Alaska: Day 19 (23 June 09)
My friend Crazytrain (of ZZR1200 fame) has long said that, having ridden all over the country -- including awesome roads like Deal's Gap, Arkansas, etc -- that in his opinion some of the best riding in the USA is in western Idaho. All I knew of Idaho was that crappy Lost River region in eastern Idaho that I'd ridden with Greg a couple years ago. Swore I would never return. But western Idaho was reputed to be different...
I can say now that western Idaho is everything Crazytrain said it was. Just incredible. Very little traffic and hundreds of miles of beautiful sweepers following rivers like the Knife and Salmon. Beautiful country and fantastic roads. I took the new Tourance to the edge without ever feeling I was really pushing the envelope. Just an easy rhythm, left to right and back, over and over again, in a nice day of sunshine and blue skies.
At a gas station somewhere, though, I happened to notice a 1/2-inch cut in my front tire. Spitting on it, I watched as an air bubble grew very, very slowly. Not much of a leak, but I'd have to keep an eye on it. Tire pressure was still good for now.
With an early start (on the road by 7), I did an easy 564 miles of backroads, eventually stopping in Bliss, Idaho for the night. When I called home, the conversation went something like this:
bahwife: "Where are you, Brian?"
bah: "I'm in Bliss."
bahwife: "Yes, dear, I know how much you enjoy riding your motorcycle, but where are you?"
[rim shot!]
The Amber Inn in Bliss was great. Comfy bed. Cable TV. Free wireless. All for $40.
Tomorrow I'll head into Utah, slipping through Moab, then on to Ouray, Colorado and points south.
A small cut in my front tire. Haul Road damage or something more recent? Have to keep an eye on it.
Western Idaho. Nothing but curves forever.
The GS loved every minute of it. I was, indeed, in bliss.
I can say now that western Idaho is everything Crazytrain said it was. Just incredible. Very little traffic and hundreds of miles of beautiful sweepers following rivers like the Knife and Salmon. Beautiful country and fantastic roads. I took the new Tourance to the edge without ever feeling I was really pushing the envelope. Just an easy rhythm, left to right and back, over and over again, in a nice day of sunshine and blue skies.
At a gas station somewhere, though, I happened to notice a 1/2-inch cut in my front tire. Spitting on it, I watched as an air bubble grew very, very slowly. Not much of a leak, but I'd have to keep an eye on it. Tire pressure was still good for now.
With an early start (on the road by 7), I did an easy 564 miles of backroads, eventually stopping in Bliss, Idaho for the night. When I called home, the conversation went something like this:
bahwife: "Where are you, Brian?"
bah: "I'm in Bliss."
bahwife: "Yes, dear, I know how much you enjoy riding your motorcycle, but where are you?"
[rim shot!]
The Amber Inn in Bliss was great. Comfy bed. Cable TV. Free wireless. All for $40.
Tomorrow I'll head into Utah, slipping through Moab, then on to Ouray, Colorado and points south.
A small cut in my front tire. Haul Road damage or something more recent? Have to keep an eye on it.
Western Idaho. Nothing but curves forever.
The GS loved every minute of it. I was, indeed, in bliss.Labels: Alaska, motorcycles
posted by Brian A. Hopkins at 8:21 PM
2 Comments:
Brian, did you make it to McCall, ID? I fly there all the time in my Maule. We back country fly and camp into the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness and base out of McCall for fuel and supplies. Always wanted to ride that area, but believe it or not the flying is even better than the riding!
Went right through there, James. Fantastic ride on Hwys 12, 13, 55, etc. The Hell's Canyon area was really nice. Tons of folks fishing for salmon in the Salmon River. Saw fish being pulled out as I rode by without particularly looking for it. Fly fishing and motorcycling ... probably a great combination.
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