AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

Hey Folks,

Playing a little catch up again here. Some days are longggggggggggg ride days and others are just sightseeing days. On the long days, it's shower and to bed.

We left Pulson, MT which is just at the south end of Flathead Lake early on Tuesday morning. Somehow Steve was able to talk the lady at the front desk of the hotel into doing our laundry in the hotel washers and dryers. Not only did she wash and dry it...she folded it!

As we left Pulson we took the east side of Flathead Lake which I think is the best ride up. It is lined with cherry orchards all the way up the lake.

When we started it was a little overcast on our end of the lake but, as you looked north you could see just a glimmer of sunshine. Almost like waking up and realizing you had forgot to pull the shade all the way down and the sunshine was just peeking into your room.

Clouds gave way to sunshine in about 30 mins. On our right was the Mission Mountains. Just gorgeous. The sun was already up and what few clouds were still left you could play the little game of "what do you see" with the shadows on the sides of the mountains. The mountains were like a painter's canvas and the clouds were constantly changing his mural as we rode up.

That thought gave way to the calmness of the lake. We had beat the traffic out of Pulson heading toward Glacier Park. Off to our left was the lake. Calm, clear and overwhelming in size.

It gave you the feeling of sitting on a back porch, a deck, looking over the lake or the mountains, an ocean chair with your favorite book, the morning paper, a hot cup of coffee...not talking, not listening.....just enjoying. It just so happened my cup of coffee was almost 900 lbs of HD. It was so relaxing. It reminds you of how lucky we are to live in America!



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We motored on up to Glacier Park and the Going-To-The-Sun Road. All I can say.....if you are planning to go this year....find something else to do. Five miles into the park we hit road construction. For those who have never traveled out west...road construction is best described as...new construction! They completely take up all of the road. What is left is MUD & ROCK! And if there were not enough mud already...the water truck will make sure there is before you ride over it!

Average speed for over half of the road was probably 10-15 MPH. OH....I forgot...IN THE FRIGGING RAIN! All the pull offs were full of road repair equipment. So, during the rain...you just sat there in it and let the mud go by. It was quite relaxing! NOT!

We finally got to the top. (22 miles in only about two hours). The rain subsided for about 10 minutes. Then it let go again. Full rain gear for the back side ride.

We cut out of the park and went on the outside around Hwy 89 and Hwy 2. It was an awesome ride. Awesome until we met "MAN IN A VAN!"

I will vote for any politician who will ban...minivans from National Parks and roads! We are on a perfectly curved and cambered road. Mr. California MiniVan Driver decides he is going to impress us with his Richard Petty driving skills going down the mountain. I am pretty sure his wife finally slapped some sense into him and he pulled off and let us pass.

Made it back to Missoula. Our plan was to go to Lolo, MT and spend the night. But, since I DIDN'T make reservations....all the rooms were gone. We stayed in Missoula which was PERFECT. Stayed at a La Quinta using some of my points. The check-in girl named Emily was great. If I owned a business I would love to have a 100 Emily's working for me. For those that know the La Quinta in Detroit...this is why I save my points for my bike trips. The one in Detroit and the one in Missoula is day and night. If you are every in the area stay there!

Wednesday:

Got up and headed toward Idaho. Rode out on Hwy 12. Steve and I both agreed...probably the most spectacular motorcycle road we have been on. The speed limit was 70 but, you didn't want to do that. It parallels a river all the way into Idaho.



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On every turn I keep saying..."this is this my favorite." Then another turn and I would go..."no this is now my favorite." Just imagine you were in a lottery. The lottery was the contestants of Ms America. And you could only pick one. As soon as Ms Alabama walks out you go "her." Then Ms Alaska and you go.."no her." Well that is the way it was. I finally made a choice. Of course I picked the one with the biggest.......................................................ripples! Get your mind out of the gutter! That is where the biggest trout feed!


We did make a stop at the Lochsa Lodge on Hwy 12. What a great place. We were told they had the best "blackberry" cobbler. And YES they did! It was excellent. That is where I met the new Viking Motorcycle Club! I think I will make them the rivals of the Cheese Head MC in Appleton! One married couple and a friend from MN traveling. Great folks. We stopped and had an "Ice House" moment on Hwy 12.



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We took a detour on Hwy 11. I am trying to find one word to describe it.....PERFECT! The first 7 miles was like a jigsaw puzzle. Straight up a mountain.



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I will rename this road...."FIREMAN BILL'S BIGGEST FEAR!"

I will tell you what...I am pissed off! I am sick and tired of Clark this, Clark that, Clark this. The town of Clark, Clark River and now frigging Clark Ranch:




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Well, I guess my moaning and complaning about Clark this and Clark that finally paid off. Those potato heads in Idaho finally came through for me. What a great bunch of people. I couldn't believe what they did for me:



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We made a stop at the Elk Horn bar in Weippe, ID! I missed that class on tack as well. It was the same semester as the one on "fatherly advice." I walked in and the whole bar just turned and stared at me. (OK, the whole bar consisted of 4 patrons and the bartender....work with me on the story) I just said the first thing that came to my mind..."I rode all the way from NC for a free beer. Who's buying it?" I got the deer in the headlight look for everyone. Finally, a guy at the end of the bar said..."I guess I will." The bartender turned her head and gave him the "what the hell are you thinking" look. He shrugged his shoulders and said..."the man rode all the way from NC we should at least buy him a beer." And he did. Steve and I both. Yes, we did reciprocate.

And as Paul Harvey use to say...."and here is the rest of the story"

Linda and Lori (twin sisters) were half the crowd. I am thinking they are third cousins removed from Peggy at the WigWam bar in NY. Some of you reading this will know what I mean! Every other word was "OH MY GOD, WHAT A MAN." Of course that was in between the smoking and drinking. Of course...my good buddy Steve just left me out to hang! He didn't have my back at all.

We got ready to leave and my ex good friend Steve suggest that the "twins" get in a picture with me. Off those frigging bar stools they came. And I was cornered, half nelsoned, caged like a wild animal, trapped, snared, collared, hooked, overtaken, nabbed, hog tied, knotted, fenced, faster than any two women I have ever seen move. I did my best to be nice. Then they both wanted to kiss me. Steve was eating it up. I said thanks and out the door I went. Almost as fast as the "twins" got off those bar stools.

More to the story....The guy who bought us the beer suggested a place about 10 miles down the road for a burger. Timber Rail. Excellent burger. As we sat and talked Steve, still gloating at his ability to put me in a pickle brought up the "twins" to the bartender. She quickly added her comments. They just showed up from no where. Clean a whole hotel for $5 an hour. I made the comment..."that is cheap." The bartender quickly gave me more detail. "One vacuums, while the other holds the cord! And then there is Terry. He dates BOTH of the twins and......well, you get the picture.

The best part of the whole story......Steve's camera had a dead battery almost. The flash didn't work and it was out of focus. Otherwise I would be more than happy to post the picture! Really.

Miss Millie:

The bartender at the first bar was called Miss Millie. Of course we had to find out why. An older guy at the end of the bar gave her the name he said. The Long Branch in Gun Smoke had Miss Kitty, Porter Wagner had Miss Dolly...so the Elk Horn had Miss Millie! It all seemed reasonable to me!



Thursday:

We got into Lewiston, ID around 7 PM Pacific time. Nothing fancy but, we were able to wash the bike. Filthy does not even come close to explaining how dirty.

It was 106 degrees in parts of ID yesterday. Every part we were in it seemed!

Got up and headed out for WA state. Ran into a very interesting guy at the gas station. Had a "trike" with a Pinto engine. Had over 500,000 miles on it. Warned us of the Washington State HP of giving tickets for non DOT helmets. Could not understand why he got one. Then he pulled out the 1960's football helmet. I will go out on the limb on that one.

Started up Hwy 12 out of town. I can't describe how gorgeous of a ride it was:




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The back roads of WA to get to Winthrop, WA were the best. It was the quickest 400 miles I have ever ridden. Just make sure you go out to dinner before 9PM. The town closes up then!

I will say this. It's a little disconserting when you turn on the road and the WARNING sign has numbers on hooks so they can change it daily on how many deer have been killed so far this year on the "next 25 miles of road." BTW...116 so far this year! I was glad to reach the Gardner Mt Inn!

Bumper Sticker of the day: (actually it's a bar sign from the Elk Horn bar)




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I just want to add one more note and I am going to bed...Steve and I both say every day just how lucky and blessed we are to be on this trip. And every day as I am riding...I am glad I have friends and brothers like Iceman and Strangeman still serving on Active Duty in the military keeping this country great as it is and FREE! We salute you Men! Please don't ever think it's not appreciated or taken for granted! Be safe!

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL:


O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for HEROES proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!


Rick (MDD)

SAD NEWS TO REPORT...

Some of you may have seen or heard about his already. Bruce Rossmeyer, owner of Daytona HD was killed today in WY while passing an RV. Ride safe my friends!

http://www.wftv.com/news/20229734/detail.html

Cut & Paste.