DK's Definitive Ride Report - Some of the Best Scenic Roads Out West - Tons of Photo'

[ol' school]

WOW! Crazy weather for sure Kevin!!! Good to have the right gear!

[DK Custom Products]

Good thing you bought electrics and rain suits. It's 97 outside, but I was getting cold just looking at the pictures.

Yes, yes, and I understand!

Kevin ... I like the turn signal covers .. might as well advertise .

A while ago, like 10-12 years, I used too think electric's were for sissies ... amazing how smart I've gotten in 10 years ... now I have a jacket liner that zips into my fxrg jacket, gloves, and socks that all run on a wireless controller. I've thought about pants, but, never really been cold enough to need them. Besides, the heat from the socks gets pumped up the legs in the blood.

My only regret is that I can't control the socks and gloves together, it's the socks and jacket on on control and the gloves on the other ... seems I alway want the socks warmer and the jacket cooler. I end up unzipping then zipping the Jacket ... yea I know ... complain ... complain ... complain.

Yeah, I like those little covers...guy up in Illinois does them custom, whatever graphics you want.

Yep, as you know, before we went to Alaska Mary said she was getting an electric jacket liner, did I want one too. I said no, I don't need one, they're for girls and pansies.

HAHAHA, she talked me into trying one. I was sure I would return it. NOPE! I love it! No more layer on top of layer and then thinking I was warm...I was only less cold, but did not realize it til I had the heated jacket liner.

WOW! Crazy weather for sure Kevin!!! Good to have the right gear!

Really crazy! Rain, hail, ice, snow, rain and more hail. Quite a day!

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Day 21 concluded-

Chomping down the miles at 80 mph toward Missoula...



It's some beautiful countryside we're riding thru.



It's actually quite windy, mostly cross-wind. At 80 mph with the wind, the MPG is quite low, and I would not be comfortable going any faster.



Besides being scenic, it is quite a fun road to ride.



Photo taken at 80 MPH off to the right of the road. Fantastic views, most everywhere you look.



As we get closer to Missoula, looking like more rain!



Yep, rain is just starting here...camera got tucked aware for the downpour of rain, with some hail mixed in.



Came out the other side to a beautiful blue sky, just outside of Missoula.



We're here! All that stuff came out of the TG. We'll be here for a few days...



...visiting Craig and Lydia. Here's grandpa with Lydia.



*

Kevin

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Dang Kevin .. think thats the first time I've seen you with out your hair and beard tied up ... I can see why you tie it ... that hair and beard could get exciting at 80 mph. But I like the look.

[DK Custom Products]

Dang Kevin .. think thats the first time I've seen you with out your hair and beard tied up ... I can see why you tie it ... that hair and beard could get exciting at 80 mph. But I like the look.

Yeah, it's falling out, one day gonna cut it short. lol

[DK Custom Products]

Day 22-24

What a great time visiting with Craig and playing with Lydia! Caught up with some work too.

Lydia has no desire to get out on the road with all the crazy traffic in Missoula, but she love riding around the parking lot.



Fortunately it is pretty large-



Fun times!



3 weeks of road grime and bugs, and this is the stuff that the rain, hail and snow did not knock off...



Mostly clean now.



Packing up to head out. Next stop Meridian, ID-



Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Day 25-

We're headed for Meridian, ID today. Going via Lolo Pass and then the 12, and then following the river along the 55 out of McCall. This road is in my top 10 for fun riding (curves and twisties) and it has to be some of the most scenic in the USA.

Starting up Lolo Pass, looking off to the left...



...this is a very curvy, and sometimes steep, road. Being in Montana, it has a speed limit of 70 mph. Lots of fun, sometimes a bit over 70 and many times under 70. But all of it is a bunch of fun!



Fellow rider enjoying the curves!



It's a beautiful day, with stunning scenery, and very little traffic!



It's a pretty steady climb...



...and before you know it, we're entering Idaho and headed down.



The curves are a bit tighter, road condition not as nice, but the scenery is stunning!



Just getting warmed up for 99 miles of curves!



On the fly, Mary grabbed this pic.



And so it begins. Lewis & Clark Trail. We've traveled this curvy, twisty road around a dozen times...both directions. The road and the views are incredible.



More of Day 25 as time allows.

Kevin

[ol' school]

Looks like you had a blast visiting with your granddaughter!

Back on the road and awesome scenery again! Be safe and enjoy!

[DK Custom Products]

Looks like you had a blast visiting with your granddaughter!

Back on the road and awesome scenery again! Be safe and enjoy!

Yes!

Thank you!

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Day 25 continued-

I love curving, twisty roads (as does Mary). Never seem to get my fill of them. The road always runs out before I want it to. Back quite a few years ago, the first time we rode the 12, it was the end of a longish day, but I actually got tired before the road ran out. This is an amazing stretch of 99 miles of curving, twisting, scenic road. Every time we've been on it there has been very little traffic.

Mary took 830 photo's today...I am skipping hundreds and hundreds of great photos.

The views are fantastic...



...the curves...



...are one right after another.



Weirdest thing...



...we saw these deer on the edge of the road....slowed down to get more photo's, and they did not run away. They knew we were there, we were pretty close...



...and got even closer. Guess there is no hunting pressure in these parts.



Back rolling. Mile after mile of curving road, competing with great views!



A look back-



Another First! This chopper was just hovering over the river, slowly moving forward. Guy was sitting in doorway looking down. Not sure what they were looking for.



Wow!



More of Day 25 as time allows.

*

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Day 25 continued-

Perfect riding day...



...Rolling thru the curves and twistys with constantly changing scenery.



Idaho has some of the best riding roads and....



...views one could hope to see.



There's a little section of road (the 13) between Kooskia and Grangeville that is always fun to ride.* Steep, twistys, curvy and some knarly drop-offs.* Here's a pic looking back at one little part of it.



This looks like it could be fun ahead...



...cresting the top.



Hardly any traffic going our way, and what little there was, was easy to pass.* Fun ride down.



A look back-



Threading our way thru the hills along the canyon bottom...we are getting close to Riggins.



More on Day 25 as time allows.

Kevin

[floridaguy]

Wow just wow you two took some awesome pictures and it looks like a great trip so far.. Do you have a thread about what gear you two use on these long trips?

[Trent]

The River Kevin is following is the Clearwater River. That route from Lewiston to Lolo Pass MT is an amazing ride. That steep hill is WhiteBird Pass. It is pretty steep and long alright, but you shoulda seen the old 2 lane road used before they built that new one with all the runaway truck escape ramps carved into the sides. Awesome country to ride through.

[DK Custom Products]

Wow just wow you two took some awesome pictures and it looks like a great trip so far.. Do you have a thread about what gear you two use on these long trips?

I think it is listed earlier in this thread...but pretty simple-

Waterproof boots

Jeans (mine are kevlar lined, Mary has some too, but she does not like them, and does not wear them most of the time)

Wicking t-shirt

Mesh jacket

Breathable gloves

Modular Nolan helmet

When it is hot, Mary has a cool vest and we both have those Cooling Snap Towels that go around the neck

When it is cold-

Gerbing Electric Jacket Liners

Long sleeve shirt under the jacket liner

Gauntlet gloves

When it is really cold, even if not raining or snowing, we'll wear the rain suits

When it is raining-

Rain suit...sometimes just the jacket if it is not a downpour

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

The River Kevin is following is the Clearwater River. That route from Lewiston to Lolo Pass MT is an amazing ride. That steep hill is WhiteBird Pass. It is pretty steep and long alright, but you shoulda seen the old 2 lane road used before they built that new one with all the runaway truck escape ramps carved into the sides. Awesome country to ride through.

Yes! Idaho is a hidden jewel for riding!!!

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Day 25 continued-

I know this day is stretching out to a lot of photos. But it is a really great ride, and I'm cutting out huge chunks of it to keep it as small as it is.

Coming up on a big bridge, in the middle of "nowhere"...



...a look back at it as we get close to Riggins.



Stopped in Riggins for gas, and to eat lunch. Small town, many folks here for fishing.



Back rolling...



...a look back as we ride thru some beautiful country.



Here's a pic as we pass a motel that we stayed in a few years back. Very nice place, a bit outside of McCall.



There's a short, steep & tight section of road before coming into McCall. Lot of fun!



Rolling thru McCall.



Not far outside of McCall it looked like some heavy rain ahead. We stopped, put on rain suits and as soon as we started back rolling, the rain started coming down.



More on Day 25 as time allows.

*

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Day 25 concluded-

After getting thru the valley that McCall is in, the road turned tight and twisty.

There was a lot of traffic going the opposite way, guess they were headed to the hills for the weekend. Not much traffic going our way.



This fun road follows along side a river.



We stopped along side it...



...at a spot where there was a lot of white water, AND 2 kids unloading their kayaks.

We talked to them during the 20 minutes they took to prep...



...for their ride down.



Crazy! To me this looks...



...far more dangerous than riding a motorcycle. But they were pumped for their afternoon ride!



We're back rolling now. Beautiful afternoon riding!



About 10 miles down the road are a hundred plus vehicles...this is the end of the 10 mile ride down the river for many.



Fun road, elevation changes, curves, little traffic, good road surface, and great scenery!



Last post for today coming up!

*Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Day 25 Conclusion-

This afternoon is just a great day riding...



...along side the river!



A look back at the curve we (and the river) just went thru in the proceeding photo.



Getting near the end of the part of the road winding thru the canyon.* What a great ride!!!



The road has opened up now, and Mary got a ton of cool cloud pics.



Rolling up a steep and winding road, with a picture perfect "back-drop".



Looks like there is no more rain between here and Mary's moms, plus it is getting warmer, so we stopped and stowed the rain jackets.



Shadow Pic-



Getting close.* We've ridden 142 miles since Riggins and have 12 to go.* Pretty excited about our stay in Meridian.* Tomorrow we celebrate Mary's 62nd birthday!



Last cloud pic of the day.



We'll be here for a few days, then head off for Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Kevin

[Gorilla]

Happy Birthday Mary

thank you for all the pictures

[LadyonaMission]

Happy Birthday, Mary.

I love the pictures.