SSSSSSSSmoking! 2

Riding out the two miles of dirt road from the Last Chance campground my headlight protecter falls off. The velcro is worn out, I'll need to repair it in McCall.

I find a hardware store in McCall and buy velcro and isopropyl alcohol to clean it before sticking it on.

The repair work is done, and then I'm able to get off a quick picture of  Sharlie the Payette Lake monster! No...really!

If you are in McCall, and have a hankering for ice cream, Ice Cream Alley is the place to go. If you also like Beatles music you'll be in paradise because that's all they play at the 'Alley'.

Two scoops of huckleberry heaven! Dairy is not supposed to be in my diet, and I know I'll pay for this tomorrow....but for now, I just enjoy the moment!

Back on the road, I stop in Cascade, Idaho at this RV park. Arrowhead is super clean, the folks are very friendly, and the showers hot!

I ask for a shady spot.

Time to cook dinner.

It's as good as it looks.

I've had a hot shower, hot meal, and camp is set up...what more can a guy ask for?

Arrowhead is almost a destination itself. The regulars here hang out in this place and do a lot of carving.

These are the kinds of things they end up with.

The Totem Pole graveyard.

Tomorrow I'll take a dayride to Yellow Pine, Idaho.

SSSSSSSSmoking! 3

I'm on my way to Yellow Pine. From Cascade. I take the Warm Lake Road about 30 wonderful miles to the Yellow Pine road, then another 32 miles of not so wonderful road. The Yellow Pine road is one lane wide for two way traffic. Corners are often blind and sharp. After just a short time on the road I meet a pickup, almost literally, coming the other way. He is going way to fast and it was close. Ah well, that's the way it goes.......

More smoke.

Cheap Cricks.

Again, miles and miles of burned out forests, at least the air was a little clearer here.

The road gets a little goaty in places.

The last 16 miles to Yellow Pine is on a dirt road.

Nice.

Yellow Pine hosts a Harmonica Festival every year in August, and has done so for 23 years. They get about 2000 attendees. The stage goes across main street near where I'm standing to take this picture.

Main street. The people I talked to were super friendly. I had a good (and large) chicken sandwich at the restuarant next to the general store.

And...on my way back for a second night at Arrowhead park.

SSSSSSSSmoking! 4

This is the Nature Walk at Arrowhead Campground. They have invested a lot of imagination, time, and money here. It was peaceful, quiet and fun to spend a couple hours walking around.

Hotel Hoot.

 The waterfall and water-wheel have a timer switch you can twist and start the water flowing.

 Carved mushrooms.

Friday I leave the Arrowhead park and ride to Idaho Falls where I'll meet with Brother-in-law Bruce, Cousin Jim, Nephew Tobin, and some other riders for a Saturday ride into Montana.

On my way there I ride through some more heavy smoke and quiet roads.

 A week ago this road was bumper to bumper traffic, today I have the road nearly to myself.

I stop at Kirkham hot springs for a relaxing soak.

 Drying my shoes and suit out.

 Stanley Idaho. Normally this small town of 65 would be very crowded at this time of year, but due to the heavy fires and smoke it was almost desolate.

Saturday morning I ride to Bruce's house. We leave and meet Jim, Tobin and two other riders at a nearby gas station, then on to Sugar City where we pick up riding buddy Brad and two more - and then we are on our way. But first...

 We stopped at Mesa Falls for a rest and picture.

Front: Me, Jim, Kendon.

Back: Bruce, Tobin, Cory, Kellan, Rick, Brad

Some other folks out for a nice day.

 Earthquake Lake. On August 17, 1959 a Richter scale 7.5 earthquake caused an 80 million ton landslide which blocked the Madison river to create this lake. 28 people camping along the river were killed.

Today "Quake Lake" is 190 feet deep and about 6 miles long.

The scar left by the landslide.

 Ennis, Montana. This is where we ate lunch - the swiss cheese mushroom burger was outstanding!

This angler seemed a little stiff, he needs to work on his cast...

 Virginia City.

 I don't like to crop pictures, but I had to do this one to bring it closer...kind of a strange house.

Our last stop as a group is in Dillon, Montana where we gas up and down some liquids on this hot day.

Rick and his beautiful bike.

This has been a super day and a great ride. Thanks to Bruce for setting it up and to the rest of the group for making it so fun.
Everyone but me lives in or near Idaho Falls 143 miles down the road, but Dillon is 365 miles from home for me. I want to get moving so I say my goodbyes and hit I-15.

As I ride home, the sun sets behind me as if to signify the conclusion of this amazing ride.

After a 640 mile day I arrive home at 10:05 pm.

Total trip miles: 2041
Nights sleeping on the ground: 4
Minutes spent wishing I was somewhere else: 0

During this ride the odo on Gen, my faithful Strom, turned 61,000 miles.

This ride was indeed, SSSSSSSSSSSSSSmoking!!!!