Ride Report

 

We got up relatively early and departed while the clock still said am!!!

Bugger it we thought, we're not gonna blast it east on I90 so we took WA27
that becomes 278 and then took a right to US95.

Stopped in Plummer had a sandwich and a cup of coffee.  Then I
looked at the map and was sorely tempted to head for a road that RE had
written about (WA129) but after some thought figured that it was too far out
of our
way.  We continued down on US95, nice road great views and little traffic.
Mary was inspired enough by the time we reached Moscow to write the
beginnings of a new short story so we pulled into a gas station with some
benches out front.

We were off in the direction of Lewiston again and stopped at an overlook
for spectacular views.  What caught my eye was the Old Spiral Highway, it
was begging out to be ridden though not perhaps on Miles.  We took the more
direct US95 down to the valley floor and picked up US12 heading east.

The bends are long sweepers with no need to get off the throttle, nice views
of the river.  We stopped in Kamiah at the High Grounds Cafe for some
refreshment.  I had a vanilla milkshake that was kickass.  The cafe is just
a tiny drive up to the window shed.  We parked and went up to the window and
ordered.  A few moments later we were sat under the shade of a tree at a
table and the waitress brought our drinks over.  Very peaceful, very
refreshing.

Some way past the junction with Selway Road US12 gets really good, all the
way up to the top of Lolo Pass.  Ocassionally we would drop down to 50mph
but most corners were in the 60mph region (and above).  We did need to get a
bit of a wriggle on as we didn't want to be stuck on the mountain when the
sun went down.  As it was most of the valley was in shadow so we pushed on
with a lot of enthusiasm <seg>.

About 10 miles from the pass we pulled over to get some gas at a resort.
Just as we pulled off the highway we spotted three white tail deer.  I
stopped and Mary started videoing and snapping pictures.  We had hoped that
we would be able to stay the night but the place was full.  We filled up
with gas and carried on hoping that the resort nearer the summit would have
vacancies.  Once we reached the summit and crossed into Montana the curves
disappeared and we were flying, whilst keeping an eye on the wildlife.  When
we reached the resort it was closed, after all it was Monday wtf?  This
meant carrying on down to Lolo itself.  My concentration was brought sharply
into focus when I saw the first of several signs purporting to be Moose
Crossings!!! How the hell does a Moose know to cross in particular places?

We arrived in Lolo, Mary spotted the Lolo Creek Steak House.  We stopped for
food.  Damn fine food in a beautiful log building.  Inside were many stuffed
animals on display.  Some day I'd like to live in a house constructed from
logs.  During dinner we booked a room at the Days Inn in Missoula, same
place I stayed in last year.  The room was fine apart from a noisy fridge
keeping Mrs Aitch up.

The end.

Cheers

Aitch
#137

 


<snippage>

Unless the posting chronology is skewed, youse guys did Lolo Pass and stayed
in Lolo. Bear is in Gillette, WY, apparently on I-90. The guy is finally on
a real Touring bike and traveling with a laptop. Now we've got to work on
his choice of roads. Hmmm, maybe he stopped in Gillette thinking they'd have
cheap razor blades...

112

 

TL Mitchell wrote:

Wore 'em out on his head no doubt.

 

On 8/24/2010 6:49 PM, Johan Rossi wrote:

 >>

Heh,heh! Back to shaving 4X a month for the first time in a very long
time. Just not the same spot on my head. <g>


--
^::^ AH#120
(o)
BEAR

 

On 8/24/2010 12:36 PM, TL Mitchell wrote:

I saw that! <g>

I have AAADD... really means I can't remember more than three things
because I get distracted. The first two AA mean 'Age Augmented' well,
maybe the other AA also. <g>

Sitting in a little 'Super 8' in Luverne, Minnesota as I type this, 507
cold, wwiinnddyy (s)miles. <g>

--
^::^ AH#120
(o)
BEAR