End of August

For the first time in three years we are NOT riding for Torches Across America.

On the one hand I am sad because this noble effort appears to be failing.

On the other hand I am so happy NOT to be riding in the awful heat of the southwest at this time of year.

Went riding to the coast yesterday with our friends...roasted getting there and then FROZE until we headed back inland. A great day - no really silly drivers.

I am working for the census bureau for the next couple of months....I had forgotten just how silly the government could be!

August

Our summer adventure ended 3 weeks ago.

Poor Larry. He dropped his favorite GPS toward the end of our ride. Fortunately through one of the motorcycle forums he found someone that had the same GPS sitting around on a shelf.

We drove to Roseville to buy this relic (honest, it is older than dirt, no touch screen, no remote, no street names mentioned in the directions) for a reasonable price.

Nothing would have it but we drove secondary roads to get to Roseville. There were several turns that would have put us on dirt roads. We ignored Ms. GPS and ended up on a short section of dirt. Nothing like seeing the farm land in Northern California.

It was nice to visit with Larry's Aunt Rosemary in Sacramento and our friends in Wilton.

Sunday and Monday we set to work on the 5th wheel. Poor thing hadn't been used in 3 months. One type of ant had set up house in one of the walls....die you buggers, die! Now the 5th wheel is bug free and smelling fresh!

On returning home Larry installed the new kitchen faucet....one of my little projects that has been sitting around for years. It is SO nice. I haven't had a usable sprayer for years.

Yesterday we went to Santa Rosa where I purchased a new Husqvarna Viking sewing machine. (When we were in Sacramento I had seen one of these sewing machines in use and really liked it, but wanted to buy one closer to home.) Of course we also through in Macy's, COSTCO, Best Buy, Office Depot, Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Borders. There were a couple places I wanted to stop at but just ran out of energy!

I drove home via Ukiah so that we could go to Lucerne for Thai food. Looked forward to it all the way up Hwy 101...unfortunately the quality just wasn't up to par.

Home

Butterfly on my butterfly bush
Flowers at the Lassen National Park Visitor Center...north entrance
Lassen National Park
Larry's Bike in Lassen
My tan...thanks to a pair of water sandals!


My trike in Lassen.


We headed out early from Old Station and rode through Lassen National Park.

Last year when we rode through Lassen in June there was still plenty of snow. This year it looked like spring.

As we were leaving the visitor center a couple on a 2009 Yellow Goldwing rode in...they were from northern Arizona. Pretty bike with lots of chrome purchased from Wing Stuff. They had been camping with their Bunkhouse tent trailer for nearly 3 weeks. More power to them, I like motels!

New visitor's center on the south side.

We had moderate temperatures all the way to Williams, CA where we stopped for lunch at Granzella's....then the hot weather set in.

Good to be home. Loren obviously is better at watering the plants because it was a veritable jungle next to the driveway.

In the days we have been home we have been busy with 2 1/2 months of mail and assorted other maintenance items.

Yesterday we went to breakfast in Kelseyville with our friends. Good to be back.

Oregon to California

We departed Stanley around 11:30 yesterday. Made it as far as Burns, Oregon for the night.

We stayed at the Days Inn....I'd definitely recommend it and stay there again.

Today we rode to Old Station, California. We are staying at the Hat Creek Resort and Campground. This room is very nice...half the cost of the room in Jackson and lots more amenities! Only downside...dirty carpet.

We had a very nice ride today--I think we are just a little too tired to really enjoy all this wonderful scenery.

Tomorrow we will ride through Lassen National Park...and be home in time for dinner.

Two and one-half months on the road. I'm looking forward to cooking!

Idaho

When we departed Jackson Hole, Wyoming last week Larry found a route we had never been on...that led us to Howe, Idaho for awesome German food at Heidi's. (Those who went to Billings in 2000 may remember this place).

Larry had set the GPS for Sunshine Village, Idaho...nothing there but a bunch of nice guys trying to make a living on raft adventures.

We rode on to Stanley, Idaho because that is the closest place with accommodations. We expected to head back to Sunshine for a raft adventure on Wednesday.

Well, that didn't happen. After we had registered at the Mountain Village motel we headed for their natural hot spring. On the way we met Jon and his son Thomas heading back to the motel. Larry and Jon got to talking and the upshot was that Jon and Thomas were there to begin a 6 day raft adventure on the Middle Fork River. Jon was SURE there were a couple of places available.

So...at 11:30 Tuesday evening we were booked on a raft adventure that began at 8 a.m. Wednesday. How is that for fast acting?

So, from last Wednesday until 4 p.m. today we have been on the Middle Fork River...thoroughly enjoying the adventure. Larry is awesome in the inflatable kayak. I stuck with the 7 person paddle raft or the guided float. We saw some awesome white water - and so many other things I am too tired to mention right now.

Bottom line - Middle Fork Rapid Transit puts on a Five Star adventure.
I'll add more later and add some photos.

Since this was our very first multi-day raft adventure we had much to learn...not the least of which is that on the Middle Fork PEOPLE may only urinate IN THE RIVER...and everything else brought in is taken out. Leave as little trace as possible. Micro trash-those are the little crumbs one would normally sweep aside. Not so in the wilderness. You pick them up and put them in a trash container.

Wanna wash your hair...wet it in the river, go above the water line, soap up and rinse with a bucket of river water. Same goes for brushing your teeth...and make sure you dilute that toothpaste you spit out.

There are approximately 10k people using the river and camping areas during the summer...you can imagine the UGH! if people didn't comply with the forest service requirements.

Taking a leak in the river was a major adjustment....and for females squatting is a tad bit more problematic than for guys. Next time I'm taking a muumuu. I think that is the way to avoid mooning others who might be wandering around or passing by in the river.

The guides usually set up the portable toilet in a scenic spot...the last evening had an especially beautiful view of the river and anyone passing!

We have GOT to get tents like MFRT has. They are a snap to put up and taken down. Small space user too.

Rafting was new to us...and with some trepidation with just jumped in! The staff was awesome. At no time did I feel afraid. Obviously Larry didn't because he opted for the 7 person paddle boat at the first opportunity. When the inflatable kayaks came out he was one of the first to volunteer....and pretty much used them for the remainder of the trip. Larry even mastered the class IV rapid...or so it looked. What he lacked in style he made up in the ability to keep the kayak afloat AND stay in it. He was ONE with the kayak!

Neither of us is physically fit...but except for being tired at the end of the day we didn't experience anything more than mild muscle aches. (Glad I had used the Wii Fit before we left!)

Food....food, and more food. I was impressed...not only with the quality of the ingredients but the talent of the various guides who were the chefs of the day. If I had eaten some of everything offered I would have gained weight.

Jackson, Wyoming

Yesterday we rode from Billings to Laurel to Red Lodge to Cooke City to Yellowstone.

We spent the night in one of the western cabins at Canyon Village.

Riding over Beartooth Pass was AWESOME. We experienced a little rain before getting to Cooke City and it was like ice picks. We stopped for lunch in Cooke City and on leaving it looked like a storm blowing in. Sure enough, before we could ride out a rain storm blew through. The bikes are a mess...muddy water left marks everywhere.

Yellowstone was also awesome...we experienced animals like never before, light traffic because we rode out early and the cabin was nice, if lacking in most everything you'd get anywhere else for the price.

There was construction in Yellowstone. There was construction in Wyoming. There was construction in Teton Park. The bikes look more like Wyoming MUD.

The Tetons were magnificent. There is a really nice visitor center just inside the park we had never been to before. We chose the road closest to the mountains and found the experience delightful.

We are at the Super 8 in Jackson.....$150 a night. Three stories and no elevator. We are on the 3rd floor. Then the key to the room didn't work. No pool, no spa, no place to eat. The view from the room is dirt, wooden pallets and storage buildings. Fortunately we had points with Windham so we aren't out of pocket.

The weather was perfect today....

Tomorrow....who knows where we will be!

Billings, Montana

We have had such a great visit here in Billings. Jack & Barbara have treated us to an awesomely relaxing time with great conversation!

We have also visited with Larry's Aunt Ida and several cousins on both sides of the family.

Billings has grown since we were here in 2007. Biggest observation is that the drivers are as bad or worse than many other cities we've been in. Many drivers are lacking in courtesy. Can anyone say turn signal?

Tomorrow we head for Yellowstone Park via the Cooke City Highway (aka Beartooth Pass). We had originally planned to bypass Yellowstone this trip but the powers that be are offering free admittance this weekend... so we couldn't we resist.

For the first time in 37 years we will be spending the night at a hotel in the park...hope it is really good, because it is 37 times more expensive!

Monday night we will be in Jackson for the night...and then who knows!