad you made it home finally...

The next day was fairly nice so I'll go back to the ride-picture-ride plan.

I was making good time, and wanted to keep it that way...

 

[PacWestGS]

My POA Tour - Ride Report (Part nine)

Woke up in the sleeply little town of Dunkirk, New York. Contemplated riding down Hwy 5 and probably should have, but getting past Chicago still had a big appeal...

The skies looked like this most of the day:

Spent about $12.00 in Turnpike Fees:

Finally got south and west of Chicago (Frankfort, IL) about the time my stomach was telling me it was time to stop:

Crossing the Mississippi near Davenport, IA on I-80:

I made it to a place called Williamsburg, IA around 9:30 PM and called it a night.

The next morning I departed knowing I should keep an eye on my odometer. I did a grat job of doing that, and did a great job of celebrating 50,000 at 100 and taking a picture of that moment. Problem is a couple days later I deleted it off my camera so this is the best I can provide:

There was some tower for viewing the valley near Omaha, NE so I climbed up it, but this was best thing I saw for hundreds of miles. (No offense to the people that live around there, but wow that was FLAT!):

Crossing the Missouri River once more: (Into Blair, NE)

While at the rally, we had talked about Grafton, UT and ghost towns, and when they might start popping up in America. Well I drove through one. Herman, NE. only business in town that was still "OPEN" but had no business was the Tavern on the end of the street closest the camera. (with the soda vending machines):

A short ways past this town and around the corner from Tekama, NE on Hwy 32 was vehicle bone yard where old buses, trucks and everything else automotive comes to die:

It was so lonely out there I had to take a 'Self-Portrait' at 75-mph:

Wlson, WILSON, what are you doing here!!!

I went through 19 states on this trip, in sixteen of them I saw 'CORN' if I never see corn again it will be too soon:

I stopped in Norfolk, NE and visited some relatives over night. Did you know that Norfolk is the home town of Johnny Carson? I didn't.

The next day, up in South Dakota (Winner) I passed this old time "Drive In" movie theater, still active. It brought back lots of childhood memories from a different time and different place. They were all 'Cookie Cutter' designs and this one bore the same design. I spoke with the woman who has run the place for 49-years (her husband had passed away five years ago). She said she still made $600 last Friday showing the "New Adventures of Superman":

A while later my GPS directed me passed my Namesake town. I've seen a lot of Russellvilles and Russell this or that, but I had never my surname. Not much there, but there was a creek nearby:

Entering the "Badlands" from afar:

Much closer now: (It was 102 degrees)

Part Nine

 

[PacWestGS]

My POA Tour - Ride Report (Part ten)

You know how you know something when you know it?

Well, I got to Rapid City, SD by way of two lane roads (Scenic Hwy 44) and no traffic. I should have kept going straight through town and stayed to course (Hwy 212), but no I had to make a 'Left turn' and go back down into Hill City. You know what's near Hill City? I've been there before but in a cage.

Mount Rushmore, Custer and Crazy horse:

I could have seen "Devils Tower" but I didn't and now I was on a collision course with "Yellowstone NP".

This thing was starting to get old, not that I'm complaining, but I was starting to ask for rain...

Just some cool Interstate photos: (I saw allot of this picture for a very long time) When can I go again!!!?

Then there was this view: (Sunset over the Grand Tetons/Yellowstone)

Remember I said wrong turn? Well, I got to Sheridan, WY at night. Made it to Dayton and the "Nity Grity Dirt Band" was putting on a free concert everything in town was booked, full, or closed. I was hungry. Tavern owner said I could find food and lodging up the road about 45-minutes into the Big Horn National Rec Area. Well, I got the LIGHTS this might be fun. Off I go, climbing switchbacks in the dark of night.

I catch up to a slow 1-ton dually followed by Ricky Racer in a POS pseudo American two-door hatchback "Sports Car". Turn off the flood lights and wait. I'm not going supersonic to go past these people not at this time on this mountain. Finally the truck pulls off and lets (us) by, but Ricky wants to drag race the straights and passing zones and then creap through the 20-25 mph turns. I finally get tired of this and back off far enough to turn the PIAAs back on. He gets to straight-a-way and slowes just enough for me go around him, but now I'm going about 65-mph around the next corner. I had just enough time to switch the Xenon (HIDs) back on when along the side of the road is a 1,000 pound black cow. Did I say along side the road, he (it) was standing in the road and turning towards the inside of the lane. Hard brakes, swerve left, see a dozen more. Do I let Ricky racer drive into them or flash my brake-lights a few more times, I flash my brake-lights. I swear something less than the HIDs I'd be having beef tonight and every night for the next two-years.

I get to the Lodge, Closed. (10:00)

I get to the next Lodge, Sorry, just ran out of pizza, that's all we serve at this time of the night (10:30).

I was so PO'd at this point I just wanted to set up my tent somewhere and go to sleep. But, no I'm too amped now for that. I'm the only fool on the road up here, (oh by the way the Road is US Hwy 14 from Sheridan to Greybull. A most excellent road. I have no idea what was farther than 100 feet off either side of my lights,and there were some nice stars out over head). So, I just kept going up, over and down. I passed (opposite direction) six cages in 73-miles of switchbacks. I also saw at least 250 pairs of eyes looking at me like I was invading their eating hour, but only the cow was a direct threat to my existance on this night. Do 'Deer Whistles' work, again I think so, but I'm not a betting man so I always kept within my braking distance even through the 25-mph U-Turns down the mountain.

By the time I got to Greybull, I wasn't hungry, I was tired (11:45) that I got a room and fell asleep...

This is the next morning heading west for Cody, WY:

Got to Cody. The Hell's Angles were all over the place and so was the Law from about every county, city and bordering states. It was a mostly speed limit day everywhere I went.

But I was still hungry I hadn't had anything but a 'PowerBar' in the last 24-hours. So first order of business was ordering food:

I said I was hungry...

Left Cody north on Hwy 120 to Hwy 296 (Crandall Road) over the Bear Tooth Range) this was looking down the west side of 296. What a blast this was:

This sign is a little late and today it was 'False':

So many things and so many places I've been to as a kid in the back of the station-wagon, well now it's my turn:

One very nice thing about being a 'Disabled Veteran' "Golden Access Pass" or in other words; FREE:

Part Ten

 

[PacWestGS]

My POA Tour - Ride Report (Part eleven)

Yellowstone National Park (Not all of them but enough to satisfy)

Parts and Pieces of Yellowstone: (Between the thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy rain showers) (Again too many pictures to post, and some really nice pictures I thought I took but didn't damn camera)

Be careful what you ask for, you might just get it: (I kept coming full circle under this and a few lightning strikes were close enough I thought of getting off the bike)

After leaving Yellowstone I took the West Entrance/Exit and got on Hwy 191 N to Hwy 287 W Around Hedgen Lake and through the Earthquake National Park. Very fun, highspeed road. Posted speed limit was 65 or 70 I don't remember. Lots of big fun sweepers with lower caution signs I ignored:

Big Forest Fire burning Southeast of Missoula:

Part Eleven

 

[THREEFLYS]

Russ,
Glad to see you made it OK, the pictures are AWESOME! I'm WAY jealous, next year I'll at least make the CO rally. I think it's really special that you were abel to meet up with Bill and get him to the rally, thanks for helping out a fellow Hoosier. I leave Oregon on the 15th of August and go down to beautiful San Diego! I decided to keep the K bike so....I still need to make my Alaska trip, you up for it?
Chris

 

[PacWestGS]

My POA Tour - Ride Report (Part twelve)

I in Missoula before heading into the mountains again. I'm a quick learner. Choices choices, I could be home tonight about 1:00 AM by staying on the Interstate, or enjoy the last hooraa over one more pass and one more two lane experience. Take the road less travelled enjoy the journey...

Just coming over LoLo Pass on Hwy 12 between Missoula and Lewiston, ID:

Yes, it was getting dark again, yes, I saw some more 'Hoved Field Rats' and yes, this time I got somewhere to sleep before riding through the night.

Lochsa River Lodge: (on Hwy 12 west of LoLo Pass) (The other one burnt down so this is the new one):

The best kind of camping, Free (but don't ask):

Imagine a hammock strung up between the two smaller trees to the left:

I always forget to take a picture until camp is broken...

So I'm on my last day, I'll be home tonight...

I think this sign sums up the experience I had. There was another one later that said "Next 24 Miles" (US Hwy 12) along the Lochsa River and the Clearwater river:

Along the Lochsa River: (I had turned around for picture)

Along the Clearwater River:

I'm in Washington now, and taking some more 'Alternate' roads than the main ones. This is Starbuck, WA on Hwy 261 (The best collapsing building I saw)

WA Hwy 261: (Ever see the motorcycle commercial where the guy pulls up on a straight as arrow road, dismounts, pulls the road up gives a flip/toss and sets it back down and now it's twisty for miles? Well, I found it...

Finally that powder puff in the hazy distance is home:

Getting closer:

Part Twelve

 

[PacWestGS]

My POA Tour - Ride Report (Part thirteen)

Almost there,,,

Chinook Pass Dead a Head: (One more time)

Ahh, my backyard 'Mole Hill' (Mt. Rainier) I live 38-miles from it, unfortunately I'm still on the other side of home...

Even close to home I can still find fun. Dropping off the Southeast side of Chinook Pass is still fun...

One last look a "Peak of America" before this tour is over:

Home at last, Home at last...

Ending Mileage: 52,157

Some after pictures:

One tire, 9,000+ miles:

Part Thirteen

 

[PacWestGS]

My POA Tour - Ride Report (Part fourteen)

Breadcrumbs across America...

Western Track:

Hells Canyon Hwy 71:

Lowman Loop Hwy NF-24 ID:

Southwest Track:

Hells Backbone Bridge:

Colorado Track:

TOR Loops:

Lands End Loop:

Independence Pass:

Gold Rush Loop and Pikes Peak:

Central Plains: (The Blast Furnace)

Missouri River Track (Hwy 95 from Portland to Defiance):

Northeast Track and Back:

Adirondacks Track (Hwy 8):

Central Plains North Track:

Part Fourteen

 

[PacWestGS]

My POA Tour - Ride Report (Part fifteen) The END

Northern Plains Track:

Big Horn National Recreation Area (Hwy 14):

Bear Tooth Range Track (Hwy 296):

Yellowstone National Park Track:

Earthquake-Hedgen Lake Track (Hwy 287):

Northwest Track:

LoLo Pass, ID Track (Hwy 12):

Lyons Ferry State Park Track (Hwy 261):

Part Fifteen

The END...

 

[BELG]

Absolutely incredible :=) I think I'll have to borrow some of these routes when I head to Glacier :=) The pictures sure are enticing!

 

[tessler]

Doc,
I'm floored.

I've been waiting for this report (amazed at the speed with which it was readied and published) for weeks now, and as it's finally here, am tucking into it like a well-anticipated tome from a favorite author (and I haven't even yet gone into the Smugmug material: saving that for later!)

Fantastic work, my man. Photography. Routes. Captioning.

Bravo.