A tradition since...well, yesterday.

The Thanksgiving Day ride. There are many things to be thankful for and many to give thanks to.
Health, family, friends. Yesterday I was thankful that there was no snow and ice so I could still ride and thankful that I have a couple of friends who are crazy enough to brave the cold and hit the road. So Gary and Claw, I hope the turkey was great. I loved the ride.

On another note, I posted two poems today on Songs of the Open Road, these from Sorez The Scribe and Chopper Kate.

Why Wave?

You know that little hand wave that we give each other. Over at Hawgblog I just read one of the best explanations of that wave that I've ever seen. Check it out and see if you don't agree.

DS Harley Davidson Hawgblog

Great resource for those who love to ride

Check out Motorcycle Roads US . Info on great rides for motorcyclists provided by riders , sorted out by state and within the states, by regions. You could plan a fabulous ride across the whole country just using this info. Click on an intriguing highway and a map comes up along with rider supplied review of the ride and links to other sources of info for that particular highway. Also tells you by color-code what kind of ride it is . If you don't see your favorite ride you can submit the info and add to the growing list. If you've enjoyed some of these rides you can add comments about your own experiences. This is a cool site. Check it out.

Northwest Harley Blog

Another great site I run across recently, Northwest Harley Blog has the motto, "Whatever it is, its better in the wind". I like that. The post, Graying of America certainly reflects my own thoghts and reality. This Oregonian rider has it together. Check it out.

Where Is Maggie Mae?

Stumbled across a great web page, Where Is Maggie Mae? , a page by and about the travels of young Floridian who rides a Buell Blast all over the country and then writes about her travels and adventures on the web. Lots of great pictures from her journey here and I really like her spirit. She would be a lot of fun to have on a ride. Stop by and sign her guestbook.

Tincup/Jackson Ride

Rode with my Brother and Sister PV HOGsters through the mountains to Jackson, Wyoming and it was a heck of a good ride. These rides are always as much about the companionship as about the riding, but the riding is spectacular. We are fortunate to live here in the Northern Rockies where good rides lay just outside our door and and half hour on the road can put us into some of the most beautiful country imaginable. No major population centers immediately at hand either, so you can usually ride without the distraction of traffic.
Here's a picture taken on Teton Pass by a nice young couple from Massachusetts, also pictured here. To them, a thank you.


Like I said, the camaraderie can be just as important as the ride and I always enjoy riding with this group. They are real Brothers and Sisters of the Road. We mad one mistake on this trip. We picked up stray and our ride leader decided to allow him ride with us. This guy was all tats, attitude, and bullshit. He regaled us with stories of his biking prowess at every stop, but he wore a Big DOG vest and rode a Yo-mama Venture with bad pipes. Now I have nothing against Yamaha's but he managed to tell us several times why he wouldn't ride a Harley and cussed "rich yuppies" on several occasions. I rode tail-gunner and I take my responsibilities seriously so I couldn't run him off the road, although the thought occurred to me more than once.
The kicker came up on Teton Pass with the nice young couple who helped us out by taking our group picture. As we pulled away the young man was snapping his own pictures our group and Mr.Yamaha biker flipped him the bird. What an ass! To the folks from Massachusetts, if you read this, my apologies.

So Mr.Yo-mama, your tattoos, your bullshit, and your smart-ass attitude don't make you a biker. I'd much rather ride across the country with a pack of rich yuppie's who treat other people with respect and try to honor the code of the road, than ride one hundred yards with an asshole like you. Your wife was nice though. Go figure?

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The West is Burning

Fires, started by lightning in many cases and man in others, are burning all over the west. Idaho in particular is hard hit and a large brush fire is burning on the Arco desert near here. A lot of the fire is within the boundaries of the Idaho National Laboratory, a nuclear research facility along the lines of Lawrence Livermoore in Berkley and Los Alamos in New Mexico, although at last report none of the facilities or buildings at INL were in danger. One small community of about 50 people was in danger of being cut-off by fire last night but I haven't heard anything today. High temperatures coupled with low humidity and a lack of rainfall have caused the government to raise fire danger warnings to the highest level.

This hot, dry weather is great for riding but you need to be damn careful when you camp and stop to rest. Also, dehydration can be a problem and you need to carry and drink plenty of water. I usually freeze a quart bottle of water and toss it into the saddle bag as I leave. It melts gradually and stays cold for a few hours.

A wild fire swept through a canyon in South Dakota's Black Hills destroying a number of homes. With Sturgis only a little more than two weeks away this could be a concern for all headed that way.
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More on the fires from New West

Thursday, 7/19

Hope you all had a happy "Ride to Work Day." Since I'm not working right now, I thought the least I could do was go on a nice ride for those of you who were on the job.

My friend Steve facilitated this by contacting me yesterday morning to see if I wanted to go for a ride.Off we went on a nice, seven hour, three-hundred mile cruise through the mountains that took usp up over 7400 feet and into another state. Great ride, great companionship made for a great day.

Hot clear weather and beautiful scenery did not allay my concerns about our lack of rain and the high fire danger in our part of the country. Several range fires burning hereabouts with no relief in sight from the "hot and dry" forecast.

HOG meeting tonight and then on Saturday the HOG ride to Jackson. Looking forward to that one. Always love a chance to ride to that beautiful part of the world.

Ride To Work

Wednesday, July 18, is Ride To Work Day, dedicated to the proposition that much fuel could be saved along with more pleasant commutes if people just rode their motorcycles to work. I ride my bike to work every day the weather allows (snow, ice, extreme cold are stoppers). In my climate that means I can ride 8-9 months of the year. The only exceptions are days when I need to haul something, maybe three-four times a year. If you don't usually take the bike to work, Wednesday is the day to ride.

Keep on keepin on

Thursday Night Ride

I rode again with a group of riders that goes out almost every Thursday evening. A mixed bag of bikes, some Harleys, couple of Goldwings, Suzukis, a Yamaha or two. Mostly cruisers, but one "sport" bike in attendance. Fun to ride with these folks because they are all about the riding. The fellow who usually leads is 78 years old and purchased a brand new Ultra Glide last week. Stage One kit too. He still has the skills and the love of riding and told me,"The Harley keeps me young."

Now most(not all) of these folks are Mormons. Exactly how this heathen got invited to ride with the Saints is a long, and not particularly interesting story. Anyway, like I said before, they're about the riding. Are they "bikers" as defined by some narrow minded, self-appointed guru of the so-called "biker" lifestyle? Probably not. No tattoos here, not that much black leather, and lots of helmets. No stops every ten miles at biker bars (but good eats will draw them in). This is not the "show us your tits" crowd. Are they "bikers" as I define that term? Most definitely. They love the road and they love putting on as many miles as time and seasons allow. I have friends and ride with people who fit into both groups, but I make no bones about it. I'm in it for the ride.

On another note, we rode a loop last night that took us over Fish Creek Summit and then to Thatcher and Grace via the Bear River Valley. Beautiful ride of about 140 miles. I'm going to do it again solo in the next few days, take pictures and record the exact route so that some of you might be able to duplicate it. It's a ride that's easy to access from a couple of different directions.

Bike is in the shop today for 10,000 mile service. New plugs, etc. Actually I'm at 11,700 but this is the soonest I could get it in and have the money to pay for it.
No rich yuppie rider here.

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.

A Day Ride to Jackson- Swan Valley to Victor

In the Beginning,I went out to the Harley Shop on Saturday and waited around for a pick up ride. Sometimes people show and we take off. Not to be this Saturday. After about an hour I decided to ride over to Jackson, Wyoming for lunch. Here are some pictures and a description of the ride. Since I can only add about 4-5 pictures per post, there are six posts here. I put them up in reverse order so that you can start here, then scroll down to the previous post and so on, getting the whole story in correct order from top to bottom. Let's kick the tires and light the fires.
******

You resolve to not take the interstate at any point on the trip, so you leave Pocatello and ride to Idaho Falls on the old highway. Not exactly a challenging ride, but more interesting. In I.F. you pick up U.S. 26 East and head for Swan Valley, where your ride really starts. The closer you get to Swan valley, the better the scenery and the more interesting the road.



You're not alone on the road. These two intriguing ladies are astride a Heritage Softail. They also are heading to Jackson.



You round a curve, drop down a hill and Swan Valley lies before you. The bridge across the Snake River beckons. The road contiues to twist and turn into the small town of Swan Valley where you turn north on Idaho 32.



Idaho 32 is a wonderful motorcycle road with lots of twisties and esses. Road conditions and scenery can combine to reduce your speed. (This picture was taken along this route by accident but I like it.)



Eventually, as you head on towards Victor, you'll catch you first glimpse of the Tetons through the trees.



Continued

The Mink Creek/Arbon Valley Loop

"Honey, I'm going to put the bike in the garage..."

My wife smiled as I walked past. She knows me all too well.

I had ridden some this morning the parked the Road King out front and attended to some yard work and other things. Now, I fired up and headed down to Main. Turning right I headed out south Main toward Inkom, past the golf courses and Johny Creek and onto Mink Creek Road. This would lead me up into the Caribou National Forest, over the mountain and eventually down into the Arbon valley. I was on one of my favorite short rides.



Looking back down Mink Creek. The weather was nearly perfect, high seventies with no wind.


Looking up Mink Creek from the same spot as above. Beautiful road, little traffic and the only potential problem; wandering cows on the open range and the cow flops they leave on the road.


Two cowboys in a pickup pased by and waved as I was taking this picture. Theirs would be the last vehicle I would encounter for nearly twenty miles.


On some segements of the road through the Arbon Valley you ride with mountains ahead and behind, big sweeping curves followed by long straights and nothing but fields of winter-wheat or pasture on either side. The road is well maintained and in great condition. You can really roll.


The conjunction of Mink Creek Road and Arbon Valley Road. At this point, I had not encountered another vehicle for almost twenty miles. It would be another three or four before I would. At times along this stretch you wind through hills covered with sage brush and juniper trees and their essence fills the air. It is a fabulous place to be in that moment.
I'm now traveling on the Shoshone/Bannock Indian reservation.
Eventually, Arbon Valley Road intersects with the interstate about five miles West of Pocatello. You can either roll up onto the interstate or, as I do,turn onto county 30 and head back into west Pocatello, down Garrett way, turn onto North Main and then home.

"Did you put your bike away Honey?"

"Yes,I replied, "It's in the garage."


Distance from from front of house to garage: 62.5 miles (In about 50 miles of this, I likely encountered fewer than a dozen other vehicles.)
E.T. for putting bike in garage: 1hr,40m.
Things of note encountered along the way: One beautiful Blue Heron; a small Prairie rattler sunning itself on the warm asphalt; my soul.
Estimated E.T. to do same task tomorrow: It takes what it takes.

Keep on keepin' on

The Ten Commandments of Motorcycling

Today when I was out, I encountered numerous other riders. I waved at all, regardless of their rides. Thats been my standard procedure for the last 30 years. I'll stop to help any rider in need of assistance, regardless of the make of their ride. I love my Harley and I can argue it's merits with anyone, but most all of us on two wheels share a common love and we share common problems as well. We are all brothers and sisters on the road. Most of the people I waved at today, waved back. Most.
Thus, when I saw these, I could not resist. I picked them up over at Beatnik Biker,"A common blog for the uncommon biker." He got them from Guilty Customs,one of the coolest custom bike builders I've seen. They make affordable, old school style bikes. Check them out. Anyway, the commandments say concisely all of the things I've been trying to say in my rants here over the last year.

The Ten Commandments

1- The one true vehicle is the motorcycle , and thou shalt put no other vehicles before it.
2- Thou shalt not bow down and worship nor serve the God of Chrome; for, lo, he is a false god and will not get thy butt home.
3- Honor thy authorized dealer and the motorcycles they sell, and that thy days may be long and fruitful in the land of Riding.
4- Remember the weekend, and keep it open. For it is written, five days shalt thou labor, and for two days shalt thou ride thy bike, drink beer, and have some FUN.
5- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s bike, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his cute old lady.
6- From the throne of thy two wheeled contrivance, thou shalt hail all thy biker brethren no matter what they are seated upon (….even if it is a Triumph) - let those who ride decide.
7- Thou shalt not pass by nor turn away from thy brother biker who is in mechanical distress.
8- Thou shalt not pose. Verily, I say unto you, it is easier for a poser to pass his gold Visa card through the eye of a needle than to enter into the true fellowship of motorcycle heaven.
9- When riding thy sled on the Road of Life, thou shalt not whine nor snivel, and thou shalt not suffer to ride alongside those who do.
10- Park not thy bike in the darkness of thine garage, that it may collect dust for want of being oft ridden. Ride thy motorcycle with thy biker brethren, and rejoice in the spirit of the road and the wind.

Wyoming Thunder

(click on picture for full view)

If any of you want to participate in a good Wyoming ride this summer, here's an option to consider.

Cool Wind In My Hair

I had a lot of stuff to get done around here today, not the least of which was to finish reading a book for a two day seminar I have to attend starting tomorrow. I did my laundry, helped my wife in the garden a bit and then went for a short, 50 mile spin on the bike. I can't say it often enough...riding is good for the soul. Came out of town headed south on old highway 30 and the vista was stunning. We've had a fairly wet spring and the mountains and the sage-brush desert wear their greenest clothes. The wildflowers bloom everywhere and, although we were in the eighties again today, about half-way through the ride some storm clouds came up and a cool breeze began to blow. The smell of rain was in the wind but it was off and away in the mountains. A short, beautiful ride. I'm lucky to live in this time and place. I came up through a short series of "s" curves up through the lava beds and hit the straight on top with the throttle open. I couldn't help myself. I shouted for joy.

Keep on keepin' on

Double Whammy!!

The week ended badly. On Thursday an acquaintance, brother biker, purchased a new bike, rode it out of the shop and only minutes later put it into a guard rail at high speed. No helmet and currently hospitalized with serious head trauma. (Of course, I rode all day today without a helmet, but I'm different.)

This was followed by the news that one of my students hanged himself on Thursday night. Eighteen years old and a young man I thought was going to make it. I had talked and joked with him the day before. I work with troubled teens and John carried a large bag of problems, his family not the least of these, but this was out of the blue. Today's ride was needed to clear my head. As were the several beers and the companionship I shared with friends last night.

Riding can be cathartic. The wind, the sounds, the smells, the feel of the road and the immediate need to focus on the ride, all work together to clear the mind and center the thoughts. So I ride.

and I keep on keepin' on

It's all about ridin'

We hit the upper eighties for the first time this year. I went down to the Harley shop and hung around for a while hoping some folks would show up for a pick-up ride. Some did and we rode. We rode some back roads I'd never ridden before and we checked out some roads none of us had ever ridden before, just to see where they went. It was a blast and a great ride. Isn't that what this motorcycle thing of ours is really all about? Miles and smiles, friends, miles and smiles.

Keep on keepin' on

The week so far.

I survived the forced riding hiatus and picked up the bike at the shop on Tuesday after work. It was still only in the forties and low fifties on Tuesday and only in the fifties on Wednesday. On Wednesday evening the HOG folks decided to forego the usual Wednesday night dinner ride and instead we went out to a local soccer field and help with the Field of Heroes display which is set up there each memorial day. This year, well over 3800 crosses representing the dead servicemen and women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The numbers grow every day. I didn't have my camera that nigh but I will get some pictures tomorrow and post them here.

The weather has warmed and the forecast for the weekend is good. I'll probably have to give some time to the wife for some yard work but I will be riding as much as possible.
On Saturday we have a HOG family picnic which we have advertised for all Harley owners or wannabe Harley owners. You don't have to be a HOG member to attend. Then,On Monday we have our annual "Thunder Run" Memorial Day ride( I posted the itinerary here earlier) The POW/MIA riders, and others, including many HOG members, will ride to ceremonies honoring veterans in three different communities. Its a day long event, food and refreshments are provided by churches and other groups. Most of the riders are veterans or active military however, each year we are joined by many non-vets as well. I think this year that will definitely be the case, what with Iraq-Nam on everyone's mind. I'll get some pictures of these events and publish them as well.

Keep on keepin' on