WeSTOC 2009 - Day 1

It had been so long since I worked that I forgot the combination to my locker in Helena... not right away... when I tied up I remembered it. The next day I could not get the damn thing open. An old peoples moment. Ended up cutting the lock off. Leaving my locker unlocked and returning home. What a day it was. I fixed the A/C on my Helena car. Let it idle forgetting it doesn't like that. Sure enough it loaded up and quit in the Bank parking lot so I left it there telling them I would retrive it in a few days.

THEN, the RR gave me the week off. I had requested it ages ago for WeSTOC but didn't really think I would get it with summer vacations. The tunnel cave in gave every one plenty of time off this summer so the RR was able to spare me. No one else wanted the time slot so I got it. I'm broke but had 5 flex days left.

After Rick passed away it makes me live a little ( a least for awhile until I run out of $$$$)

So I am riding his bike to WeSTOC. When I was sick myself it changed me a little but Rick was so close too retirement. What a shame he never got to enjoy his retirement.

I left Billings and rode to Helena. Stopped at Walmart and got a new lock for the locker. Went down to the RR, locked the locker... got the keys to the car out of my pants that were hanging in the locker. Rode to the bank. Started the car, it fired right up. Drove it the few blocks to the motel the RR uses. Walked back to the bike. Left Helena... forgot to get gas. Got gas at the Montana City exit. Rode to Butte on I-15 then on south to Divide then over to Wisdom. Had a nice steak sandwich and salad at the Big Hole Cafe in Wisdom... was that wise?... yes it was! Very good. Pretty waitress... her boss is kind of a dick. I used to wait tables. She did a good job. I left her $5

I ended up in North Fork, ID... I'm on a good pace even after the detour
My cheapo motel that Gene and I stayed in after WeSTOC Kimberly remodeled and went up to $73... very nice though, and lightning fast WiFi.

I borrowed some old towels from the motel, and cleaned Rick's bike up really well. No more bugs!

PHOTOS HERE: (just a few) go to WeSTOC 09

GARMIN PLAYER DAY1 HERE <-- this is cool! but after the fact. Follow along with SPOT real time here

Enough is enough

The never ending coverage and attention of the news media and public about the death of Michael Jackson reveals the shallowness of our value system in this country.

This puts things into perspective:

While the focus today, tomorrow and for the next God-knows-how-many-days will be the death of a pop culture icon; while many will mourn, wail and quite literally make fools of themselves over it and while as many will speak endlessly about it, allow me, if only for a moment, to remind us all that others have died this month; others whose lives were cut short; others who leave behind loved ones and whose families will dearly miss them; families who'll suffer with much more dignity and honor than we'll be exposed to on the tube in the coming days.

Yes... it's true... we've suffered a great loss... but forgive me while I tell you that I'm not talking about the king of pop music.

These American military members died in Iraq this month:
Sergeant Justin J. Duffy
Specialist Christopher M. Kurth
Specialist Charles D. Parrish
Lance Corporal Robert D. Ulmer
Staff Sergeant Edmond L. Lo
Sergeant Joshua W. Soto
Captain Kafele H. Sims
Specialist Chancellor A. Keesling

And these members of our U.S. Armed Forces died in Afghanistan this month:
Sergeant Jones, Ricky D.
Specialist Munguia Rivas, Rodrigo A.
Command Master Chief Petty Officer Garber, Jeffrey J.
1st Sergeant Blair, John D.
Sergeant Smith, Paul G.
Staff Sergeant Melton, Joshua
Sergeant 1st Class Dupont, Kevin A.
Specialist O'Neill, Jonathan C.
Chief Warrant Officer Richardson Jr., Ricky L.
Specialist Silva, Eduardo S. Lance
Corporal Whittle, Joshua R.
Major Barnes, Rocco M.
Major Jenrette, Kevin M.
Staff Sergeant Beale, John C.
Specialist Jordan, Jeffrey W.
Specialist Griemel, Jarrett P.
Specialist Hernandez I, Roberto A.
Sergeant Obakrairur, Jasper K.
Staff Sergeant Hall, Jeffrey A.
Private 1st Class Ogden, Matthew D.
Private 1st Class Wilson, Matthew W.

the above was forwarded to me by one of the guys in my motorcycle group

BearSTOC - SPOT locator - Mr. Gadget

Looks like the BearSTOC ride may be wet...

A co worker calls me Mr. Gadget.

Well, I have a new one. It is so cool.

It is a SPOT locator.

To follow along our ride click here

ST report - we "hoist a glass" to Rick

Yesterday I returned from Calgary after attending ST rider "Starfighter" Rick Wilson's "Hoist a Glass" at the Flight Deck Club near the airport in Calgary. I'm really glad I went. Good turnout. It was a bittersweet thing. Rick passed away recently and all his many friends been dealing with his passing. There were a least 150 people at the Flight Deck.

I did enjoy listening to Rick's F-104 buddies talking about their Air Force experiences in Germany. And it was not surprising to hear how well respected he was in the Canadian Air Force and at West Jet.

On the way home I stopped in the little Air Museum in Nanton, Alberta. I signed the guestbook thanking Rick for his service to his country.


I put the pics from the trip in the BearSTOC 2009 Memorial Ride folder on my Smugmug site.

ST Ride report - one more time

Today, June 2, 2009

I'll head for home via US 12 from Kamiah to Lolo and from Lolo whichever route suits my mood


Pics for today start here

Left Kamiah at about 0930... breakfast as usual at Lowell... 45min delays for construction... they are putting in culverts. The construction lasted for 23 miles... Round 3 Lolo pass road today (TUE)

I rode Lolo pass road round 1 westbound on FRI... they all took a day off as one of the foreman was killed off duty on his ATV... the workers went to the funeral... I rode round 2 (SAT) eastbound it wasn't an issue, they don't work weekends

After the construction ended at MP111 and after I passed 2 big trucks and 3 motorhome and about 4 cars I only overtook a couple of cars even though I averaged about 70. A soda at Lochsa Lodge, then didn't stop again 'til Missoula when I put in the Tourmaster rain liner... it was getting cool and spitting rain.

I didn't have a close call the entire trip but a lady in a cage managed to cut me off twice in Missoula... it wasn't close but I suspected she just wasn't paying attention so I just turn into the McDucks after she changed into my lane the second time.

I had caught up to an FJR rider at Lolo . He and his buddy were from Salt Lake... they were headed for Seeley lake. Good luck... it was already getting cold.

I hated to do it but I got on the I90 eastbound for Billings. At Drummond, I could not help myself and turned south onto Hwy 1 for the Pintner scenic route. Downright cold up on top of the 6400 foot pass... 42F and starting to rain harder.

Gassed up in Anaconda. GPS showed 249 miles to home. Intended to not stop until Billings but it was raining pretty hard at Bozeman and getting colder yet. I got off at the Bear Rd exit, slid under the overpass and put on the aux. rain gear. Finished the next 130 miles in the rain arriving home about 845pm... and the bike was nearly out of gas... running 80 or so when the pavement was dry it only got about 38mpg.

I was chilled and went inside, Maggie had Lasagne waiting... I started the gas stove and turned the hot tub back up to 102F. We turned it down to 85F so Connor can use it as a pool. He loves the water.

Miles Today - 505 - MAP

Miles for the entire trip - 2804

ST Ride - ID 3 & P1 a 48 rating

Monday June 1, 2009

Last night I rolled into Trout Creek think of pitching the tent on the RR right of way back a ways. I stopped to get a pint of milk and spotted a ST1300 across the street at a motel. Walking is still an issue but I hobbled over to ask the guys about the rate. Really nice Canadians again. One on a ST1300 another on a Ducati 1000 and two more on Victory's

Emphasis of today's ride was Highway 3 the White Pine Scenic Byway from the Cataldo Mission (left)to Bovill.

At Bovill, I started up the hill toward Elk River... a cool little town as I remember but I was unsure if the road from Elk River to Orofino had been paved. I stopped in the driveway of the nicest guy. Bob Allen came out to the end of his driveway with the most friendly manner. We talked for 45 minutes... imagine that. His hometown is Kendrick, just southwest a bit. He told me to go to Kendrick and at the bottom of the hill turn left and take the P1 over to the Dam (file photo from WeSTOC 2003) and on into Orofino. I rode down to the intersection and took some pictures at the old RR crossing of the wild flowers and Bob's place and his big red barn. His little 44 acre farm was once the dairy. He is selling the place and splitting the property to build a campground up above the house. There is a circle drive that will be perfect. I followed a logging truck full of Cedar logs that reminded me of my Son-in-law who makes Cedar furniture. He'd kill for a load like that. I think Idaho logging marketing needs a new catch phrase - "got wood"?

What a ride.. a canyon of trees initially but more pristine pavement like the north end of hwy 3. A fantastic road has just been completed down into Kendrick. The town has seen better days as many here have in the logging area .

I'd love to fix up this old place in Kendrick, ID. People were very nice here too, I see where Bob gets it. And old couple sitting out on the front porch waved from their main street home. I stopped in the grocery store for my usual chocolate milk... seems I just missed the famous Pioneer Locust Festival... no, I didn't ask.

I didn't turn left as you can tell, but rather rode into town to find the RR depot as there were obviously tracks here at one time. A sad example of what is happening to this once a part of Americana, the Kendrick depot. A nice new campground with the cleanest bathroom I've ever seen... I hated to do do!

Leaving under Bob's advice, I followed a school bus up the 8% grade of P1 and up onto the rolling hills of Idaho. It reminds me of Iowa with the big barns and all the old buildings falling down artistically. One of them was an old house with volunteer yellow roses. A lady knew exactly what I was doing when I stopped to take the photo. Continuing on toward Dvorsack Dam (see WeSTOC 2003 gallery) and up onto a high hill overlooking a Switzerland like valley... beautiful... Bob wasn't kidding.

start of day pics click here

308 miles today - MAP

ST ride report - the ST Mother Road... both ways!

Good news Bad news

Becky's Burgers is no more in Orofino.
Shakes a still very good but in a Styrofoam cup

Sorry to mislead you guys but I rode the ST Mother road west today...

359 miles including the very enjoyable side loop to Weippe
although next time I'll go to Weippe and back without going to Grangemont... the road is rough

Hi temp 92F in Orofino, ID.
min alt - 1200 ft in Orofino max 6200 Lolo pass

I'm in Kooskia, ID now... gonna ride it east tomorrow... then either go home or thru Glacier... my foot hurts... whaaaa... but worse than that Maggie has a bad cold... my trip my be shortened yet again

Click here for all the photos of the day


captions on the picture complete.... and yea there are too many but smugmug isn't webshots, so enjoy.

ST Ride Report - to Yaak and Back

Sunday May 31, 2009


OK, it may be time to explain my Motorcycle Road Rating System (MRRS)

10 points for each of the following categories

1. Road surface 1=poor 10=stellar
2. Sweepers / Twistys
3. Lack of LEO's
4. Scenery
5. Traffic level

Highway 37 from Eureka to Libby, left, Montana is hands down the best Motorcycle Road I've ever been on

1. 8
2. 8 sweepers, but not many twistys
3. 10
4. 10+ Blew me away, it looks like B.C. here.
5. 10+ I met maybe 12 cars in over 70 miles
46 total

to compare examples, Beartooth highway gets 2, 10, 3, 10+, 1 = 26
Yellowstone Park get the same.

Anyway, the ride yesterday was the best overall motorcycle road I've ever been on.

My route today was - Hungry Horse to Eureka to Libby to Yaak to Trout Creek.

At the turn off to Thompson Falls, I ran into Mark McVie, a FJR rider, he suggested we run up to Yaak Falls. Great road... 508?... anyway, he turned around at the Falls to go home in Sandpoint and I went up to the little town of Yaak. Had lunch with Patrick and Celeste who were friend og Mark's. Then started for Thompson Falls. The Dam road was paved and I am glad I went over there. A immaculate park at the dam site. I ended up in a motel near Trout Creek, MT

Amazing ride and the weather was fantastic... I could not have had a better day. The motel here has an ST13 rider with his 3 retired buddies... all from Alberta but I'll not hold that against them. I think I've been invited to ride south with them. My planned route id Thompson Falls to St. Regis to Cataldo to St. Maries to Orofino.... that's right, I'm gonna ride US12 again

The rest of the photos.... click here

Todays route

View Larger Map

ST Ride - East on the ST mother Road with Hoot

Left Kamiah and had breakfast as usual at the Wilderness Cafe. An FJR rider showed up and came to an abrupt halt... turned around and asks me, do I know you. I can't see anything but his eyes so.... what.

Turns out it is "Hoot" Gibson a coworker of mine. I made a run from Missoula to Spokane in 2004 with him. We ride up to the Lochsa Lodge and have lunch, then separate as our style is so different. I stopped at the junction of US12 and US93, made a call home and waited for Hoot. Nice guy, I enjoyed the company. It was his idea to take pictures of the river rafters.

Route:
East on the US12 Mother road with Hoot Gibson then on to Hungry Horse
293 miles - MAP
pics of the day start here

ST Ride Report - Drummond again

After a late start from Billings, I made it to Drummond.... seems like I end up in Drummond. They roll up the sidewalks so I settled for a greasy burger at the Frosty Freeze. The Cafe was closed at 8pm. Two cowboys, one with an eye patch, told me, "she make a pretty good burger up there at the Frosty Freeze"

They were right. The old gal that runs the place offered to let me tent "by her pond"

So I did

ST Ride Report - Gonna try it again

UPDATE MAY 28, 2009
Gonna try it again...

After a couple more days of driving poor sick Maggie Crazy and the realization that I can do nothing for her I am going to GO RIDE again

I'll do at least McDonald Pass, Lolo pass, Glacier going to the sun, then back home.
4 days maybe... if the Canada forecast improves then I have my passport

I'm off work 'til Jun 17 with this foot injury, I'll make sure not to rub the left foot on the asphalt!

Click here for all the photos

ST Ride Report - the Burwashout

May 23 and 24, 2009
The trip to the Burwash Strawberry Farm in Washington was quite literally a washout. The forecast called for good weather all week all the way to the coast. I was rained on into Virginia City, spent the night in the tent and then drowned for 6 hours on the way home yesterday. I gave up and headed home after hitting a wall of water on Pipestone pass. The bike didn't hiccup. I was very aware that I was riding on the very same tire off Will England's bike when he crashed in the rain.

Early in the trip, before the rain in Bozeman, I did manage to catch the match of my tennis student Thomas. He and his partner won the State Double Championship. Thomas is a junior and his partner Joe is a sophomore. They should do well next year too!
http://billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/05/24/sports/local/18-prepseniors.txt

Martin Burwash is a farmer and terrific black and white photographer and a railfan writer. I met him in Helena as he was doing an article about our RR for Trains magazine.

Go: http://ramblingwest.blogspot.com/

I did some black and white photos myself on this trip.... interesting with the stormy skies.

For all the photos click here.... pace yourself!

ST Ride report - the plan

Original post May 22, 2009

As you guys probably know, I've been unable to work as it is difficult to walk with a injured achilles tendon.

But I have STD... Short Term Disability Ins.

I can get around well enough to ride and I'm going stir crazy so I'm gonna GO RIDE

Any suggestions, accomodations, etc?

I plan on spending TUE-WED next in Burlington, WA working (observing) on a Strawberry Farm (a buddy)

The planned route is:

View Larger Map

Less than 3

Less than 3 years 'til I retire. I made a resolution the start getting fit for my retirement trip but I'm on injured reserve now. If I had a desk job, I'd not even mention the damaged achilles situation. I planned on riding the bike slowly today. See MichaelsBicycle.blogspot