Lewiston ID
The
morning was cold, I could feel it into my bones as I walked outside at 8am with
a cup of the motel’s continental breakfast coffee in my hand. The sun was up in the clear sky but the earth
wasn’t warming the air currents yet. Sipping the coffee I concluded it tasted
good so went back into the breakfast lounge to have some more along with a warm
waffle. Perhaps engage in conversation
with other travelers if there are any lively ones bent on such a morning
activity.
There
weren’t. Sometimes I gain some info
about the highway ahead
of me. Sometimes I learn something about current events or about where they originated and to where they are going. But not this morning. Everyone was wrapped into their own thoughts or busy controlling kids or jockeying to get a pastry before they all disappeared. A few had heaps of various breads, plastic wrapped pastries and donuts in front of them. I passed on the waffle. Toasted an English Muffin instead, put peanut butter on it, added more coffee to the cup, and headed back to my room to start loading Sophia while taking a munch and a sip.
of me. Sometimes I learn something about current events or about where they originated and to where they are going. But not this morning. Everyone was wrapped into their own thoughts or busy controlling kids or jockeying to get a pastry before they all disappeared. A few had heaps of various breads, plastic wrapped pastries and donuts in front of them. I passed on the waffle. Toasted an English Muffin instead, put peanut butter on it, added more coffee to the cup, and headed back to my room to start loading Sophia while taking a munch and a sip.
Lolo
turned out to basically be around the corner, perhaps less than 10 miles. I tanked up, got my gas receipt proof of
visit, and rode towards the Pass. Initially the road was lined with a few homes
here and there, or ranches, and then it pretty much became an all steep hilled
and tree lined road. It was a two lane
highway mostly…actually, I don’t recall more than two but there must have been
some climbs and descents that had three lanes.
It
seemed like only 30 miles later I came upon a Visitor’s Center and decided to
pull in to remove the rain gear and face mask and also eat the other half of my
subway sandwich that wasn’t finished at dinner last night.
Parking
Sophia next to another BMW I noticed its riders getting off and greeted them. While chatting and learning about each other
we came to find out that we’re both from SoCal and that we both worked in East Anaheim
at the Rockwell International Division!
What a small world!
Below
is the pic of Duane Shortridge and his sweetheart Jeanette with me at the sign
of Lolo Pass.
Back
out on the highway I continued west and passed through a couple of small towns
before arriving at Kooskia. Actually, I
didn’t see the town but saw a roadside fruitstand with a parking area behind
it. Pulling into the parking area I
inquired of the two ladies at the fruit stand if there were any gas stations
nearby. They told me there was one in Kooski
(no ‘ah’ sound in it) and that the town was located on the other side of the
bridge from the parking lot as well as another station 7 miles down the road at
Kamiah. I went over the bridge but didn’t immediately see the station so I
turned around and headed for Kamiah….and probably paid more per gallon L.
This
highway is on the list as one of the USA 15 Best Rides Challenge and although
it is a beautiful ride through the Idaho mountains, trees and running beside
the beautiful Lochsa River, I feel that it is a long repetitious ride of the
same scenery being repeated every 5 miles!
Now, in defense of the beautiful highway, I was pressing to reach a
destination that probably was set to many miles for the day’s ride. And when I am in this mental mode I become
impatient. The other factor is that I
think I still had the images of the Road To The Sun ingrained in my visual
memory and was expecting more of those magnificent peaks along this mountainous
highway.
Out
of Kooski I believe the highway entered the Nez Perce Nation’s
Reservation. Then at some point in the
ride I found that the highway was following the Snake River along my right (north)
into Lewiston ID. Also at some point
near the end of the ride the geographt changed from tree lined steep hills to
more of the brown grass covered rolling hills that I equated with eastern
Oregon/Washington similar to those around Kenniwick. Anyhow, in my haste to finish the ride and reach
Lewiston I never stopped to take photo’s….actually, I never saw anything dramatic
of which to take a photo.
In
Lewiston I found a good priced room at the local Days Inn just before the
bridge that crosses over the Snake and into the city. I discovered a KFC just to the other side of
the bridge up on the hill from the park and took it back to the motel to eat
while writing.
While
there I met some other bikers who were heading east, home to Minnesota and
noticed the cleverest rider arrangement ever!!
Tim
Trelstad figured out how to anchor a dog carrier to the top of his trailer and take
Sheeba, his German Shepard, everywhere with him…isn’t that cool??
While
unloading Sophia I noticed how dirty she was so I mentally planned to get up
early and give her a good bath before we hit the morning road for Boise and
parts farther East along the I-84.
I
think I’ll give Sophia some detailing and shine her up with some wax!
C ya mañana,Gonzo
Twitter: @GonzoCrossUSA
Email: GonzoCrossUSA@gmail.com
Cell: 949-433-0761
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