Back Home Again

Returned Sunday evening from three days of camping and riding up in the West Yellowstone,MT/Island Park,ID country. Had an absolute blast. Only four of us went up early and camped and it was a very relaxing and rejuvinating experience. Already making plans for next year. On Sunday we were joined by about a dozen friends and together we rode to Quake Lake ( a lake created on the Madison River by a 1959 earthquake in the Yelowstone area--28 people died in the flooding) and other points of beauty and interest and then back home again.

On Wednesday I will ride to Boise for a gathering of my fellow teachers and writers from the 2005 Boise State writing project. Its 230 miles by interstate and 300+ by the scenic route through Sun Valley. I'll be taking the scenic route.

The Three Legged HOG

Several riders and I left Friday afternoon to Ride the first Three Legged HOG Challenge. The three legs come from the three Eastern Idaho chapters that were involved. The Magic Valley Chapter from Twin Falls, the Grand Teton Chapter from Idaho Falls, and my group, the Portneuf Valley Chapter. We all gathered for a meet-and-greet at the Challis Hot Springs resort on the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River. Some camped at the Hot Springs campground while others took advantage of more luxurious accomodations in the nearby town of Challis. My daughter Andrea and I shared a tent.

Saturday Morning after breakfast, about forty bikes staged in Challis and then broke into two riding groups. The Magic Valley crew rode north to Salmon and on up into Montana and then returned. The other two chapters headed west and followed the river down to the Beautiful Stanley Basin below the Sawtooth Range. The is amazing country, equal in beauty in my opinion to the Tetons and Jackson Hole in Wyoming and, while it's not exactly empty, the Stanley Basin does not suffer the heavy tourist traffic of Jackson. After a rest stop in the small town of Stanley ($4.06 for premium) we rode on for a brief stop at beautiful Redfish Lake, then to Smiley Creek Trading Post for lunch. (highly reccomended--good inexpensive food and excellent service). From Smiley Creek we rooled up to Galena Summit where we stopped to enjoy the view. You can see the headwaters of the Salmon from Galena Summit. We then rode down to Ketchum,Idaho and Sun Valley where we mingled with the super-rich for a couple of hours. Then back along the same route to Challis. All of this ride, about 240 miles round trip, rolls through some of the most scenic country in the U.S. with enough curving, winding road to satisfy any rider.

That evening we all gathered at the Hot Springs campground for socializing, cold drinks and a feast of barbecued beef brisket, chicken, and all the trimmings. Needless to say we all had a good time.

Sunday morning we were up and after saying goodbyes, our group went to breakfast in Challis and then took the beautiful ride north to Salmon where we cut back east to Leadore and then across the Northern end of the Arco desert (only bad part of the ride--horrible crosswinds in ugly country) after passing through appropriately named Mud Lake, we jumped on I-15 and headed south for Home. Late lunch in Idaho Falls, then back in Pocatello around six. Altogether we rode about 716 miles. We made many new friends, saw some great country and enjoyed the freedom of the open road, and that friends, is what it's all about. I'm posting a few pictures here.

I Rode the Three-Legged HOG

Just returned from a 720 mile ride with a few of my friends and bros in the mountains of central Idaho. It was a fantastic weekend of fun. I'll offer more details later. Right now I'm still absorbing and recuperating. I'm a bit tired. Here's couple of pictures of some of my friends against the backdrop of the remarkable Sawtooth Mountains.

Sonic Night

Last night was Sonic night for PV HOG. The usual suspects met for food, conversation, unofficial bike inspections, etc. These weekly social gatherings are a big part of HOG for many of us. After about an hour and a half some of us saddled up and rode the Mink Creek/Arbon Valley loop. It was in the nineties yesterday, but by this time it had cooled and we had a beautiful ride. A big cat crossed the road in front of us at one point. Although there are plenty of mountain lions around here, this wasn't big enough. Probably a bobcat.

Tonight our monthly HOG general membership meeting takes place. We will finalize plans for this weekend's Three Legged Challenge ride up to Challis Hot Springs. My daughter Andrea is going to take the pillion seat for this one and we're going to share the tent. I'm happy to have her along. This will be her first longer ride. Also on tonight's agenda, planning for our part in the annual POW*MIA awareness rally in July. Also coming up, the Mountain Man Run, an all male ride and three-day camping excursion to Island Park, West Yellowstone, and Quake Lake.

Keep on keepin' on!

The Idaho Monsoon Season

June can be a really wet month here. Today it has been raining continuously, sometimes fairly hard, all day long. Temps have been only in the forties. Not exactly good riding weather. That sucks because today was really my first day off from school. Although school finished last week, I was attending a teacher training seminar on Monday and Tuesday. That out of the way, I was looking forward to doing a little yard work and then going for a nice ride, but it was not to be. Rained out!

All was not a loss. Just recently my HOG chapter's webmaster quit and left the website needing some attention. I volunteered to take over as webmaster since I'm already doing the job of newsletter editor and the two seem for fit together well. Spent most of the day revamping the site, making some changes, putting in a few new and different features and such. You can check it out at http://www.portneufvalleyhog.com.

The forecast is for more rain tomorrow but then improving for the weekend. I certainly hope that holds true. I'm going on an all day river float on the Snake River on Saturday with a few teacher friends; much more enjoyable when it's not raining.It would be nice to be able to ride on Sunday too.

Wednesday nights during the riding season are our HOG Sonic nights. We gather at the drive in for food, conversation and a pick-up ride. Doubt that anyone will be out there tonight. Currently raining and forty-four degrees with a 13 mph wind. Brrrrrr! I think I'll watch a movie.