Happy Birthday Mary
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Happy Birthday Mary
Happy Birthday YOUNG LADY. Jim
US Army Retired, Command Sergeant Major
No longer riding, memories, memories
seems like we just wished you a Happy Birthday on your last trip....
Mary, I know I'm a day late but Happy Birthday and hope you had a great day.... NOW when are we getting back on the road? I'm having withdraws.
Wow, so many Birthday wishes, And a cake!! Thanks everybody for taking the time to wish me Happy Birthday, it means a lot. Yep, on the road, just like last birthday and the one before, seeing very beautiful parts of the country this year.
Hugs,
Mary
Day 19-
We were 5 days in Meridian staying with Marys mom, visiting family, riding the hills around Boise with Trent & Marione, washing the TG, changing oil, etc.
It was a great time!
It is time to move on. We're taking a different route than we normally do...headed up to Missoula, MT to see Craig and our granddaughter, Lydia.
It is a ride that can easily be done in one day, but we want to take our time and enjoy the new views...so we are headed to Stanley, ID today.
In Meridian, getting ready to pull out-
Mary & her Mom-
Mary in the mirror, as we're leaving Meridian. She is taking this picture because it is showing that the temp is 59*. It was only a few days ago that we were rolling into Meridian on this same road and it was 100*!!!
This is a W I D E Load!
Once we cleared Boise, the road is pretty dadgum straight, not a lot of traffic, but somehow this cager went off the road and ended up 180* opposite of the way they were going. Just show that anything can happen on the road...gotta always be careful.
Mary in the mirror, rolling at just under 80 mph. We're getting close to Mountain Home, ID. That is where we turn off the interstate and start climbing toward the Sawtooth Mountains.
Ambient temp has risen to 62*.
Climbing out of Mountain Home...
...still climbing, this is definitely a fun road!
We spent a good amount of time climbing, running the sweepers, and generally really enjoying the cool weather, the great road, and being back in the saddle after our time in Meridian.
For us, there is a rhythm on a road trip, where the getting on the bike each day feels like home, and we just settle in and enjoy the ride.
Meridian is at 2600' elevation. By the time we finish this little climb, we are at 5000 foot elevation in a Long valley.
More in next post.
Day 19 continued-
This is a long valley that we are traveling east in...about 70 miles long, all straight, and mostly flat.
Hill City Saloon is closed. I think we passed one open gas station in the valley...
...there was a lot of alfalfa hay farming. Hundreds of acres of windrows are all hep'd up in this pic.
Here we are turning north, headed for the Sawtooth Mountains. 140 miles outside of Boise & at 5300' elevation, we stopped for gas in Bellevue...
Then we had to pass thru Hailey, Ketchum & Sun Valley...
...before we got back to countryside...
...and started climbing into the Sawtooth Mountains.
Oh, I should mention, that back around Hailey it started snowing...just flurries, as soon as it landed it melted, but for the rest of the day we were running in & out of snow flurries.
We had looked at the weather before leaving, and saw it was going to be in the mid-40's for a high in the mountains. So we're layered up and wearing our electric jacket liners. It was nice to have the snow flying around and be toasty warm.
Headed for Galena Pass (8700' elevation)
Starting to see the snow on the mountains. Amazing that we are only a couple hundred miles north of that road that cooked Mary at 103* last week!
More in next post.
Day 19 continued-
Getting some pretty good flurries as we climb...temp is down to 48*.
Continuing to climb toward Galena Summit...
...this is a fun road with all sorts of curves. I don't think there is any ice, but can't know for sure, so I am taking it easy...
...enjoying the sights, as well as the road.
A look back as we're climbing.
This is a fun road, and having never traveled it, we have no idea what is around the next corner.
As we get close to the summit, it is quite windy and the temp has dropped to 45*.
Right past the summit we pull over in a scenic lookout for some lunch. Here's are view from where we parked.
More in next post.
Day 19 continued-
When we unplugged from the TG, it did not take long for us to realize how warm the electric jacket liners were keeping us. lol
We found the spot where we were the most Out of the wind that was blowing and ate our sandwiches....sort of fast!
I figured out how to do the photo's with the video camera mounted on the bike, could not find it in the instructions, but it is pretty easy now that I see how it works.
One last photo before we start heading down.
Back on the TG, plugged in and Much Warmer - Headed down is faster...not as far to go...
...and it is a lot of fun too!
Some really nice switchbacks and sweepers take us down to 6300'...
...where we level out and follow the Salmon river to Stanley.
Here we are, at the Mountain Village "Resort" Motel in Stanley, Idaho.
What a blast this was today. About 5 hours of riding in all sorts of terrain. Great scenery and roads. A little more on Stanley on Day 20.
Kevin
Just read through your posts. Kudos to Mary for her amazing pics and to you sir for keeping the wheels rolling and your detailed posts.
Originally Posted by Goldmember
+1 ... as always, Mary takes some great pics and Kevin does a great job editing them.
Glad you're enjoying...more to come!
Thanks man. See you soon!
Kevin
Day 19 Small update-
Here are a few photos from when we arrived in Stanley that I just located.
After getting settled in our room we walked next door to the restaurant for Marys Birthday dinner.
At the entrance they had this bear...had to take a photo-
While we were there 7 guys who were riding from Boise to Challis were there for a meal (and to warm up).
Saw one bike-
Then saw the others...all Pans & Shovels.
They had gone a different route than us, but they were pressing on after their meal.
Had to get a few close-up's-
Yep, they were cold and wet, but at 30-40 years younger than us, I reckon they can handle it.
Unlike us, they had a chase vehicle...didn't ask them why, but I suppose it was because all the bikes were older than the guys riding them, AND I don't think any of them had tanks big enough to make it on some of the stretches between gas stations.
They're final destination is for Lolo, MT.
Kevin
Awesome bunch of old school rides!!!
"I don't need a map. I still have a road in front of me!"
Years ago my buddies and I all had panheads or shovelheads ( one guy even had a knucklehead). If you rode for any length of time, you could almost bet that someone would break down. That is why they needed the chase vehicle. Glad those days are over.
I’m just catching up on your trip. Mary, Happy belated Birthday (many more) and thanks too you both for all the excellent photos and ride updates. DJ<o></o
For sure!Awesome bunch of old school rides!!!
Yep. We were glad to be behind the fairing in the cold, plugged into a robust electrical system, and have the magic button to start.
I’m just catching up on your trip. Mary, Happy belated Birthday (many more) and thanks too you both for all the excellent photos and ride updates. DJ<o
Glad you're enjoying!
Kevin
this post makes me sure that I will continue getting my heated gear. Only have the gloves now but will be getting the jacket liner next. should have my gear ready for the Maggie Valley trip just in case the morning temps are cooler than expected.
Day 20 Part I
What a fantastic day of riding it was. Cold, but no snow or hail, and only a bit of rain toward the end of the day.
Not sure how many pics we'll have for today, but here are the first 28 photo's and Two Short Videos.
After we packed up we headed back the way we came for just a few miles...
...had a little better view of some of the Sawtooth mountains as we headed back...
...for a look at Redfish Lake.
btw, this route was one I was thinking of taking, after talking to Trent he let me know it was indeed a good route, and to take the time to see Redfish Lake. Thanks Trent!!!
This deer was on the road, but by the time Mary got the camera on her she had scampered up the embankment a bit.
Couple of pics of some crystal clear water in a tributary connected to Redfish Lake.
We saw just a little bit of the lake, it is almost 5 miles from end to end.
I'm messing with the video camera...
...to get some pics of Mary. Here she is messing around...she is so layered up she feels like Ralphie in the snow suit in "The Christmas Story".
Even though it is dry, it is cold...was 39* when we left out. So we have many layers, plus the jacket liners, plus I have my rain suit pants on to cut the wind, and Mary has her rain suit pants and jacket on to cut the wind.
Headed back to Stanley to fill up, and then turn toward Missoula, MT.
More in next post.
Day 20 Part I Continued-
At the gas station, we filled up and were leaving about the same time as 12 other bikes. They were headed toward Boise, via Idaho City, we were headed north, toward Missoula, MT, via Challis and Salmon.
Didn't get a pic of it, but in the 100 or so miles from last fill-up, climbing up to the Galena pass, we got 37 mpg. I'm really happy with how the TG is running!
Here's a pic of a few of the bikes that turned left out of the station, as we turned right.
The road we rode yesterday, and what we're riding today is new to us. It has been fantastic so far, and little did we know how great today's ride was going to be!
Looking back at Stanley as we head out...
...and looking at the road ahead.
Click HERE for a short video of what a great road this was, right off the bat.
In this pic, that's not clouds or blurriness in the photo, that is steam from a hot springs right on the side of the road!
This is some beautiful country!
Looking back...
...and looking ahead. The views are non-stop!
The canyon walls widened out a bit, the road got a bit wider and straighter...
...but it is still a great riding road, and the terrain is incredibly varied.
More in next post.
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