Wednesday, October 1, 2008

U.S. Trip part 2

After a great sleep, I took a short walk, back to the falls



The light was flat, and gave the landscape
a surreal quality



Signs like this were plentiful



It sure can



To put this railway through
A trench 40 feet deep, and about a mile long was dug

I rode south, then east along the #12
"Lewis & Clark trail"

After a while I got bored with the pavement
And took a shot cut to Kamiah Idaho
Nezperce country



Beautiful country
Nice drop on the right



Starting down into Kamiah



From Kamiah, I rode to Kooskia
I decided to take another shot cut
Almost straight east through Elk City
over Hells Half Acre mountains
then down into Conner MT

I bought a small gas can, filled it, and my bike
and headed out.

I went to Clearwater
(I have old maps)
And saw a sign that stated
"Elk City Wagon road"
So I followed it



I was having a great time exploring this trail
When I came across this old site





The view...
with bike



I had been riding for quite some time and kept seeing these signs



Look at the arrows



It was getting late, and I was not very sure were I was
So, I decided to make camp, but the cougar that ran
across the road changed my mind

Back to Kooskia



A few shots on the way out



By the time I made it down out of the hills, it was dark
and deer are plentiful here.
I stop in the small village of Stites

A nice lady a gas station tells me that if I would like
I can set up my tent in the town park for free
I like free
I ride my bike into the park and out on the lush green grass
It is such a nice night, that I just pull out my sleeping bag and pad
then lay down with the starlight twinkling off my bike.
As I lay there a couple of dogs "playing" with a raccoon come over to say "hi"
That gives the the Raccoon time to "be on his way"
Not long after I fall asleep

In my peaceful slumber, I hear a sound
"I know that sound"
SPRINKLERS !
The lushness of the grass should have given it away, but I was tired
By the time I jumped out of my sleeping bag, they were going full blast
drowning everything in a fifty foot radius
I grab what I can, and ran to the gravel parking lot
"see bare feet here"
then put on my boots, and attempted to turn the sprinkler head by kicking it
The head comes off and water gushes skyward, with only my body to block it's path
Now completely soaked I drag the rest of my gear, and bike to safety
I look in my dry bag "YES!" I had closed the top
I strip off my wet clothes, wring them out, put on some dry stuff
pack my bike
Now wide awake I ride over to the gas station, to inform the "nice lady" about the sprinklers
But, shes not there

I think to myself there is no sleeping now, so onward
The full moon lights the landscape, and I head out
as I ride, I pass a sign that says
(77 miles of curves)
Woo Hoo!
But it was 77 miles just to the top of the pass
From Kooskia it is 136 miles to Lolo were I can head south again
The road follows a river all the way up the pass
I have to keep my viser open a crack to keep from fogging up
The air is brisk, and bike's running like a champ
I stop every so often to
get off walk about, look at the mountains
After about 50 miles I get off, and find that I am shaking
I run about trying to warm up, but it does no good
I dig into my dry bag, pull out all my cold riding gear
strip again, get dressed, eat a snack
then lean over the bike's engine for some heat
After a bit, I feel not too bad
I get back on my bike, and huddling behind my windshield
I continue
As I climb, the mercury keeps droping to the point that all I can think is
"This really sucks!"
I finally I reach the pass, which is also the border between Idaho and Montana
I see a rest stop, and pull in, run into the bathroom
Thank God there is a hand dryer
I hit the button funneling the hot air in to my jacket
After half an hour of this I feel so good I could dance
With great reluctance, I leave my new friend the dryer, and head back on the road
As I decend from the pass
the sky starts to lighten, and I get my first good look at Montana
Amazing
I continue down into Lolo
It is now 6am
find a room at a motel
drag my stuff inside
lock my bike
Hang everything to dry
take a HOT bath
Crawl into bed
Sleep