Post
by ClarkA » Thu Mar 24, 2016 5:40 pm
As I've lamented before the nights just seem so much shorter as I age and the ride progresses, as manifested by my buddy calling me to breakfast as soon as my head hit the pillow!My buddy Sam decided not only to show me his lakefront escape but to ride with me to Sand Point Idaho for lunch. This plan fit in exactly with my desire to travel US Highway #2 eastbound , the beautiful sunny day called out for us to get on the road. My buddy is a "recovering Harley Rider" now mounted on Can-Am Spyder and is six days younger than I am , so he threw my old guy not able to hold his bike up comment back at me! The traffic was light and the rolling terrain along State highway #41 perfect for my Ural Speed rate of travel. We rolled into Spirit Lake Idaho a quaint old town undergoing a revival as a weekend retreat for the affluent residents of Spokane not willing to travel as far as Sand Point and a alternative to Hayden Lake. As it was Sunday and sunny the bars had varying numbers of well polished Harleys or Harley like bikes parked in front of them and the sidewalk was a promenade for the black leather clad Do-rag wearing riders of these machines. We spent time with my friends family and camp neighbors explaining or defending my ride to Alaska, before remounting our bikes then heading for lunch in Sand Point. This was another pleasant ride in the sun, to the pretty lakeside tourist town were we reconnected with US#2.Sand Point was also a destination for a good number of motorcycles, with a group of them choosing to have pizza in the same place as us, with the required answer that yes that was my bike out there and no it's not a BMW. Sam and I revisited our shared stories of our time together in Germany as 21 year old Sergeants and the trials and tribulations of our mutual friends over the years, our pride in our sons service as career Soldiers. There is never enough time to tell all the tales that need telling when the road is calling, so we said our farewells and parted company. I reviewed the map and reconsidered my travel options , riding US#2 would take me to the north while Highway #200 would take me southward but east at the same time bringing me closer to Missoula, Montana. Since the most scenic route and one not ridden before was US#2 the choice was to stay with my plan of spending the night in Kalispell, Montana. Why Kalispell you might ask? The reason was I'd never been there before and it would put me in the best position to check out West Glacier, Montana the next day. The ride was again a scenic assault on my senses as I followed along the Kootenai River after crossing it at Bonner's Ferry, Idaho. While taking in the views from the saddle it became apparent that high speed cars & trucks along with wildlife crossing the road were threats to my safe return home. The bridge recrossing the Kootenai just west of Troy, MT was a pretty impressive view, but without a safe pullout I decided to keep rolling instead of taking a picture or two. Riding serenely along through the small towns taking in the great views the multiple "for sale" signs we tempting to consider this area for my all too soon retirement. I was enjoying myself too much when my friend returned to change the ride for the worse, rain! Even though it was late June riding through the Rockies in the late afternoon early evening can be a little cool, add rain and it gets cold! Having refueled in Libby , I rode the 125 miles to Kalispell hunkered down with the collar up vents zippered shut my face shield closed until the welcome sight of the Comfort Inn came into view. I am sure that you also are amazed by the folks you meet on the road and some of the things they say to you. While unloading my bike in the rain, a woman approached me and spoke of her appreciation for highway workers, mistaking my yellow & gray riding suit for highway worker garb. I acknowledged her appreciation and stated mine also for these hard working people, while letting her know that I wasn't one of them, being just a sojourner trying get out of the rain today and eventually safely home. Kalispell is the birthplace of L. Ron Hubbard and several NFL players along with a haven for skiers and gateway to Glacier National Park and is a big city by Montana standards 20,000 people! I settled into my room for the night after spreading out my gear to dry.
SFC 91C/ Medic US Army 1971-1996
"John 15:13"
"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.” - T.E. Lawrence
