Riding in the Cold

Friday after work it was as nice at it has been for several weeks (low 40's, sunny). I went home and jumped on the Road King for a spin. Satuday was a bit windy and cooler but I rolled out, jumped on the interstate and headed down to American Falls, about 24 miles one way. A bit nippy at 75 but hey, that's riding in s.e. Idaho. Today I was hoping for more but still down in the twenties and it was snowing like hell a little while ago. We shall see. Meanwhile, my most recent batch of home-brew, a dark brown ale, needs to be racked to secondary fermentation and I have other things to keep me busy. Spring can't be too far off can it?

Riding season begins? Well, maybe not.

I hadn't ridden for almost a month and I was getting a bit crazy, going out to the garage and staring at my bike, sitting in the saddle and making motor noises.The streets have remained snow packed and icy since well before Christmas. On Thursday and Friday it warmed enough to melt most of that ice and on Saturday at about midday I rolled out and rode for a couple of hours. It was wonderful. Cold but satisfying. The temperature was about 30-31 degrees for most of the ride and when I hopped onto the interstate and climbed up to 70mph it was a "bracing" experience. With my insulated overhauls and boots I was fine. I was hoping to go longer today but, alas, more snow fell overnight and the streets are unsafe again. Sigh!

My goal is still to ride here in SE Idaho in all 12 months of the year. I need only to ride next month to reach that goal, but I still want to ride NOW!

Another Day, Another Ride

I continue to marvel at the fact that we are still having ridable weather at this late date in November. Last year at this time we had ice and snow. The bikes were in the barn. Today I wnet for a great ride with four friends and it was beautiful. Cold, but sunny and calm, near perfect riding weather. With regular stops to warm up, I could have ridden all day. I hope this keeps up.

Riding in Idaho/Global Warming?

Although it has been overcast all day there has been no precip and the temp is up to sixty. I went out and rode for a couple of hours this morning. Put about 85 miles on the King, up over Bucksin to Rapid Creek, Rapid creek to Inkom, Inkom to Lava then back to McCammon for a cuppa joe and a gnosh. The over to Marsh Creek, down to Portneuf road and home. The temps were in the fifties, maybe high forties at the top of Buckskin and, although there is no snow evident. Higher up on the mountain tops you can see some white but I'm planning on riding for a while longer. By this time last year there was ice and snow and the bike was in the barn. Global warming/ climate change? Perhaps, and if there's an up side it's riding time. But the farmers and the ski areas need the snow and I have many friends who are chomping at the bit to get on the slopes. Not me though. I'll ride until it's just too damn icy and/or cold. Who knows, maybe a Christmas day ride this year?

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

November 17th, still riding

At this time last year we had ice and snow and the Road King was in the garage. Today it was up to 55 degrees and a group of us went over to donate $500 to the local food bank from our HOG Group. Only a few of us rode but it was good weather. Plan on riding again tomorrow and some of us are planning Thanksgiving Day ride. Short, probably only about 50-60 miles round trip but the weather is supposed to be good. Of course it's chilly. When I leave for work in the morning it is sometimes in the low twenties and has been below that a couple of mornings. I dress warmly and only have about three mile to go to get to work. By the time I get off it's usually in the upper forties, sometimes low fifties. A couple of weeks ago we were still in the sixties. No snow-packed or icy roads? Then its still riding season baby.

Have I mentioned that I love to ride?

I love it, absolutely love it. I love the feel, the smell, the taste, the sound of riding. It was about sixty degrees outside today and you couldn't have asked for better riding conditions. Especially in SE Idaho on the 4th of November. We have had consistently good weather for the last two weeks. (one day of rain but I rode then too). I hope it holds like this. Highs in the fifties most days and even the low sixty range, with sunshine and little wind. Some of my readers from warmer climes may find this weather a little chilly for riding but if you dress for it it is great. I hope it lasts until Christmas and then gets nice. Last year it was colder than this by now and the bike went in the shed about now. Not this year. I might make my goal of riding in every month of the year.
I ride to work each morning and it has been in the twenties most mornings, but I only have about three miles to go so I bundle up and take off. By the time I'm out of work, the temps are up and I can take a short ride before I head home.

I'm behind, A ride, a poem, and more.

Computer was down for about a week and that put me somewhat behind. I could have used my computer at work, but I don't really like to do that so now I'm a bit behind. But I'm back now an I will get caught up.

Or maybe I won't. The 'indian summer" weather is holding, temps in the fifties, sunny and I love to ride in weather like this. Bundle up a bit and hit the road. The only thing that really keeps me off the bike is ice and snow and The Old Farmers Almanac says we're going to have a dry winter. My ski-bum friends and farmers will hate me for this but, I hope that forecast is accurate. I want to keep riding.

Speaking of which, I had a great ride yesterday, rumbling down some curving local backroads. Sunshine, cool temps, a nice ride which, not surprisingly, inspired a poem which I posted this morning on Songs of the Open Road for your enjoyment and my own therapy.

I ran across a guy on this ride who has just purchased a new Fat Boy and he was really enjoying himself; big grin on his face, his young son on the pillion, less than a hundred miles on the new bike. I still have a grin like that on my face and I hope you do too. I hope we don't lose it. That would be a pity; to start riding just for the transportation. You ride for the joy, and even a hard ride can be joyful. Get out there and put the wheels to the road. Ride for enlightenment. Ride for your soul.

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.

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.

Grandkids, helicopters,Kalispell, Forest Fires, Poetry

I'm back at work now but before I had to report, I put in the last long ride of the Summer. I left on a Friday morn and pointed the Road King north to Missoula, MT, home of my daughter, her husband Brian, and most importantly, my two grand-children, pictured here.












It was a great ride . I spent all day Saturday with family in Missoula, a great town, and on Sunday I rode north to Kalispell, Whitefish and Flathead lake. Over the whole trip, both up to Missoula on Friday and then up to Kalispell on Sunday, hung a cloud of smoke. Both Montana and Idaho were on fire in various spots, particularly Montana. On Friday as I rode up along the Salmon River, a helicopter dipped down to within twenty yards of me as I rode. It dropped a large hose into the river, sucked up a load of water and flew away to drop it's load on nearby fire. I rode most of the day Friday and all day Sunday with a wet bandanna tied around my face to fight the smoke and ash. On Sunday just outside of Missoula, I passed through the "Blackcat" fire, with flames just a few feet off the highway. This is amazingly beautiful country to ride in but most of that beauty was obscured by smoke as I passed through. Still, it was a fun ride.




























On Monday, I rose early and headed back towards home, the long scenic route. At Drummond, I left the Interstate and took the Pintler Scenic Route which winds up into the mountains past Georgetown and beautiful Georgetown Lake and then back down into the old smelter town of Anaconda. The back onto the interstate for the twenty mile ride to Butte Harley Davidson and from there south to Twin Bridges, the historic old mining camp of Virginia City and on to the ranching community of Ennis in the beautiful Madison Valley, home of some of the best fly-fishing waters in the west. On to West Yellowstone MT, Island Park, ID and home to Pocatello. With an easy 1100 miles under my belt, I was off to work again on Tuesday. It was clear all the way home on Monday. Most of the smoke was gone and the weather was pleasantly mild. Here are some pictures from the Monday ride.

The smoky ride inspired a poem, Riding Through The Fire , which I've posted on Songs of the Open Road

I think you'll enjoy it.

Keep On Keepin' On

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

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.

Sunday Ride--Pocatello to Montpelier

You can follow this ride report by simply scroling down to the previous post. There are four posts.

Last Sunday, July 1, I went on a ride which took me on a loop down into Logan, Utah and home again. I started by headng out to Inkom, McCammon and beyond. This first picture from Marsh Creek Road above Inkom.


(Passsed throught the scenec town of Lava Hot Springs and snapped this shot of the Hot Pools there.


On over Fish Creek Summit on US 30 east. US 30 is a good road but carries a lot of truck traffic. Trucks heading for Montana and the Pacific Northwest leave I-80 near Little America, Wy, and cut across to catch I-15. They are making improvements on this route but you'l still run into a lot of truck traffic so be careful out there.

This road through Idaho folows the Oregon and California trails and there are many historical sites along the way.


Soon you'll arrive at the historic town of Soda Springs. On another trip you can turn here and head up to Gray's Lake, Star Valley, WY, and Jackson Hole.


But today we'll just head on down 30 to Montpelier. Stop here for a rest, a cold drink, and a chat with another Roadk King rider at the convenience store. You've come the first ninety miles and you're about to turn south.

(scroll down)

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.

VTwinBiker.com

Q-Ball over at VTwinBiker.com has published two poems of mine. There is getting to be quite a collection of Biker/Motorcycle poetry over there so check it out.

Keep on keepin' on

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.

Let's Ride!

I'm riding off this afternoon with some friends to Challis, Idaho. We're going to spend tomorrow and most of Sunday riding in the beautiful Salmon River country and mountains of central Idaho. I'm excited to go. My daughter Andrea is going along and she's excited too. I'll certainly post about it when I return. Might even find the inspiration for some poetry.

Keep on Keepin' On